Whole otolith elemental analysis reveals feeding migration patterns causing growth rate differences in anadromous whitefish from the Baltic Sea |
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| Authors: | Henry Hägerstrand Yvette Heimbrand Mikael von Numers Jan‐Olof Lill Erkki Jokikokko Alpo Huhmarniemi |
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| Institution: | 1. Cell Biology & Hus? Biological Station, Biosciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, ?bo Akademi University, ?bo‐Turku, Finland;2. Institute of Coastal Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, ?regrund, Sweden;3. Hus? Biological Station, Environmental and Marine Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, ?bo Akademi University, ?bo‐Turku, Finland;4. Accelerator Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, ?bo Akademi University, ?bo‐Turku, Finland;5. Natural Resources Institute Finland, Keminmaa, Finland;6. Natural Resources Institute Finland, Oulu, Finland |
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| Abstract: | Impact of feeding migration pattern on growth rate of whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus L.) from River Kemijoki was investigated. River Kemijoki is located in the northernmost Gulf of Bothnia (Baltic Sea). Whitefish ascending the river to spawn show major growth rate variations. To study whether these variations are related to different feeding areas (migratory connectivity), whole otoliths from fast‐growing (FASTG) whitefish (n = 9, age 4 years, average weight 790 g) and slowly growing (SLOWLYG) whitefish (n = 9, age 8 years, average weight 600 g) were analysed for elemental (Ba, Sr, Mg, Zn, Mn, Ca) concentrations by inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectrometry. Results showed that the FASTG whitefish had much lower otolith Ba concentration (~45%, p ≤ .01) than SLOWLYG whitefish, revealing that FASTG whitefish have spent more time in water of higher salinity/lower latitude, that is at feeding grounds in the southern Gulf of Bothnia. Otoliths of the FASTG whitefish had also higher Mg (~25%, p ≤ .001) and Zn (~20%, p ≤ .05) concentrations, but lower Ca (~5%, p ≤ .01) concentrations, than the otoliths from SLOWLYG whitefish. These results further reveal that FASTG and SLOWLYG whitefish have been spatially separated. In conclusion, bulk otolith elemental analysis revealed spatial separation and migration differences in river‐spawning whitefish subpopulations in the Gulf of Bothnia, which apparently lead to differences in fish growth rate. Our results increase the understanding of river‐spawning whitefish biology and its population structure and dynamics and may contribute to a sustainable management of river‐spawning whitefish stocks. |
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| Keywords: | whitefish somatic growth migratory connectivity otolith elemental composition Baltic Sea |
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