Search results for "Salvelinus"

Variation in parasite resistance of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, between and within sympatric morphs

2021

Abstract Genetic variation in resistance against parasite infections is a predominant feature in host–parasite systems. However, mechanisms maintaining genetic polymorphism in resistance in natural host populations are generally poorly known. We explored whether differences in natural infection pressure between resource‐based morphs of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) have resulted in differentiation in resistance profiles. We experimentally exposed offspring of two morphs from Lake Þingvallavatn (Iceland), the pelagic planktivorous charr (“murta”) and the large benthivorous charr (“kuðungableikja”), to their common parasite, eye fluke Diplostomum baeri, infecting the eye humor. We found t…

Nutritional quality of littoral macroinvertebrates and pelagic zooplankton in subarctic lakes

2021

Littoral benthic primary production is considered the most important energy source of consumers in subarctic lakes. We analyzed essential fatty acid (EFA) and amino acid (EAA) content of 23 littoral benthic macroinvertebrate taxa as well as cladocerans and copepods from pelagic and littoral habitats of 8–9 subarctic lakes to compare their nutritional quality. Pelagic crustacean zooplankton had significantly higher EFA and total FA content (on average 2.6‐fold and 1.6‐fold, respectively) than littoral macroinvertebrates in all our study lakes. Specifically, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), one of the most important EFA for juvenile fish, was almost exclusively found in pelagic copepods. In littor…

The influence of temperature on growth and proximate body composition of under yearling Lake Inari arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus (L.))

1997

The growth of underyearling Lake Inari arctic char was studied in groups of fish held at 5.9, 8.7, 12.1, 15.1 and 18.0 °C for 31 days. Growth rate increased with increasing water temperature, reached a peak at 15.1 °C, and then declined. The temperature influence on relative growth was expressed as a non-linear function. There were differences in body composition between fish reared at different temperatures: percentage water being highest at the lowest temperature, whereas energy content was highest in the fish held at the three highest temperatures. The body wet weight explained most of the variance in water content and it is suggested that this may also apply to other body constituents.

Occurrence of Yersinia ruckeri infection in farmed whitefish, Coregonus peled Gmelin and Coregonus muksun Pallas, and Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.…

1986

Yersinia ruckeri, the aetiological agent of enteric redmouth disease (ERM), is now generally recognized to be distributed worldwide. The pathology and epizootiology of the disease was first described by Rucker (1966) and although rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, has been the most frequently affected species, all salmonids are now considered to be potential hosts for the organism (McDaniel 1979). The present paper reports the first confirmed occurrence of Y. ruckeri infection in farmed whitefish and Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Finland, with the known host range being extended to include the whitefish Coregonus peled Gmelin and Coregonus muksun Pallas . The outbreaks of infe…

Dietary plasticity of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) facilitates coexistence with competitively superior European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus)

2011

–  Habitat use and diet of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) coexisting with European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) and grayling (Thymallus thymallus) were studied in one deep and two relatively shallow subarctic lakes in northern Norway. Stomach content and stable isotope analyses revealed clear and temporally stable resource partitioning between the species in all three lakes. Arctic charr had a wide and flexible trophic niche and was the only piscivorous species. In contrast, whitefish and grayling had remarkably stable planktivorous and benthivorous niches, respectively. In the deepest lake, Arctic charr together with grayling mainly utilised littoral benthos, while piscivory was more…

Niche segregation of coexisting Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) constrains food web coupling in subarctic lakes

2012

SUMMARY 1. Generalist fish species are recognised as important couplers of benthic and pelagic food-web compartments in lakes. However, interspecific niche segregation and individual specialisation may limit the potential for generalistic feeding behaviour. 2. We studied summer habitat use, stomach contents and stable isotopic compositions of the generalist feeder Arctic charr coexisting with its common resource competitor brown trout in five subarctic lakes in northern Norway to reveal population-level and individual-level niche plasticity. 3. Charr and trout showed partial niche segregation in all five lakes. Charr used all habitat types and a wide variety of invertebrate prey including z…

2015

Prey preference of top predators and energy flow across habitat boundaries are of fundamental importance for structure and function of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, as they may have strong effects on production, species diversity, and food-web stability. In lakes, littoral and pelagic food-web compartments are typically coupled and controlled by generalist fish top predators. However, the extent and determinants of such coupling remains a topical area of ecological research and is largely unknown in oligotrophic high-latitude lakes. We analyzed food-web structure and resource use by a generalist top predator, the Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (L.), in 17 oligotrophic subarctic lakes…

The effect of temperature fluctuations on oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of underyearling Lake Inari Arctic charr

1998

Underyearling Lake Inari Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus were acclimated to 11·0) C for 3 weeks, and then one group was maintained at 11·0) C and others were exposed to 14·4) Cconst, 17·7) Cconst or a diel fluctuating temperature of 14·3° C ± 1° C (14·3° Cfluc). Routine rates of oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion were measured over 10 days before the temperature change and over 31 days following the change. Measurements were made on fish that were feeding and growing. The temperature increase produced an immediate increase in oxygen consumption. There was then a decline over the next few days, suggesting that thermal acclimation was rapid. For groups exposed to constant temperature th…

Maintenance of genetic variation in sexual ornamentation : role of precopulatory and postcopulatory sexual selection

2010

No evidence for an indirect benefit from female mate preference in Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus, but female ornamentation decreases offspring viab…

2011

Female mate choice is considered an important evolutionary agent, but there has been an ongoing debate over the fitness consequences it produces, especially in species that have a resource-free mating system. We examined a potential fitness benefit resulting from the pre-spawning mate preference in Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus, a salmonid fish with no parental care. The females were first allowed to discriminate behaviourally between two males presented to them in a free choice test. We then tested with controlled fertilizations whether the females would accrue indirect genetic benefits for their offspring, as measured by embryonic viability, if they had mated with the male they preferre…