RELATIVE PRODUCTION OF ATLANTIC SALMON FROM FLUVIAL AND LACUSTRINE HABITATS ESTIMATED FROM ANALYSES OF SCALE CHARACTERISTICS

Empirical and back-calculated growth of Atlantic salmon parr were comp ared between fish reared in fluvial and lacustrine habitats of Conne R iver, Newfoundland. Length at age was significantly higher for lacustr ine parr. Various classification and maximum likelihood estimators ind icated that 75% or more of the fish used lakes for rearing. Lacustrine use is another aspect of the inherent variability and plasticity of A tlantic salmon life-history traits. As most Newfoundland river systems include lakes, estimates of regional spawning targets and potential s melt production will need to take lake habitat into account. (C) 1996 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles