Methods for assessing social status in Arctic charr

The aggression index is a more reliable method for assessing the social sta tus of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus held in small groups, than is food i ntake or position relative to a defensible food resource. However, care mus t be taken when assigning rank, as all three of these commonly used methods can result in different social ranks for an individual fish. (C) 2000 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.