Flow requirements of spawning Atlantic salmon in an upland stream: Implications far water-resource management

The spawning sites selected by female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were su rveyed over three consecutive years in the Girnock Burn, Aberdeenshire, Sco tland, Discharge was calculated for each spawning site to assess within-cat chment variation in spawning discharge selection. In total, 428 incidents o f female spawning activity were logged at 48 sites. Fish selected relativel y high flows in which to spawn, with the lowest utilised discharge being eq uivalent to the burn's 50 percentile flow. The results emphasise the importance of relatively high flaws during the sp awning season and, more specifically, a range of flows which ensures that s ites are distributed as widely as possible and are accessible and suitable.