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The brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the lake, Øvre Heimdalsvatn: long-term changes in population dynamics due to exploitation and the invasive species, European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)

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Abstract

Studies of the brown trout (Salmo trutta) population in the Norwegian subalpine lake, Øvre Heimdalsvatn, over a 50-year period have revealed major changes in population dynamics. In 1958, the population density was high, with individuals stagnating in growth at lengths below 30 cm. After heavy exploitation during the years 1958–1969, the number of older fish declined substantially, and growth rates increased significantly. Since 1969, the European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) have been observed in the lake, with increasing densities from 1977–1978 to 1999–2000. The age structure of the brown trout population has changed markedly from the 1960s to the period 1993–2006. Annual recruitment significantly declined, from an average number of 3746 individuals in age-class 4 during the period 1958–1966 to an average of 1668 during the period 1993–2006. However, due to lower exploitation rates, the number of old fish was significantly higher in the latter period. The summer diet of brown trout has changed substantially from a dominance of the large crustaceans Lepidurus arcticus and Gammarus lacustris to a high occurrence of European minnows, while L. arcticus has become practically absent from the diet. There was a negative relationship between brown trout biomass and annual length increment. However, despite a brown trout biomass at the same level during the years 1993–2006 as in the 1960s, annual individual growth rates have significantly declined. The reduced recruitment and reduced annual growth rates of the brown trout, as well as changes in the diet, are most likely related to the introduction and establishment of the invasive species, the European minnow.

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Acknowledgements

In addition to our own sampling, this study is a compilation of results from several M.Sc. theses, all supervised by the authors, except that of Pernille Bruun. We sincerely thank all these former students. We also thank the large number of people who have assisted during the fieldwork, especially John Gunnar Dokk for his invaluable help. The financial support for the fieldwork by the Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences is acknowledged. Thanks are also due to the University of Oslo for use of the field station on Øvre Heimdalsvatn. A special thanks to two reviewers whose comments were very helpful and contributed to improve an earlier version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432, Ås, Norway

    Reidar Borgstrøm & John E. Brittain

  2. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Fakkelgården, 2624, Lillehammer, Norway

    Jon Museth

  3. Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172, Blindern, 0318, Oslo, Norway

    John E. Brittain

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  1. Reidar Borgstrøm
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  2. Jon Museth
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Correspondence to Reidar Borgstrøm.

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Guest editors: J. E. Brittain & R. Borgstrøm / The subalpine lake ecosystem, Øvre Heimdalsvatn, and its catchment: local and global changes over the last 50 years

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Borgstrøm, R., Museth, J. & Brittain, J.E. The brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the lake, Øvre Heimdalsvatn: long-term changes in population dynamics due to exploitation and the invasive species, European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus). Hydrobiologia 642, 81–91 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0161-7

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