Synopsis
Migration of smolts in the River Piddle, Dorset, was studied over three years in relation to factors that could influence downstream movement. The river originates mostly from groundwater springs, resulting in stable flows and low turbidity except in very rainy weither. Fish were intercepted at the tidal limit in a fixed trap-net, and measurements of water temperature, discharge, turbidity, barometric pressure, rainfall and solar radiation taken nearby. Slightly increased turbidity and discharge following heavy rain initiated major movements during two nights of the total of 55 days studied. At other times large-scale movements rock place during sunny warm afternoons. Both solar radiation and water temperature were correlated with intensity and timing of movement. The pattern of migration is different from that reported on other rivers, reflecting the relatively stable flow regime of the chalkstream.
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Solomon, D.J. Migration of smolts of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and sea trout (Salmo trutta L.) in a chalkstream. Environ Biol Fish 3, 223–229 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691946
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691946