http://hdl.handle.net/1893/1933
Appears in Collections: | Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal Articles |
Peer Review Status: | Refereed |
Title: | Impacts of piscivorous birds on salmonid populations and game fisheries in Scotland: a review |
Author(s): | Harris, Catriona Calladine, John R Wernham, Chris Park, Kirsty |
Contact Email: | k.j.park@stir.ac.uk |
Keywords: | piscivore salmonid Fish culture Salmonidae Salmon Trout |
Issue Date: | Dec-2008 |
Date Deposited: | 22-Dec-2009 |
Citation: | Harris C, Calladine JR, Wernham C & Park K (2008) Impacts of piscivorous birds on salmonid populations and game fisheries in Scotland: a review. Wildlife Biology, 14 (4), pp. 395-411. http://www.wildlifebiology.com/Volumes/2008+-+volume+14/4/738/En/; https://doi.org/10.2981/0909-6396-14.4.395 |
Abstract: | The Scottish populations of salmonids are important both ecologically and economically. Game fisheries for Atlantic salmon, sea trout and brown trout are all highly acclaimed and generate substantial levels of income for Scotland, but many populations are in decline and efforts are being made to ensure the future sustainability of these species. These declines have led to a focus on the impact of piscivorous bird predation on fish populations. The purpose of this review was to assess the evidence for population-level impacts on salmonid populations, and/or economic impacts on Scottish game fisheries of predation by the four primary UK freshwater piscivorous bird species; cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, goosander Mergus merganser, red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator and grey heron Ardea cinerea. There is evidence that these birds can, in some situations, remove large numbers of fish from stocked and natural fisheries. However, a lack of information on fish population levels, the numbers and species composition of feeding birds, and robust calculations of fish consumption has hampered the conversion of the results of the existing studies into useful quantitative measures of impact. As a consequence, few studies have demonstrated any reductions in numbers of breeding fish or fish productivity due to predation by piscivorous birds, or direct economic loss to fisheries in Scotland. We support a previous recommendation for a reiterative procedure of modelling, experimentation and remodelling to assess the impacts of piscivorous birds on fisheries. Wide-scale studies of the movements of piscivorous birds, their feeding locations in relation to river characteristics, and the factors that make fish particularly vulnerable to predation are seen as important areas for future research. |
URL: | http://www.wildlifebiology.com/Volumes/2008+-+volume+14/4/738/En/ |
DOI Link: | 10.2981/0909-6396-14.4.395 |
Rights: | The publisher has not responded to our queries therefore this work cannot be made publicly available in this Repository. Please use the Request a Copy feature at the foot of the Repository record to request a copy directly from the author; you can only request a copy if you wish to use this work for your own research or private study. |
Notes: | Author name change: Catriona M. Stephenson has become Catriona M. Harris. |
Licence URL(s): | http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/under-embargo-all-rights-reserved |
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