Density of juvenile brown trout and Atlantic salmon in natural and man-natural riverine habitats

Abstract

The density of juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) and Atlantic salmon (Salmon salar L.) was significantly higher along river bank areas protected against erosion than along natural river banks in the River Gaula, Central Norway. A habitat shift appeared in Atlantic salmon, and a behavioural shift was demonstrated by brown trout from August to October. The effect of habitat on densities of juvenile salmonids should be taken into account as mitigation measures on eroded river banks and when accessing fish production in rivers.