Stiftelsen Oscar och Lili Lamms Minne
Du är här: Hem // 2011 
TitelEffects of Atlantic salmon on ecosystem processes: cycling and spatial translocation of nutrients
NoFO2011-0088
UniversitetSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences
InstitutionDepartment of Wildlife, Fish, & Environmental studies
HuvudsökandeRahmat Naddafi
Beviljat belopp 300 000
Sammanfattning
Wild populations of Atlantic salmon, a charismatic and economically important taxon, have been destroyed in many Baltic Sea rivers. Most part of the present natural Baltic salmon production is in the Northern Part of Baltic sea (i.e., rivers within Northern Sweden and Finland). Thus the factors that control ecosystem processes such as productivity and nutrient cycling in these rivers, would be highly important for salmon stock production. One of these important factors is the effect of salmon on stream nutrient dynamics and communities through nutrient cycling (excretion) and spatial translocation of nutrients from Baltic Sea to the freshwater rivers. However, the role of predators including fish in ecosystem nutrient dynamics have been often overlooked and a major challenge is to quantify how fish affects stream ecosystem processes. The main objective of this proposal is to investigate how Atlantic salmon influence ecosystem nutrient dynamics. Using mesocosms experiments, I will study how Atlantic salmon affect ecological communities and ecosystem nutrient dynamics through nutrient production (carcasses and direct excretion), and spatial translocation of nutrients across ecosystem boundaries. Using Stable Isotope Analyses, I will then test the prediction from these experiments in the field via addressing the question of how transported nitrogen or carbon incorporate into the tissues of aquatic organisms and riparian plant communities. Experiments on the effect of salmon carcasses on growth of young salmonids and macroinvertebrates biomass will be accomplished in mid June-late July 2012. Experiment on nutrient excretion rate of salmon will be done in August 2012. Field works to sample ecological communities in streams along with stable isotope analyses will be performed in autumn 2012. This proposal will advance our knowledge on how fish affect ecosystem processes. Understanding the ecological relationships between salmon runs and ecosystem nutrient dynamics as well as the species interactions should be important for salmon stock protection and restoration and for aquatic ecosystem management.