Movements of Stream-Resident and Anadromous Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) in a Perennial Spring on the Canning River, Alaska

Abstract

Perennial springs in arctic drainages are used extensively by freshwater-resident and anadromous segments of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) populations. Movements of these fish were monitored in a small spring on the Canning River from May 23 to October 7, 1973, dates approximating spring breakup and winter freeze-up in the drainage. Char passing through the weir ranged in size from 22-mm fry to 595-mm anadromous spawners, though most fish were juveniles measuring 60–200 mm. The spring channel was utilized as (1) a spawning area for anadromous spawners and residual males in autumn, (2) a rearing area for fry and some older juveniles in summer, and most importantly (3) an overwintering area for juvenile char, especially those in their first and second winters of life. Key words: Arctic char, movements, spawning, overwintering, growth, perennial springs, Alaska, arctic