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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 59(7)

Evidence of diadromous movements in a coastal population of southern smelts (Retropinninae: Retropinna) from Victoria, Australia

David A. Crook A B , Jed I. Macdonald A and Tarmo A. Raadik A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, Vic. 3084, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: david.crook@dse.vic.gov.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 59(7) 638-646 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF07238
Submitted: 11 December 2007  Accepted: 18 May 2008   Published: 24 July 2008

Abstract

Understanding the migratory behaviour of fishes is critical to the conservation and management of fish assemblages in coastal rivers. We analysed the otolith chemical signatures of smelt, Retropinna sp., from inland and coastal populations in mainland south-eastern Australia to determine whether individuals within coastal populations of the species were diadromous. Assessments of otolith chemical composition combined with water chemistry data were used to make inferences about the migration histories of individual fish. A proportion of the smelt collected from the freshwater reaches of a coastal river exhibited diadromous movements, with the majority of fish analysed showing evidence of estuarine or marine occupation as larvae/juveniles and a minority inhabiting freshwater throughout their life histories. A broad range in the daily ages of upstream migration into freshwater (15–106 days) and the timing of these migrations suggest that spawning and migration occur over several months during the summer/autumn period. The results of this study suggest that southern smelts are an ecologically variable taxonomic group and that conservation and management actions should take into account the range of migratory behaviours exhibited both within populations and across regions.

Additional keywords: barium, diadromy, fish migration, life history, otolith chemistry, Retropinnidae, strontium.


Acknowledgements

We thank Mike Shelley and Steve Eggins (Australian National University) for invaluable advice and assistance with the LA-ICPMS analysis. Staff at the Australian Government National Measurement Institute in Sydney conducted the analysis of the water samples. Damien O’Mahony, Kris Pitman, Paul Tinkler and John Littlewood (Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research) assisted with the fieldwork. Michael Smith (Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research) and two anonymous referees are gratefully acknowledged for helpful comments and advice regarding the manuscript. This work was carried out under Victorian Fisheries Research Permit RP827 and animal ethics permits ARI AEC 04/014 and AES/04/03/AEC.


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