Life-history and systematics of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus) in the Babbage River system, Yukon Territory

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dc.contributor.advisorDavies, Ronald W.
dc.contributor.authorBain, Lawrence Hugh
dc.coverage.spatial200000338en
dc.date.accessioned2005-07-19T21:32:35Z
dc.date.available2005-07-19T21:32:35Z
dc.date.issued1975
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 138-154.en
dc.description.abstractThree populations of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus [Linnaeus]) in the Babbage River system, Yukon Territory, had meristic characters that corresponded to those of the Western Arctic-Bering Sea form of the Arctic char. These populations consisted of: 1. Self-perpetuating non-anadromous Arctic char isolated in the spring-fed headwaters of the Babbage River; 2. non-anadromous Arctic char below a waterfall on the Babbage River which are derived from the isolated population; 3. a dimorphic population (anadromous males and females and mature non-anadromous males) utilizing Fish Hole Creek, a spring-fed tributary to the Babbage River . Three life-history patterns occur among these populations: anadromy , self- perpetuating non-anadromy, and non-anadromy in which only mature males are present. The non-anadromous Arctic char are characterized by small size (maximum 395 mm), low growth rates and low fecundities (maximum 653 eggs). Mature fish were darkly pigmented and parr marks and spawning colouration were retained throughout life . The spawning season appears to be in the fall (mid-September to mid- October) with the possibility of earlier spawning (August) occurring in the spring channels in the upper Babbage River. The non-anadromous populations (including the mature nonnnadromous males in Fish Hole Creek) demonstrate inherent differences in growth rates, age at maturity, longevity, peak spawning activity and meristic characters. There are substantial differences between the anadromous and nonanadromous populations in growth rate, age at maturity, fecundity and food habits. The former are characterized by large size (maximum 629 mm), relatively fast growth rate, high fecundity (maximum 5151 eggs) and repeat spawning after maturity. Post-spawning mortality is not indicated and spawning colouration is seasonal. The spawning season appeared to be sometime between mid- September and late October, when the eggs of mature females averaged 4.4 mm in diameter. Some meristic characters (first arch gillraker and vertebral counts) varied significantly between the anadromous ATctic char and the self-perpetuating non-anadromous Arctic char in the upper and lower Babbage River. The available meristic and life-history data suggest that the non-anadromous Arctic char populations do not differ appreciably from other populations of Western Arctic char and do not warrant classification as a distinct species.
dc.description.notesThis title is not available online. Access options are: - consulting the copy from Archives in our reading room in person - https://asc.ucalgary.ca/visiting/ - borrowing a circulating copy from the Library catalogue – https://ucalgary.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=01UCALG_INST:UCALGARY&lang=en
dc.format.extentxvii, 162 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier82480923en
dc.identifier.citationBain, L. H. (1975). Life-history and systematics of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus) in the Babbage River system, Yukon Territory (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/18426en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/18426
dc.identifier.lccQL 638 S2 B33 1975 Microficheen
dc.identifier.other82480923en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/15084
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject.lccQL 638 S2 B33 1975 Microficheen
dc.subject.lcshArctic char
dc.subject.lcshFishes - Yukon Territory
dc.titleLife-history and systematics of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus) in the Babbage River system, Yukon Territory
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineBiology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.thesis.accessionTheses Collection 58.002:Box 223 82480923
ucalgary.thesis.notesPLen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleasenoen
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