Over recent decades recreational fisheries have grown substantially throughout the world. Despite this increase, catches from recreational fisheries have often been ignored in fisheries management, although this is now being remedied. Monitoring recreational fisheries can be expensive, and the primary means used for monitoring is angler (creel) surveys, typically funded from sales of fishing licences. The studies presented in this thesis examine different approaches to monitoring recreational trolling fisheries’ catch and effort, where fishing licenses are not required and there are no reporting requirements. I present results from a complemented roving/mail-in survey undertaken during 2013-2014 to estimate recreational effort and catch of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (S. trutta) in the largest lake in the European Union, Lake Vänern, Sweden. I also evaluate different angler catch reporting methods (mail-in, tournament reports and face-to-face interviews) and compare catch rates within and among spring and fall fishing periods. In addition, mail-in survey data are examined for recall bias.   I estimate that 28.7 tonnes of salmon and trout combined were harvested by the recreational trolling fishery in 2014, more than the commercial and subsistence fisheries combined. Seasonal differences in both recreational effort and catch were observed. Effort, in boat hours, was significantly higher in spring than in fall. Catch rates of trout were higher in fall than in spring, but there were no seasonal differences in catches of salmon. Harvest per boat day did not differ significantly among catch reporting methods, indicating that all three methods could be useful for managers interested in harvest rates. In contrast, total and released catch per boat day differed among reporting methods, with tournament anglers catching more fish in total. Finally, there was little evidence for recall bias in mail-in surveys, indicating that mail-in surveys are useful for collecting unbiased catch data. My study is the most comprehensive angler survey to date for Lake Vänern, and my results should be of immediate use to local fisheries managers and should also be of interest to researchers and managers interested in estimating catch and effort for fisheries at large spatial scales. / Over the past several decades recreational fisheries have grown substantially throughout the world. Until recently, however, recreational catch has been ignored in the management of many important fisheries. The studies presented in this thesis examine different approaches to monitoring recreational trolling fisheries’ catch and effort in Lake Vänern, Sweden, the largest lake in the European Union. Paper I presents results from a complemented roving/mail-in survey, designed to estimate recreational effort and catch of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (S. trutta). The results show that the recreational trolling fishery today harvests more salmon and trout annually than the commercial and subsistence fisheries combined, and that there are seasonal patterns in effort and catch. Paper II evaluates different angler catch reporting methods (mail-in, tournament reports, and face-to-face interviews), compares catch rates within and among spring and fall fishing periods and examines mail-in data for recall bias. Harvest per boat day did not differ significantly among catch reporting methods, indicating that all three could be useful for estimating harvest rates. However, tournament anglers had higher rates for released catch. Finally, there was little evidence for recall bias in mail-in surveys. In summary, this thesis has developed the framework for a recreational angler survey program for Lake Vänern, and should be of interest to researchers and managers interested in estimating catch and effort for fisheries at large spatial scales.

<p>The passage efficiency of downstream migrating brown trout (Salmo trutta) smolts past two hydropower plants in the River Emån, southeastern Sweden, was evaluated by telemetry. From 26 April to 17 May 2005, 40 wild brown trout smolts were radio-tagged, and their positions were recorded daily until 14 June. Approximately 45% of the individuals passed both power plants, and 15% made it to the sea, some 28 km downstream of the power plants. About 20% of the individuals ceased migrating, residing in a lotic habitat. Mortality due to predation was 33%, and the predation rate was higher in the power plant dams than it was downstream of the power plants. Turbine-induced mortality was greater in the upper power plant (40%) than in the lower one (13%). Fish that chose the alternative routes, through the gates, swam past the upper dam faster than fish that swam through the turbines. The results confirm previous work in the river, namely that measures need to be taken to improve passage efficiency past the power plants, particularly passage of the upper power plant. Such measures are of crucial importance if the nature-like bypass channels at the power plants in Finsjö are going to have any long-term effects on the brown trout population.</p> / <p>Passageeffektiviteten för nedströms vandrande havsöringssmolt (Salmo trutta) förbi två vattenkraftverk i Emån, i sydöstra Sverige, utvärderades med telemetri. Från 26 april till och med 17 maj 2005 märktes 40 vilda havsöringssmolt med radiosändare och de positionsbestämdes dagligen till och med 14 juni. Ungefär 45% av individerna passerade båda kraftverken, och 15% klarade sig till havet, cirka 28 km nedströms kraftverken. Omkring 20% av individerna avbröt vandringen och stannade i ett lotiskt habitat. Mortalitet på grund av predation uppgick till 33%, och predationshastigheten var högre i kraftverksdammarna än nedströms kraftverken. Den turbininducerade mortaliteten var högre i det övre kraftverket (40%) än i det nedre (13%). Det gick fortare att passera den övre kraftverksdammen för fisk som valde de alternativa rutterna, genom dammluckorna, jämfört med att passera genom turbinerna. Dessa resultat bekräftar tidigare studier i ån, nämligen att åtgärder krävs för att förbättra passageeffektiviteten förbi kraftverken, i synnerhet passagen av det övre kraftverket. Sådana åtgärder är av avgörande betydelse om de naturlika fiskvägarna vid kraftverken i Finsjö ska få några långsiktiga effekter på havsöringspopulationen.</p>

The passage efficiency of downstream migrating brown trout (Salmo trutta) smolts past two hydropower plants in the River Emån, southeastern Sweden, was evaluated by telemetry. From 26 April to 17 May 2005, 40 wild brown trout smolts were radio-tagged, and their positions were recorded daily until 14 June. Approximately 45% of the individuals passed both power plants, and 15% made it to the sea, some 28 km downstream of the power plants. About 20% of the individuals ceased migrating, residing in a lotic habitat. Mortality due to predation was 33%, and the predation rate was higher in the power plant dams than it was downstream of the power plants. Turbine-induced mortality was greater in the upper power plant (40%) than in the lower one (13%). Fish that chose the alternative routes, through the gates, swam past the upper dam faster than fish that swam through the turbines. The results confirm previous work in the river, namely that measures need to be taken to improve passage efficiency past the power plants, particularly passage of the upper power plant. Such measures are of crucial importance if the nature-like bypass channels at the power plants in Finsjö are going to have any long-term effects on the brown trout population. / Passageeffektiviteten för nedströms vandrande havsöringssmolt (Salmo trutta) förbi två vattenkraftverk i Emån, i sydöstra Sverige, utvärderades med telemetri. Från 26 april till och med 17 maj 2005 märktes 40 vilda havsöringssmolt med radiosändare och de positionsbestämdes dagligen till och med 14 juni. Ungefär 45% av individerna passerade båda kraftverken, och 15% klarade sig till havet, cirka 28 km nedströms kraftverken. Omkring 20% av individerna avbröt vandringen och stannade i ett lotiskt habitat. Mortalitet på grund av predation uppgick till 33%, och predationshastigheten var högre i kraftverksdammarna än nedströms kraftverken. Den turbininducerade mortaliteten var högre i det övre kraftverket (40%) än i det nedre (13%). Det gick fortare att passera den övre kraftverksdammen för fisk som valde de alternativa rutterna, genom dammluckorna, jämfört med att passera genom turbinerna. Dessa resultat bekräftar tidigare studier i ån, nämligen att åtgärder krävs för att förbättra passageeffektiviteten förbi kraftverken, i synnerhet passagen av det övre kraftverket. Sådana åtgärder är av avgörande betydelse om de naturlika fiskvägarna vid kraftverken i Finsjö ska få några långsiktiga effekter på havsöringspopulationen.

Les anàlisis realitzades en cent deu poblacions de truita comuna (Salmo trutta) que abarquen el seu rang natural de distribució indiquen que el patró filogenètic es relaciona amb les tres grans vessants on es troba distribuïda l'espècie: ponto-càspia, atlàntica i mediterrània. Aquesta diferenciació estaria associada a l'aïllament de les vessants durant el Quaternari. L'origen de l'espècie es relaciona amb la vessant ponto-càspia, d'acord amb els models biogeogràfics que postulen l'origen asiàtic de la ictiofauna europea. S'ha detectat també un segon nivell de divergència dins de cada vessant que dóna com a resultat l'existència de sis llinatges evolutius: Atlàntic i Duero a la vessant atlàntica, els llinatges Adriàtic, Mediterrani i Marmoratus als rius mediterranis, i el llinatge Danubi a la zona ponto-càspia.Les glaciacions del Pleistocè han modificat profundament el rang de distribució de la truita comuna, especialment a la vessant atlàntica, on s'han proposat quatre grans refugis glacials: a l'est de la capa de gel, a Europa central, a l'entorn del canal de la Mànega i a l'entorn del golf de Biscaia; tot i que només els tres primers haurien participat en la recolonització del nord d'Europa al final de l'última glaciació. El quart refugi, que inclou el sud de França i el Cantàbric hauria estat l'origen de l'expansió cap al sud durant el Pleistocè Superior d'un grup de poblacions distribuïdes actualment a la vessant atlàntica ibèrica, i també hauria servit de base per a l'expansió cap al nord d'altres grups de truita durant interglacials anteriors.A la vessant atlàntica de la peninsula Ibèrica, l'estructura poblacional es troba associada a la xarxa hidrogràfica i es determinen fins a cinc unitats poblacionals: les truites dels rius Cantàbrics, les del Miño, les del Duero, les del Tajo i les del Guadalquivir. Les poblacions del Guadalquivir pertanyerien a un grup d'influència mediterrània. Els marcadors d'al·lozims i de DNA mitocondrial es troben fortament correlacionats en aquesta vessant, on apunten cap als mateixos grups de poblacions. Per contra, els rius de la vessant mediterrània haurien estat colonitzats pels llinatges Adriàtic i Mediterrani i s'hauria produït una intensa intergradació secundària entre aquests llinatges durant els períodes glacials a partir de l'expansió de les poblacions retingudes a les capçaleres durant els interglacials. Els grups de hibridació, l'aïllament i la deriva en el període interglacial fa que els grups de poblacions identificats pels marcadors d'al·lozims i de DNA mitocondrial no coincideixin. / The analyses performed in one hundred and ten brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations that cover its native European distribution, shows that the phylogenetic pattern is associated with the three major basins occupied by the species: Ponto-Caspian, Atlantic and Mediterranean. This differentiation is related with basin isolations during the Quaternary. The origin of the species is placed in the Ponto-Caspian region, in clear agreement with biogeographic models that postulates the Asian origin of European ichthyofauna. Further divergence occurred in the mid-lower Pleistocene generated the actual lineages: Atlantic and Duero in the Atlantic basin, Adriatic, Mediterranean and Marmoratus lineages in the Mediterranean rivers and the Danubian lineage in the Ponto-Caspian area.Pleistocene glacial periods have deeply modified the distribution range of brown trout, mainly in the Atlantic basin, where four major glacial refugia have been proposed: (i), at the East side of the ice sheet, (ii), in Central Europe, (iii), around the English Channel and (iv), around the Bay of Biscay. Only the three first seem to be involved in the recolonization of North Europe at the end of the last glacial period. The fourth glacial refugia, placed in Southern France and the Cantrabrian Sea area, would have been the origin of a southern expansion during Late Pleistocene. Nowadays, those trout populations are distributed in the Atlantic basin of the Iberian Peninsula. This glacial refugia could also be involved in older recolonizations of North-Europe previous to last glacial process.Brown trout population structure in areas at the Atlantic basin of the Iberian Peninsula is associated with river network. Thus, five trout population groups could be determined: trout from the Cantabrian Rivers, from the Miño River, from the Duero River, from the Tajo River and trout populations from the Guadalquivir basin. These last populations show a strong Mediterranean influence. In this basin, comparisons involving allozyme and mitochondrial DNA data are strongly correlated and points towards the same population groups. The rivers in the Mediterranean basin have been colonized by Adriatic and Mediterranean lineages, and strong secondary intergradations are reported among them during glacial periods. Population groups identified by allozyme and mitochondrial DNA do not agree as a consequence of this intergradation, as well as isolation and genetic drift during interglacial periods.

High-resolution velocity measurements were undertaken over a series of redds and riffles on a gravel-bed stream to quantify the hydrodynamics preferred by spawning brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) for redd-site selection. On each riffle studied, over 6,000 velocity measurements per day were acquired to quantify the velocity, depth, Reynolds number, Froude number, bed shear, and turbulent kinetic energy per unit area of streambed in attempts to relate fluid properties to redd-site selection, relative to remaining riffle structures. Results showed that velocity, Reynolds number, and Froude number vary widely at the redd- and riffle-scale with no apparent correlation to spawning location preference. Turbulent kinetic energy per unit area consistently demonstrated a strong correlation with redd locations whereby the metric maintained low values (i.e., unidirectional flow with little turbulence) where redds and attempted redds were observed. Habitat suitability indices were applied at the reach-, riffle-, and redd-scale using the results of the high-resolution velocity measurements. Findings demonstrated that habitat suitability indices, which are based on reach-scale hydraulics, were adequately represented at the reach scale. However, by decreasing the scale to the riffle- or redd-scale, where increasing heterogeneity in the flow regime is revealed, habitat suitability indices failed to adequately reflect the habitat conditions preferred by the spawning fish.

High-resolution velocity measurements were undertaken over a series of redds and riffles on a gravel-bed stream to quantify the hydrodynamics preferred by spawning brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) for redd-site selection. On each riffle studied, over 6,000 velocity measurements per day were acquired to quantify the velocity, depth, Reynolds number, Froude number, bed shear, and turbulent kinetic energy per unit area of streambed in attempts to relate fluid properties to redd-site selection, relative to remaining riffle structures. Results showed that velocity, Reynolds number, and Froude number vary widely at the redd- and riffle-scale with no apparent correlation to spawning location preference. Turbulent kinetic energy per unit area consistently demonstrated a strong correlation with redd locations whereby the metric maintained low values (i.e., unidirectional flow with little turbulence) where redds and attempted redds were observed. Habitat suitability indices were applied at the reach-, riffle-, and redd-scale using the results of the high-resolution velocity measurements. Findings demonstrated that habitat suitability indices, which are based on reach-scale hydraulics, were adequately represented at the reach scale. However, by decreasing the scale to the riffle- or redd-scale, where increasing heterogeneity in the flow regime is revealed, habitat suitability indices failed to adequately reflect the habitat conditions preferred by the spawning fish.

Forests surrounding streams affect aquatic communities in numerous ways, contributing to energy fluxes between terrestrial and lotic ecosystems. The five papers in this thesis focus on woody debris, terrestrial invertebrates and light, three factors influenced by riparian zone structure, potentially affecting streams and brown trout (Salmo trutta). The individual strength of these stressors and their interactions with each other are not well studied, and their qualitative effects may differ both spatially and temporally as well as with the size-structure of specific fish populations. Using a combination of laboratory and field experiments, I examined the effects of woody debris, terrestrial invertebrates and light on prey availability and on the growth rates, diets and behavior of different size-classes of trout. My field experiments showed that addition of high densities of large wood affected trout growth in a positive way. This positive effect of large wood on trout growth may be related to prey abundance, as indicated by the high standing crop of aquatic macroinvertebrates on the wood. The positive effects on trout may also be related to decreased energy expenditures in wood habitats, as trout increased the ratio between numbers of prey captured and time spent active and that swimming activity and level of aggression decreased as wood densities were increased in a laboratory experiment. Terrestrial invertebrates are generally assumed to be a high quality prey resource for fish and my field experiments showed that reduction of terrestrial invertebrate inputs had a negative effect on trout growth. The availability of terrestrial prey in the stream was also coupled to trout diet and linked to growth, as fish with high growth rates had high proportions of terrestrial prey in their diets. Light, measured as PAR, did not have an effect on chlorophyll biomass, nor was there an effect on aquatic macroinvertebrates or trout. Hence, even if light levels were sufficient for increased photosynthesis, other factors such as low nutrient content may have limited the effects. Many of my results were dependent on fish-size. I observed, for example, that large trout had higher capture rates on surface-drifting terrestrial prey than small trout when prey densities were intermediate or high, but at low prey densities, the consumption of terrestrial prey by large and small trout were similar. Moreover, although large wood and terrestrial invertebrates affected growth of both small and large trout, the effects were generally more consistent for large trout. Although changes in riparian forests typically induce an array of interacting effects that certainly call for further research, the overall conclusion from this thesis is that many of the factors I have studied have profound effects on stream biota and trout. The positive effects from large wood also propose that adding trees to streams may partly compensate for negative effects associated with riparian deforestation.

This thesis deals with the influence of population density on the growth of brown trout Salmo trutta. The research was carried out in the Šumava National Park in the river basins of two oligotrophic streams, the Vydra and the Křemelná. Data has been collected between years 2005 and 2010, every spring and autumn. Fish were caught via electrofishing and the length and weight of each individual were measured. Every individual caught was marked in a unique way. A few samples of scales were taken from some of them. The scales were fixed into laboratory slides, scanned and measured by graphic software. According to the differences between annual lamellas density, the age and the annual growth of individual's body length were estimated. Thanks to these results a negative relationship between the individuals' of age 1+ growth rate and the population density was confirmed. The importance of this thesis is mainly in comparing the influence of different spatial and time definitions of population on this relationship. The influence of the population density in spring (the initial time of the growth period) was proved to be essential for the growth rate. This fact suggests the importance of compensation growth intensity after the long period of winter for individual's general growth under conditions provided by...

Previous studies suggest that global warming threatens populations of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus L.) and that interspecific competition from brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) can have negative effects when the species occur in sympatry. The aim of this study was to investigate if populations of Arctic char have declined in the last decades in lakes where they in the past have coexisted with brown trout. I examined this by revisiting five lakes previously sampled in the mountain region of Västerbotten (Sweden) during the 1960´s. This study repeated earlier sampling methods and examined the population size, biomasses and individual size and weight of all fish. Results showed increased abundances of brown trout and a trend towards declining Arctic char populations in the five lakes. Both Arctic char and brown trout currently had higher mean lengths than previous sampling years. This study also examined the diet and growth rate of both species. The diet analysis showed that the species to some extent overlapped in diet, while they also showed clear differences, where Arctic charr e.g. consumed more pelagic zooplankton. The growth rate was higher for Arctic char and differed between lakes. The shift towards more brown trout dominated lakes could depend on both that the two species are differently affected by a warmer climate, and that fishing habits have changed since the 1960´s. A warmer climate likely changed the species interaction in favor of trout and could lead to more competition and predation on Arctic char.

Egg stocking in rivers and streams is a common measure to support and re-introduce salmonid populations. To ensure the success of egg stocking programs, knowledge of the early life stages of juveniles including dispersal ability and habitat preferences of fry is a prerequisite. This study was conducted to investigate downstream dispersal patterns and habitat use of young of the year brown trout in a mid-sized, channelized, boreal river in Sweden. Eyed trout eggs were stocked in February of 2021. During August of the same year, 2-3 months after emergence, trout were sampled by electrofishing within 1 km downstream of the stocking sites and each individual point of capture was recorded by GPS. In addition, data on riverbank slope, shoreline irregularity, stream bed substrate, water velocity and water depth were collected for each of the sampling sections. The results showed that trout fry were distributed throughout the 1 km long sampled sections and that the density of fry did not increase towards the stocking points. The observed variation in the distribution of trout fry was best explained by the riverbank slope. Approximately twice as high fry densities were found in reaches with gentle compared to medium and steep bank slopes. The differences are suggested to be an effect of 1) stream marginal water velocity differences during high flows affecting fry occupancy, and 2) that gentle slopes were often accompanied by shallow water, preferred by fry. These findings may provide helpful knowledge for fisheries managers to optimize the outcome of egg stocking and river restoration activities regarding fry recruitment. / Romutsättning i vattendrag är en vanlig åtgärd för att stärka och återetablera populationer av laxartade fiskar. För att lyckas med romutsättningar krävs kunskap om ynglens spridningsförmåga och habitatpreferenser. Denna studie genomfördes för att undersöka spridningsmönster och habitatval av ensomrig öring i en medelstor kanaliserad älv i Sverige. Ögonpunktad rom sattes ut i februari 2021. Under augusti samma år, 2-3 månader efter att ynglen lämnat lekgruset elfiskades 1 km långa sträckor direkt nedströms utsättningsplatserna. De fångade individernas position registrerades med GPS. Data över strandkantens lutning, strandzonens flikighet, bottensubstrat, vattenhastighet och djup samlades in för varje elfiskesträcka. Resultatet visade att öringyngel spridit sig över hela de 1 km långa elfiskesträckorna, och att tätheterna av yngel inte ökade med minskat avstånd till utsättningspunkterna. Den observerade variationen i fördelningen av öringyngel förklarades bäst av strandkantens lutning. Ungefär dubbelt så hög täthet av yngel förekom i sträckor med flack jämfört med medel och brant lutning. Skillnaderna föreslås vara en effekt av 1) skillnader i vattenhastighet under höga vattenflöden som påverkar ynglens möjligheter till att bibehålla sin position i habitatet, och 2) att flack lutning av strandkanten ofta åtföljdes av grunt vatten vilket föredras av yngel. Dessa upptäckter kan bidra med värdefull kunskap för att optimera romutsättningar och restaureringar i avseende på rekrytering av årsyngel.