Life history variation in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and the effects of diet and migration on the growth, condition, and body morphology of two Arctic charr populations in Cumberland Sound, Nunavut, Canada

Abstract

Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758)) are phenotypically plastic with multiple dietary–morphological relationships observed throughout their circumpolar range. Feeding strategies often differ between Arctic charr life histories and can impact size-at-age and morphological attributes. We examined growth, condition, and body morphology for two High Arctic populations of Arctic charr with anadromous and landlocked life histories. Anadromous Arctic charr had higher growth rates, achieving mean lengths two times those of landlocked Arctic charr by age 10 and had higher overall condition, particularly in the fall. Ontogenetic shifts in diet were suspected in both populations, with an abrupt shift to marine feeding in the anadromous population and a gradual shift to piscivory in the landlocked population. Morphological differences between life histories manifested most predominantly in larger eye diameter, longer pectoral and pelvic fins, and longer upper jaws of landlocked Arctic charr, suggestive of piscivorous feeding specialization of landlocked fish >350 mm. Our findings emphasize the benefits that marine feeding can have for growth and condition of freshwater fishes in Arctic environments and also convey the necessity of adaptive feeding strategies to optimize growth and condition in fishes inhabiting low-production lacustrine habitats.

Keywords

• adaptation
• high arctic
• ontogenetic shift
• freshwater
• marine