Spatial variation in population dynamics of juvenile Atlantic salmon: implications for conservation and management

Application of habitat models for predicting expected local densities of Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar in healthy populations has been hampered by a lack of generality in their fit to data from different systems. It is believed that this problem results at least in part from difficulties of effectively integrating factors that act across a range of spatial and temporal scales. Here, as an aid to developing more robust modelling and sampling methodologies, a simple process‐based model for local‐scale dynamics of Atlantic salmon juveniles is developed from first principles by integrating contemporary understanding of self‐thinning, density‐dependent growth and dispersal. The aim is to present a readily understood structure to illustrate the links between spawning and stocking strategies, habitat, migration and fish production. Based on this structure, contemporary understanding of the more complex biological processes that affect density, growth and habitat are discussed in relation to some of the key requirements of managers, including stocking for rehabilitation, assessment of predation impact and development of strategies for sampling populations effectively when deriving habitat‐production models. A major conclusion is that more structured, integrated research is required to provide the basic variables needed to model links between local and global scale habitat and fish production effectively. Nevertheless, application of the current understanding of the biology of Atlantic salmon should be of great benefit to managers in extracting key information from field surveys.