Sigourney, Doug
(WFCON, PhD)
Project:
Modelling growth rates of juvenile Atlantic salmon
Contact:
dsigourndsigourn(at)eco.umass.edu
S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center
(413) 863-3850
Web links:
http://www.lsc.usgs.gov/CAFL/Ecology/Ecology.html
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Ben Letcher
Project abstract:
The goal of this project is to investigate the dynamics of individual growth rates of tagged juvenile Atlantic salmon. This information could be useful in the broader context biomass production and population dynamics. Atlantic salmon have complex life histories that include maturing in freshwater or migrating to sea to mature. Growth during the freshwater phase is a key determinant of the life history pathway an individual chooses. Using data from several systems I will develop a flexible Bayesian growth model that can be derived from von Bertalanffy growth equation. Because this model is derived from first principles of growth it will serve as a general mode for growth that could be applied to other organisms. A key feature of this model includes a seasonality function that can be used to infer the food environment experienced by individuals or different groups of individuals in the population over the course of a growing season.
Publications:
Sigourney, D.B., Letcher, B.H., Obedzinski, M., Cunjak, R.A. 2008. Size-independent
growth in fishes: patterns, models and metrics. Journal of Fish Biology 75:
2435-2455
Sigourney, D.B., Letcher, B.H. and Cunjak, R.A. 2006. Effects of beaver activity on
growth and life history of juvenile Atlantic salmon. Transactions of the
American Fisheries Society 135:1068-1075
Sigourney, D.B., Ross, M.R., Brodziak, J. and Burnett, J. Growth, sexual
maturity and distribution of Atlantic Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) in
the Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank region. 2006. Journal of Northwest
Atlantic Fishery Science36:81-90
Sigourney, D.B., Horton, G., Wendolowski, A., Dubreuil, T., and Letcher, B.H. 2005.
Electroshocking and PIT tagging juvenile Atlantic salmon: Are there interactive
effects on growth and survival? North American Journal of Fisheries Management
25:1016-1021
Last updated August 5, 2010 by
