Annual growth of brown trout in alpine lakes is highly influenced by spring snow depth and ice-out day

Abstract

Growth of annular zones in otoliths of brown trout from the alpine lakes Litlosvatn and Kollsvatn on western part of the Hardangervidda mountain plateau have been studied during the period 2004–2021, concurrent with recordings of accumulated snow in spring and dates of ice-out. Unlike the conditions in lowland areas, years with much accumulated snow have not decreased during the last decades, and years with delayed ice break-up are still frequent, opposite the trend observed elsewhere in Europe and in North America. The annual growth of the brown trout otoliths is significantly reduced in years with much snow in April and late ice-out dates, irrespective of age of the fish, indicating that somatic growth of brown trout is considerably reduced in such years. Accumulated snow in spring and ice-out day may thus be useful parameters in predictions of fish production and potential yield in such alpine lakes.