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Ghoti†
Why are so many boreal freshwater fishes anadromous? Confronting ‘conventional wisdom’
Article first published online: 31 MAR 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-2979.2008.00271.x
© 2008 The Author. Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Additional Information
How to Cite
McDowall, R. M. (2008), Why are so many boreal freshwater fishes anadromous? Confronting ‘conventional wisdom’. Fish and Fisheries, 9: 208–213. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-2979.2008.00271.x
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Publication History
- Issue published online: 31 MAR 2008
- Article first published online: 31 MAR 2008
- Received 18 Oct 2007 Accepted 3 Jan 2008
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Anadromy;
- clupeidae;
- glaciation;
- marine productivity;
- Osmeridae;
- Salmonidae
Abstract
Suggestions that anadromy predominates in northern high latitudes because boreal marine seas have high primary productivity are questioned. Instead, post-Pleistocene invasion of far northern fresh waters, which became inhabitable as Pleistocene temperatures ameliorated, via coastal seas, is suggested as a primary cause for northern distributions of widely anadromous fish families. Also, cold temperature preferences may be implicated in determining the ranges of these families, as well as the inhospitability of far northern fresh waters and the lack of ecosystem space to support the huge populations of boreal anadromous fishes. Moreover, there are significant numbers of tropical anadromous fish species.