Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster E89
Höfundar / Authors: Lieke Ponsioen (1), Fia Finn (1,2), Gustav Hellström (3), Haraldur R. Ingvason (2), Benjamin D. Hennig (1), Zophonías O. Jónsson (1), Finnur Ingimarsson, Kalina H. Kapralova (4)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. Háskola Íslands, 2. Hafrannsóknastofnun, 3. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 4. Keldur
Kynnir / Presenter: Lieke Ponsioen
Thingvallavatn, Iceland´s largest lake, harbours four morphs of Arctic charr which have diverged along the benthic-limnetic ecological axis. Although research on Arctic charr in this lake dates back to the early 1800s, behaviours related to habitat choice remain poorly understood, largely due to the technical challenges of studying them in the wild. Acoustic telemetry provides an effective solution to this problem, as it allows for tracking free-ranging animals and assessing their behaviour in their natural environments with minimal disturbance. In this study 61 Arctic charr from all four morphs were tagged and their movements were monitored for an entire year. Data on location, depth, and temperature were collected, and kernel utilisation density analysis was applied to calculate short-term centres of activity and movement paths. The results revealed clear differences in spatial distribution among the morphs, with habitat use closely reflecting their morphology and diet. The information gathered on behaviour and ecology of Arctic charr in Thingvallavatn using acoustic telemetry is invaluable for conservation. This is particularly important given that Arctic charr populations have been declining in recent years, raising concerns about the future of this ecologically and culturally significant species.