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Introduction
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The
Arctic Char, Salvelinus alpinus, in Ireland Distribution
Landlocked arctic
char commonly occur in cold, deep glacial lakes. The lakes of the
Alps and Scotland are good examples. These lakes are characterised
by being rather oligotrophic, with high levels of dissolved oxygen
and pristine water quality. In Ireland they occur in similar lakes
and also in relatively shallow, biologically productive lakes.
 Copyright
2003. ICCG ©2003 |
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The
arctic char has the most northerly geographic distribution of any
freshwater fish. It has been found as far north as 81° 50’N
in Hazen Lake. The center for distribution of arctic char in which
it reaches its maximum density and maximum individual size is the
frozen coastline of the Arctic Ocean. The southerly extent of their
range approximates that of the extent of winter sea ice, roughly
between 64° and 65° N. Below this latitude arctic char do not display
anadromous behaviour and, in any case, most populations are landlocked.
However, landlocked populations occur throughout the range of the
arctic char. Interestingly there are both anadromous and non-migratory
arctic char in Hazen Lake. 
