Lo Persson

My research profile

My research is focused on aquatic ecology and migrating salmonids, in particular Atlantic salmon. During my PhD education I studied effects of different feeding regimes on the phenotype; the smolt migration; and the adult return rates, in hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon. After attaining my doctorate I hope to include more wild fish and also expand the scope to what is happening with the fish in the sea. What determines how they succeed and how long they stay in the sea before they return to their home river? I’m also interested in the health status of salmon and questions related to their downstream and upstream migration in regulated rivers.

I’m used to handling fish, mainly juveniles, and I have tagged a few thousand fish with PIT-tags and a few hundred with acoustic tags (surgical implantation). During my time as a PhD student I worked closely with other people at the university as well as the staff at the hatchery and various field technicians and I’m a big fan of teamwork. When it comes to publishing I really enjoy discussing results and theories and I enjoy writing.

I like to pursue a carrier as a scientist and my goal is to increase the knowledge about migrating fish and contribute to the conservation of species and related ecosystem services.

I have given lectures both at the undergraduate and master level here at SLU and elsewhere. Topics that I have covered are related to fish and wildlife census techniques (including handling and tagging of fish), and to fish farming and aquaculture.

Co-supervisor for PhD student David Hammenstig Dec 2017 - ongoing.

Co-supervisor for two Master students during thesis work 2012, 2013.

Supervisor for four Bachelor students during thesis work, 2011, 2012.

Peer-reviewed articles

Cashoin, T., Glaser, S., Persson, L., Roberts, P. M., and D. Zeller. 2017. Fisheries in Somali waters: Reconstruction of domestic and foreign cathces for 1950-2015. Marine Policy, 87, p. 275-283.

Hellström, G., Klaminder, J., Finn, F., Persson, L., Alanärä, A., Jonsson, M., Fick, J. & Brodin, T. 2016. GABAergic anxiolytic drug in water increases migration behaviour in salmon. Nature Communications 7.

Persson, L. and A. Alanärä. 2014. The effect of shelter on welfare of juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar reared under a feed restriction regimen. Journal of Fish Biology, 85 (3) p. 645-656.

Näslund, J., Rosengren, M., Del Villar, D., Gansel, L., Norrgård, J., Persson, L., Winkowski, J., and E. Kvingedal. 2013. Hatchery tank enrichment affects cortisol levels and shelter-seeking in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 70 (4) p. 585-590.

Zeller, D., Rossing, P., Harper, S., Persson, L., Booth, S. and D. Pauly. 2011. The Baltic Sea: estimates of total fisheries removals 1950-2007. Fisheries Research, 108 (2-3) p. 356-363.

Other publications

Persson, L. 2017. Effects of feeding regimes on phenotype and performance in Atlantic salmon. Doctoral thesis no. 2017:100, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Alanärä, A., Rask, J., and L. Persson. 2017. Uppföljning av återvandrande lax. Rapport 2017:456, Energiforsk, p. 52.

Persson, L., Lindop, A., Harper, S., Zylich, K., and D. Zeller. 2016. Somalia. P. 390. In: Global Atlas of Marine Fisheries: A critical appraisal of catches and ecosystem impacts. Pauly, D. and D. Zeller (eds.), Island Press, Washington D.C.

Persson, L. 2016. Sweden (Baltic). P. 404 In: Global Atlas of Marine Fisheries: A critical appraisal of catches and ecosystem impacts. Pauly, D. and D. Zeller (eds.), Island Press, Washington D.C.

Persson, L. 2016. Sweden (West Coast). P. 405 In: Global Atlas of Marine Fisheries: A critical appraisal of catches and ecosystem impacts. Pauly, D. and D. Zeller (eds.), Island Press, Washington D.C.

Alanärä, A., Schmitz, M., and L. Persson. 2014. Funktionella metoder för odling av fysiologiskt naturanpassad smolt. Rapport 14:02, Elforsk, p. 66.

Persson, L. 2010. Sweden’s fisheries catches in the Baltic Sea (1950 - 2007). In:  Total marine fisheries extractions by country in the Baltic Sea: 1950-present. Rossing, P., Booth, S. and Zeller, D. (eds.).  Fisheries Centre Research Report  18 (1) 2010, Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, p. 225-263.

Persson, L. 2009. What is the estimated total catch of Swedish fishing in the Baltic Sea 1950-2007? Master thesis, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden.