Otolith calcification in Atlantic salmon parr, Salmo salar L. and its relation to photoperiod and calcium metabolism

Otolith calcification in Atlantic salmon parr, Salmo salar , was investigated using a radioisotope of calcium, ⁴⁵Ca. Otolith calcification was found to be entrained to light-dark cycles in salmon parr, calcium accumulation on to otoliths declining at night and resuming at dawn. The decline in Otolith calcification at night coincided with a diel decline in plasma calcium concentration. The influence of extracellular calcium on otolith increment formation was considered by inducing hypocalcemia. Induced hypocalcemia resulted in a short-term net loss of calcium from the otolith. The results are discussed in relation to previous studies of the role of extracellular calcium in otolith formation.     

Differences in growth between maturing and non-maturing male Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., parr

Sibling male Atlantic salmon parr that matured tended to be the larger fish in January, but their monthly specific growth rates between January and July did not differ from those of non-maturing fish. Maturing fish had lower condition factors in March, but greater increases in condition factor during April, exceeding those of non-maturing males by May. In maturing males, feeding rates between July and September, and specific growth rates in August and September, were lower than those of immature fish. Consequently, the mean size of immatures equalled or exceeded that of maturing males by October. Maturation rates were strongly correlated with increases in mean condition factor only during April.     

The influence of metabolic rate on otolith increment width in Atlantic salmon parr, Salmo salar L.

The influence of metabolic rate on otolith accretion in Atlantic salmon parr was investigated by comparing oxygen consumption rate and increment width in fast and slow growing individuals. Increment width was found to be positively correlated to mean daily oxygen consumption in both fast growing (S1) and slow growing (S2) parr. The results support previous suggestions that a process related to metabolic rate, rather than somatic growth, governs the rate of otolith accretion.     

The effect of ultrasonic tags on the growth rates of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., parr of varying size just prior to smolting

The attachment of dummy, ultrasonic, acoustic tags, of the Stirling Mk. VI design, to pre-smolt Atlantic salmon parr significantly affected fish growth rates. Fish less than 160 mm in length lost weight and showed no change in length. Fish over 160 mm in length put on weight, though at a rate significantly lower than that of untagged controls. For fish between 160 and 180mm in length, the increase in length was significantly smaller in tagged fish than in untagged controls. Over 180 mm in length, no difference could be detected in the length gains of tagged and untagged fish.
Smaller tagged fish gave up maintaining station and showed signs of distress at an earlier stage in the experiment than larger tagged fish. Tag-related mortality was inversely related to fish size. All but two of the control fish survived the experiment and continued to maintain station throughout.
The results suggest that the minimum length of Atlantic salmon parr on which this design of acoustic tag could be employed is 160 mm, and that caution is needed in the interpretation of track lengths longer than l0 daysof parr in the size range 160–180 mm.     

Effects of sexual maturation, castration, and androgen implants on growth in one- and two-year-old parr in a Baltic Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) stock

The effects of maturation, castration, and androgen implants on growth in 1- and 2-year-old Baltic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) were studied in a stock originating from the Umeälven (Ume river) in northern Sweden. 1 + male parr that later matured were larger than non-maturing parr in the spring. Later in the summer, during the period of gonadal growth, the growth rate of maturing parr was depressed compared to that of non-maturing males. Implantation of capsules with 11-ketoandrostenedione (OA) or testosterone (T) in sexually immature 1-year-old fish, accelerated the specific growth rate in spring and early summer, particularly considering growth in weight, resulting in an increase in the condition factor. In contrast, the growth rate was depressed from late June onwards, the period when the gonads normally develop in 1 + parr. T, but not OA, also promoted sexual maturation. Castration or OA treatment did not affect total summer growth in 2-year-old salmon. This study suggests a causal relationship between androgens and the growth pattern observed in maturing 1 + male parr.     

Social dominance and body size in Atlantic salmon parr, Salmo solar L.

Dominance relationships between pairs of Atlantic salmon parr of known size were assessed at various times during their first year of life. In tests conducted between first feeding and early July, the larger of two fish was dominant in only 54% of pairs, regardless of the magnitude of the size difference between the fish. In September, there was a stronger association between size and status, especially in pairs with a large size differential, where the dominant was larger in 72% of cases. In groups of parr tested in April of the following year, there was no relationship between size and status, the larger of two fish being dominant in 48% of cases, regardless of the magnitude of the size differential. This result suggests that status in early social interactions may depend on behavioural properties rather than size and that the larger size of dominant fish reported in a number of salmonids might be a consequence and not a cause of high status.     

Avoidance responses to low frequency sound in downstream migrating Atlantic salmon smolt, Salmo salar

The possibility of using intense sound as an acoustic barrier for downstream migrating smolt of the Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) was studied by observing, the reactions of smolt to 10 and 150 Hz sounds in a small river. At the observation site the river branched into a main course and a minor channel, the latter rejoining the main stream after 30 m. The sound sources were positioned at the lower end of the channel. The number of smolt re-entering the mam stream at the lower end of the channel was recorded during alternating periods with and without sound. Intense 150 Hz sound had no observable effects on the smolt, even at intensities 114 dB above the hearing threshold at this frequency. At intensities above 1.0. 10⁻²ms⁻² the 10 Hz sound was an effective deterrent for the smolt, which turned and left the channel at the upstream branching point.     

Patterns of growth and smolting in autumn migrants from a Scottish population of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

In late November 1990 salmon parr, Salmo salar L., from the Girnock Burn in northern Scotland were either caught on their feeding territories (n=25) or trapped during downstream migration (n= 18). They were then housed in a laboratory rearing tank and their food intake and growth rates were tracked, until their smolting status was ascertained in the following May. Female fish were predominant in both groups; although the range of ages was the same, the total age of migrants was 2+ while that of residents was 1+. In November, compared to resident fish of the same year class, migrants were larger, heavier and in better condition. Although growth rates dropped during the winter in both groups before increasing in spring, migrants ate more and consistently grew faster than residents. In seawater tolerance tests conducted in May, more residents than migrants failed to adapt. These results confirm the suggestion that autumn migrants smolt in the following spring and suggest that they represent the faster-growing component of their cohort.     

Changes in plasma protein patterns in smolting Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., are not dependent on changed growth rates

Juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were raised under simulated natural photoperiod (SNP) and constant light (CL). SNP fish displayed typical characteristics of smolts in the spring including changes in colouration, elevated gill Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase activity and ability to pass a seawater challenge. CL fish grew at rates comparable to SNP fish, but did not demonstrate any of these molt characteristics.
Electrophoretic analyses of plasma proteins from both groups of fish revealed that SNP fish displayed reproducible qualitative changes in protein patterns from February to May with May patterns being the most complex. CL fish displayed patterns similar to SNP fish. The timing of the appearance of patterns was influenced by photoperiod as indicated by the fact that CL fish had a progression of pattern changes retarded by at least one month relative to SNP fish. The changes in plasma protein patterns in smolting Atlantic salmon were not dependent on changed growth rates.     

Smolt size in relation to age at first maturity of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): the role of lacustrine habitat

Back-calculated growth and size of Atlantic salmon smolts were compared in two groups of river systems in Newfoundland. One group consisted of rivers dominated by lacustrine habitats while the other had rivers characterized by fluvial habitats. Back-calculated length at each age and smolt size was significantly higher for the rivers dominated by lacustrine habitats. Associated with this was a lower proportion of maiden large salmon in adult returns. These findings are discussed in relation to density in fresh water, environmental conditions at sea, and life-history strategy.     

Hyperplasia and hypertrophy in the growth of skeletal muscle in juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

Both red and white muscle fibre numbers in juvenile Atlantic salmon increased gradually with fish length throughout the freshwater growth period. Mean fibre area increased as fish grew to 6.5 cm f.l. , but thereafter was unrelated to fish length. Hyperplasia was most obvious when fish were growing fastest, and was the dominant growth process in fish over 6.5 cm f.l. Hypertrophy was most important when growth was slow, as in autumn and winter.
Mean white fibre area was significantly smaller in deep muscle than at medial and superficial sites. Total cross-sectional area of red, white and total trunk muscle increased with fish length. The ratio of red: white cross-sectional area increased with fish length to a plateau at about 10% after 6.5 cm f.l.     

The effects of prior residence on behavior and growth rates in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

It is well documented that prior residence confers advantagesinterritorial disputes, but its impact on other aspects ofbehavior and fitnessis less understood. We tested how priorresidence influences the subsequentfeeding behavior and growthperformance of dispersing Atlantic salmon fry(Salmo salar)using experimental manipulations of residence in aseminaturalstream tank. In replicated trials, groups of sevenprimaryfish were released into the stream tank 3 days ahead ofsevensecondary fish. Standardized behavioral observations weremadeon each fish over the following 14 days, after which all fishwereremoved and measured. Primaries and secondaries were initiallythe same sizeand body condition and exhibited the same degreeof site fidelity. However,primaries darted higher into thewater column to intercept prey items, fed ata higher rate,and subsequently grew faster. Larger fish (in terms of bodylength)tended to be more dominant, and dominants grew faster thansubordinates.However, there was no difference in dominance between primariesandsecondaries. These results suggest that the well-documentedadvantage ofearly-emerging salmon fry over late-emerging frycannot be completelyattributed to intrinsic differences andthat the advantage is partly mediatedvia a prior residenceeffect. Furthermore, prior residents gain foragingadvantageswithout necessarily becoming more dominant.     

Genetic variation in haemolytic activity in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Spontaneous and antibody-dependent haemolytic activity against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) has been studied in serum from Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. Considerable increase in haemolytic activity was detected when SRBC were sensitized with haemolysin produced in Atlantic salmon. Haemolytic activity was sensitive both to divalent cations and to heat treatment. Significant reduction in haemolytic activity was detected after absorption with SRBC, indicating the presence of natural antibody against SRBC in Atlantic salmon serum. Persistent haemolytic activity of unsensitized SRBC in serum absorbed to remove natural antibodies was found, which suggests the activation of the alternative complement pathway, while the observed increased haemolytic activity in the presence of specific antibody against SRBC suggests activation of the classical complement pathway. Spontaneous and antibody-dependent haemolytic activity were both analysed in absorbed and non-absorbed sera in a family material of Atlantic salmon. The material consisted of 574 fish belonging to 57 fullsib groups within 20 paternal halfsib groups. Fish with signs of sexual maturity generally showed reduced haemolytic activity. Statistically significant effect of sire on the spontaneous haemolytic activity of both absorbed and nonabsorbed serum, and on antibody-dependent activity, provides evidence of significant additive genetic variation in both the alternative and the classical complement activation in Atlantic salmon. Neither on a phenotypical nor on a family basis were the two traits statistically correlated. The estimated heritabilities were 0.2–0.3 with a standard error of approximately 0.1.     

Early predictors of life-history events: the link between first feeding date, dominance and seaward migration in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

Previous studies have suggested that the earliest fry to emerge from a salmonid redd may have an advantage in the subsequent competition for feeding sites, partly through a 'prior residence' effect. Here we examined whether there was any relationship between the relative date of first feeding and subsequent dominance status and growth in a sibling group of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., fry. Earlier-feeding fry were dominant over their later-feeding siblings (controlling for prior residence), despite not being any larger. However, these early fish soon established and then maintained a size advantage. This led to an increased probability of early-feeding fish migrating to sea at age 1 year (rather than 2 or more). Thus a difference of less than 1 week in the relative timing of first feeding can translate into a year's difference in the timing of migration.     

An electrophysiological study on the effects of pH on olfaction in mature male Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr

The olfactory responses of mature male Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) parr to known odorants were studied after exposure of the olfactory epithelia to water of varying pH. Electrophysiological recordings from the olfactory epithelia indicated that the responses of fish to both testosterone and urine from ovulated female Atlantic salmon were significantly reduced at pH 5·5 and 4·5 and abolished at pH 3·5. Concentration response studies indicated that at pH 5·5 and 6·5 significantly higher concentrations of testosterone and urine were required to produce the same amplitude responses as controls. Both testosterone and urine have previously been shown to be important chemical cues eliciting behavioural and physiological responses in Atlantic salmon. The results are therefore discussed in relation to the possible sublethal effects of acidification on reproduction and behaviour of Atlantic salmon and the effects on salmonid stocks.     

Development of length–bimodality and smolting in wild stocks of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., under different growth conditions

Growth dynamics of juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., from two sections of the Narcea River and one of the Esva River (Northern Spain) were examined in relation to the development of bimodality in their size–frequency distributions. Size–bimodality was clearer under intermediate growth (section A) than under relatively fast or slow growth. The proportion of fish entering the upper modal group increase with growth intensity. Composition of upper and lower modal groups became fixed prior to December, and at this time both groups separated on the 90–95 mm interval. Fish exhibiting smolt appearance in late March (larger than 130 mm) had already been upper group fish in December, while parr-like fish and those that remained in the river by May (potential 2-year-old smolts) had formed the lower modal group. Anadromous salmon catch in the Narcea River was mostly of previously 1-year-old smolts (97.6%), of which 94% were larger than 100 mm by their first winter. In the Esva River, slow growth of juveniles is consistent with a large proportion of 2-year-old smolts (47.9%) among anadromous salmon. Both juvenile samples and scale analysis of anadromous salmon indicate that 2-year-old smolts were larger than 1-year-olds. Early disappearance of the former (before March) is, at least, partially related to earlier migration of large fish, since sexual maturity of parr does not provide a complete explanation. The Narcea stock have a minimum length at smolting of about 130 mm and an optimum smolt size in the 155–175 mm interval. Mean smolt length did not vary although the winter length changed between years.     

Genetic protein variation and natural selection in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salav, L.) parr

The principal focus of this study was an examination of the relationship between diallelic variation at the MEP-2 * locus and growth and survival in Atlantic salmon parr. In addition, patterns of growth and survival among genotypes at the AAT-I *, IDDH-I * and ZDHP-2 * loci were also examined. Significant differences in growth were found among MEP-2 * genotypes, with * 100/ 100 homozygotes largest in one of two independent comparisons and the * 125/I25 homozygotes largest in the other. No growth differences were observed among genotypes at any other locus. Although no significant differences were found in survival among genotypes at any locus, results of joint analysis of the patterns of growth and survival among MEP-2 * genotypes were consistent with a model of positive size-selective mortality. The demonstration of growth differences among MEP-2 * genotypes in parr and smolts may indicate an association between selection on this locus in fresh water and previously reported differences in sea-age at maturity among MEP-2 * genotypes in Atlantic salmon.     

Seasonal and spatial microhabitat selection and segregation in young Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., and brown trout, Salmo trutta L., in a Norwegian river

Seasonal microhabitat selection by sympatric young Atlantic salmon and brown trout was studied by diving. Both species, especially Atlantic salmon, showed seasonal variation with respect to surface and mean water velocities and depth. This variation is partly attributed to varying water flows and water temperatures. In winter the fish sought shelter in the substratum. A spatial variation in habitat use along the river due to different habitat availabilities was observed. Both species occupied habitats within the ranges of the microhabitat variables, rather than selecting narrow optima. It is hypothesized that the genetic basis allows a certain range to the behavioural response. Microhabitat segregation between the two species was pronounced, with brown trout inhabiting the more slow-flowing and partly more shallow stream areas. Atlantic salmon tolerated a wider range of water velocities and depths. Habitat suitability curves were produced from both species. It is suggested that habitat suitability curves that are based on observations of fish occupancy of habitat at median or base flow may not be suitable in habitat simulation models, where available habitat is projected at substantially greater water flows.