Migration of hatchery reared juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., smolts down a release ladder. 1. Environmental effects on migratory activity

The effects of light intensity, water temperature and river spate conditions on the rate of migration of hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon smolts down a release ladder were examined. Low light intensity and high day time water temperatures raised smolt migration rates: water temperature had littleor no effect at night. Thediel patternofdown-ladder movement wasdetermined by these two environmental stimuli. Smolts demonstrated a threshold response to both light and water temperature: a fall in light intensity, or increase in water temperature, below or above their respective thresholds elicited no further response. As fish progressed through the ladder their movement became increasingly nocturnal, and most entry into the estuary occurred at night. Heavy rainhll caused rapid migration of smolts through the ladder. As ladder discharge remained constant, smolts must have been responding to some other change in the water conditions. Smolts responded to spate conditions irrespective of water temperature and light intensity, and they responded to light intensity irrespective of water temperature. A hierarchy of environmental cues, responsible for triggering migratory behaviour on a day to day basis during the smolt run, of spate> light intensity > water temperature is therefore suggested.     

Migration of hatchery reared juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., down a release ladder. 2. Effect of fish developmental strategy on speed and pattern of movement

The behaviour of different types of Atlantic salmon smolt migrating down a release ladder were compared. Immature S2 smolts were faster through a release ladder, and their journey times less variable than S1 and mature male S2 fish. Journey time variability was less among stripped than among unstripped mature male smolts. The mean residence time of passive objects (oranges) in each pool of the ladder was correlated with pool surface area, whilst that of fish was correlated with pool volume. The general pattern of movement of smolts through the ladder was consistent with the hypothesis of non-directed passive displacement of fish near the water surface. In fact, fish spent most of their time nearer the bottom of the pools with the result that their migration speed was slower than that of passive objects. Pools towards the top of the ladder had the highest volume and surface area and therefore offered the greatest hindrance to passive displacement. Immature S2 smolts may have been more active in seeking a passage through this barrier. In 1986 and 1987 no significant change in ladder travel time or fish condition factor was detected over the period May to July. In 1986 fish condition factors and variance in ladder travel time increased significantly in August. Immature S2 smolt migration may have been less nocturnal. Mature male smolts were affected more by high daytime water temperatures than immature S2 and S1 smolts.     

Migration of wild and hatchery reared smolts of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., through lakes

In 1982 and 1983 descending wild Atlantic salmon smolts, Salmo salar L., were caught in a fish-trap at the mouth of the River Imsa. Together with hatchery-reared smolts of the River Imsa strain they were tagged and released at three different sites of the Imsa-Lutsi watercourse: in the Imsa River 1 km above the trap, and in two lakes, 3 and 11 km upstream of the trap. The recapture-rate in the fish-trap decreased with increased migration distance. The hatchery-reared smolts migrated downstream faster than wild smolts. Lake-released smolts were considerably delayed in their downstream migration compared to the river released smolts. The results are discussed in relation to environmental and physiological parameters.     

Genetic differentiation among natural European populations of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., from drainages of the Atlantic Ocean

Previously published allelic frequencies at four polymorphic protein coding loci were used as a basis for examining genetic relationships among 19 European populations of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.--exclusive of Baltic drainages--from the Barents Sea to Spain. The data did not support a model of distinct ancestral (e.g. Boreal and Celtic) origins, but were consistent with all populations descending from a single ancestral group within this region with genetically diverged populations drawn together through limited local migrations.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Awareness reactions and avoidance responses to sound in juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

The possibility of using intense sound as a deterrent for juvenile Atlantic salmon ( Sulmo salar L. ) was studied by recording both physiological awareness reactions in an acoustic tube and behavioural avoidance responses in a pool. The measured awareness reactions consisted of decreased heart rate and breathing movements. Three criteria for the awareness reaction were used to compare the effect of different frequencies between 5 and 150 Hz: (i) threshold for spontaneous awareness reactions relative to the hearing thresholds, (ii) magnitude of the change in heart rate, (iii) degree of habituation to sound. After these criteria the lowest frequencies (5–10 Hz) were most effective in eliciting an awareness reaction from the fish. The responses of freely swimming fish to 10 and 150 Hz sounds were studied in an artificial pool. Juvenile salmon showed avoidance responses to 10 Hz stimulation at intensities 10–15 dB above the threshold for spontaneous awareness reactions measured in the acoustic tube. The 150 Hz sound failed to evoke avoidance responses, even at a level 30 dB above the threshold for spontaneous awareness reactions.     

The environmental requirements of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., during their passage through the Thames Estuary, 1982–1989

An examination of data on both water quality in the Thames Estuary and on the count of salmon. Salmo salar L . trapped in fresh water above the head of the tide in 1982–1989, was carried out to establish statistical correlations. The annual and monthly return of salmon as 1-sea-winter fish (grilse) in June to September was negatively correlated with water temperature, a nil catch being associated with a maximum value of 24.2° C, coupled with lower values maintained over substantial lengths of the estuary (e.g. 21.5° C over a distance of no more than 50 km). The annual return was negatively related to the extent to which the estuary was predicted to be lethal from the combination of low concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) and high temperature, a reduction in DO of 1 mg 1 ¹ being equivalent to an increase in temperature of 4° C. The annual return for the whole year was directly related to the return in July to September. Depending upon the year, the monthly returns were related to both DO and temperature; they were reduced to a tenth at a 95 percentile DO of 2.7 mg 1 ¹, whilst the weekly catches were reduced to zero at 2.4 mg 1⁻¹. Weekly catches increased with river flow and daily catches increased with both river flow and tidal height. The few mortalities observed in the estuary in July are generally related to the quality of the water as predicted from the combination of high temperature and low DO.     

Differences in the host resistance of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., stocks to the monogenean Gyrodactylussalaris Malmberg, 1957

The susceptibility and resistance of hatchery-reared salmon parr, native to the rivers Neva (U.S.S.R. Baltic Sea), Alta (northern Norway) and Lone (western Norway) (both eastern Atlantic Ocean), to Gyrodactylus salaris from Norway, was examined. The level of resistance to the parasite was assessed from counts, made on anaesthetized salmon, ofthe numbers of G. salaris after an initial experimental exposure (2 weeks) to G. salaris-infected salmon. Three experiments, all in water at c. 12° C, were carried out: (1) 50 Alta and 50 Neva salmon, initial mean parasite intensity c. 12; (2) 50 Lone and 50 Neva salmon, initial mean parasite intensity c. 60; (3) 10 Lone and 10 Neva salmon individually isolated, initial intensity one gravid G. salaris . In both the Norwegian salmon stocks, the G. salaris infrapopulations steadily increased during the experimental period of 5 weeks, in contrast to a prominent decline in the Neva salmon stock, after, respectively: (Exp. 1) week 3, average peak intensity 32.6; (Exp. 2) week 2, average peak intensity 58.7; and (Exp. 3) week 3, average peak intensity 6.3. The hatchery-reared Baltic Neva stock demonstrated both an innate and an acquired resistance towards G. salaris , in contrast to the highly susceptible, Norwegian Alta and Lone salmon stocks.     

Thyroid hormone levels in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during the return migration from the ocean to spawn

Serum thyroid hormone levels were determined in adult Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) of both sexes caught in the ocean and at a sequence of locations on their return migration to spawn. Tri-iodothyronine (T₃) levels were greatest in fish caught in coastal or estuarine waters or in a river near head-of-tide. T₃ levels were lower in fish caught in rivers throughout the angling season and lowest in those captured entering a tributary near spawning. Thyroxine (T₄) levels were lowest in immature fish captured in the ocean in winter but raised in fish captured in spring; many of the latter group showed endocrine evidence of their becoming sexually mature. T₄ levels were greatest in fish captured in coastal waters and progressively lower in fish captured in an estuary, near head-of-tide and in rivers. T₄ levels in fish captured at tributary entry near spawning exceeded those in fish caught in rivers earlier in the year. In general, these data support the hypothesis that motor activity level in migrant fish is a determinant of thyroid status.     

The seaward movement of Atlantic salmon smolts in the Usk estuary, Wales, as inferred from power station catches

The greatest numbers of Atlantic salmon smolts were caught at Uskmouth power station during the day on the flood tide and the least on an ebbing night tide. Catch rates during the day on an ebb tide and at night on a flood tide represented an intermediate state. The results, together with tracking data, suggest that salmon smolts prefer to migrate seaward through the lower Usk estuary during the night Oncc an ebbing tide.     

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.     

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.