Proteomic investigation of brain, liver and intestine in high feed intake and low feed intake Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

AbstractLoss of estuarine and coastal habitats worldwide has reduced nursery habitat and function for diverse fishes, including juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Underutilized off-channel habitats such as flooded rice fields and managed ponds present opportunities for improving rearing conditions and increasing habitat diversity along migratory corridors. While experiments in rice fields have shown enhanced growth rates of juvenile fishes, managed ponds are less studied. To evaluate the potential of these ponds as a nursery habitat, juvenile Chinook salmon (~ 2.8 g, 63 mm FL) were reared in cages in four contrasting locations within Suisun Marsh, a large wetland in the San Francisco Estuary. The locations included a natural tidal slough, a leveed tidal slough, and the inlet and outlet of a tidally muted managed pond established for waterfowl hunting. Fish growth rates differed significantly among locations, with the fastest growth occurring near the outlet in the managed pond. High zooplankton biomass at the managed pond outlet was the best correlate of salmon growth. Water temperatures in the managed pond were also cooler and less variable compared to sloughs, reducing thermal stress. The stress of low dissolved oxygen concentrations within the managed pond was likely mediated by high concentrations of zooplankton and favorable temperatures. Our findings suggest that muted tidal habitats in the San Francisco Estuary and elsewhere could be managed to promote growth and survival of juvenile salmon and other native fishes.

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Analysis of straying variation in Alaskan hatchery chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) following transplantation

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f98-199 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 578-589 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Jeffrey J Hard ◽

William R Heard

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Chinook Salmon ◽

Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha ◽

Release Site ◽

Substantial Variation

In 1976 chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) gametes from the Chickamin and Unuk rivers in southeastern Alaska were transplanted 250 km to establish hatchery runs at Little Port Walter (LPW), Baranof Island. From 1977 to 1989, 1 862 058 marked smolts from 12 broods were released from LPW. Homing and straying were estimated from adult recoveries at 25 locations in Alaska and British Columbia between 1981 and 1989. Of 22 198 LPW fish recovered over this period, 21 934 (98.8%) were collected at LPW. Of 264 fish recovered elsewhere, 38.3% were within 7 km of LPW; 64.4% were within 25 km of LPW. No LPW fish were recovered from the ancestral rivers, but nine fish were recovered from rivers supporting wild chinook salmon. Straying declined with distance from the release site but varied between hatcheries and streams. Straying declined with increasing age and run size. Straying was similar between the populations but varied among broods, and analysis of straying in experimental groups provided evidence for a heritable component. Males strayed more often than females. Population, gender, run size, and recovery age interacted to produce substantial variation in straying, indicating that run composition can produce complex straying responses.

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Route selection in a large river during the homing migration of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f06-068 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 63 (8) ◽

pp. 1752-1762 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Matthew L Keefer ◽

Christopher C Caudill ◽

Christopher A Peery ◽

Theodore C Bjornn

Keyword(s):

Chinook Salmon ◽

Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha ◽

Columbia River ◽

Large River ◽

Migration Route ◽

Route Selection ◽

Behavioral Differences ◽

Long Distance ◽

Selection Decisions ◽

Efficient Route

Upstream-migrating adult salmon must make a series of correct navigation and route-selection decisions to successfully locate natal streams. In this field study, we examined factors influencing migration route selections early in the migration of 4361 radio-tagged adult Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) as they moved upstream past dams in the large (~1 km wide) Columbia River. Substantial behavioral differences were observed among 11 conspecific populations, despite largely concurrent migrations. At dams, Chinook salmon generally preferred ladder passage routes adjacent to the shoreline where their natal tributaries entered, and the degree of preference increased as salmon proximity to natal tributaries increased. Columbia River discharge also influenced route choices, explaining some route selection variability. We suggest that salmon detect lateral gradients in orientation cues across the Columbia River channel that are entrained within tributary plumes and that these gradients in cues can persist downstream for tens to hundreds of kilometres. Detection of tributary plumes in large river systems, using olfactory or other navigation cues, may facilitate efficient route selection and optimize energy conservation by long-distance migrants.

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