Density, growth, and change in density of coho salmon and rainbow trout in three Lake Michigan tributaries

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 1120-1127 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Carl

Coho salmon spawning peaked in the late fall. Spawning densities ranged from fewer than 5 coho salmon per hectare up to 90 fish per hectare. Subyearling coho salmon densities ranged from 10 to 60 fish per 100 m2 in June and dropped to 5–20 fish by early fall. Coho salmon fry increased in length from 40 mm in early May, to over 120 mm by smolt out-migration in the following April. Coho salmon instantaneous daily change in density coefficients ranged from 0.004 to 0.019 and were dependent on initial coho density. Daily coho salmon growth rates ranged from 0.38 to 0.60 mm per day and were not dependent on initial coho salmon density. Downstream movement of rainbow trout fry began in May, and continued into July. In the spring 10–20 yearlings and one to five 2-year-olds per 100 m2 were present. Most fry emerged in June at a size of 25 mm and grew to 85 mm by fall. Daily growth rates varied from 0.23 to 0.45 mm per day for yearling rainbow trout and were not correlated with rainbow trout density.

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 1397-1407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Bilby ◽  
Peter A. Bisson

Downstream movement of coho salmon fry (Oncorhynchus kisutch) stocked in old-growth and clear-cut watersheds occurred in three phases: (1) a brief period of heavy emigration immediately after stocking, (2) relatively little movement throughout most of the summer, and (3) intermittent heavy emigration during early autumn freshets. Coho emigrated whenever a streamflow change ≥ 3%∙d−1 occurred, but movement nearly ceased at flows above a certain level. Temperature changes were less important than discharge in triggering movement. When high densities were stocked, emigrant fry were smaller than residents. When low densities were stocked, emigration after the initial pulse of downstream movement was generally lower and there were no size differences between emigrants and residents. Production in the clear-cut was greater than in the old-growth watershed. Proportionately fewer fish emigrated from the old-growth stream, but when population densities were high, mortality in the old-growth exceeded the clear-cut. Greater emigration from the clear-cut site was possibly related to a scarcity of pools. Although the old-growth stream possessed better rearing habitat, less food may have been available, as suggested by gross photosynthesis rates 50% lower than in the clear-cut stream. Coho production therefore appeared to be most strongly influenced by trophic conditions, while volitional residency was most strongly influenced by habitat quality.


1951 ◽  
Vol 8b (4) ◽  
pp. 241-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
William S. Hoar

In fresh water, chum and pink salmon fry form schools or mills, are constantly active both day and night, show positive rheotaxis and move into fast water. This activity takes them into the swiftest currents. At night loss of visual and contact stimuli reduces the intensity of the rheotactic response and results in downstream movement. An active swimming downstream occurs only with unusually high temperatures. Coho salmon fry occupy and defend territory, maintain definite positions in relation to particular objects in their environment, show a less marked tendency to move into fast water and are quiet at night. They are thus displaced downstream to a much lesser degree. Coho smolts, in contrast to the fry, demonstrate a lowered threshold for stimulation both day and night, a tendency to aggregate and a lessening in territory behaviour. During the day smolts group in deeper water or under cover. At night they rise to the surface and manifest increased activity which, in swift water, will result in displacement seaward. Pronounced changes in temperature modify these reactions. Sudden elevation of water levels hastens the downstream displacement.


1983 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 1987-1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Hilton ◽  
P. V. Hodson ◽  
H. E. Braun ◽  
J. L. Leatherland ◽  
S. J. Slinger

Juvenile rainbow trout were reared for 24 wk on practical-type diets formulated with fish meals derived from coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) taken from Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, and the Pacific Ocean. Levels of contaminants (DDT, chlordane, dieldrin, mirex, and PCBs) increased 10-fold from control and Pacific Ocean salmon-based diets to Lake Ontario salmon-based diets. Rainbow trout accumulated contaminants in direct proportion to dietary levels. However, there were no significant differences in the final body weights, feed to gain ratios, or mortality rates of the trout reared on the different test diets. No signs of abnormal behavior or any indication of histopathological abnormalities were observed in any of the fish. There were no signs of thyroid hyperplasia or any significant decline in serum T3 or T4 levels with increasing dietary contaminant levels. Therefore, rainbow trout do not appear to have been affected by the uptake and accumulation of contaminants. However, the trout did not appear to regulate their body burden of contaminants; this ultimately could prove to be toxic and may adversely affect the ability of these fish to reproduce and survive. The final concentrations of mirex and PCBs in the Lake Ontario-fed fish exceeded the allowed limits to protect human health; therefore, fish meals produced from Lake Ontario salmon are unsuitable as a source of feed for aquaculture of rainbow trout intended for human consumption.


1976 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Ginetz ◽  
P. A. Larkin

Predation of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) on migrant sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) fry in experimental streams was higher on fry at an earlier development stage, in moonlight by contrast to cloudy night light intensities, at lesser turbidities, and at lower stream velocities. At dusk light intensities, from.05 to.30 ft-c, mortality from predation was inversely related to light intensity. The longer the period of exposure of fry to naturally declining light intensities prior to downstream movement, the lower was the loss to predators. Exposure of predators to high light intensities prior to the downstream movement of fry resulted in decreased fry mortality. Fry that had survived exposure to predators in an experimental stream 1 and 2 days previous were less vulnerable to predation than "naive" fry. Successive exposures further decreased the loss to predation. Fry enumerated at a counting fence suffered less predation than fry not enumerated. Experienced fry moved downstream more rapidly than naive fry.In laboratory aquaria, experienced fry formed compact schools prior to and in response to stimuli, while naive fry formed loose schools or did not school. Experienced fry were less active in responding to stimuli. Enumerated fry resembled experienced fry; nonenumerated fry resembled naive fry.Various techniques of enhancing sockeye salmon fry survival during downstream migration are suggested by these results.


1984 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 1097-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Scrivener ◽  
B. C. Andersen

Natural patterns in emergence times, seaward movements, instream distributions, densities, and growth of coho salmon fry (Oncorhynchus kisutch) between March and September are contrasted with patterns observed during and after logging in the Carnation Creek watershed. After streamside logging in 1976–77, fry emerged up to 6 wk earlier and moved seaward more quickly than during years before logging. These observations are attributed to higher water temperatures during the winter and to emergence during a period of more frequent freshets. Increased fry movement from the stream could result in habitat being underutilized. In sections affected by intense streamside logging, the deposition of "fine" logging debris led to increased fry densities during the summers of 1977 and 1978. After major freshets in November 1978, which removed this fine debris and affected channel morphology in these sections, fry densities declined below those observed prior to logging. Growth rate of fry was inversely correlated with density in all stream sections. Growth rates, after correction for density, tended to be greater in all sections after the adjacent streamside was logged. Larger fry and more variable numbers of fry remained in the stream in September after logging than before logging. Their increased size is attributed to the longer growing season afforded by earlier emergence. This complex of interacting factors determines the number and size of fry in autumn and it can influence the production of smolts the following spring.


1962 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1047-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Chapman

Large numbers of coho fry (called nomads) move downstream from shortly after emergence through early fall. These fry are smaller than residual coho. Study of behavior showed coho to be aggressive and territorial or hierarchical. Nomadic coho placed in stream aquaria barren of resident fish tended to remain in the aquaria rather than continuing downstream movement, while nomads added to resident groups of coho were dominated by the resident dominant fish and tended to leave the channels. Hierarchies were organized on the basis of fish size, with larger fry having better growth opportunities. Feeding of coho in excess of requirements did not alter holding capacity of stream aquaria. Aggression observed in natural stream areas was frequent, probably virtually continuous. Nomads transferred to natural stream areas barren of other coho remained there, while nomads added to resident populations tended to move downstream. It was concluded that aggressive behavior is one important factor causing downstream movement of coho fry.


1976 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 688-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon C. Cooper ◽  
Arthur D. Hasler

Two groups of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) were exposed to a 5 × 10−5 mg/liter concentration of a synthetic chemical, morpholine, for 4 wk during the smolting period, while two corresponding groups were left unexposed (controls). All groups were marked by finclipping and stocked into Lake Michigan near the mouth of Oak Creek (South Milwaukee, Wisconsin). A second series of exposed and unexposed salmon was released 13 km north of Oak Creek. Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) were tested in a similar experiment.Homing salmonids were censused and then used in physiological experiments. Electroencephalographic studies showed significantly greater responses by the experimental (exposed) compared to control fish to 1% morpholine (P ≤ 0.001 − 0.05) and by one paired group to a stream sample scented with morpholine (about 10−3 mg/liter morpholine P ≤ 0.01). Responses to morpholine were specific in that another chemical similar to it did not elicit responses. These data support the olfactory hypothesis that salmon may imprint to naturally occurring homestream odors in the same way as they do to morpholine.


1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 1031-1038
Author(s):  
C A Stow ◽  
L J Jackson ◽  
J F Amrhein

We examined data from 1984 to 1994 for five species of Lake Michigan salmonids to explore the relationship between total PCB concentration and percent lipid. When we compared mean species lipid and PCB values, we found a strong linear correlation. When we compared values among individuals, we found modest positive PCB:lipid associations in brown trout (Salmo trutta), chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) collected during spawning, but positive associations were not apparent among nonspawning individuals. Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) exhibited no discernible PCB:lipid relationship. Our results are not incompatible with previous observations that contaminants are differentially partitioned into lipids within a fish, but these results do suggest that lipids are not a major factor influencing contaminant uptake.


1976 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 2699-2702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary A. Wedemeyer

Moving 4–5-in. coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) held in soft (20 ppm CaCO3) water from the relatively light loading density of 0.5 lb/ft3 to 1, 2, or 4 lb/ft3 (density index, DI = 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8) caused significant stress as indicated by loss of feeding behavior, but only minimal physiological disturbances, as indicated by lack of hyperglycemia or hypochloremia. However, moving them to 6 or 12 lb/ft3 (DI = 1.2, 2.4) caused significant physiological stress which required at least a week for recovery. Smolting coho salmon were physiologically stressed by population densities of 1 lb/ft3 or more and a subclinical corynebacterial kidney infection was activated. Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) (4–5 in.) were physiologically stressed when moved and held at 1 lb/ft3 or more but retained normal feeding behavior. This indicates that handling and crowding stress will be minimized in softwater areas if densities in fish distribution trucks or in ponds or raceways during disease treatments are held to 0.1–0.5 lb/gal.


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