Spatiotemporal change in growth of two populations of Asian chum salmon in relation to intraspecific interaction

Spatiotemporal changes in growth patterns of chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta that returned to the Ishikari (Japan) and Namdae (Korea) rivers in 1984–1998 were investigated using scale analysis. Juvenile chum salmon from both populations left coastal marine areas after spring at a size of over 8 cm fork length (FL). In summer, juvenile salmon from the Namdae River entered the Okhotsk Sea at a larger FL than did Ishikari River juveniles. There were no significant differences in annual growth between populations of 1-, 2-, and 4-year-old fish. For 3-year-old fish, however, Namdae River salmon had significantly higher synchronous and sympatric growth than did Ishikari River salmon. Mean FL of adults was also larger in Namdae River salmon than in Ishikari River salmon. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) results showed (1) negative linear relations between FL and catch, (2) homogeneous slopes of those relations at regional and species levels, and (3) nonhomogeneous slopes at the population level, indicating that density-dependent effects on growth were most significant at this level. We concluded that growth of chum salmon was concurrently influenced by stronger effects of intrapopulation competition and weaker effects of inter- and intraspecific interactions in the Bering Sea.     

Upstream migration of chum salmon through a restored segment of the Shibetsu River

Abstract –  A segment of the Shibetsu River was restored to reconstruct the ecological condition of the previously canalized river stretch to a more natural, meandering state. In this study, we investigated the upstream migration of chum salmon ( Oncorhynchus keta ) using radio transmitters to track the horizontal position of fish and data loggers to detect the vertical swimming depth of fish, simultaneously. The monitored salmon travelled near the bottom of the water column and along the riverbanks, and tended to hold in deep, slow current areas in the canalized river. In the restored segment, the fish swam at more shallow depths and against stronger currents. Although the three tracked fish all reached the confluent point and chose to enter the restored segment, they did not remain in the segment for long. This indicates that the restored area facilitates the upward migration of the chum salmon.     

The relationship between migration speed and release date for chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta fry exiting a 110-km northern Japanese river

The relationship between release date and migration speed was examined for hatchery chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta fry exiting the Nishibetsu River in eastern Hokkaido, northern Japan so that future releases might be scheduled so that fry arrive at the ocean during periods favoring high survival. Separate marked groups of chum salmon released in early April, mid-April, and early May in 2008, late March and mid-April in 2009, and mid-April in 2010 were recaptured with a rotary screw trap 12 km above the river mouth. Chum salmon in later release groups tended to migrate downstream faster than fish in earlier release groups. Those released after mid-April arrived in the lower river on average 9 days after release, while those released before mid-April arrived on average 26–28 days after release. Most marked fish arrived in the lower river during late April to mid-May. These results suggest that chum salmon are adapted to adjust their migratory speed so as to arrive at the ocean during a relatively discrete period, presumably during a time of high productivity favoring good survival.     

Capture versus tagging impacts on chum salmon freshwater spawning migration travel times

The spawning migration travel times of chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta (Walbaum), fitted with gastrically implanted radio tags vs external spaghetti tags were tested for a short [≈60 river km (rkm)] and long migration route (≈730 rkm) on the Koyukuk River, Alaska, USA. Using a novel application of statistical arrival curve models to infer travel times for uncaptured fish, migrations by chum salmon not directly handled during the study were also assessed. Results demonstrated negligible differences in travel times within migration routes between fish fitted only with spaghetti tags and fish fitted with radio tags, indicating low impacts on migration travel behaviour associated with gastric tags once deployed. Conversely, travel times for unhandled fish as inferred by statistical arrival models may have been 12%–24% shorter than those for fish captured with gillnets for tagging. These results suggest that, if present, chum salmon migration behaviour impacts may be more strongly associated with fish capture than tag deployment.     

How juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., respond to falling water levels: experiments in an artificial stream

The responses of juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., to an experimentally imposed drop in water level were studied in an artificial stream. In a pilot experiment, 20% of fish which had a feeding station in an area of riffle remained there throughout the period of low water levels. The remaining riffle-dwelling fish moved into areas of deeper water, although not necessarily to the pool nearest their feeding station. Out of the fish which left the area, 89% moved in an upstream direction and 11% moved downstream. In a second experiment, which was designed to look in more detail at this response to de-watering, 95% of riffle-dwelling fish left when the water level dropped and moved into a pool, mostly within the 4-h period after water levels started to fall. Seventy-four per cent of fish which left moved upstream and the remainder moved downstream. There was a strong tendency to leave in an upstream direction as shallow areas began to dry out, and this tendency persisted irrespective of variability in fish size, prior social experience and the size of the home range prior to de-watering. It is suggested that the prior opportunity to explore alternative habitat may be an important determinant of response of riffle-dwelling salmon to a sudden drop in water level.     

Changes in rhodopsin-porphyropsin ratio of chum and pink salmon

ABSTRACT:   In order to investigate the changes in rhodopsin-porphyropsin ratio of chum salmon and pink salmon in relation to the change in their habitat, the ratios were analyzed in individual fish prior to stocking, during the sea run, homing, and upstream migration. The ratio in both the species gradually increased during the sea run. However, the ratio decreased after upstream river migration. Moreover, in the sea, the rhodopsin-porphyropsin ratio of chum salmon was always slightly higher than that of pink salmon. The largest difference in the individual variation was observed in the individuals caught with a set net placed near the mouth of a home river.     

Current status of natural spawning of chum salmon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus keta</Emphasis> in rivers with or without hatchery stocking on the Japan Sea side of northern Honshu,Japan

Information on the status of natural spawning is needed on the Japan Sea side of northern Honshu, Japan for ecosystem-based sustainable management of chum salmon resources. We conducted on-site visual surveys in October–December of 2015 and 2016 that targeted spawning chum salmon redds in all rivers?>?5 km long (total 94 rivers) in Akita, Yamagata, Niigata (including Sado Island), and Toyama prefectures. The ratio of rivers found to host natural reproduction to the total number of surveyed rivers was 93.6% (44/47) in stocked rivers and 74.5% (35/47) in non-stocked rivers. These results show that there is a wide occurrence of natural reproduction of chum salmon in these rivers, regardless of the history of hatchery stocking. The density of spawning redds (number of redds/1000 m²) as an indicator of chum salmon escapements did not differ (P?=?0.54) between stocked rivers (mean 3.5, N ?=?49) and non-stocked rivers (mean 2.4, N? =?36),when rivers where no redds were observed were excluded from the analysis. These results suggest that chum salmon escapements into non-stocked rivers may not be negligible. Conservation measures for wild fish are needed in stocked and non-stocked rivers to promote enhancement programs based on natural reproduction.     

2010年乌苏里江大麻哈鱼的群体结构及其变动

2010年10月4日~21日,对乌苏里江大麻哈鱼（Oncorhynchus keta）洄游繁殖群体渔业资源及其种群结构变动进行了调查研究,共统计标本9160尾。初步结果显示,大麻哈鱼的日洄游数量受水温和溶解氧的影响较大,出现2次洄游高峰期,平均日单船捕捞量为64尾。体长为55~65cm的个体占群体中的74%,其中体长为55~60cm的雌（36.82%）、雄（36.58%）个体在群体中所占比例接近,在体长小于55cm的群体中,雄性（27.17%）个体在本群体中所占比例高于雌性（12.75%）,体长大于60cm的群体中,雌性（48.61%）在本群体中所占比例高于雄性（34.25%）。体质量为2 000~3 000g的个体占群体中的57%,体质量大于2 500g的群体中,雌性（61.73%）个体在本群体中所占比例高于雄性（46.06%）。雌、雄性比为1.09：1,其中体重大于2 500g的雌性在群体所占比例最高为36.06%,其次为小于2 500g的雄性,占28.8%。对比历史数据表明,该渔业产量为近15年的最高值,总体资源量呈增多趋势,群体中个体趋于小型化,雌性个体在群体中处于主导地位。     

2010年乌苏里江大麻哈鱼的群体结构及其变动

2010年10月4日~21日,对乌苏里江大麻哈鱼（Oncorhynchus keta）洄游繁殖群体渔业资源及其种群结构变动进行了调查研究,共统计标本9160尾。初步结果显示,大麻哈鱼的日洄游数量受水温和溶解氧的影响较大,出现2次洄游高峰期,平均日单船捕捞量为64尾。体长为55~65cm的个体占群体中的74%,其中体长为55~60cm的雌（36.82%）、雄（36.58%）个体在群体中所占比例接近,在体长小于55cm的群体中,雄性（27.17%）个体在本群体中所占比例高于雌性（12.75%）,体长大于60cm的群体中,雌性（48.61%）在本群体中所占比例高于雄性（34.25%）。体质量为2 000~3 000g的个体占群体中的57%,体质量大于2 500g的群体中,雌性（61.73%）个体在本群体中所占比例高于雄性（46.06%）。雌、雄性比为1.09：1,其中体重大于2 500g的雌性在群体所占比例最高为36.06%,其次为小于2 500g的雄性,占28.8%。对比历史数据表明,该渔业产量为近15年的最高值,总体资源量呈增多趋势,群体中个体趋于小型化,雌性个体在群体中处于主导地位。     

Relative resistance of Pacific salmon to infectious salmon anaemia virus

Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) is a major disease of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, caused by an orthomyxovirus (ISAV). Increases in global aquaculture and the international movement of fish made it important to determine if Pacific salmon are at risk. Steelhead trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and chum, O. keta, Chinook, O. tshawytscha, coho, O. kisutch, and Atlantic salmon were injected intraperitoneally with a high, medium, or low dose of a Norwegian strain of ISAV. In a second challenge, the same species, except chum salmon, were injected with a high dose of either a Canadian or the Norwegian strain. Average cumulative mortality of Atlantic salmon in trial 1 was 12% in the high dose group, 20% in the medium dose group and 16% in the low dose group. The average cumulative mortality of Atlantic salmon in trial 2 was 98%. No signs typical of ISA and no ISAV-related mortality occurred among any of the groups of Oncorhynchus spp. in either experiment, although ISAV was reisolated from some fish sampled at intervals post-challenge. The results indicate that while Oncorhynchus spp. are quite resistant to ISAV relative to Atlantic salmon, the potential for ISAV to adapt to Oncorhynchus spp. should not be ignored.     

Diurnal variation in thermal environment experienced by salmonids in the North Pacific as indicated by data storage tags

Eight temperature-recording data storage tags were recovered from three salmonids in Alaska (pink and coho salmon and steelhead trout) and five chum salmon in Japan after 21–117 days, containing the first long-term records of ambient temperature from Pacific salmonids migrating at sea. Temperature data imply diel patterns of descents to deeper, cooler water and ascents to the surface. Fish were found at higher average temperatures at night, with narrower temperature ranges and fewer descents than during the day. Fish tagged in the Gulf of Alaska were at higher temperatures on average (10–12°C) than chum salmon tagged in the Bering Sea (8–10°C). Chum salmon were also found at a wider range of temperatures (−1–22°C vs 5–15°C). This is probably related both to the different oceanographic regions through which the fish migrated, as well as species differences in thermal range and vertical movements. Proportions of time that individual fish spent at different temperatures seemed to vary among oceanographic regions. Steelhead trout may descend to moderate depths (50 m) and not be limited to the top few metres, as had been believed. Japanese chum salmon may seek deep, cold waters as they encounter warm surface temperatures on their homeward migrations. Temperature data from all fish showed an initial period (4–21 days) of day and night temperatures near those of sea surface temperatures, suggesting a period of recuperation from tagging trauma. A period of tagging recuperation suggests that vertical movement data from short-term ultrasonic telemetry studies may not represent normal behaviour of fish. The considerable diurnal and shorter-term variation in ambient temperatures suggests that offshore ocean distribution may be linked more to prey distribution and foraging than to sea surface temperatures.     

Spawning salmon increase brook trout movements in a Lake Michigan tributary

Abstract – Salmon and trout have been introduced to many ecosystems worldwide, yet the ecological impacts of salmonid introductions remain poorly understood. We investigated the effects of introduced Pacific salmon on stream‐resident fish in the Great Lakes basin by monitoring the movements of passive integrative transponder (PIT)‐tagged brook trout in a Lake Michigan tributary receiving a salmon spawning run and in a nearby stream not receiving salmon. Coincident with the September arrival of salmon, an estimated 52% of resident brook trout moved >200 m, while no such movements were detected in the nonsalmon stream. After 3–4 days, however, brook trout movement patterns became similar in the two streams, suggesting that salmon effects on brook trout movements were short‐lived. Movements in the salmon stream were predominantly upstream in direction, with 50% of the tagged brook trout travelling from below to above the stationary PIT tag readers during the study. Declining water temperatures with the onset of fall coincided with low levels of brook trout movement at both sites, likely due to relocation for spawning. Increased brook trout movements coincident with the arrival of salmon spawners could be driven by a combination of interference competition and egg consumption. Using a bioenergetics model, we estimated that the energy lost to movement was likely compensated by the energy obtained from consuming salmon eggs. We conclude that salmon spawners can substantially increase brook trout movement, but in our study, these effects were short‐lived and likely negligible from a bioenergetics perspective.     

Density‐dependent effects of eastern Kamchatka pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and Japanese chum salmon (O. keta) on age‐specific growth of western Alaska chum salmon

Hatcheries release >4.5 billion juvenile Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) into the North Pacific Ocean annually, raising concerns about competition with wild salmon populations. We used retrospective scale analysis to investigate how the growth of chum salmon (O. keta) from western Alaska is affected by the abundance of chum salmon from Japanese hatcheries and wild pink salmon (O. gorbuscha) from the Russian Far East. Over nearly five decades, the growth of Kuskokwim River chum salmon was negatively correlated with the abundance of Japanese hatchery chum salmon after accounting for the effects of sex and spring/summer sea‐surface temperature in the Bering Sea. An effect of wild eastern Kamchatka pink salmon abundance on the growth of Kuskokwim River salmon was detectable but modest compared to the intraspecific competitive effect. A decrease in Japanese hatchery chum salmon releases in 2011–2013 was not associated with increased growth of Bering Sea chum salmon. However, the abundance of wild chum salmon from the Russian Far East increased during that time, possibly obscuring reduced competition with hatchery chum salmon. Our results support previous evidence that chum salmon are affected by intraspecific competition, and to a lesser extent interspecific competition, in the North Pacific, underscoring that the effects of salmon hatchery production transcend national boundaries.     

EMG telemetry studies on upstream migration of chum salmon in the Toyohira river,Hokkaido, Japan

The movements of 28 adult chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta (Walbaum) tagged with electromyogram (EMG) transmitters were tracked along the Toyohira river, Hokkaido, Japan, in October of 2007 and 2008 to investigate and evaluate the upstream migratory behavior through the protection bed and fishway of ground sills. The approach time of fish that ascended successfully through the protection bed and fishway was shorter than that of unsuccessful fish. The unsuccessful fish were observed to swim in currents with high water velocity and shallow water depth at swimming speeds that exceeded their critical swimming speed (U _crit) during the approach to these structures. In consequence, unsuccessful fish frequently alternated between burst and maximum sustained speeds without ever ascending the fishway, and eventually became exhausted. It is important that fishway are constructed to enable chum salmon to find a passage way easily, so that they can migrate upstream rapidly without wasting excessive energy.     

Japanese chum salmon stock enhancement: current perspective and future challenges

This study reviews the present status of the Japanese chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta stock enhancement program and considers the ecological sustainability of wild populations while providing fishery production, exemplified by the hatchery-based Kitami region set net fishery. The return rate and the number of returns have been historically high in the Sea of Okhotsk, but have decreased in other regions since 2005. Natural spawning of chum salmon occurred in at least 160 rivers in Hokkaido. The genetic diversity of Japanese chum salmon was similar to or higher than that of other Pacific Rim populations. Numbers of alleles were high at microsatellite loci, but the loss of rare haplotypes was observed in all populations. The estimated N _e /N ratio for the Kitami region was >0.15 % including hatchery and wild fish under the present high fishing pressure. Four regional populations were inferred in Hokkaido, however, genetic differentiation was weak and some river-populations were nested. Substantial changes in run timing were observed, but it has recovered gradually owing to the recent practice of escapement. Our analyses highlight the importance of juvenile quality and the vital roles of escapements in enhanced and non-enhanced rivers. New research is needed to minimize the genetic risks associated with hatchery programs.     

A radioimmunoassay for N-terminal peptide of chum salmon proopiocortin

A highly specific radioimmunoassay was developed for N-terminal peptide of salmonid proopiocortin using a guinea pig antiserum to the chum salmon peptide (sNPP 1). Since sNPP I has no tyrosine residue nor free N-terminal amino group, a mixture of minor components of sNPP 1, which have extensions of H-Val-LysGly- and H-Lys-Gly- at the N-terminus, were iodinated by the lactoperoxidase method after incorporation of 3-(phydroxyphenyl)-propionate to the terminal amino groups. Plasma and pituitary extracts of several salmonid species showed parallel displacement to the standard hormone. Samples from carp, goldfish, tilapia, and eel, as well as the plasma of hypophysectomized rainbow trout, showed no crossreactivity. Proopiocortin-related hormones isolated from the chum salmon pituitary, including melanotropins, endorphins, corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptides, and gonadotropin and prolactin showed negligible cross-reactivity. NPP contents in the pars intermedia of rainbow trout and chum salmon were 10 to 15 times greater than those in the pars distalis. Plasma levels of NPP in the mature chum salmon caught in the bay were about 50ng/ml. Plasma NPP levels in the mature chum salmon of both sexes decreased after transfer from seawater to fresh water. Plasma cortisol showed a concomitant change with NPP, thus supporting previous findings that NPP modulates corticotropin action on the trout interrenal.     

Estimating the origins of adult chum salmon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus keta</Emphasis> in the Okhotsk and Sea of Japan regions using discriminant analysis of scale characteristics

Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) based on scale patterns was used to develop a methodology of estimating regional origins of chum salmon. Age-4 fish were sampled in 2004–2006 from 12 river stocks of the Okhotsk and Sea of Japan (SJ) regions from Hokkaido to Honshu. The scale radius at the first annulus of each fish was separated into i intervals and the radius of each interval was divided by the number of scale circuli within the interval to quantify scale patterns. The i variables and five other morphometric measurements were used in a stepwise LDA to classify the following regional groups: Hokkaido and Honshu (I), Okhotsk and SJ (II), Okhotsk, Hokkaido SJ and Honshu SJ (III). Percentages of correctly classified fish (hit rates) improved with increased i but tended to be close to asymptotic values in all cases. Hit rates for each river stock in case (I) ranged from 74.3% to 100% (mean 97.2%), estimated by direct maximum likelihood methods using predictor variable sets from the best models for LDAs. Hit rates were lower in cases (II) and (III). This study demonstrated that scale patterns are useful for classifying the origins of chum salmon, at least between Hokkaido and Honshu.     

Freshwater habitat associations between pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), chum (O. keta) and Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) in a watershed dominated by sockeye salmon (O. nerka) abundance

To understand the interplay between habitat use and contemporary anadromous Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus spp., distributions we explored the habitat associations of three species, pink (O. gorbuscha), chum (O. keta) and Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) in streams of the Wood River system of Bristol Bay, Alaska, where sockeye salmon (O. nerka) are numerically dominant. We developed models to investigate the occurrence of nondominant salmon in relation to habitat characteristics and sockeye salmon density, using four decades of salmon presence and abundance data. The frequency of occurrence and abundance of nondominant species increased with watershed drainage area and stream depth and decreased with sockeye salmon density. The range of occurrence varied from nonexistent to perennial for the other species in sockeye‐dominated streams. Increasing watershed area resulted in larger stream habitat area and deeper habitats, allowing for the sympatric occurrence and persistence of all salmon species. The relationships between habitat and the presence of these Pacific salmon help define their requirements but also remind us that the patterns of presence and absence, within the overall ranges of salmon species, have yet to be fully understood.     

Homing patterns of Baltic salmon, Salmo salar L., from smolts released from two hatcheries in the River Dalälven, Sweden

The River Dalälven Baltic salmon, Salmo salar L., population has been maintained by stocking reared fish since the early 1920s. Initially, all rearing was carried out at one hatchery, but since the late 1980s two have been used. Both hatcheries are situated 9–10 km from the river mouth but some 600 m apart. All broodfish were caught in a single fish trap situated some 700 m upstream of the upper hatchery. The salmon smolts were released just below the water outlets of each hatchery, respectively. About 2% of the released smolts from each hatchery were tagged annually with Carlin tags. Total recapture rates were higher for smolts from the lower hatchery. A higher proportion of recaptured fish was reported from the home river for salmon from the upper hatchery. The migration within the river to the fish trap was more precise for fish from the upper station. Strays were very late in the season and of a higher number from the lower hatchery. Observations of jumping salmon by the outlet from the lower station indicated that salmon returned to that point. The lower recaptures in the trap were considered a result of a shorter river migration of salmon from the lower hatchery.     

Grey mullet roe contains yolk protein having IgE cross-reactivity to chum salmon roe major allergen (Onc k 5)

The major allergenic protein in grey mullet roe was immunologically characterized using rabbit IgG against the β′-component, which is a vitellogenin fragment and the major allergen in chum salmon roe, and the IgE cross-reactivity between salmon and mullet roe was examined using chum salmon roe-allergic patients' sera. Grey mullet β′-component was identified in the yolk protein and consisted of 16 and 30 kDa proteins that showed marked reaction with the anti-β′-component IgG and shared N-terminal amino acid sequence similarity with vitellogenin. The grey mullet β′-component consisted of six different isoforms generated from vitellogenin A and vitellogenin B, and they inhibited the IgE-binding reaction between chum salmon β′-component and a chum salmon roe-allergic patient’s serum. Thus, grey mullet roe may be an allergenic seafood capable of introducing IgE cross-reactivity to chum salmon roe through the β′-component.