The effect of competition among three salmonids on dominance and growth during the juvenile life stage

Although non‐native species can sometimes threaten the value of ecosystem services, their presence can contribute to the benefits derived from the environment. In the Great Lakes, non‐native brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) support substantial recreational fisheries. With current efforts underway to restore once‐native Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to Lake Ontario, there is some concern that Atlantic salmon will impede non‐native contributions to the recreational fishery because Atlantic salmon exhibit niche overlap with brown trout and rainbow trout, particularly during the juvenile life stage. We therefore examined competition and growth of juvenile Atlantic salmon, brown trout and rainbow trout in semi‐natural streams. We found that brown trout were the most dominant and had the greatest growth rate regardless of what other species were present. Rainbow trout were more dominant than Atlantic salmon and consumed the most food of the three species. However, in the presence of brown trout, rainbow trout fed less frequently and exhibited negative growth as compared to when the rainbow trout were present with only Atlantic salmon. These data suggest that, outside of density‐dependent effects, Atlantic salmon will not impact stream production of brown trout and rainbow trout.     

Mortality of salmonids cultured at low temperature in sea water

Brook trout, rainbow trout, and Atlantic salmon were acclimated to sea water (30‰ S) and placed during autumn in floating cages in a concrete tide pool. The salmon (mean length ca 26 cm in mid-October) grew about 2 cm before they stopped feeding in December. The brook trout (19 cm) and rainbow trout (21 cm) grew little, if any, during December. Feeding by the rainbow trout and salmon continued until temperature fell below 1°C. The brook trout fed little, if any, during December while temperature fell from 4 to 1°C. Brook trout, particularly the mature individuals, had high mortality rates from the time they were put into sea water. Blood plasma osmolalities indicated that brook trout, but not the other species, were under severe osmotic stress in sea water. Most of the fish (all three species) died in a 4-day period during early January when the water cooled to ?0.7 to ?0.8°C. A temperature of ?0.7°C is a reasonable approximation of the lower lethal temperature for these salmonids at 30‰ salinity. Based on our observations, it is not practicable to hold the above species in sea water which is likely to get colder than 1°C because of poor growth and the risk of mortality.     

Effect of hook type and hook setting method on deep-hooking rates when bait fishing for trout in lentic waters

Fishing with circle hooks along with prescribed hook-setting methods can reduce deep-hooking rates in some fisheries, but baited circle hooks have not been evaluated in stillwater trout fisheries. Deep-hooking rates and catch probabilities were compared for cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii​ (Richardson), rainbow trout Oncorhyncus mykiss (Walbaum), cutthroat × rainbow trout hybrids, and brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis (MItchill) caught using three types of baited hooks (circle, intermediate circle and traditional J) and two hook-setting methods (active and passive) in several lakes containing naturally reared trout. Hook type had a negligible effect on deep-hooking rates, which averaged 20%. Actively setting the hook and fishing with a bobber both reduced deep-hooking rates, regardless of hook type. Larger fish were deeply hooked more frequently regardless of hook type. Catch probabilities were higher when active rather than passive hook-setting was used, particularly in combination with intermediate circle hooks. The present results, which indicate that circle hook use did not reduce deep hooking in lentic settings, contrast earlier studies done in lotic waters. Therefore, before proposing hook-type regulations intended to reduce deep hooking, fisheries managers should consider waterbody type in addition to fishing methods, fish size and species.     

A comparison of the effects of overhead cover on the growth,survival and haematology of juvenile Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar L., brown trout,Salmo trutta L., and rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri Richardson

The provision of floating annular covers to conventional tangential-flow rearing tanks significantly increased the growth rate of underyearling Atlantic salmon during the period July–November. This increased the proportion of potential 1-year-old smolts from 22% to 38% of the population (P < 0.001). Salmon without access to overhead cover grew slowly and showed haematological signs of a chronic stress response (thrombocytopenia and lymphocytopenia). Mortality rates and the incidence of disease in the young salmon were not influenced by the provision of cover. Overhead cover had no significant effects on any of these parameters in underyearling brown trout and rainbow trout. These findings are discussed in relation to feeding opportunity and behavioural differences between speices.     

Acoustic conditioning for recall/recapture of escaped Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout

Escape of salmon from sea cages is a problem that continues to plague the aquaculture industry. Data collected during the past 15 years from Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and U.S. suggest significant impacts on natural runs of fish and economic losses to producers. The present report investigated the feasibility of using acoustic conditioning as a means of recalling/recapturing escaped fish. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were found to respond to frequencies in the range of 50 - 400 Hz equally well. Subsequently, both species were conditioned to a 250 Hz acoustic tone during feeding. Juvenile and sub-adult fish readily conditioned to the acoustic signal within four days, with the maximum number of fish responding (85% salmon, 96% trout) by day seven. To assess retention of conditioning, fish were exposed to a single tone without feed reinforcement every one, two or four weeks. Salmon and trout continued to respond for a seven month period with no significant decrease (88% salmon, 97% trout) in response. No significant differences were observed in the response of either species to tones differing in frequency by up to 200 Hz (89% salmon, 96% trout) and intensity by 20 dB (91% salmon, 96% trout). Both species were reproducibly recalled to a cage or feeding ring in a 3.7 m tank, but were reluctant to re-enter the cage. The findings indicate that salmon and trout are readily conditioned to acoustic signals and retain that conditioning for an extended period of time without reinforcement. These characteristics suggest that acoustic conditioning has potential as a means to recall escaped salmon and when coupled with recapture, can reduce interactions with wild stocks and losses to the producer.     

Effects of Feeding High Monounsaturated Sunflower Oil Diets on Sensory Attributes of Salmonid Fillets

The purpose of this study was to determine if substituting high oleic acid sunflower oil for herring oil in formulated salmonid diets affected sensory attributes of fillets from coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Two feeding trials were conducted in which coho salmon and rainbow trout were fed diets containing either high oleic acid sunflower oil or herring oil as the supplemental lipid source (12.4% of the diet by weight) for 6-8 weeks. In standard directional triangle tests on previously frozen rainbow trout and coho salmon fillets stored at 5¦C for up to 10 days, a significant number of panelists were able to differentiate between fillets from the two dietary treatments based on aroma, and determined that the herring oil fillets had a ôfishierö aroma than the sunflower oil fillets. The panelists tended to prefer rainbow trout fillets from the sunflower oil treatment to fillets from the herring oil dietary treatment. These results suggest that increasing the monounsaturated fatty acid level in fish by feeding a high monounsaturated fatty acid finishing diet could potentially decrease oxidative rancidity, a major cause of quality deterioration in aquatic food products, and thereby improve the shelf life and sensory characteristics of the fillets.     

Distended, water-filled stomach in seawater farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), provoked experimentally by osmoregulatory stress

The present study evaluates if abdominal dis-tension caused by a water-filled stomach in seawater farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), and Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., could be provoked experimentally by live chilling in sea water (0.5 °C). Fifty rainbow trout and 50 salmon were visually classified, either as normal or suffering from the condition. Prior to chilling, no rainbow trout or salmon suffered from a water-filled stomach. During chilling, 25% of the rainbow trout and 2.5% of the salmon developed water-filled stomach. Affected rainbow trout had significantly higher blood plasma osmolality and significantly lower body weight than normal trout. The frequency of trout with a water-filled stomach increased significantly with increasing chilling time and increasing plasma osmolality. The regression coefficients revealed that the proportion of affected rainbow trout in-creased by 0.82% h⁻¹ of chilling and by 0.46% per unit increase in mosmol L^−1. The present study revealed that abdominal distension in seawater farmed rainbow trout was far more severe than in Atlantic salmon and could be provoked experimentally by osmoregulatory stress. This is consistent with the observation that water-filled stomach appear only occasionally in seawater farmed Atlantic salmon.     

Growth in Arctic charr and rainbow trout fed temporally concentrated or spaced daily meals

The effect on growth of distributing feed over a few hours compared tomore frequent meals was tested on 1+ Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) and 1+ rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum). Triplicate hatchery groups for each treatment were fed at a ration level of 1%/dayeither with few meals (8 times per day divided into morning and evening)or with frequent meals (32 meals equally distributed during the day). Wefound an opposite effect of meal frequency on growth in the two species.Low feeding intensity (8 meals per day) had a significantly positive effecton growth in rainbow trout but a significantly negative effect on growth inArctic charr when compared to feeding the fish frequent meals. Theopposite response to meal frequency is likely to be an effect of thedifferences in activity during feeding. Rainbow trout feed much moreaggressively than charr which can result in feeding being a more stressfulevent. In this experiment, the specific growth rate was lower and the feedconversion ratio higher for Arctic charr compared to rainbow trout.     

Comparison of growth rate in Atlantic salmon,pink salmon,Arctic char,sea trout and rainbow trout under Norwegian farming conditions

Growth rates of Atlantic salmon, pink salmon, Arctic char, sea trout and rainbow trout were compared under Norwegian farming conditions. During the juvenile, freshwater period, growth was fastest in pink salmon, followed by rainbow trout and Arctic char. Freshwater growth of sea trout and, especially, Atlantic salmon, was slow. After transfer of smolts or fingerling to sea water, Arctic char failed to survive the autumn. Sea water growth of sea trout was slow, but the three species, rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon and pink salmon, all grew rapidly through all seasons. When in sea water, rainbow trout and pink salmon were regularly attacked by vibriosis, while Atlantic salmon were rarely attacked, and sea trout never. It is concluded that, for commercial farming in Norway, rainbow trout are of value for production of fish of any size up to 3–4 kg, and pink salmon for production of small fish of 0.5–1.5 kg. Atlantic salmon is the only species suitable for production of a very large salmonid, i.e., more than 4–5 kg.     

Relationship between stream temperature, thermal refugia and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss abundance in arid-land streams in the northwestern United States

Abstract – Warm stream temperatures may effectively limit the distribution and abundance of Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. in streams. The role of cold thermal refugia created by upwelling groundwater in mediating this effect has been hypothesized but not quantitatively described. Between June 21 and September 15, 1994, rainbow trout O. mykiss abundance within 12 northeast Oregon (USA) stream reaches was inversely correlated with mean ambient maximum stream temperatures ( r =−0.7, P <0.05). Some rainbow trout used thermal refugia (1–10 m² surface area) that were on average 3–8°C colder than ambient stream temperatures. Within the warmest reaches, high ambient stream temperatures (>22°C) persisted from mid-June through August, and on average 10–40% of rainbow trout were observed within thermal refugia during periods of midday maximum stream temperatures. Frequency of cold-water patches within reaches was not significantly associated with rainbow trout density after accounting for the influence of ambient stream temperature ( P =0.06; extra sum of squares F -test). Given prolonged high ambient stream temperatures in some reaches, the thermal refugia available in the streams we examined may be too small and too infrequent to sustain high densities of rainbow trout. However, these refugia could allow some rainbow trout to persist, although at low densities, in warm stream reaches.     

Pathology and immunohistochemistry in three species of salmonids after experimental infection with Flavobacterium psychrophilum

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), sea trout, Salmo trutta L., and Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were experimentally infected with Flavobacterium psychrophilum in order to evaluate any species differences in susceptibility to the bacterium. Furthermore, differences in pathological changes and distribution of the bacteria in internal organs were studied. The bacteria were injected intraperitoneally in two doses, high dose (Hd) 1 x 10(7) colony forming units (CFU) fish(-1) and low dose (Ld) 1 x 10(6) CFU fish(-1). The mortalities in the Ld groups varied between 0 and 7.5% and in the Hd groups between 55-70%. No significant differences in mortality between the species were recorded. Clinical signs and pathological findings were similar in the three species and in accordance with those of rainbow trout fry syndrome. Rainbow trout showed more pronounced lesions in the spleen compared with the other species. Necrosis of renal tubular epithelium and haematopoietic tissue was most prominent in rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon. Intracellular eosinophilic droplets in the kidney tubular epithelium were a prominent finding in rainbow trout and sea trout surviving the infection. The distribution of the bacteria in internal organs was similar in the three species, as studied with immunohistochemistry.     

Socially induced stress and behavioural inhibition in response to angling exposure in rainbow trout

It is well known that fish can learn to avoid angling gear after experiencing a catch‐and‐release event, that is, after a private hooking experience. However, the possible importance of social information cues and their influence on an individual's vulnerability to angling remains largely unexplored, that is, social experience of a conspecific capture. The effects of private and social experience of hooking on the stress response of fish and subsequent catch rates were examined. Hatchery‐reared rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), were implanted with heart rate loggers and experimentally subjected to private or social experience of hooking. Private and social experience of angling induced an increased heart rate in fish compared with naïve control fish. While private experience of hooking explained most of the reduced vulnerability to capture, no clear evidence was found that social experience of hooking affected angling vulnerability in fish that had never been hooked before. While both private and social experiences of angling constitute significant physiological stressors for rainbow trout, only the private experience reduces an individual's vulnerability to angling and in turn affecting population‐level catchability.     

Can smolting and maturation of hatchery-reared brown trout Salmo trutta L. be affected by food deprivation during the first and second years of rearing?

Smolting and maturation of 2+ brown trout Salmo trutta L. were evaluated after exposing the groups of trout to different feeding regimes during the summers at 0+ and 1+ ages. The hypothesis tested was based on the theory of smolting of a congeneric species, Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L., in which the physiological smolting decision is expected to be taken at the end of July or beginning of August. During the first summer, the growth of the trout was restricted in two groups out of four by low feeding frequency. During the second summer, food was totally withheld for 3 weeks in June–July (i.e. before the expected sensitive period), in August or not at all (control). The proportion of sexually mature males in November was 5.2% in the groups fasted during August, but somewhat lower in the groups fasted in June–July (average 2.3%) or in control fish (3%). The tendency for smolting was evaluated during the following spring in an artificial stream with the help of PIT-tag technology, which allowed monitoring of the movements of individually tagged trout. Seawater challenge tests were also carried out in April and June. Differences in osmoregulatory ability in seawater indicated that feeding treatments had a slight effect on the timing of smolting, but no differences were observed in movement behaviour between treatment groups. Mature and maturing males moved less at the peak migration time (mid-May) but more in October than immature fishes. These results suggest that the smolting decision in brown trout may be taken at a different time than in Atlantic salmon and that periodic poor growth conditions during the summer will not prevent smolting of trout during the following spring.     

大西洋鲑、三倍体虹鳟和金鳟的肌肉营养成分与品质特性

为了解大西洋鲑(Salmo salar)、三倍体虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)、金鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)3种鱼肌肉营养成分和品质特性,利用生化分析、物性分析方法分析3种鱼肌肉的营养成分、氨基酸和脂肪酸组成、肉色、系水力和质构特性。结果表明,大西洋鲑、三倍体虹鳟、金鳟肌肉的水分质量分数分别为62.91%、67.15%、73.02%,粗蛋白质量分数分别为22.39%、21.03%、22.11%,粗脂肪质量分数分别为14.64%、17.16%、5.11%。3种鱼肌肉的滴水损失、黄色值(b~*)、羟脯氨酸含量、内聚性均显著不差异(P0.05)。3种鱼肌肉的硬度和咀嚼性由低到高依次为大西洋鲑、三倍体虹鳟、金鳟,而pH值的结果则与之相反(P0.05)。大西洋鲑和三倍体虹鳟肌肉的灰分、解冻损失、蒸煮损失、回复性、弹性和红色值(a~*)差异不显著(P0.05),但灰分、蒸煮损失、回复性均小于金鳟肌肉的对应指标(P0.05),弹性和红色值(a~*)则均大于金鳟肌肉的对应指标(P0.05)。大西洋鲑、三倍体虹鳟、金鳟肌肉中必需氨基酸含量占氨基酸总量分别为42.28%、41.84%、41.63%(质量分数),必需氨基酸/非必需氨基酸(EAA/NEAA)比值分别为73.25%、71.94%、71.32%,均符合联合国粮农组织/世界卫生组织(FAO/WHO)对优质蛋白质的评价标准;3种鱼肌肉中均检测到22种脂肪酸,组成丰富,其中不饱和脂肪酸含量较高。综上所述,3种鱼的肌肉都是符合人体营养需求的优质水产品,其中大西洋鲑和三倍体虹鳟肉质接近,且都优于金鳟的肉质。     

Competitive effects between rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon in natural and artificial streams

Competition with non‐native species may impede the restoration of native species, but differences in competitive abilities among intraspecific native populations may make some populations more suitable for reintroduction than others. Here, juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from two allopatric populations (LaHave and Sebago) being used for reintroduction into Lake Ontario were placed into two natural stream sites differing in the presence of ecologically similar rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). We assessed the effects of competition in the natural streams on fitness‐related traits and habitat use of the Atlantic salmon. We then compared these effects to those observed in artificial streams from a previous study. Atlantic salmon in natural streams had reduced fitness‐related traits that were associated with suboptimal microhabitats in the presence of rainbow trout, but utilised optimal microhabitats in their absence. In the presence of rainbow trout, the two Atlantic salmon populations exhibited comparable recapture proportions to each other, but the individuals from the Sebago population had better performance (body size and condition) than those from the LaHave population. Responses of both Atlantic salmon populations to competition with rainbow trout were generally similar in both direction and magnitude when compared to results from the artificial stream study. The combined results suggest that native species restoration efforts should be focused on candidate populations that are ecologically suitable to reintroduction environments, as well as on suitable habitats that do not contain exotic competitors. Moreover, this study highlights the value of controlled experiments in artificial environments for predicting fitness‐related performance in natural environments.     

Seasonal production of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), in ponds using different feeding practices

Abstract. In temperate regions of North America, the culture of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), in ponds is constrained to the period mid-November to early April by water temperature. Feeding practice may influence production time. The effects of three feeding practices on growth and body composition of rainbow trout raised in ponds during a 142-day winter growth period were investigated. Feeding practices were (1) hand-feeding to satiation, (2) feeding according to a fish size/water temperature chart, and (3) feeding by demand feeder.
Fish fed to satiation consumed 66% more diet than fish fed according to a feeding chart and 163% more than fish fed by demand feeders. Fish fed to satiation had significantly higher (P < 0·05) weight gain, harvest weight, specific growth rate, and protein gain with no significant increase (P > 0·05) in percentage body fat or feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the other two treatments. Survival percentage did not differ significantly (P > 0·05) between treatments. These data indicate that by using satiation feeding, marketable size rainbow trout can be produced in temperate region ponds without increases in percentage body fat or FCR.     

Growth rate estimates for cultured Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout

The growth rate (% wt/day), depending on fish size (g) and water temperature (°C), has been estimated from a series of full-scale feeding experiments with Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson). The experiments were conducted with fish sizes between start feeding and 5 kg at temperatures from 2 to 16°C in fresh-water tanks and sea cages. The results are presented in three tables which may be helpful for the calculation of daily feed rations.     

Influence of stock levels, fishing effort and environmental factors on anglers' catches of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., and sea trout, Salmo trutta L.

Abstract. Monthly catches of Atlantic salmon, Salmosalar L., and sea trout, Salmo trutta L., by anglers in a west of Ireland fishery were analysed. Data were available for 50 months from the years 1971 to 1981. The most important single determinant of catch was found to be fishing effort measured in boat-days. An additional 10 boat days were found to correspond to a catch of almost 6 salmon and 23 sea trout. The relationship between catch and stock was weaker, though a relatively high catchability of sea trout at low stock levels was recorded. Slock levels, fishing effort and environmental factors accounted for much, but not all, of the variation in catch from month to month and from year to year. Most of the effect of rainfall, sunshine and water level was attributable to variations in fishing effort associated with these factors.     

Genetic diversity of Flavobacterium psychrophilum recovered from commercially raised rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), and spawning coho salmon, O. kisutch (Walbaum)

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is the aetiological agent of rainbow trout fry syndrome and bacterial cold water disease. This study examined the genetic diversity of F. psychrophilum isolates retrieved from multiple epizootics at rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, rearing facilities and from spawning coho salmon, O. kisutch. A total of 139 isolates were confirmed as F. psychrophilum by PCR assay and were further typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Multiple epizootics at three proximally located rainbow trout rearing facilities were numerically dominated by three PFGE profiles, which accounted for 76% of all trout isolates. In coho salmon, 19 PFGE profiles were differentiated by PFGE and four numerically dominant PFGE profiles represented 56% of all coho salmon isolates. PFGE analysis also indicated that the average similarity of macrorestriction patterns of F. psychrophilum isolates was greater in rainbow trout than in coho salmon (88% vs. 70%). Furthermore, it was not unusual to isolate multiple PFGE profiles from a single coho salmon sample whereas only two PFGE profiles were shared between two sample dates separated by 1 month. It is clear that the domestic rainbow trout aquaculture facilities studied here were primarily affected by a complex of genetically related strains whereas spawning coho salmon supported a much more genetically diverse collection of F. psychrophilum.     

Variation in semen production of farmed Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout

The variation in semen production among farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) has been studied. Both species were stripped at weekly intervals, the Atlantic salmon four times and the rainbow trout three times.The individual variation in volume of semen was very high, particularly in rainbow trout. The total volume of semen obtained was 137 ml (20 ml/kg body weight) in Atlantic salmon and 23 ml (5 ml/kg body weight) in rainbow trout. The intraclass correlation for volume of semen was estimated at 0.73 in Atlantic salmon and at 0.59 in rainbow trout. The correlations between volume of semen and body size (weight and length) were all positive. They were all significant and medium in Atlantic salmon whereas in rainbow trout they were all low and significant only for volume of semen at first stripping.The number of males needed to supply the Norwegian fish farming industry with semen is discussed. It is concluded that the possibility of disseminating genetic improvement throughout the whole population of farmed Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout by transport of semen from selected males is considerable.