Survival, growth, sexual maturation and reproduction of brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus L., and their hybrids

Survival of hybrids (FA, AF) between brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), (FF) and Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus L., (AA) were compared at three fish farms. Survival of hybrids and Arctic charr was impaired in warm water. In cold water, brook charr and hybrids showed similar survival percentages until the spawning period. Each spawning period was followed by an increase of mortality, but to a much higher degree in brook charr. Growth was studied in the best (cold water) fish farm. During the first 2 years of rearing, brook charr had the highest relative weight. The weight of the two hybrids approached that of brook charr in the third year because of the drastic decrease of growth rate in brook charr after the spawning period. No differences between genotypes of either females or males could be detected in the eviscerated weights, the dressing percentages, or the gonado-somatic indexes. The two hybrids matured sexually, but their sperm quality was inferior to that of the pure species. Crosses between the 4-year-old breeders from the F1 population (FF, FA, AF and AA) were achieved. Survival from the eyed stage to 6 weeks post-hatching was significantly lower in F2 progeny than in back-crosses or pure species crosses. Even though the survival following spawning periods and the total biomass produced were better in hybrids than in brook charr raised in cold water, we believe the farming of this hybrid should not be carried out. The full development of sexually mature hybrids does not resolve problems linked with precocious sexual maturation in brook charr farming carried out in eastern Canada.     

Survival, growth and dressing traits of triploid hybrids between rainbow trout and three charr species

Triploid hybrids between female rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and male brook charr Salvelinus fontinalis, Arctic charr S. alpinus and lake charr S. namaycush, together with diploid and triploid rainbow trout controls from the same dams, were tested in freshwater farming up to their fourth year of life. All hybrids displayed lower survival rates than the controls, the weakest genotype being the Arctic charr hybrid. Mortalities were mostly observed at the embryonic and larval stages and at the adult stage as a consequence of male sexual maturation. Growth of all hybrids was hindered (compared with controls) during the first year, but only moderate differences remained after 3 years. Sexual maturation resulted in a weight inferiority of males in all genotypes. As to carcass traits, female hybrids displayed a slightly higher dressing percentage than female triploid rainbow trout, as a result of lower visceral losses. These results are discussed with reference to hybrid resistance to rhabdoviruses from the viewpoint of fish farming improvement.     

Cytogenetic and histological studies of the brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), and the Arctic char, S. alpinus (L.) hybrids

Although brook trout and the Arctic char hybrids are able to reproduce, individuals with decreased fertility or even fish that are unable to produce any gametes have been also described. Abnormal gonadal development and disturbances in the gamete production in the char hybrid offspring may be triggered by the odd chromosome number and disturbances in their pairing during meiosis. To verify this hypothesis, cytogenetic examination and the gonadal histology analysis of the brook trout x Arctic char hybrids were carried out. Diploid chromosome number in the studied char (F₁) hybrids varied from 82 to 84 (FN = 99–102). Among 28 hybrids, 12 males, three females, nine intersex individuals and two sterile specimens were described. In the case of two individuals, gonads were not found. Diploid chromosome numbers in the males and intersex individuals varied from 82 to 84. Chromosome numbers in the females were 82 and 83 chromosomes. Two sterile fish exhibited karyotypes composed of 82 and 84 chromosomes. Predominance of the ovarian component in the intersex gonads and gonadal sex ratio distortion towards the males suggested hybrid females had problems with gonadal differentiation. However, the lack of the clear relationship between chromosome number and gonadal development in the studied hybrids did not support our hypothesis that odd chromosome number may be responsible for such reproductive disturbances in the hybrid individuals. We have presumed that sterility and intersexual development of the gonads may be caused by interactions between brook trout and Arctic char genes on the sex chromosomes and autosomes rather than unpairing of the parental chromosomes.     

Foraging mode variation in three stream‐dwelling salmonid fishes

Despite long‐standing interest in foraging modes as an important element of animal space use, few studies document and compare individual foraging mode differences among species and ecological conditions in the wild. We observed and compared foraging modes of 61 wild Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, 42 brown trout, Salmo trutta, and 50 Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, in their first growing season over a range of habitats in 10 Icelandic streams. We found that although stream salmonids typically sit‐and‐wait to ambush prey from short distances, Arctic charr were more mobile during prey search and prior to prey attack than Atlantic salmon, whereas brown trout were intermediate. In all three species, individuals that were mobile during search were more likely to be moving when initiating attacks on prey, although the strength and the slope of this relationship differed among species. Arctic charr also differed from salmon and trout as more mobile individuals travelled longer distances during prey pursuits. Finally, coupled with published data from the literature, salmonid foraging mobility (both during search and prior to attack) clearly decreased from still water habitats (e.g., brook charr), to slow‐running waters (e.g., Arctic charr) to fast‐running waters (e.g., Atlantic salmon). Hence, our study suggests that foraging mode of young salmonids can vary distinctly among related species and furthers our understanding of the behavioural mechanisms shaping the geographical distribution of wild salmonids.     

The marine temperature and depth preferences of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and sea trout (Salmo trutta), as recorded by data storage tags

Eleven Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) (370–512 mm) and eight sea trout (Salmo trutta) (370–585 mm in length) were tagged externally or internally with depth‐ and temperature‐measuring data‐storage tags (DST) before they were released into the sea in the Alta Fjord in north Norway in June 2002. All sea trout were recaptured after they spent 1–40 days at sea, while all Arctic charr were recaptured after 0.5–33 days at sea. On average, trout preferred water about 0.6 m deeper and 1.3°C warmer than Arctic charr. Arctic charr spent >50% of their time between 0 and 1 m depth, while trout spent >50% of their time between 1 and 2 m depth. Both species spent >90% of their time in water no deeper than 3 m from the water surface. However, sea trout dove more frequently and to greater depths (max. 28 m) than Arctic charr (max. 16 m), and these deep dives were most frequently performed at the end of the sea migration. Arctic charr demonstrated a diel diving pattern, staying on average about 0.5 m deeper between 08:00 hours and about 15:00 hours than during the rest of the 24 h, even though there was continuous daylight during the experiments. When comparing data obtained from the DSTs with temperature measurements within the fjord system, the two species were observed to select different feeding areas during their sea migration, the sea trout choosing the inner and warmer parts of the fjord, in contrast to the Arctic charr that preferred the outer, colder parts of the fjord. The observed differences in migration behaviour between the two species are discussed in relation to species preferences for prey and habitat selection, and their optimal temperatures for growth.     

An alien fish threatens an endangered parasitic bivalve: the relationship between brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in northern Europe

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Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) population dynamics and mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi) occurrence in relation to acidic episodes in streams

We monitored water chemistry and populations of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and mottled sculpins (Cottus bairdi) in 5 streams and some tributaries to determine how the severity of acidic episodes (low pH and high Al) influenced density and distribution of these species. Among streams, Linn Run had the lowest pH (4.8) and highest concentrations of total dissolved Al (>400 μg-l^?1) during periods of high discharge. Densities of brook trout and mottled sculpins were low in Linn Run, but high in tributaries, where pH (6.5) and Al (30 μg-l^?1) remained well below lethal levels. Among the other streams, brook trout density was highest where the acidic episodes were least severe and the density of age-0 brook trout was lowest when precipitation during the early months of the year was above normal. Immigration of brook trout from downstream areas maintained populations in the stream segments subjected to severe episodes. Mottled sculpins were not found in streams with severe episodes.     

Field study indicating susceptibility differences between salmonid species and their lineages to proliferative kidney disease

Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae (Myxozoa: Malacosporea) is the causative agent of proliferative kidney disease (PKD), which affects both wild and farmed salmonid fish. The objective of this study was to outline differences in susceptibility to PKD in different salmonid species, hybrids and breeding lineages. Susceptibility to T. bryosalmonae infection was established based on cumulative mortality, pathological findings and detection of T. bryosalmonae in the kidney using immunohistochemistry and molecular methods. Determination of pure and hybrid individuals of different species in the genus Salvelinus, and dissimilarity of rainbow trout lineages, was performed using traditional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microsatellite analyses. Rainbow trout displayed higher disease severity compared with brook trout and Alsatian charr. Moreover, the results indicated differences in infection susceptibility, not only among different salmonid species but also among different lineages of charr and rainbow trout. Our study indicated that some salmonid species and even different lineages of the same species are more suitable for farming under PKD pressure.     

Trophic interactions between introduced lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and native Arctic charr (S. alpinus) in a large Fennoscandian subarctic lake

Introduced fishes may have major impacts on community structure and ecosystem function due to competitive and predatory interactions with native species. For example, introduced lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) has been shown to replace native salmonids and induce major trophic cascades in some North American lakes, but few studies have investigated trophic interactions between lake trout and closely related native Arctic charr (S. alpinus) outside the natural distribution of the former species. We used stomach content and stable isotope analyses to investigate trophic interactions between introduced lake trout and native Arctic charr in large subarctic Lake Inarijärvi in northern Finland. Both salmonids had predominantly piscivorous diets at >280 mm total length and were mainly caught from the deep profundal zone. However, lake trout had a more generalist diet and showed higher reliance on littoral prey fish than Arctic charr, whose diet consisted mainly of pelagic planktivorous coregonids. According to length at age and condition data, lake trout showed slightly faster growth but lower condition than Arctic charr. The results indicate that introduced lake trout may to some extent compete with and prey upon native Arctic charr, but currently have only a minor if any impact on native fishes and food web structure in Inarijärvi. Future monitoring is essential to observe potential changes in trophic interactions between lake trout and Arctic charr in Inarijärvi, as well as in other European lakes where the two salmonids currently coexist.     

Hybrids as potential mediators spreading non-native genes: Comparison of survival,growth, and movement among native,introduced and their hybrid salmonids

Comparing multiple fitness components and potential movement of wild hybrids with their parental species is necessary to fully understand the consequences of human-mediated introgression, but studies tracking both parental species and their hybrids at the individual-level are limited. Here, we compared growth, survival and movement of sympatric introduced brook trout (BT: Salvelinus fontinalis) and native white-spotted charr (WSC: S. leucomaenis) with their hybrids (HYB) in a northern Japanese stream, using mark-recapture data (1,087 marked individuals) collected over 4 years (2013–2016). The mark-recapture data with a single cohort showed that HYB had a comparable or even higher growth rate to BT and WSC. In addition, there is no evidence that hybrid survival was lower than both parental species throughout the entire study period. Furthermore, HYB showed high mobility equivalent to WSC, while BT showed the lowest mobility. Although our previous studies have documented the reduction of BT distribution and lowered reproductive success of HYB, non-native genes can pose a threat to native WSC via relatively high survival, growth and/or mobility of HYB.     

Are native brook charr and introduced rainbow trout differentially adapted to upstream and downstream reaches?

Abstract— Due to species introductions, brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) occur together in many North American streams and typically exhibit a pattern of distribution in which brook charr numerically dominate headwaters and rainbow trout dominate downstream reaches. It has been suggested that 1) the two species compete or 2) the two species do not compete because they are differentially adapted to environmental conditions found in upstream and downstream zones. We assessed whether there were differences in growth and macrohabitat (pool, run and riffle) selection of brook charr and rainbow trout in upper, middle and lower stream zones of a small Pennsylvania stream. Brook charr and rainbow trout placed in replicate paired enclosures set in upstream and downstream reaches showed no significant differences in growth and survival rates upstream, but brook charr had significantly greater growth rates than rainbow trout downstream. Enclosed fish and free-ranging fish both had negative growth rates during the summer. Enclosed fish lost significantly less weight than free-ranging fish. Instantaneous growth rates of free-ranging adult brook charr and rainbow trout from May to August were negative for both species in all stream zones. Underwater observations of adult brook charr and rainbow trout showed both species occurred significantly more often in pool macrohabitats than expected on the basis of macrohabitat availability, except for rainbow trout in the upstream zone. The proportion of pool macrohabitat was not significantly different among stream zones. Brook charr do not appear to be better adapted to upstream environments in Powdermill Run based on growth, survival and macrohabitat selection during summer. Negative biotic interactions acting along with differential environmental adaptations may explain the pattern of distribution of brook charr and rainbow trout in streams, but long-term transplant experiments with additional life stages will be necessary to examine this hypothesis.     

Growth and salinity tolerance in hybrids within Salmo sp. and Salvelinus sp.

Attempts were made to complete all possible interspecific hybrid crosses between Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), and Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Survival was appreciable only in (giving female first) lake × brook, salmon × char, brook × char and char × brook hybrids. Growth rates over a weight increment of 3–30 g averaged 2.14% wet weight/day for all species and hybrids (14.5–17.0°C — excess rations). The highest growth rate, 2.74%, was obtained with the brook (female) × char (male) hybrid and the lowest, 1.63%, in lake trout. Salmon (female) × char (male) hybrids grew faster than salmon; brook trout (female) × char (male) hybrids grew faster than brook trout. Salmo species grew no faster than Salvelinus species but became silvery and had greater salinity tolerance at a smaller size and earlier age. Intergeneric hybrids between female Salmo spp. and male Salvelinus spp. more closely resembled the female parent in processes related to smoltification (silvering and salinity tolerance).     

Resource partitioning and spatial segregation in native and stocked brown trout, Salmo trutta L., and Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), in a hydroelectric reservoir

Abstract. Habitat use, food and spatial segregation in native and stocked brown trout, Salmo trutta L., and Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), were studied during summer 1989 and 1990 in the hydroelectric reservoir Lake Tunhovdfjorden. There was no difference in habitat use and feeding habits between wild and stocked brown trout. In epibenthic areas brown trout lived chiefly down to 2 Secchi disc units, whereas Arctic charr were most abundant between 1 and 4 Secchi disc units. In pelagic areas the catches were low for both species, and they were chiefly confined to surface waters down to 1 Secchi disc unit. The food segregation between brown trout and Arctic charr was almost complete. Both pelagic and epibenthic Arctic charr fed mainly on cladocerans ( Bosmina longispina and Daphnia galeata ), whereas surface insects of terrestrial origin and Arctic charr were the dominant food items for brown trout. Pelagic Arctic charr were significantly older, larger and more homogeneous in size than epibenthic charr. During calm weather schools of Arctic charr were observed cruising with the dorsal fin above the surface.     

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.     

Inter‐specific hybridization between Black Sea trout (Salmo labrax Pallas, 1814) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum, 1792)

Thermal shock‐induced triploid and unshocked control hybrids between rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Black Sea trout (Salmo labrax) and their parental species were produced under hatchery condition by using heat shocks. Triploidization reduced eyed egg rate and alevin yield in all groups. Low survival rate was observed in both shock‐induced triploid hybrid and non‐shock‐induced control hybrids. Although hybrids demonstrated low body weight during the first feeding stage, they reached higher body weight by day 200 when compared with Black Sea trout and rainbow trout. A higher specific growth rate was calculated as 3.60 in the triploid hybrid groups, 1.41 in the triploid Black Sea trout groups and 2.27 in the triploid rainbow trout groups between days 110 and 200. A lower condition factor was determined in the hybrid than in the diploid parental species. A negative value of mid‐parent heterosis (MPH) performance was deected for condition factor, and a favourable MPH was detected for specific growth rate and weight in hybrids.     

Dietary plasticity of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) facilitates coexistence with competitively superior European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus)

Abstract – Habitat use and diet of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) coexisting with European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) and grayling (Thymallus thymallus) were studied in one deep and two relatively shallow subarctic lakes in northern Norway. Stomach content and stable isotope analyses revealed clear and temporally stable resource partitioning between the species in all three lakes. Arctic charr had a wide and flexible trophic niche and was the only piscivorous species. In contrast, whitefish and grayling had remarkably stable planktivorous and benthivorous niches, respectively. In the deepest lake, Arctic charr together with grayling mainly utilised littoral benthos, while piscivory was more prevalent in Arctic charr in the two shallower lakes. In one of the shallow lakes, whitefish was apparently relegated to the inferior profundal niche because of dominance of the littoral by grayling. Our results suggest that Arctic charr may not necessarily need an extensive profundal zone as a refuge, but can coexist with whitefish if a third competing fish species like grayling occurs in the littoral habitat or if profitable small prey fish are available. The study demonstrates that strong dietary plasticity of Arctic charr is instrumental in the observed coexistence with the commonly competitively superior whitefish.     

Changes in the density and growth of brown trout (Salmo trutta) after intensive removal of sympatric Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in the sub‐Arctic lake Møkkelandsvatn,Norway

This study tests the basic hypothesis that the removal of charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), would cause an increase in both the growth and density of a sympatric trout population, Salmo trutta L. The charr population was characterised by slow‐growing individuals, with a high proportion of mature fish, that is typical for so‐called overpopulated populations. A total of 31,000 charr was removed from the lake in the period 1990–1992, and the density of younger trout (1+, 2+), but not older trout (3+, 4+), increased. The growth of older trout (3+, 4+) increased, but the evidence for similar growth increases of younger trout (1+, 2+) was limited. From 1989 to 1990, the proportion of trout increased from 30 to only 40% of the total catch, but from 1991 to 1994, it was significantly higher (60–80%) than that of charr. Total trout biomass increased to a maximum in 1992 and then decreased so that the biomass of 1994 was nearly similar to that of 1989, that is before the start of the charr removal. Back‐calculated lengths of trout from otoliths showed that 2+ and 3+ trout caught in the pelagic were growing consistently faster over previous years than those caught in the littoral, while this was not the case for the 4+ fish. Therefore, the hypothesis was partially supported; the growth rate of trout increased (age groups 1+ to 4+), while the density of juvenile trout (1+, 2+), but not the older trout (3+, 4+), increased after the removal of charr.     

Digestibility of microbial and mussel meal for Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis)

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) for four protein‐rich alternative feed ingredients, intact baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), extracted baker's yeast (S. cerevisiae), zygomycetes (Rhizopus oryzae) and blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), were determined for Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis). Diets contained 30% of test ingredients, and ADCs were compared to a reference diet containing fish meal. For Arctic charr, ADCs for dry matter (DM, 71–99%), sum of amino acids (SAA, 84–99%) and gross energy (70–99%) were significantly lower for intact S. cerevisiae than for extracted S. cerevisiae, R. oryzae and M. edulis. The ADCs for the indispensable amino acids (IAA) in Arctic charr varied between 84% and 99%. Significant differences were found in ADCs for IAA between the test ingredients for Arctic charr, with higher values for extracted S. cerevisiae and M. edulis. The ADCs in Eurasian perch varied between 83% and 95% for DM, 89% and 98% for CP, 92% and 100% for SAA, 81% and 96% for gross energy. No significant differences were found for ADCs between the test ingredients in Eurasian perch, indicating a species effect on digestibility. Furthermore, the absence of intact cell walls had a positive effect on digestibility of S. cerevisiae for Arctic charr.     

An experimental comparison of cannibalistic response in different Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus (L.)) stocks

Abstract– The cannibalistic response of four domesticated Arctic charr stocks were compared experimentally using a radiographic technique. Charr from Arctic Spitsbergen (80°N) consistently exhibited a much higher frequency of cannibalistic response than fish from three charr strains from mainland Norway (70°N). The results indicate that the extent of cannibalistic feeding in Arctic charr is population specific and support the hypothesis that charr from Arctic populations have stronger cannibalistic tendencies than do fish from more temperate regions.     

Microsatellite genetic variation in wild and hatchery populations of the sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus Selenka) from northern China

Farming of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) started 20 years ago and is still in rapid expansion in China. In order to assess the genetic status of both wild and cultivated stocks of this species, we used eight microsatellite markers to estimate the level of genetic diversity within five hatchery stocks and two wild populations of A. japonicus, and compared the degree of genetic differentiation between them. High levels of polymorphism were observed over all loci. The mean alleles and expected heterozygosities over the seven stocks were 10.4–12.3 and 0.735–0.783 respectively. The results of the microsatellite survey provide no evidence to show that hatchery practice of the sea cucumber in China to date has significantly affected the genetic variability of the cultured stocks. Significant differentiation was found between most pairs of the hatchery stocks and wild populations (F_st range: 0.008–0.036), and no obvious difference was detected between the wild populations (F_st=0.008). The information on the genetic variation and differentiation obtained in this study can be applied for future genetic monitoring of A. japonicus aquaculture stocks and will be useful for future genetic improvement by selective breeding, and for designing suitable management guidelines for these genetic materials.