Effects of temperature and fatigue on the metabolism and swimming capacity of juvenile Chinese sturgeon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acipenser sinensis</Emphasis>)

Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) is a critically endangered species. A flume-type respirometer, with video, was used to conduct two consecutive stepped velocity tests at 10, 15, 20, and 25 °C. Extent of recovery was measured after the 60-min recovery period between trials, and the recovery ratio for critical swimming speed (U _crit) averaged 91.88% across temperatures. Temperature (T) effects were determined by comparing U _crit, oxygen consumption rate (MO ₂), and tail beat frequency (TBF) for each temperature. Results from the two trials were compared to determine the effect of exercise. The U _crit occurring at 15 °C in both trials was significantly higher than that at 10 and 25 °C (p < 0.05). The U _crit was plotted as a function of T and curve-fitting allowed calculation of the optimal swimming temperature 3.28 BL/s at 15.96 °C (trial 1) and 2.98 BL/s at 15.85 °C (trial 2). In trial 1, MO ₂ increased rapidly with U, but then declined sharply as swimming speed approached U _crit. In trial 2, MO ₂ increased more slowly, but continuously, to U _crit. TBF was directly proportional to U and the slope (dTBF/dU) for trial 2 was significantly lower than that for trial 1. The inverse slope (tail beats per body length, TB/BL) is a measure of swimming efficiency and the significant difference in slopes implies that the exercise training provided by trial 1 led to a significant increase in swimming efficiency in trial 2.     

Sex differences in metabolic rate and swimming performance in pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha): the effect of male secondary sexual traits

Do secondary sexual traits, such as large dorsal hump and hooked snout, decrease the swimming efficiency of male pink salmon during freshwater migration? This is the first study to address the effects of secondary sexual traits in pink salmon on oxygen uptake and swimming capacity. We conducted a laboratory experiment using a swimming respirometer and a field study using electromyogram (EMG) telemetry in the Shibetsu River, Hokkaido, Japan. We compared the relationship between MO₂ (mg O₂·kg^?1·h^?1) and swimming velocity U (m·s^?1) in male and female fish, and also investigated the effects of morphological traits (secondary sexual characters) on the relationship between MO₂ (mg O₂·kg^?1·h^?1) and swimming velocity U (m·s^?1). Additionally, we compared energy costs and swimming behaviour during upstream migration between male and female pink salmon. The laboratory experiment revealed that MO₂ exponentially increased with increasing U; this increase was described by MO₂ = 167.9e^1.23U for males and 144.9e^1.14U for females. Linear mixed models found that hump height and the upper jaw length in males significantly and positively affected the relationship between MO₂ and U; no effect was found in females. The field study found that swimming velocity for both sexes estimated from EMG calibration was lower than optimal swimming velocity (U_opt) calculated from the laboratory experiment. We suggest that pink salmon in the Shibetsu River do not swim at the optimal swimming velocity because of the short migration distance involved (20 km).     

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.     

Effect of temperature on swimming performance of juvenile Schizothorax prenanti

The migration of Schizothorax prenanti, an ecologically important and commercially valuable species, is impeded by dams. Effective fishways would contribute to conservation of wild populations, and swimming performance data are necessary for fishway design. The swimming performance of S. prenanti was investigated at four temperatures (15, 19, 23, 27 °C), and numerical models were used to characterize the effect of temperature on swimming performance. As temperature increases, critical swimming speed (U _crit) increases from 15 to 23 °C and then decreases significantly. The highest U _crit (7.71 BL/s) occurs at 24 °C, as estimated by interpolation. Swimming efficiency was similar from 19 to 23 °C, but decreases significantly at 27 °C. The temperature range 15–23 °C is suitable for S. prenanti. However, the excess post-exercise oxygen consumption values of Q ₁₀ for the four temperature increments indicate that 19–23 °C is the optimal range for swimming performance. Maximum tail beat amplitude increased >25 % (0.35–0.45 BL) over the temperature range considered, but variation of tail beat frequency was erratic. White muscle fiber begins to contribute to swimming at swimming speeds ~40 % U _crit at the lower three temperatures, but increases to almost 60 % at 27 °C, and the contribution is relatively small. The results of this investigation advance the knowledge of fish metabolism while swimming provides data critical for fishway design.     

A comparison of constant acceleration swimming speeds when acceleration rates are different with critical swimming speeds in Chinese bream under two oxygen tensions

To investigate the effect of acceleration rates on the constant acceleration test speed (U _cat) and to compare U _cat with the critical swimming speed (U _crit) in Chinese bream (Parabramis pekinensis), the U _cat test at acceleration rates of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 cm s^?2 and the U _crit test in juvenile fish at 20 °C in either normoxia (>90 % saturation oxygen tension) or hypoxia (30 % saturation) were compared. The lactate concentration ([lactate]) of white muscle, liver and plasma and the glycogen concentration ([glycogen]) of white muscle and liver were also measured to identify whether tissue substrate depletion or tissue lactate accumulation correlated with exhaustion. The U _cat decreased with the acceleration rate, and there was no significant difference between U _crit and U _cat at lower acceleration rates. Hypoxia resulted in lower U _cat and U _crit, and the difference increased with decreased acceleration rates of the U _cat test, possibly due to the increased contribution of aerobic components in U _crit or U _cat at low acceleration rates. Hypoxia elicited a significant decrease in muscle [glycogen] and an increase in muscle and liver [lactate] in resting fish. All post-exercise fish had similar muscle [lactate], suggesting that tissue lactate accumulation may correlate with exercise exhaustion. Unlike hypoxia, exercise induced an increase in muscle [lactate] and a significant increase in plasma [lactate], which were worthy of further investigation. The similar swimming speed and biochemical indicators after exercise in the U _crit and U _cat groups at low acceleration rates suggested that U _cat can be an alternative for the more frequently adopted protocols in U _crit in Chinese bream and possibly in other cyprinid fish species.     

Metabolic,behavioral, and locomotive effects of feeding in five cyprinids with different habitat preferences

Fish generally perform routine swimming behaviors during food digestion; thus, changes in swimming performance and adjustments to spontaneous behavior resulting from digestion can have important ecological significance for wild fishes. The effects of feeding on metabolism, spontaneous activity, fast-start escape movement, and critical swimming speed (U _crit) were investigated in five cyprinids with different habitat preferences, specifically the Chinese crucian carp (Carassius auratus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), Chinese bream (Parabramis pekinensis), and qingbo (Spinibarbus sinensis). Generally, species in still water exhibited increased feeding metabolism, whereas species in flowing water showed higher spontaneous activity and locomotion performance. Digestion had no significant effects on either spontaneous activity or fast-start escape movement in the five cyprinids. These results could be due to the small meal sizes (approximately 2% body mass) and active foraging modes of cyprinids. The changes in aerobic swimming performance due to feeding were more complex. No effect of digestion on U _crit was observed in crucian carp (still water, high feeding metabolism, and low U _crit), common carp (widely distributed, high feeding metabolism, and high U _crit), and qingbo (flowing water, low feeding metabolism, and high U _crit), but digestion resulted in a significant decrease in the U _crit of Chinese bream (moderate feeding metabolism but high U _crit) and black carp (moderate feeding metabolism and low U _crit), suggesting no connection between postprandial U _crit changes and feeding metabolism (or between U _crit and preferred habitat). The maximum metabolic rate (MMR) of common carp and crucian carp increased after feeding, whereas the corresponding values for the other three cyprinids remained the same. The oxygen uptake capacity appears to meet the oxygen demand of both aerobic swimming and digestion in common carp and crucian carp, whereas qingbo sacrifices digestion for locomotion, and black carp and Chinese bream sacrifice locomotion for digestion under postprandial swimming conditions. The locomotion-priority mode of qingbo is adaptive to its active foraging mode in the demanding swimming habitat of rapidly flowing water, whereas the high respiratory capacities of postprandial crucian carp and common carp and hence the maintenance of their aerobic swimming performances might be a by-product of natural selection for hypoxia tolerance rather than for swimming speed.     

Dietary fatty acid composition influences swimming performance in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in seawater

Swimming performance was measured in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, L.) fed one of four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic experimental diets, in which the supplemental lipid (25% of diet) originated either solely from menhaden oil (rich in highly unsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 series; n-3 HUFA), or from different proportions of this oil and canola oil (rich in 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acids).The results indicate that dietary fatty acid composition influenced swimming performance in Atlantic salmon through changes in maximum swimming speed (U_crit). Salmon fed a diet in which menhaden oil furnished all of the supplemental lipid had a significantly lower U_crit than those fed a diet in which the supplemental lipid was an equal blend of menhaden and canola oil. Furthermore, there was a highly significant linear relationship between dietary and/or muscle levels of particular fatty acids or groups of fatty acids and U_crit.There was a negative relationship between dietary n-3 HUFA content and U_crit, but there was no relationship between U_crit and muscle n-3 HUFA content nor between U_crit and the levels of the eicosanoids thromboxane A₂ and prostacyclin, or of their ratio, in the heart and gills of fatigued salmon. These results indicate that the differences in exercise performance were not a result of differences in n-3 HUFA metabolism amongst the dietary groups.Indeed, although there was a highly significant positive relationship between U_crit and total n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio of muscle lipids, this was largely due to the associated positive relationship between U_crit and content of the most common n-6 fatty acid in muscle lipids, linoleic acid. There was also a significant positive relationship between content in muscle lipids of the most prominent fatty acid in canola oil, oleic acid, and U_crit. It is suggested that metabolism of these 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acids accounts for the effects of the diets on exercise performance.     

The effects of starvation and re-feeding on growth and swimming performance of juvenile black carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mylopharyngodon piceus</Emphasis>)

We investigated the effects of starvation and re-feeding on growth and swimming performance and their relationship in juvenile black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus). We measured the specific growth rate (SGR), resting metabolic rate (RMR) and constant acceleration test speed (U _CAT, the maximum swimming speed at exhaustion by constant acceleration test with 0.1667 cm s^?2 rate) in a treatment group (21 days of starvation then 21 days of re-feeding) and control group (routine feeding) (n = 20). Starvation resulted in a 17 % decrease in body mass of black carp (P < 0.05). After 21 days of re-feeding, body mass was greater than that of pre-starvation but still less than that of the control group at 42 days. During the re-feeding phase, the SGR of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Starvation resulted in a significant decrease in the RMR and U _CAT. After 21 days of re-feeding, both the RMR and U _CAT recovered to the pre-starvation levels. In the control group, individual juvenile black carp displayed strong repeatability of the RMR and U _CAT across the measurement periods (P ≤ 0.002). In the treatment group, RMR showed significant repeatability between pre-starvation and re-feeding (P = 0.007), but not between pre-starvation and starvation or between starvation and re-feeding. U _CAT showed significant repeatability between pre-starvation and starvation (P = 0.006) and between pre-starvation and re-feeding (P = 0.001), but not between starvation and re-feeding. No correlation or only a weak correlation was found between any two variables of RMR, U _CAT and SGR, whereas the increment of the U _CAT (ΔU _CAT) was negatively correlated with that of SGR during the starvation phase (r = ?0.581, n = 20, P = 0.007) and re-feeding phase (r = ?0.568, n = 20, P = 0.009). This suggested that within individual black carp, there is a trade-off between growth and maintenance (or development) of swimming performance under food-limited conditions.     

Comparison of the swimming performance of farmed and wild gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata

Farmed gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata, frequently escape from the sea cages and interact with wild populations. The impact of these interactions on the wild populations will depend, in part, on differences in performance of the bream. This study compared the swimming performance of the wild and farmed fish in a current channel. The absolute critical swimming speed (U_crit) increased with increasing size while the relative U_crit decreased. Even at the same length there were noticeable performance differences between the individuals. The wild sea bream have significantly higher (P<0.05) absolute U_crit performance (0.86±0.01 m s⁻¹) than the farmed fish (0.79±0.01 m s⁻¹) and significantly higher (P<0.05) relative U_crit performance (4.52±0.05 BL s⁻¹) than the farmed fish (4.21±0.05 BL s⁻¹). The present study suggests that cultured sea bream may not have the ability to compete with wild sea bream in native seawaters.     

The impact of Aeromonas salmonicida infection on behaviour and physiology of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

This study examined the effect of Aeromonas salmonicida infection on the swimming behaviour and physiology of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Fish were injected in the dorsal muscle with either 100 μL bacterium solution (3.05 × 10⁷CFU mL^?1) Aeromonas salmonicida, or 100 μL 0.9% NaCl (as control group). Compared with the control group, the pathogen injected group significantly impaired the critical swimming speed (U_crit) and exhausting time (P < 0.05), which were reduced by 37% and 39% at severe time (day 6, when most of the fish challenged by Aeromonas salmonicida died) respectively. Furthermore, the blood parameters related to their swimming behaviour were also influenced significantly by pathogen injection (P < 0.05). The results showed that the high density lipoprotein (HDL), haemoglobin and total protein decreased by about 63%, 49% and 74% at the end, respectively, while lactate increased by about 29% on day 6. The results suggested that the swimming performance of Atlantic salmon might be a useful indicator of disease, and it was feasible to warn the outbreaks of acute disease by fish behaviour.     

Effect of global warming on the life history and population dynamics of Japanese chum salmon

We have reviewed the effects of long-term climatic/oceanic conditions on the growth, survival, production dynamics, and distribution of Hokkaido chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta in Japan during the period 1945–2005 using path analysis, back-calculation, and scale analyses, and applied a prediction method based on the SRES-A1B scenario of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. The populations of Hokkaido chum salmon were found to have had high growth rates at age 1 year since the late 1980s. Path analysis indicated that the growth at age 1 year in the Okhotsk Sea was directly affected by warm sea surface temperature associated with global warming, with the increased growth at age 1 year resulting in higher rates of survival and large population sizes. Predictions on the global warming effects on the chum salmon were (1) decreased carrying capacity and distribution area, (2) occurrence of a strong density-dependent effect, and (3) loss of migration route to the Sea of Okhotsk, especially for Hokkaido chum salmon. We have also outlined the future challenges of establishing a sustainable conservation management scheme for salmon that include adaptive management and precautionary principles, as well as conservation of natural spawning populations and recovery of natural river ecosystems in Japan despite the warming climate.     

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.     

Involvement of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone in Thyroxine Release in Three different forms of Teleost Fish: Barfin Founder, Masu Salmon and Goldfish

Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on thyroxine (T₄) release in vivo and in vitro were studied in barfin flounder Verasper moseri, masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou and goldfish Carassius auratus. Seabream GnRH (sbGnRH) at a dose of 200 ng/50 g body weight (BW) significantly increased plasma T₄ levels 1 h after the in vivo injection in the barfin flounder, but thereafter the levels normalized. Salmon GnRH (sGnRH) significantly increased plasma T₄ levels l h after the injection with a significant return to initial levels in male masu salmon and male goldfish. In contrast, sGnRH and cGnRH-II in barfin flounder, and cGnRH-II in male masu salmon and male goldfish were not effective in stimulating T₄ release. To clarify direct involvement of GnRH in T₄ release, dissected lower jaw including scattered thyroid follicles was incubated with sbGnRH (1 μg/well) in barfin flounder, and with two doses (0.1 and 1 μg/well) of sGnRH in masu salmon and goldfish in vitro. T₄ concentrations of control were stable during 24 h. Incubation of lower jaw with high dose (1 μg/well) of GnRH significantly (P<0.05) increased T₄ concentrations of incubation medium at 1 h in all experimental fishes. These results indicate that direct stimulation of T₄ secretion by GnRH occurs widely in teleost fish.     

Optical and acoustic camera observations of the behavior of the Kuril harbor seal <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoca vitulina stejnegeri</Emphasis> after invading a salmon setnet

It has previously been confirmed that Kuril harbor seals Phoca vitulina stejnegeri cause damage to the chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta setnet fishery along the east coast of Hokkaido, Japan, but the level of damage has increased markedly with the recovery of their population in recent years. In this study, we attached an optical camera (Trawl Camera) and a dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) acoustic camera to a setnet to observe the behavior of seals as they invaded the setnet, and to determine the number of salmon inside the net, to help inform the development of modified fishing gear. Salmon were observed at all times during daytime with the Trawl Camera, while seals were only observed once. Observations using the DIDSON in its low-frequency mode confirmed that the behavior of seals became vigorous from around sunset to nighttime within the recording time (1530–2100 hours). Observations using the DIDSON high-frequency mode showed that the overall lengths and body widths of seals ranged from 1.0 to 1.6 m and 0.15 to 0.35 m, respectively, while their swimming speeds ranged from 0.4 to 2.6 m/s, increasing around sunset and declining into the night. These results imply that seals mainly invade the setnet from evening to nighttime to predate on salmon.     

Effects of size and sex on swimming performance and metabolism of invasive mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki

In freshwater ecosystems, abiotic factors such as flow regime and water quality are considered important predictors of ecosystem invasibility. The aim of this study was to investigate the critical swimming capacity and metabolism of the eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, focusing on sex and size effects, to evaluate the influence of water flow on its invasive success. Specimens of mosquitofish were captured from the Ter Vell lagoon (L'Estartit, north‐eastern Spain) in July 2014, and we measured the critical swimming speed (U_crit) and oxygen consumption of individual fish (30 females and 30 males) using a mini swim tunnel. The mean U_crit of this poeciliid fish was estimated at 14.11 cm·s^?1 (range = 4.85–22.26), which is lower than that of many other fishes of similar size and confirms that this species is limnophilic and its invasive success might be partially explained by hydrologic alterations. However, the U_crit and maximal metabolic rate vary markedly with fish size and sex, with males having much higher values for the same body mass, and thus probably being more resistant to strong water flows. Multiple regression models illustrate that multivariate analyses might increase the predictive power and understanding of swimming performance and metabolic traits, compared to results from conventional simple regressions.     

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.     

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.     

Effects of Loma morhua (Microsporidia) infection on the cardiorespiratory performance of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua (L).

The microsporidian Loma morhua infects Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in the wild and in culture and results in the formation of xenomas within the gill filaments, heart and spleen. Given the importance of the two former organs to metabolic capacity and thermal tolerance, the cardiorespiratory performance of cod with a naturally acquired infection of Loma was measured during an acute temperature increase (2 °C h^?1) from 10 °C to the fish's critical thermal maximum (CT_Max). In addition, oxygen consumption and swimming performance were measured during two successive critical swimming speed (U_crit) tests at 10 °C. While Loma infection had a negative impact on cod cardiac function at warm temperatures, and on metabolic capacity in both the CT_Max and U_crit tests (i.e. a reduction of 30–40%), it appears that the Atlantic cod can largely compensate for these Loma‐induced cardiorespiratory limitations. For example, (i) CT_Max (21.0 ± 0.3 °C) and U_crit (~1.75 BL s^?1) were very comparable to those reported in previous studies using uninfected fish from the same founder population; and (ii) our data suggest that tissue oxygen extraction, and potentially the capacity for anaerobic metabolism, is enhanced in fish infected with this microsporidian.     

An evaluation of the potential influence of SST and currents on the oceanic migration of juvenile and immature chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) by a simulation model

Using a salmon migration model based on the assumption that swimming orientation is temperature dependent, we investigated the determining factors of the migration of juvenile and immature chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in the North Pacific. We compared the predictions of the model with catch data of immature and juvenile chum salmon collected by Japanese research vessels from 1972 to 1999. The salmon migration model reproduced the observed distributions of immature chum salmon and indicates that passive transport by wind‐driven and geostrophic currents plays an important role in the eastward migration of Asian salmon. These factors result in a non‐symmetric distribution of Asian and North American chum salmon in the open ocean. The directional swimming component contributes to the northward migration in summer. The model results indicate that during the first winter Asian chum salmon swim northward against the southward wind‐driven currents to stay in the western North Pacific. This suggests that Asian chum salmon require more energy to migrate than other stocks during the first winter of their ocean life.     

Muscle activity as a key indicator of welfare in farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L. 1758)

Groups of adult sea bass were reared at either low (10 kg m^?3) or high (50 kg m^?3) stocking densities respectively for 84 and 116 days. To monitor the red muscle activity, about 20 fish from both densities were surgically implanted with EMG (Electromyograms) radio transmitters, after EMG calibration during exhaustive swimming exercise (U_crit test). Blood samples and morphometric measurements were also taken. EMG showed that the muscle activity of fish reared at 50 kg m^?3 was on average twofold higher than fish kept at lower density. Cortisol was significantly more elevated at higher density and haemoglobin, haematocrit and RBCC (red blood cells count) showed the same trend, while lysozyme decreased. Patterns for glucose and lactate were less clear. The results showed that the contemporary use of functional (EMG) and physiological (haematological and biochemical) profiles could give a more comprehensive view of the fish status validating the diagnosis of fish stress induced by culture practices.