Survival of reared Atlantic salmon and sea trout in relation to marine conditions of smolt year in the Baltic Sea

The marine survival of hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and sea trout (Salmo trutta) was examined in relation to marine conditions during post-smolt migration and in relation to stock traits. In 1970–2001, Carlin-tagged smolts were released in the Iijoki and Oulujoki rivers, the northern Baltic Sea. When both species were analysed together, the abundance of the three prey fish, herring (Clupea harengus), smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) and vendace (Coregonus albula) correlated positively with the survival of salmonids. In addition, the increase in smolt size appeared to improve the survival rate. Sea surface temperature (SST) may have affected indirectly through the abundance of prey fish during the post-smolt migration of salmon and sea trout. The smelt and vendace showed a statistical effect on survival only when the temperature effects were not included in the models. In sea trout, an increasing smolt length was not significantly correlated with the survival in good herring recruitment years, but in poor years survival increased very rapidly with increasing smolt size. The recapture rates of the salmonids tended to decrease between the years 1970 and 2001. During the same time period, the June SST slightly decreased. The positive correlation between the annual summer SST and recapture rate of salmon may partly explain the decreasing trend in recapture rates. An increase in smolt size did not compensate for the decline in the recapture rate of either species.     

Hemoglobin and subunit multiplicity in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hemoglobin system

Hemoglobin (Hb) multiplicity is a commonly used index of phylogenetic differentiation and molecular adaptation in fish. Despite improvements in technologies for characterizing protein structure, our knowledge of the component composition of the Hb system in rainbow trout, Oncorhychus mykiss, has remained almost unchanged through three decades. The Hb is considered to consist of four components, of which two (HbI and HbIV) have been extensively characterised with regard to structure and function. Using a variety of molecular techniques we demonstrate the presence of at least nine different Hb fractions composed of nine (five α and four β globin) chains, and that HbI and HbIV consist of two and five individual components, respectively. These findings indicate that the published data on trout HbI and HbIV refer to mixtures of isoHbs and need to be reappraised. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The effect of vitamin E on the serum complement activity of the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

Rainbow trout were fed three experimental diets with varying levels of vitamin E (α‐tocopherol) supplementation (0, 100 and 1000 mg kg^?1 diet), and the effects of feeding these diets on serum spontaneous haemolytic activity and classical complement activity were investigated. Hepatic α‐tocopherol levels reflected the dietary intake of the vitamin. Fish fed the diet deficient in vitamin E showed reduced growth and increased mortality. Their hepatosomatic index and erythrocyte fragility was significantly higher than both the supplemented groups and haematocrit, and complement activity were all significantly lower. There appeared to be some enhancement of serum complement activity correlated with increased dietary supplementation with vitamin E but the benefits of supplementation at levels above those currently recommended were not established.     

Replacement of fishmeal by canola protein concentrate in diets fed to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

A dephytinized protein concentrate prepared from canola seed (CPC) was assessed for nutrient digestibility and performance in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The apparent digestibility coefficients of CPC were: dry matter, 817 g kg^?1; crude protein, 899 g kg^?1; gross energy, 861 g kg^?1; arginine, 945 g kg^?1; lysine, 935 g kg^?1; methionine, 954 g kg^?1; threonine, 893 g kg^?1. A 9‐week performance trial assessed 7 diets. Fishmeal provided 940 g kg^?1 of the protein in the control diet. Test diets consisted of CPC or water‐washed CPC replacing 500 and 750 g kg^?1 of fishmeal protein; and CPC plus an attractant replacing 500 and 750 g kg^?1 of fishmeal protein. No significant differences in performance were observed (P > 0.05). A subsequent 9‐week performance trial evaluated the effect of adding CPC into compound diets containing fishmeal/soybean meal/corn gluten meal. Five diets were prepared: fishmeal provided 670 g kg^?1 of the protein in the control diet, in the remaining diets CPC was incorporated into commercial‐like trout diets at 100, 200 and 300 g kg^?1 replacement of fishmeal protein, the fifth diet included an attractant in the 300 g kg^?1 replacement diet. No significant differences in performance were obtained (P > 0.05). These studies show that dephytinized canola protein concentrate has potential to replace substantial levels of fishmeal in diets for carnivorous fish without compromising performance.     

Acquisition of the potential for sperm motility in steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss): effect of pH on dynein ATPase

Salmonid sperm pre-incubated at extracellular pH (pH_e) values less than about 7.4 do not become motile upon water activation whereas sperm maintained above about pH 8.0 demonstrate maximal motility upon activation. The basis for this permissive effect of elevated pH_e on sperm motility is not known. Since it is conceivable that the pH sensitivity of dyneinATPase (the molecular motor that drives flagellar movement) could be the basis of, or contribute to this pH dependency, the pH sensitivity of this enzymatic activity was evaluated in membrane-permeabilized axonemes (isolated flagella) ofsteelhead sperm. DyneinATPase activity was found to be sensitive to pH. This activity in permeabilized axonemes was about 3.5-fold higher at pH 7.6 compared to 7.0. To determine whether the pH sensitivity ofATP regeneration might affect the interpretation of the effect of pH on dyneinATPase activity, the pH sensitivities of creatine kinase and adenylate kinase were established. The rates ofATP generation by these enzymes were insensitive to pH between 6.5 and 8.0. The results of these studies are consistent with the hypothesis that prior maintenance at pH_e, in part, controls the potential for sperm motility upon water activation via an influence on dyneinATPase activity. However, the potential for motility ofsteelhead sperm is particularly sensitive to prior maintenance at pH_e values between about 7.4 and 8.0 whereas the dyneinATPase activity of permeabilized axonemes was particularly sensitive to pH values between 7.0 and 7.6. Phosphorus NMR spectroscopy was used to determine that sperm intracellular pH (pH_i) increased with increasing pH_e between 7.0 and 8.5 and pH_i was, on average 0.4–0.5 pH units lower than pH_e. Therefore the pH_e sensitivity of the potential for motility appears to correspond to the pH_i sensitivity of dyneinATPase activity. The data indicate that pH_i is directly related to pH_e and that prior incubation at pH_e may, in part, control the sperm's potential for motility upon water activation via an influence on dyneinATPase activity.     

Transfer of PCDDs and PCDFs into the edible parts of farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), via feed

This study was carried out to quantify the transfer of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) from commercial fish feed into the edible part of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum) under normal rearing conditions. Trout were fed with high‐energy feed for salmon (fat content 26–30%) over a period of 19 months. The average weight of the fish increased from 10 g to more than 2092 g, reaching a size of up to 51‐cm length (Tl). Considerable amounts of PCDDs and PCDFs were transferred from the fish feed into the tissue of the trout. Dioxin concentrations increased during the time of feeding from 0.054 up to 0.914 ng WHO‐PCDD/F‐TEQs kg^?1 wet weight and from 4.991 to 15.815 ng WHO‐PCDD/F‐TEQs kg^?1 fat. A correlation was found between the dioxin concentration of the feed and the resulting concentration in the fat of the muscle tissue. The data allow the establishment of transfer rates from a high‐energy diet to farmed rainbow trout.