Physiological and Growth Differences in Three Stocks of Underyearling Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) on Early Entry into Seawater
We compared the impact of exposure to seawater on three sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) stocks: one that normally migrates to sea as underyearlings (sea-type) and two with the more common life history strategies of 1 (river-type) or 2 (lake-type) yr of freshwater residence prior to seaward migration. Innate differences in survival, ability to regulate tissue chlorides, and oxygen consumption when first introduced into salt water were more evident in April and May when fish were less than 50 mm in length. In fish longer than 50 mm, the only significant differences among the stocks were in saltwater growth. Between June and August, sea-type fish showed faster growth than river-type fish which in turn grew faster than lake-type fish. When introduced into salt water in October, virtually no growth occurred in any stock, regardless of fish size. River-type and lake-type sockeye, which normally overwinter 1 and 2 yr, respectively, in freshwater, can be reared in seawater if underyearlings are raised to a length of 50 mm before release into salt water, similar to the normal life history of sea-type underyearlings. Early life history appears to be influenced more by habitat than by genetics.