Diel vertical distribution of early marine phase juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and behaviour when exposed to salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis)

2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (9) ◽  
pp. 796-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Tang ◽  
A.G. Lewis ◽  
M. Sackville ◽  
L. Nendick ◽  
C. DiBacco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Pink Salmon ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Lepeophtheirus Salmonis ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Salmon Louse ◽  
Seawater Acclimation

We observed diel vertical migration patterns in juvenile pink salmon ( Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Walbaum, 1792)) and tested the hypothesis that fish behaviour is altered by exposure to sea lice copepodids. Experiments involved replicated field deployments of a large (9 m) plankton column, which provided a vertical distribution enclosure under natural light and salinity conditions. Diel vertical distributions of juvenile pink salmon were observed during the first 3 weeks of seawater acclimation in both the presence and the absence of the ectoparasitic salmon louse ( Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer, 1838)). Immediately upon entering seawater, juvenile pink salmon preferred the top 1 m of the water column, but they moved significantly deeper down the vertical water column as seawater acclimation time increased. A significant diel migration pattern was observed, which involved a preference for the surface at night-time, compared with daytime. When fish in the column were exposed to L. salmonis copepodids for 3 h, 43%–62% of fish became infected, fish expanded their vertical distribution range, and significant changes in vertical distribution patterns were observed.

scholarly journals Physiological consequences of the salmon louse ( Lepeophtheirus salmonis ) on juvenile pink salmon ( Oncorhynchus gorbuscha ): implications for wild salmon ecology and management, and for salmon aquaculture

2012 ◽  
Vol 367 (1596) ◽  
pp. 1770-1779 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Brauner ◽  
M. Sackville ◽  
Z. Gallagher ◽  
S. Tang ◽  
L. Nendick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Pink Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Lepeophtheirus Salmonis ◽  
Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Salmon Louse ◽  
Wild Salmon ◽  
Salmon Aquaculture ◽  
The Impact

Pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha , are the most abundant wild salmon species and are thought of as an indicator of ecosystem health. The salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis , is endemic to pink salmon habitat but these ectoparasites have been implicated in reducing local pink salmon populations in the Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia. This allegation arose largely because juvenile pink salmon migrate past commercial open net salmon farms, which are known to incubate the salmon louse. Juvenile pink salmon are thought to be especially sensitive to this ectoparasite because they enter the sea at such a small size (approx. 0.2 g). Here, we describe how ‘no effect’ thresholds for salmon louse sublethal impacts on juvenile pink salmon were determined using physiological principles. These data were accepted by environmental managers and are being used to minimize the impact of salmon aquaculture on wild pink salmon populations.

Relationship of water column stability to the growth, condition, and survival of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in the northern coastal Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 955-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara E. Miller ◽  
Milo Adkison ◽  
Lewis Haldorson
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Growth Condition ◽  
Pink Salmon ◽  
Gulf Of Alaska ◽  
Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Biological Parameters ◽  
Prince William Sound ◽  
Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Fish Condition ◽  
Water Column Stability

Water column stability has been hypothesized to affect growth and ultimately survival of juvenile fish. We estimated the relationships between stability and the growth, condition, and marine survival of several stocks of pink salmon ( Oncorhynchus gorbuscha ) within Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska, USA, and the northern coastal Gulf of Alaska (GOA) shelf. There was a stronger correlation among the biological parameters of the fish than between the biological parameters and physical conditions. While stability and fish condition during early marine residence in PWS were important to year-class survival, stability of the water column that juveniles experienced as they migrated to the open waters of the GOA did not play a key role in determining survival to adulthood. Below-average stability just prior to capture within PWS combined with positive fish condition was related to increased year-class survival. Our results are similar to previous studies that concluded that slower and weaker development of stratification with a deeper mixed layer depth may be important for juvenile pink salmon survival in PWS.

The effect of sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) on juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) swimming endurance

2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 2045-2051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Mages ◽  
Lawrence M. Dill
Keyword(s):  
Pink Salmon ◽  
Sea Lice ◽  
Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Control Fish ◽  
Lepeophtheirus Salmonis ◽  
Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Swim Performance ◽  
Ecological Implications ◽  
Seaward Migration ◽  
Swimming Endurance

The swimming endurance of naturally and experimentally infected juvenile pink salmon ( Oncorhynchus gorbuscha ) was measured to determine the effects of sea lice ( Lepeophtheirus salmonis ). Salmon naturally infected with adult male and preadult stage lice did not appear to have a reduced swim performance, but when experimentally infected with adult female lice, juvenile salmon showed a reduced ability to swim compared with uninfected control fish, and this effect increased with lice load. A reduced swimming endurance is not only likely to influence predation risk for salmon, but may have other ecological implications, such as slower seaward migration.

Temporal variations in daily patterns of swimming activity and vertical distribution in juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Guy J. Godin
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Pink Salmon ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Swimming Activity ◽  
Daily Temperature ◽  
Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Light Cycle ◽  
Migratory Behaviour ◽  
Temperature Cycles

At times corresponding to their juvenile coastal and pelagic ocean phases, groups of juvenile pink salmon exhibited diel rhythms of generally diurnal swimming activity and nocturnal vertical movement in response to simulated seasonal variations in photoperiod and water temperature in the laboratory. Diurnal swimming activity was synchronized with the daily light cycle throughout most of the year, but not with ambient daily temperature cycles. On average, fish were increasingly more active during the day than at night with increasing duration of the photophase. Relative swimming speed also increased with increasing photophase duration, and was not affected by seasonal changes in temperature. The fish always showed a greater tendency to swim in the upper half of the water column during the night than during the day. This rhythm of vertical distribution was more strongly synchronized with the daily light cycle in winter than during any other season. Daily temperature cycles did not synchronize these distribution patterns. No significant seasonal trend was noted in mean levels or mean indices of vertical distribution. Results are related to the migratory behaviour of pink salmon, and it is concluded that photoperiod may be an important proximate factor in the timing of their seasonal migratory behaviour.

Sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) infestations and the productivity of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in the Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Krkošek ◽  
Ray Hilborn
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Pink Salmon ◽  
Sea Lice ◽  
Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Lepeophtheirus Salmonis ◽  
Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Lice Infestations

The spread of salmon lice ( Lepeophtheirus salmonis ) from salmon farms may threaten some wild salmon populations. Infestations of wild juvenile pink salmon ( Oncorhynchus gorbuscha ) have been associated with high mortality and population decline. Using stock–recruit data for pink salmon from the central coast of British Columbia, we analyzed how fishing mortality and spatial covariation combine with louse infestation to affect pink salmon population dynamics. The results indicate substantial coherence in survival at nested spatial scales — large-scale regional covariation and smaller scale covariation within management areas. Populations exposed to salmon farms (those from the Broughton Archipelago) show a sharp decline in productivity during sea lice infestations relative to pre-infestation years. Unexposed populations (comprising four management areas) did not experience a change in productivity during infestation years and had similar productivity to exposed populations before infestations. Our results suggest that sea lice infestations may result in declines of pink salmon populations and that management and policy of salmon farms should consider protecting wild juvenile salmon from exposure to sea lice.

scholarly journals First Report of a Sea Louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, Infestation on Juvenile Pink Salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, in Nearshore Habitat

2003 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra B. Morton ◽  
Rob Williams
Keyword(s):  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
Pink Salmon ◽  
Sea Lice ◽  
Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Lepeophtheirus Salmonis ◽  
Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Sea Trout ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Lethal Limit ◽  
Nearshore Habitat

High infestation rates of the Sea Louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) have been reported on juvenile salmonids in Europe since 1989; however, this species has not been reported on juvenile Pacific salmonids until now. Magnitude of Sea Lice infestation was examined in 2001 on juvenile Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) migrating through a British Columbia archipelago. On average, the 751 juvenile Pink Salmon sampled weighed 2.25 g (± 0.039 SE), were infected with 11.3 (± 0.41 SE) Sea Lice per fish and 6.1 (± 0.24SE) Sea Lice per gram host weight. Fully 75.0% of fish were infected at loads equivalent to or higher than the lethal limit reported for much larger Sea Trout (Salmo trutta) post-smolts. Abundance (Kruskal-Wallis statistic = 100.95, p<0.0001) and intensity (KW= 70.05, p<0.0001) of lice, and mean number of lice/g host weight (K-W= 112.23, p<0.0001) were significantly higher in juvenile Pink Salmon in close proximity to salmon farms, than in Pink Salmon distant from salmon farms.

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