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LoScerbo DC, Wilson SM, Robinson KA, Moore JW, Patterson DA. Physiological condition infers habitat choice in juvenile sockeye salmon. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 12:coae011. [PMID: 38584988 PMCID: PMC10998697 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coae011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The amount of time that juvenile salmon remain in an estuary varies among and within populations, with some individuals passing through their estuary in hours while others remain in the estuary for several months. Underlying differences in individual physiological condition, such as body size, stored energy and osmoregulatory function, could drive individual variation in the selection of estuary habitat. Here we investigated the role of variation in physiological condition on the selection of estuarine and ocean habitat by sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) smolts intercepted at the initiation of their 650-km downstream migration from Chilko Lake, Fraser River, British Columbia (BC). Behavioural salinity preference experiments were conducted on unfed smolts held in fresh water at three time intervals during their downstream migration period, representing the stage of migration at lake-exit, and the expected timing for estuary-entry and ocean-entry (0, 1 and 3 weeks after lake-exit, respectively). In general, salinity preference behaviour varied across the three time periods consistent with expected transition from river to estuary to ocean. Further, individual physiological condition did influence habitat choice. Smolt condition factor (K) and energy density were positively correlated with salinity preference behaviour in the estuary and ocean outmigration stages, but not at lake-exit. Our results suggest that smolt physiological condition upon reaching the estuary could influence migratory behaviour and habitat selection. This provides evidence on the temporally dependent interplay of physiology, behaviour and migration in wild juvenile Pacific salmon, with juvenile rearing conditions influencing smolt energetic status, which in turn influences habitat choice during downstream migration. The implication for the conservation of migratory species is that the relative importance of stopover habitats may vary as a function of initial condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella C LoScerbo
- Department of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Science Branch, Cooperative Resource Management Institute, School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Samantha M Wilson
- Earth2Ocean Research Group, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Kendra A Robinson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Science Branch, Cooperative Resource Management Institute, School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Moore
- Department of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
- Earth2Ocean Research Group, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - David A Patterson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Science Branch, Cooperative Resource Management Institute, School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
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Gosselin JL, Buhle ER, Van Holmes C, Beer WN, Iltis S, Anderson JJ. Role of carryover effects in conservation of wild Pacific salmon migrating regulated rivers. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Gosselin
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington 1122 NE Boat Street Seattle Washington 98105 USA
| | - Eric R. Buhle
- Biomark Applied Biological Services Boise Idaho 83702 USA
| | - Christopher Van Holmes
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington 1122 NE Boat Street Seattle Washington 98105 USA
| | - W. Nicholas Beer
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington 1122 NE Boat Street Seattle Washington 98105 USA
| | - Susannah Iltis
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington 1122 NE Boat Street Seattle Washington 98105 USA
| | - James J. Anderson
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington 1122 NE Boat Street Seattle Washington 98105 USA
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Houde ALS, Günther OP, Strohm J, Ming TJ, Li S, Kaukinen KH, Patterson DA, Farrell AP, Hinch SG, Miller KM. Discovery and validation of candidate smoltification gene expression biomarkers across multiple species and ecotypes of Pacific salmonids. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 7:coz051. [PMID: 31620289 PMCID: PMC6788492 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coz051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Early marine survival of juvenile salmon is intimately associated with their physiological condition during smoltification and ocean entry. Smoltification (parr-smolt transformation) is a developmental process that allows salmon to acquire seawater tolerance in preparation for marine living. Traditionally, this developmental process has been monitored using gill Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) activity or plasma hormones, but gill gene expression offers the possibility of another method. Here, we describe the discovery of candidate genes from gill tissue for staging smoltification using comparisons of microarray studies with particular focus on the commonalities between anadromous Rainbow trout and Sockeye salmon datasets, as well as a literature comparison encompassing more species. A subset of 37 candidate genes mainly from the microarray analyses was used for TaqMan quantitative PCR assay design and their expression patterns were validated using gill samples from four groups, representing three species and two ecotypes: Coho salmon, Sockeye salmon, stream-type Chinook salmon and ocean-type Chinook salmon. The best smoltification biomarkers, as measured by consistent changes across these four groups, were genes involved in ion regulation, oxygen transport and immunity. Smoltification gene expression patterns (using the top 10 biomarkers) were confirmed by significant correlations with NKA activity and were associated with changes in body brightness, caudal fin darkness and caudal peduncle length. We incorporate gene expression patterns of pre-smolt, smolt and de-smolt trials from acute seawater transfers from a companion study to develop a preliminary seawater tolerance classification model for ocean-type Chinook salmon. This work demonstrates the potential of gene expression biomarkers to stage smoltification and classify juveniles as pre-smolt, smolt or de-smolt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Lee S Houde
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9T 6N7, Canada
| | - Oliver P Günther
- Günther Analytics, 402-5775 Hampton Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 2G6, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Strohm
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9T 6N7, Canada
| | - Tobi J Ming
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9T 6N7, Canada
| | - Shaorong Li
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9T 6N7, Canada
| | - Karia H Kaukinen
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9T 6N7, Canada
| | - David A Patterson
- School of Resource and Environmental Management, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Anthony P Farrell
- Department of Zoology and Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Scott G Hinch
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Kristina M Miller
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9T 6N7, Canada
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Houde ALS, Akbarzadeh A, Günther OP, Li S, Patterson DA, Farrell AP, Hinch SG, Miller KM. Salmonid gene expression biomarkers indicative of physiological responses to changes in salinity and temperature, but not dissolved oxygen. J Exp Biol 2019; 222:jeb198036. [PMID: 31209112 PMCID: PMC6633282 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.198036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
An organism's ability to respond effectively to environmental change is critical to its survival. Yet, life stage and overall condition can dictate tolerance thresholds to heightened environmental stressors, such that stress may not be equally felt across individuals and at all times. Also, the transcriptional responses induced by environmental changes can reflect both generalized responses as well as others that are highly specific to the type of change being experienced. Thus, if transcriptional biomarkers specific to a stressor, even under multi-stressor conditions, can be identified, the biomarkers could then be applied in natural environments to determine when and where an individual experiences such a stressor. Here, we experimentally challenged juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) to validate candidate gill gene expression biomarkers. A sophisticated experimental design manipulated salinity (freshwater, brackish water and seawater), temperature (10, 14 and 18°C) and dissolved oxygen (normoxia and hypoxia) in all 18 possible combinations for 6 days using separate trials for three smolt statuses (pre-smolt, smolt and de-smolt). In addition, changes in juvenile behaviour, plasma variables, gill Na+/K+-ATPase activity, body size, body morphology and skin pigmentation supplemented the gene expression responses. We identified biomarkers specific to salinity and temperature that transcended the multiple stressors, smolt status and mortality (live, dead and moribund). Similar biomarkers for dissolved oxygen were not identified. This work demonstrates the unique power of gene expression biomarkers to identify a specific stressor even under multi-stressor conditions, and we discuss our next steps for hypoxia biomarkers using an RNA-seq study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Lee S Houde
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9T 6N7
| | - Arash Akbarzadeh
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9T 6N7
- Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, University of Hormozgan, PO Box 3995, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Oliver P Günther
- Günther Analytics, 402-5775 Hampton Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 2G6
| | - Shaorong Li
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9T 6N7
| | - David A Patterson
- School of Resource and Environmental Management, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Anthony P Farrell
- Department of Zoology and Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
| | - Scott G Hinch
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
| | - Kristina M Miller
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9T 6N7
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Bassett MC, Patterson DA, Shrimpton JM. Temporal and spatial differences in smolting among Oncorhynchus nerka populations throughout fresh and seawater migration. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2018; 93:510-518. [PMID: 29882588 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Physiological changes that occur in the spring are preparatory for salmonid smolts to successfully enter seawater, but variation is likely to exist within species with a wide geographic distribution. Whether differences in development of seawater tolerance exist among populations that differ in distance to the ocean, temporally during the spring, or as fish migrate downstream is not known. Juvenile sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka from four regions in the Fraser River catchment, British Columbia, were intercepted to assess physiological differences among populations and at different times during migration to characterize the parr-smolt transformation. Pre-migratory fish had low levels of gill Na+ -K+ -ATPase (NKA) activity. High gill NKA activities were observed at the start of migration for some populations, but smolts leaving the lake did not consistently have higher gill NKA activity than non-migratory juvenile O. nerka sampled in their natal lakes. Gill NKA activity was highly variable at the start of migration with no relationship with distance from the ocean. Gill NKA activity changes with migration were also highly variable, but consistently smolts in the ocean had the highest enzyme activities. Internal and external factors may influence this variation, but the dynamic nature of smolting was not based on the region of origin, timing during migration or on the year of migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marley C Bassett
- Ecosystem Science and Management (Biology) Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, Canada
| | - David A Patterson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Cooperative Resource Management Institute, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - J Mark Shrimpton
- Ecosystem Science and Management (Biology) Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, Canada
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McLennan D, Armstrong JD, Stewart DC, Mckelvey S, Boner W, Monaghan P, Metcalfe NB. Shorter juvenile telomere length is associated with higher survival to spawning in migratory Atlantic salmon. Funct Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Darryl McLennan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - John D. Armstrong
- Marine Scotland – ScienceFreshwater Laboratory Faskally Pitlochry UK
| | - David C. Stewart
- Marine Scotland – ScienceFreshwater Laboratory Faskally Pitlochry UK
| | | | - Winnie Boner
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Neil B. Metcalfe
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of Glasgow Glasgow UK
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