Polychlorinated biphenyl and polybrominated diphenyl ether profiles vary with feeding ecology and marine rearing distribution among 10 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) stocks in the North Pacific Ocean

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) along the west coast of North America have experienced significant declines in abundance and body size over recent decades due to several anthropogenic stressors. Understanding the reasons underlying the relatively high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Chinook stocks is an important need, as it informs recovery planning for this foundation species, as well for the Chinook-dependent Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca, RKW) of British Columbia (Canada) and Washington State (USA). We evaluated the influence of stock-related differences in feeding ecology, using stable isotopes, and marine rearing ground on the concentrations and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Chinook salmon. A principal components analysis (PCA) revealed a clear divergence of PCB and PBDE congener patterns between Chinook with a nearshore rearing distribution ('shelf resident') versus a more offshore distribution. Shelf resident Chinook had 12-fold higher PCB concentrations and 46-fold higher PBDE concentrations relative to offshore stocks. Shelf resident Chinook had PCB and PBDE profiles that were heavier and dominated by more bioaccumulative congeners, respectively. The higher δ13C and δ15N in shelf resident Chinook compared to the offshore rearing stocks, and their different marine distributions explain the large divergence in contaminant levels and profiles, with shelf resident stocks being heavily influenced by land-based sources of industrial contamination. Results provide compelling new insight into the drivers of contaminant accumulation in Chinook salmon, raise important questions about the consequences for their health, and explain a major pathway to the heavily POP-contaminated Resident killer whales that consume them.

Proteins journey-from marine to freshwater ecosystem: blood plasma proteomic profiles of pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Walbaum, 1792 during spawning migration

The pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is a commercial anadromous fish species of the family Salmonidae. This species has a 2-year life cycle that distinguishes it from other salmonids. It includes the spawning migration from marine to freshwater environments, accompanied by significant physiological and biochemical adaptive changes in the body. This study reveals and describes variability in the blood plasma proteomes of female and male pink salmon collected from three biotopes-marine, estuarine and riverine-that the fish pass through in spawning migration. Identification and comparative analysis of blood plasma protein profiles were performed using proteomics and bioinformatic approaches. The blood proteomes of female and male spawners collected from different biotopes were qualitatively and quantitatively distinguished. Females differed primarily in proteins associated with reproductive system development (certain vitellogenin and choriogenin), lipid transport (fatty acid binding protein) and energy production (fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase), and males in proteins involved in blood coagulation (fibrinogen), immune response (lectins) and reproductive processes (vitellogenin). Differentially expressed sex-specific proteins were implicated in proteolysis (aminopeptidases), platelet activation (β- and γ-chain fibrinogen), cell growth and differentiation (a protein containing the TGF_BETA_2 domain) and lipid transport processes (vitellogenin and apolipoprotein). The results are of both fundamental and practical importance, adding to existing knowledge of the biochemical adaptations to spawning of pink salmon, a representative of economically important migratory fish species.

Can Sex-Specific Metabolic Rates Provide Insight Into Patterns of Metabolic Scaling?

Females and males can exhibit striking differences in body size, relative trait size, physiology and behavior. As a consequence the sexes can have very different rates of whole-body energy use, or converge on similar rates through different physiological mechanisms. Yet many studies that measure the relationship between metabolic rate and body size only pay attention to a single sex (more often males), or do not distinguish between sexes. We present four reasons why explicit attention to energy-use between the sexes can yield insight into the physiological mechanisms that shape broader patterns of metabolic scaling in nature. First, the sexes often differ considerably in their relative investment in reproduction which shapes much of life-history and rates of energy use. Second, males and females share a majority of their genome but may experience different selective pressures. Sex-specific energy profiles can reveal how the energetic needs of individuals are met despite the challenge of within-species genetic constraints. Third, sexual selection often pushes growth and behavior to physiological extremes. Exaggerated sexually selected traits are often most prominent in one sex, can comprise up to 50% of body mass and thus provide opportunities to uncover energetic constraints of trait growth and maintenance. Finally, sex-differences in behavior such as mating-displays, long-distance dispersal and courtship can lead to drastically different energy allocation among the sexes; the physiology to support this behavior can shape patterns of metabolic scaling. The mechanisms underlying metabolic scaling in females, males and hermaphroditic animals can provide opportunities to develop testable predictions that enhance our understanding of energetic scaling patterns in nature.

Contribution of warm habitat to cold-water fisheries

A central tenet of landscape ecology is that mobile species depend on complementary habitats, which are insufficient in isolation, but combine to support animals through the full annual cycle. However, incorporating the dynamic needs of mobile species into conservation strategies remains a challenge, particularly in the context of climate adaptation planning. For cold-water fishes, it is widely assumed that maximum temperatures are limiting and that summer data alone can predict refugia and population persistence. We tested these assumptions in populations of redband rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss newberrii) in an arid basin, where the dominance of hot, hyperproductive water in summer emulates threats of climate change predicted for cold-water fish in other basins. We used telemetry to reveal seasonal patterns of movement and habitat use. Then, we compared contributions of hot and cool water to growth with empirical indicators of diet and condition (gut contents, weight-length ratios, electric phase angle, and stable isotope signatures) and a bioenergetics model. During summer, trout occurred only in cool tributaries or springs (<20 °C) and avoided Upper Klamath Lake (>25 °C). During spring and fall, ≥65% of trout migrated to the lake (5-50 km) to forage. Spring and fall growth (mean [SD] 0.58% per day [0.80%] and 0.34 per day [0.55%], respectively) compensated for a net loss of energy in cool summer refuges (-0.56% per day [0.55%]). In winter, ≥90% of trout returned to tributaries (25-150 km) to spawn. Thus, although perennially cool tributaries supported thermal refuge and spawning, foraging opportunities in the seasonally hot lake ultimately fueled these behaviors. Current approaches to climate adaptation would prioritize the tributaries for conservation but would devalue critical foraging habitat because the lake is unsuitable and unoccupied during summer. Our results empirically demonstrate that warm water can fuel cold-water fisheries and challenge the common practice of identifying refugia based only on summer conditions.

Regional differences in energy allocation of black sea bass (Centropristis striata) along the U.S. Northeast Shelf (36°N to 42°N) and throughout the spawning season

Fish reproduction is energetically costly, leading to a suite of energy allocation strategies for maximizing lifetime reproductive potential. Assessing energetic allocation for species that inhabit a wide distributional range can provide insight into different strategies found across individuals and populations. The Northern stock of black sea bass (Centropristis striata) inhabits the U.S. Northeast continental shelf from Cape Hatteras, NC, to the Gulf of Maine, and spawns inshore throughout this distribution from April to October. To assess energy allocation towards spawning, C. striata were collected in four regions across this distribution and throughout their spawning season. By assessing energetic allocation (lipid, energy density and total energy) in muscle, liver and gonad tissues, C. striata were identified as mixed breeders because while they mobilized somatic energy stores towards reproductive development, they also used energy acquired from their diet to sustain reproductive output throughout the spawning season. Unlike male fish, female fish both invested more energy into liver and gonad tissues and exhibited regional differences in energetic values. For both sexes, C. striata in the northern portion of the distribution had lower energetic values both in the somatic stores and towards gonadal development than the fish in the southern portion of the distribution, possibly because of longer migration distance. Overall, the authors found significant spatial variation in energetic constraints that may affect reproductive output and success (recruitment), a relevant result as C. striata are a popular recreational and commercial species throughout this distribution.

Life-history strategies in salmonids: the role of physiology and its consequences

Salmonids are some of the most widely studied species of fish worldwide. They span freshwater rivers and lakes to fjords and oceans; they include short- and long-distance anadromous migrants, as well as partially migratory and non-migratory populations; and exhibit both semelparous and iteroparous reproduction. Salmonid life-history strategies represent some of the most diverse on the planet. For this reason, salmonids provide an especially interesting model to study the drivers of these different life-history pathways. Over the past few decades, numerous studies and reviews have been published, although most have focused on ultimate considerations where expected reproductive success of different developmental or life-history strategies are compared. Those that considered proximate causes generally focused on genetics or the environment, with less consideration of physiology. Our objective was therefore to review the existing literature on the role of physiology as a proximate driver for life-history strategies in salmonids. This link is necessary to explore since physiology is at the core of biological processes influencing energy acquisition and allocation. Energy acquisition and allocation processes, in turn, can affect life histories. We find that life-history strategies are driven by a range of physiological processes, ranging from metabolism and nutritional status to endocrinology. Our review revealed that the role of these physiological processes can vary across species and individuals depending on the life-history decision(s) to be made. In addition, while findings sometimes vary by species, results appear to be consistent in species with similar life cycles. We conclude that despite much work having been conducted on the topic, the study of physiology and its role in determining life-history strategies in salmonids remains somewhat unexplored, particularly for char and trout (excluding brown trout) species. Understanding these mechanistic links is necessary if we are to understand adequately how changing environments will impact salmonid populations.

Impact of habitation conditions on metabolism in the muscles, liver, and gonads of different sex and age groups of bream

Impact of the factors of the aquatic environment is an inevitable aspect of the life of fish as poikilothermic animals and provokes responses in their organisms. The study focused on determining peculiarities in the composition of the metabolic products in the tissues of different age and sex groups of common bream Abramis brama (L.) depending on the living conditions in the water reservoirs of the Upper Volga. The fish were captured in the fattening period in summer and autumn, measured, weighed, identifying sex, maturity stage of the gonads and age. In the muscles, liver and gonads of bream, we analyzed the contents of water, dry matter, lipids, protein, ash and carbohydrates using the standard techniques. The contents of biochemical components in the organism of bream were to a higher degree determined by the peculiarities of the living conditions rather than sex and age of the individuals. In the muscles and liver of bream living in the conditions of increased water temperature and low concentration of oxygen, the concentrations of protein and ash were lower. In the same tissues of bream from the water bodies with high concentrations of pollutants in the water and benthic deposits, we found increased fat content. The muscles of male bream contained less protein and more carbohydrates than females and juvenile individuals, and the muscles of juveniles had less fat. The environmental factors had greater influence on the content of the metabolic products in the liver of bream than sex, and only females had higher ash content than males. The testes had more fat and less protein than the ovaries. During the transition of the gonads from maturity stage II to III, the contents of dry matter and lipids in them decreased. We determined that the environmental factors have stronger impact on biochemical parameters in the tissues of bream than age, because we found no general age patterns in the dynamics of biochemical components, except the liver, in which the highest content of organic compounds was found in individuals aged 6 to 10 years. Water heated by the Hydro Power Plant positively influenced the young bream, as indicated by higher content of metabolic products in individuals aged 5+ than older groups and bream from the surveyed water bodies. Monitoring of the physiological condition of bream focusing on the contents of metabolic products in the tissues may provide necessary data for successful regulation of bream populations in the water reservoirs of the Upper Volga.

Prevalence and patterns of scavenging by brown bears (Ursus arctos) on salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) carcasses

Scavenging, an underappreciated mechanism of prey consumption for many predators, can contribute substantially to nutritional intake. Facultative scavengers such as brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758) may both kill and scavenge Pacific salmon (genus Oncorhynchus Suckley, 1861), though the extent of scavenging and factors affecting this behavior are unclear. We tagged 899 sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum in Artedi, 1792)) carcasses and placed them on streambanks over 5 years at multiple sites in southwestern Alaska (USA) where brown bears annually prey on spawning sockeye salmon. Examination of carcasses revealed overall scavenging rates of 15% after 1 day and 54% after 3 days. Scavenging rate varied by site and year and increased throughout the salmon run. Contrary to predictions, scavenging was more frequent in senescent or bear-killed carcasses than ripe carcasses. Carcass consumption ranged from minimal to almost complete; body and brain tissues were most frequently consumed after 3 days (68% and 63% of carcasses, respectively). We also documented secondary scavenging (i.e., tissue consumption on two separate events) and delayed scavenging (i.e., scavenging observed after 3 days but not 1 day). Taken together, the results indicated that scavenging in these streams contributes significantly to total consumption of salmon by bears, with ramifications for other components of these salmon-dependent ecosystems.

Step-patterned survivorship curves: Mortality and loss of equilibrium responses to high temperature and food restriction in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

While survivorship curves typically exhibit smooth declines over time, step-patterned curves can occur with multiple stressors within a life stage. To explore this process, we examined the effects of heat (24°C) and food restriction on juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) in challenge experiments. We observed step-patterned survivorship curves determined by mortality and loss of equilibrium (LOE) endpoints. To examine the cause of heterogeneity in the stress responses from early to late mortality and LOE, we measured indices of energetic reserves. The step transition in the survivorship curves, the peak mortality rates, and start of when individuals reached a critical energetic threshold (14% dry mass; 4.0 kJ·g-1 energy) all occurred at around days 10-15 of the challenge. The coherence in these temporal patterns suggest heterogeneity in the cohort stress responses, in which an early subgroup died from heat stress and a late subgroup died from starvation. Thus, their endpoint sensitivities resulted in step-patterned survivorship curves. We discuss the implications of the study for understanding effects of multiple stressors on population heterogeneity and note the possible significance of stress response selection under climate change in which heat stress and food limitations occur in concert.

Cardiac Performance of Free-Swimming Wild Sockeye Salmon during the Reproductive Period

Researchers have surmised that the ability to obtain dominance during reproduction is related to an individual’s ability to better sequester the energy required for reproductive behaviors and develop secondary sexual characteristics, presumably through enhanced physiological performance. However, studies testing this idea are limited. Using sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), we explored the relationship between heart rate and dominance behavior during spawning. We predicted that an individual’s reproductive status and energy requirements associated with dominance can be assessed by relating routine heart rate to changes in spawning status over time (i.e., shifts among aggregation, subordinance, and dominance). Thus, we used routine heart rate as a proxy of relative energy expenditure. Heart rate increased with temperature, as expected, and was higher during the day than at night, a known diel pattern that became less pronounced as the spawning period progressed. Routine heart rate did not differ between sexes and average heart rate of the population did not differ among reproductive behaviors. At the individual level, heart rate did not change as behavior shifted from one state to another (e.g., dominance versus aggregation). No other trends existed between routine heart rate and sex, secondary sexual characteristics, survival duration or spawning success (for females only). Therefore, while our study revealed the complexity of the relationships between cardiac performance and reproductive behaviors in wild fish and demonstrated the importance of considering environmental factors when exploring individual heart rate, we found no support for heart rate being related to specific spawning behavioral status or secondary sexual characteristics.

Winter corticosterone and body condition predict breeding investment in a nonmigratory bird

Reproduction is an energetically demanding life history stage that requires costly physiological and behavioral changes, yet some individuals will invest more into reproduction and breed more successfully than others. To understand variation in reproductive investment, previous studies have evaluated factors during breeding, but conditions outside of this life history stage may also play a role. Using a free-ranging population of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), we assessed the repeatability of plastic traits relating to energetic condition (circulating initial corticosterone concentrations and body condition) during the nonbreeding season and evaluated whether these traits predicted reproductive investment in the subsequent breeding season. We found that initial corticosterone concentrations and an index of body condition, but not fat score, were moderately repeatable over a 1-week period in winter. This trait repeatability supports the interpretation that among-individual variation in these phenotypic traits could reflect an intrinsic strategy to cope with challenging conditions across life history stages. We found that females with larger fat reserves during winter laid eggs sooner and tended to spend more time incubating their eggs and feeding their offspring. In contrast, we found that females with higher residual body mass delayed breeding, after controlling for the relationship between fat score and timing of breeding. Additionally, females with higher initial corticosterone in winter laid lighter eggs. Our findings suggest that conditions experienced outside of the breeding season may be important factors explaining variation in reproductive investment.

Quantifying partial migration with sex-ratio balancing

Partial migration, the phenomenon in which animal populations are composed of both migratory and nonmigratory individuals, is widespread among migrating animals. The proportion of migrants in these populations has direct influences on population genetics and dynamics, ecosystem dynamics, mating systems, evolution, and responses to environmental change, yet there are very few studies that measure the proportion of migrants. This is because existing methods to estimate the proportion of migrants are time-consuming and expensive. In this paper, we demonstrate a new method for estimating the proportion of migrants in a population based on sex ratio measurements. Many partially migratory taxa exhibit sex-biased migration or residency, and in these cases, the sex ratios of migrants and nonmigrants are fundamentally related to the proportion of migrants in the population. We define this relationship quantitatively and show how it can be used to infer the proportion of migrants in a population through a process we term “sex-ratio balancing”. We obtain Bayesian estimates of proportion of migrants and quantify the uncertainty in these estimates with highest posterior density intervals. Lastly, we validate the sex-ratio balancing approach with a Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Walbaum in Artedi, 1792) data set. Sex-ratio balancing holds promise as a tool for quantifying partial migration and filling a key data gap about partially migratory taxa.

Intrasexually selected weapons

We propose a practical concept that distinguishes the particular kind of weaponry that has evolved to be used in combat between individuals of the same species and sex, which we term intrasexually selected weapons (ISWs). We present a treatise of ISWs in nature, aiming to understand their distinction and evolution from other secondary sex traits, including from 'sexually selected weapons', and from sexually dimorphic and monomorphic weaponry. We focus on the subset of secondary sex traits that are the result of same-sex combat, defined here as ISWs, provide not previously reported evolutionary patterns, and offer hypotheses to answer questions such as: why have only some species evolved weapons to fight for the opposite sex or breeding resources? We examined traits that seem to have evolved as ISWs in the entire animal phylogeny, restricting the classification of ISW to traits that are only present or enlarged in adults of one of the sexes, and are used as weapons during intrasexual fights. Because of the absence of behavioural data and, in many cases, lack of sexually discriminated series from juveniles to adults, we exclude the fossil record from this review. We merge morphological, ontogenetic, and behavioural information, and for the first time thoroughly review the tree of life to identify separate evolution of ISWs. We found that ISWs are only found in bilateral animals, appearing independently in nematodes, various groups of arthropods, and vertebrates. Our review sets a reference point to explore other taxa that we identify with potential ISWs for which behavioural or morphological studies are warranted. We establish that most ISWs come in pairs, are located in or near the head, are endo- or exoskeletal modifications, are overdeveloped structures compared with those found in females, are modified feeding structures and/or locomotor appendages, are most common in terrestrial taxa, are frequently used to guard females, territories, or both, and are also used in signalling displays to deter rivals and/or attract females. We also found that most taxa lack ISWs, that females of only a few species possess better-developed weapons than males, that the cases of independent evolution of ISWs are not evenly distributed across the phylogeny, and that animals possessing the most developed ISWs have non-hunting habits (e.g. herbivores) or are faunivores that prey on very small prey relative to their body size (e.g. insectivores). Bringing together perspectives from studies on a variety of taxa, we conceptualize that there are five ways in which a sexually dimorphic trait, apart from the primary sex traits, can be fixed: sexual selection, fecundity selection, parental role division, differential niche occupation between the sexes, and interference competition. We discuss these trends and the factors involved in the evolution of intrasexually selected weaponry in nature.

A bioenergetics evaluation of temperature-dependent selection for the spawning phenology by Snake River fall Chinook salmon

High water temperatures can increase the energetic cost for salmon to migrate and spawn, which can be important for Snake River fall-run Chinook salmon because they migrate great distances (>500 km) at a time when river temperatures (18-24°C) can be above their optimum temperatures (16.5°C). Average river temperatures and random combinations of migration and spawning dates were used to simulate fish travel times and determine the energetic consequences of different thermal experiences during migration. An energy threshold criterion (4 kJ/g) was also imposed on survival and spawning success, which was used to determine how prevailing temperatures might select against certain migration dates and thermal experiences, and in turn, explain the selection for the current spawning phenology of the population. Scenarios of tributary use for thermal refugia under increasing water temperatures (1, 2, and 3°C) were also run to determine which combinations of migration dates, travel rates, and resulting thermal experiences might be most affected by energy exhaustion. As expected, when compared to observations, the model under existing conditions and energy use could explain the onset, but not the end of the observed spawning migration. Simulations of early migrants had greater energy loss than late migrants regardless of the river temperature scenario, but higher temperatures disproportionately selected against a larger fraction of early-migrating fish, although using cold-water tributaries during migration provided a buffer against higher energy use at higher temperatures. The fraction of simulated fish that exceeded the threshold for migration success increased from 58% to 72% as average seasonal river temperatures over baseline temperatures increased. The model supports the conclusion that increases in average seasonal river temperatures as little as 1°C could impose greater thermal constraints on the fish, select against early migrants, and in turn, truncate the onset of the current spawning migration.

Thermal exposure of adult Chinook salmon and steelhead: Diverse behavioral strategies in a large and warming river system

Rising river temperatures in western North America have increased the energetic costs of migration and the risk of premature mortality in many Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) populations. Predicting and managing risks for these populations requires data on acute and cumulative thermal exposure, the spatio-temporal distribution of adverse conditions, and the potentially mitigating effects of cool-water refuges. In this study, we paired radiotelemetry with archival temperature loggers to construct continuous, spatially-explicit thermal histories for 212 adult Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) and 200 adult steelhead (O. mykiss). The fish amassed ~500,000 temperature records (30-min intervals) while migrating through 470 kilometers of the Columbia and Snake rivers en route to spawning sites in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Spring- and most summer-run Chinook salmon migrated before river temperatures reached annual highs; their body temperatures closely matched ambient temperatures and most had thermal maxima in the lower Snake River. In contrast, many individual fall-run Chinook salmon and most steelhead had maxima near thermal tolerance limits (20–22 °C) in the lower Columbia River. High temperatures elicited extensive use of thermal refuges near tributary confluences, where body temperatures were ~2–10 °C cooler than the adjacent migration corridor. Many steelhead used refuges for weeks or more whereas salmon use was typically hours to days, reflecting differences in spawn timing. Almost no refuge use was detected in a ~260-km reach where a thermal migration barrier may more frequently develop in future warmer years. Within population, cumulative thermal exposure was strongly positively correlated (0.88 ≤ r ≤ 0.98) with migration duration and inconsistently associated (-0.28 ≤ r ≤ 0.09) with migration date. All four populations have likely experienced historically high mean and maximum temperatures in recent years. Expected responses include population-specific shifts in migration phenology, increased reliance on patchily-distributed thermal refuges, and natural selection favoring temperature-tolerant phenotypes.

Involvement of 11-ketotestosterone in hooknose formation in male pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) jaws

Mature male Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) develop a hooknose, as a secondary male sexual characteristic, during the spawning period. It is likely that androgens regulate hooknose formation. However, endocrinological and histochemical details about the relationship between androgens and hooknose formation are poorly understood. In this study, we performed assays of serum androgens, detection of androgen receptor (AR) in hooknose tissues, external morphological measurement of hooknose-related lengths, and microscopic observation of hooknose tissues of pink salmon (O. gorbuscha) at different stages of sexual maturation. Expression of the arβ gene was detected in hooknose tissues of males but not females. The elongation of these tissues was mediated directly via androgens. Serum 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) concentrations indicated a significant positive correlation with both jaw lengths during sexual maturation of males. In the upper jaw, cartilage tissue developed during hooknose formation, and AR-immunoreactive chondrocytes were located in the rostal-vetral regions of hooknose cartilage in maturing male. The chondrocytes in maturing males before entering into rivers exhibited rich-cytoplasm with high cell activity than at other sexual development stages. On the other hand, in the lower jaw, the development of the spongiosa-like bone meshworks. AR-immunoreactivity was detected in a proportion of the osteocytes and osteoblast-like cells in the spongiosa-like bone meshworks. These results indicate that hooknose formation in pink salmon, which is associated with the buildup of a structure with sufficient strength that it can be used to attack other males on the spawning ground, is regulated by 11-KT.

Phenological synchronization disrupts trophic interactions between Kodiak brown bears and salmon

Climate change is altering the seasonal timing of life cycle events in organisms across the planet, but the magnitude of change often varies among taxa [Thackeray SJ, et al. (2016) Nature 535:241-245]. This can cause the temporal relationships among species to change, altering the strength of interaction. A large body of work has explored what happens when coevolved species shift out of sync, but virtually no studies have documented the effects of climate-induced synchronization, which could remove temporal barriers between species and create novel interactions. We explored how a predator, the Kodiak brown bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi), responded to asymmetric phenological shifts between its primary trophic resources, sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) and red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa). In years with anomalously high spring air temperatures, elderberry fruited several weeks earlier and became available during the period when salmon spawned in tributary streams. Bears departed salmon spawning streams, where they typically kill 25-75% of the salmon [Quinn TP, Cunningham CJ, Wirsing AJ (2016) Oecologia 183:415-429], to forage on berries on adjacent hillsides. This prey switching behavior attenuated an iconic predator-prey interaction and likely altered the many ecological functions that result from bears foraging on salmon [Helfield JM, Naiman RJ (2006) Ecosystems 9:167-180]. We document how climate-induced shifts in resource phenology can alter food webs through a mechanism other than trophic mismatch. The current emphasis on singular consumer-resource interactions fails to capture how climate-altered phenologies reschedule resource availability and alter how energy flows through ecosystems.

Comparative anatomy of the dorsal hump in mature Pacific salmon

Mature male Pacific salmon (Genus Oncorhynchus) demonstrate prominent morphological changes, such as the development of a dorsal hump. The degree of dorsal hump formation depends on the species in Pacific salmon. It is generally accepted that mature males of sockeye (O. nerka) and pink (O. gorbuscha) salmon develop most pronounced dorsal humps. The internal structure of the dorsal hump in pink salmon has been confirmed in detail. In this study, the dorsal hump morphologies were analyzed in four Pacific salmon species inhabiting Japan, masu (O. masou), sockeye, chum (O. keta), and pink salmon. The internal structure of the dorsal humps also depended on the species; sockeye and pink salmon showed conspicuous development of connective tissue and growth of bone tissues in the dorsal tissues. Masu and chum salmon exhibited less-pronounced increases in connective tissues and bone growth. Hyaluronic acid was clearly detected in dorsal hump connective tissue by histochemistry, except for in masu salmon. The lipid content in dorsal hump connective tissue was richer in masu and chum salmon than in sockeye and pink salmon. These results revealed that the patterns of dorsal hump formation differed among species, and especially sockeye and pink salmon develop pronounced dorsal humps through both increases in the amount of connective tissue and the growth of bone tissues. In contrast, masu and chum salmon develop their dorsal humps by the growth of bone tissues, rather than the development of connective tissue.

Reproductive energy expenditure and changes in body morphology for a population of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha with a long distance migration

Energetic demands of a long freshwater migration, extended holding period, gamete development and spawning were evaluated for a population of stream-type Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. Female and male somatic mass decreased by 24 and 21%, respectively, during migration and by an additional 18 and 12% during holding. Between freshwater entry and death after spawning, females allocated 14% of initial somatic energy towards gonad development and 78% for metabolism (46, 25 and 7% during migration, holding and spawning, respectively). Males used only 2% of initial somatic energy for gonad development and 80% on metabolic costs, as well as an increase in snout length (41, 28 and 11% during migration, holding and spawning, respectively). Individually marked O. tshawytscha took between 27 and 53 days to migrate 920 km. Those with slower travel times through the dammed section of the migration corridor arrived at spawning grounds with less muscle energy than faster migrants. Although energy depletion did not appear to be the proximate cause of death in most pre-spawn mortalities, average final post-spawning somatic energy densities were low at 3·6 kJ g^-1 in females and 4·1 kJ g^-1 in males, consistent with the concept of a minimum energy threshold required to sustain life in semelparous salmonids.

Effects of habitat features on size-biased predation on salmon by bears

Predators can drive trait divergence among populations of prey by imposing differential selection on prey traits. Habitat characteristics can mediate predator selectivity by providing refuge for prey. We quantified the effects of stream characteristics on biases in the sizes of spawning salmon caught by bears (Ursus arctos and U. americanus) on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada by measuring size-biased predation on spawning chum (Oncorhynchus keta) and pink (O. gorbuscha) salmon in 12 streams with varying habitat characteristics. We tested the hypotheses that bears would catch larger than average salmon (size-biased predation) and that this bias toward larger fish would be higher in streams that provide less protection to spawning salmon from predation (e.g., less pools, wood, undercut banks). We then we tested for how such size biases in turn translate into differences among populations in the sizes of the fish. Bears caught larger-than-average salmon as the spawning season progressed and as predicted, this was most pronounced in streams with fewer refugia for the fish (i.e., wood and undercut banks). Salmon were marginally smaller in streams with more pronounced size-biased predation but this predictor was less reliable than physical characteristics of streams, with larger fish in wider, deeper streams. These results support the hypothesis that selective forces imposed by predators can be mediated by habitat characteristics, with potential consequences for physical traits of prey.

Evidence for the secondary sexual development of the anal fin in female kokanee salmon Oncorhynchus nerka

This study examines whether the anal fin undergoes secondary sexual development similar to other reproductive traits in salmonids. This hypothesis was tested by comparing the anal-fin size of female kokanee salmon Oncorhynchus nerka that were in the early and late stages of sexual development. Females in an advanced stage of maturation had significantly larger anal fins relative to females in an early state of maturation (+4-7%), indicating that the anal fin undergoes secondary sexual development. The magnitude of this secondary growth was comparable with snout length (+9-10%), which is known to undergo secondary sexual development in female salmonids. When morphological trait dimensions were compared between the sexes, the anal fin was the only morphological trait found to have a female-biased sexual size dimorphism. This is the first study to show that the anal fin of female salmonids undergoes secondary sexual development.

Adaptive capacity at the northern front: sockeye salmon behaviourally thermoregulate during novel exposure to warm temperatures

As climate change increases maximal water temperatures, behavioural thermoregulation may be crucial for the persistence of coldwater fishes, such as salmonids. Although myriad studies have documented behavioural thermoregulation in southern populations of salmonids, few if any have explored this phenomenon in northern populations, which are less likely to have an evolutionary history of heat stress, yet are predicted to experience substantial warming. Here, we treated a rare heat wave as a natural experiment to test whether wild sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) at the northern extent of their primary range (60° latitude) can thermoregulate in response to abnormally high thermal conditions. We tagged adult sockeye salmon with temperature loggers as they staged in a lake epilimnion prior to spawning in small cold streams (n = 40 recovered loggers). As lake surface temperatures warmed to physiologically suboptimal levels (15-20°C), sockeye salmon thermoregulated by moving to tributary plumes or the lake metalimnion. A regression of fish body temperature against lake surface temperature indicated that fish moved to cooler waters when the epilimnion temperature exceeded ~12°C. A bioenergetics model suggested that the observed behaviour reduced daily metabolic costs by as much as ~50% during the warmest conditions (18-20°C). These results provide rare evidence of cool-seeking thermoregulation at the poleward extent of a species range, emphasizing the potential ubiquity of maximal temperature constraints and the functional significance of thermal heterogeneity for buffering poikilotherms from climate change.

Oxygen uptake in Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp.: when ecology and physiology meet

Over the past several decades, a substantial amount of research has examined how cardiorespiratory physiology supports the diverse activities performed throughout the life cycle of Pacific salmon, genus Oncorhynchus. Pioneering experiments emphasized the importance of aerobic scope in setting the functional thermal tolerance for activity in fishes. Variation in routine metabolism can have important performance and fitness consequences as it is related to dominance, aggression, boldness, territoriality, growth rate, postprandial oxygen consumption, life history, season, time of day, availability of shelter and social interactions. Wild fishes must perform many activities simultaneously (e.g. swim, obtain prey, avoid predators, compete, digest and reproduce) and oxygen delivery is allocated among competing organ systems according to the capacity of the heart to deliver blood. For example, salmonids that are simultaneously swimming and digesting trade-off maximum swimming performance in order to support the oxygen demands of digestion. As adult Pacific salmonids cease feeding in the ocean prior to their home migration, endogenous energy reserves and cardiac capacity are primarily partitioned among the demands for swimming upriver, sexual maturation and spawning behaviours. Furthermore, the upriver spawning migration is under strong selection pressure, given that Pacific salmonids are semelparous (single opportunity to spawn). Consequently, these fishes optimize energy expenditures in a number of ways: strong homing, precise migration timing, choosing forward-assist current paths and exploiting the boundary layer to avoid the strong currents in the middle of the river, using energetically efficient swimming speeds, and recovering rapidly from anaerobic swimming. Upon arrival at the spawning ground, remaining energy can be strategically allocated to the various spawning behaviours. Strong fidelity to natal streams has resulted in reproductively isolated populations that appear to be locally adapted physiologically to their specific environmental conditions. Populations with more challenging migrations have enhanced cardiorespiratory performance. Pacific salmonids are able to maintain aerobic scope across the broad range of temperatures encountered historically during their migration; however, climate change-induced river warming has created lethal conditions for many populations, raising conservation concerns. Despite considerable research examining cardiorespiratory physiology in Pacific salmonids over the last 70 years, critical knowledge gaps are identified.

Interactive effects of sex and body size on the movement ecology of adfluvial bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus)

Animal movement occurs as a function of many factors including changing environmental conditions (e.g., seasonality) and the internal state (e.g., phenotypic traits) of the focal organism. Identifying how these factors interact can reveal behavioral patterns that would otherwise go undiscovered. Given a large sample size of individuals (n = 187), we used acoustic biotelemetry to examine the spatial ecology of adfluvial bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus (Suckley, 1859)) in a large hydropower reservoir in British Columbia, Canada. Dependent variables, including home-range size and lateral movement, were analysed as a function of interactive relationships among seasons (over a 2-year period) and phenotypic traits. Mixed models indicated relationships between home-range size and season, whereas variation in lateral movement was explained by month and a two-way interaction between sex and body size. Large females (765 mm total length) were estimated to move laterally up to five times greater than females half their length, whereas movements between large and small males were not significantly different. This study shows how body size and sex can have a profound and possible interactive effect on animal movement. In addition, the results offer new information on the spatial ecology and conservation of adfluvial bull trout.

Effects of fasting and nutritional restriction on the isotopic ratios of nitrogen and carbon: a meta-analysis

Many organisms experience fasting in their life time, and this physiological process has the potential to alter stable isotope values of organisms, and confound interpretation of food web studies. However, previous studies on the effects of fasting and starvation on stable isotopes show disparate results, and have never been quantitatively synthesized. We performed a laboratory experiment and meta‐analysis to determine how stable isotopes of δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C change with fasting, and we tested whether moderators such as taxa and tissue explain residual variation. We collected literature data from a wide variety of taxa and tissues. We surveyed over 2000 papers, and of these, 26 met our selection criteria, resulting in 51 data points for δ¹⁵N, and 43 data points for δ¹³C. We determine that fasting causes an average increase in the isotopic value of organisms of 0.5‰ for δ¹⁵N and that the only significant moderator is tissue type. We find that the overall effect size for δ¹³C is not significant, but when the significant moderator of tissue is considered, significant increases in blood and whole organisms are seen with fasting. Our results show that across tissues and taxa, the nutritional status of an organism must be considered when interpreting stable isotope data, as fasting can cause large differences in stable isotope values that would be otherwise attributed to other factors.

Differential use of salmon by vertebrate consumers: implications for conservation

Salmon and other anadromous fish are consumed by vertebrates with distinct life history strategies to capitalize on this ephemeral pulse of resource availability. Depending on the timing of salmon arrival, this resource may be in surplus to the needs of vertebrate consumers if, for instance, their populations are limited by food availability during other times of year. However, the life history of some consumers enables more efficient exploitation of these ephemeral resources. Bears can deposit fat and then hibernate to avoid winter food scarcity, and highly mobile consumers such as eagles, gulls, and other birds can migrate to access asynchronous pulses of salmon availability. We used camera traps on pink, chum, and sockeye salmon spawning grounds with various run times and stream morphologies, and on individual salmon carcasses, to discern potentially different use patterns among consumers. Wildlife use of salmon was highly heterogeneous. Ravens were the only avian consumer that fed heavily on pink salmon in small streams. Eagles and gulls did not feed on early pink salmon runs in streams, and only moderately at early sockeye runs, but were the dominant consumers at late chum salmon runs, particularly on expansive river flats. Brown bears used all salmon resources far more than other terrestrial vertebrates. Notably, black bears were not observed on salmon spawning grounds despite being the most frequently observed vertebrate on roads and trails. From a conservation and management perspective, all salmon species and stream morphologies are used extensively by bears, but salmon spawning late in the year are disproportionately important to eagles and other highly mobile species that are seasonally limited by winter food availability.

Fatty-acid profiles of white muscle and liver in stream-maturing steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss from early migration to kelt emigration

The profiles of specific fatty acids (FA) in white muscle and liver of fasting steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were evaluated at three periods during their prespawning migration and at kelt emigration in the Snake-Columbia River of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, to improve the understanding of energy change. Twenty-seven FAs were identified; depletion of 10 of these was positively correlated in liver and white muscle of prespawning O. mykiss. To observe relative changes in FA content more accurately over sampling intervals, the lipid fraction of tissues was used to normalize the quantity of individual FA to an equivalent tissue wet mass. Saturated and monounsaturated FAs were depleted between upstream migration in September and kelt emigration in June, whereas polyunsaturated FAs were more conserved. Liver was depleted of FAs more rapidly than muscle. Three FAs were detected across all sampling intervals: 16:0, 18:1 and 22:6n3, which are probably structurally important to membranes. When structurally important FAs of O. mykiss are depleted to provide energy, physiological performance and survival may be affected.

The Expression of Leptin, Estrogen Receptors, and Vitellogenin mRNAs in Migrating Female Chum Salmon, Oncorhynchus keta: The Effects of Hypo-osmotic Environmental Changes

Leptin plays an important role in energy homeostasis and reproductive function in fish, especially in reproduction. Migrating fish, such as salmonoids, are affected by external environmental factors, and salinity changes are a particularly important influence on spawning migrations. The aim of this study was to test whether changes in salinity affect the expression of leptin, estrogen receptors (ERs), and vitellogenin (VTG) in chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta). The expression and activity of leptin, the expression of ERs and VTG, and the levels of estradiol-17β and cortisol increased after the fish were transferred to FW, demonstrating that changes in salinity stimulate the HPG axis in migrating female chum salmon. These findings reveal details about the role of elevated leptin levels and sex steroid hormones in stimulating sexual maturation and reproduction in response to salinity changes in chum salmon.

MicroRNA in teleost fish

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulators involved in nearly all known biological processes in distant eukaryotic clades. Their discovery and functional characterization have broadened our understanding of biological regulatory mechanisms in animals and plants. They show both evolutionary conserved and unique features across Metazoa. Here, we present the current status of the knowledge about the role of miRNA in development, growth, and physiology of teleost fishes, in comparison to other vertebrates. Infraclass Teleostei is the most abundant group among vertebrate lineage. Fish are an important component of aquatic ecosystems and human life, being the prolific source of animal proteins worldwide and a vertebrate model for biomedical research. We review miRNA biogenesis, regulation, modifications, and mechanisms of action. Specific sections are devoted to the role of miRNA in teleost development, organogenesis, tissue differentiation, growth, regeneration, reproduction, endocrine system, and responses to environmental stimuli. Each section discusses gaps in the current knowledge and pinpoints the future directions of research on miRNA in teleosts.

The stress response predicts migration failure but not migration rate in a semelparous fish

Recent findings from iteroparous species suggest that glucocorticoid secretion following acute stress can mediate behavior and survival strategies, ultimately influencing fitness. However, these correlates of the stress response may not exist in semelparous animals given the inability to maximize fitness by delaying reproduction. We measured baseline and stress-induced cortisol concentrations in semelparous sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) following exposure to an acute stressor at the mouth of the Fraser River in British Columbia. The homing fish were then radio-tagged and tracked throughout their in-river migration. Findings reveal that the stress response (i.e. change from baseline to stress-induced cortisol) was predictive of mortality; fish failing to leave the release site had a significantly greater stress response (mean±SE=1004.0±75.3ng/mL) compared to fish capable of successfully migrating beyond one of the most difficult areas of passage over 100 river kilometers upstream (mean±SE=780.7±66.7ng/mL). However, there were no associations between swimming behaviors, both immediately following release and to last point of detection, and the stress response. This study also introduced an unique method of tagging migrating salmon that allows for rapid capture and sampling and thus provides the first assessment of true baseline cortisol concentrations at river-entry for migrating Pacific salmon in the wild. Results show the stress response to be linked to survival in a semelparous species and therefore set the stage for further exploration into how the evolutionary theories underlying relationships between stress responsiveness and fitness may differ between semelparous and iteroparous species.

Seasonal changes and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) effects on innate immune genes expression in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

We profiled the expression of a group of proinflammatory immune genes, comprising TNFα-1, TNFα-2, IFN-γ, IL1β-1, IL1β-2, CCL-1, and CXCL-8 in liver, head kidney, gills, and spleen of goldfish, during the reproductive cycle and in response to injection of the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Most genes showed higher expression during the breeding season in both sexes. However, activation of immune responses was much stronger in female goldfish. Injection with hCG, an analog of luteinizing hormone (LH), which is involved in numerous reproductive functions, markedly changed gene expression in most studied organs, in both male and female goldfish. Again, female goldfish were found to be more responsive than male goldfish. The strongest activation of these genes was seen 7 days post-injection; the effect was dose dependent with a lower dose being in general more effective. For several of the genes, the gills were the most responsive tissue and, in male goldfish, gills were often the only responsive tissue, suggesting an important immunological role for gills during breeding. The data suggest that increasing expression levels are regulated by LH arising during the breeding season, with greater sensitivity in female goldfish than in male goldfish. These data support an interaction between the innate immune system and the reproductive axis.

Bioamplification as a bioaccumulation mechanism for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in wildlife

Persistent organic pollutant bioaccumulation models have generally been formulated to predict bioconcentration and biomagnification. A third bioaccumulation process that can mediate chemical fugacity in an organism is bioamplification.Bioamplification occurs when an organism loses body weight and the chemical partitioning capacity occurs at a rate that is faster than the chemical can be eliminated.Although bioamplification has not been widely recognized as a bioaccumulation process, the potential consequences of this process are significant. Bioamplification causes an increase in chemical fugacity in the animal's tissues and results in there distribution of contaminants from inert storage sites to more toxicologically sensitive tissues. By reviewing laboratory and field studies, we have shown in this paper that bioamplification occurs across taxonomic groups that include, invertebrates,amphibians, fishes, birds, and mammals. Two case studies are presented, and constitute multi-life stage non-steady state bioaccumulation models calibrated for yellow perch and herring gulls. These case studies were used to demonstrate that bioamplification is predicted to occur under realistic scenarios of animal growth and seasonal weight loss. Bioamplification greatly enhances POP concentrations and chemical fugacities during critical physiological and behavioral events in an animal's life history, e.g., embryo development, juvenile stages, metamorphosis, reproduction, migration, overwintering, hibernation, and disease. Consequently,understanding the dynamics of bioamplification, and how different life history scenario scan alter tissue residues, may be helpful and important in assessing wildlife hazards and risks.

Dorsal hump morphology in pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)

Mature male Pacific salmon (Genus Oncorhynchus) develop a dorsal hump, as a secondary male sexual characteristic, during the spawning period. Previous gross anatomical studies have indicated that the dorsal humps of salmon are mainly composed of cartilaginous tissue (Davidson [1935] J Morphol 57:169-183.) However, the histological and biochemical characteristics of such humps are poorly understood. In this study, the detailed microstructures and components of the dorsal humps of pink salmon were analyzed using histochemical techniques and electrophoresis. In mature males, free interneural spines and neural spines were located in a line near to the median septum of the dorsal hump. No cartilaginous tissue was detected within the dorsal hump. Fibrous and mucous connective tissues were mainly found in three regions of the dorsal hump: i) the median septum, ii) the distal region, and iii) the crescent-shaped region. Both the median septum and distal region consisted of connective tissue with a high water content, which contained elastic fibers and hyaluronic acid. It was also demonstrated that the lipid content of the dorsal hump connective tissue was markedly decreased in the mature males compared with the immature and maturing males. Although, the crescent-shaped region of the hump consisted of connective tissue, it did not contain elastic fibers, hyaluronic acid, or lipids. In an ultrastructural examination, it was found that all of the connective tissues in the dorsal hump were composed of collagen fibers. Gel electrophoresis of collagen extracts from these tissues found that the collagen in the dorsal hump is composed of Type I collagen, as is the case in salmon skin. These results indicate that in male pink salmon the dorsal hump is formed as a result of an increase in the amount of connective tissue, rather than cartilage, and the growth of free interneural spines and neural spines.

Metabolic endocrine factors involved in spawning recovery and rematuration of iteroparous female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

To determine how energy balance affects metabolic hormones hypothesized to play a role in the onset of a new reproductive cycle in iteroparous salmonids, food availability after spawning was restricted in female rainbow trout. These fish were compared with a control group that was fed a standard brood stock ration. Bodyweight, length, and muscle lipid content were determined, and blood was collected from fish at regular intervals; a subset of fish from each group was sacrificed at each sampling time for the collection of liver and ovary tissue, and to calculate hepatosomatic index (HSI) and gonadosomatic index (GSI). Plasma hormone levels were quantified by radioimmunoassay, and tissue gene expression levels were analyzed using q-RT-PCR. The experiment was conducted twice, using two-year-old and three-year-old post-spawned fish. Food-restriction arrested ovarian growth and development within 15-20 weeks, as evidenced by lower GSI in restricted-ration fish. Food restriction also reduced Fulton's condition factor, muscle lipid content, and specific growth rate from one month onward, and reduced HSI after 3 months. In the liver, insulin-like growth factor (igf1 and igf2) gene expression was reduced in three-year-old food-restricted fish within 2 months; however, no effect of ration on igf1 or igf2 expression was detected in two-year-old fish. In both years, IGF binding protein-1 (igfbp1) gene expression decreased over time in both treatment groups. Liver leptin (slepA1) gene expression was lower in two-year-old food-restricted fish at 4 months. These results show that this feed restriction regime arrested reproductive development and affected factors associated with energy balance purported to play a role in initiating reproductive development within 2-4months after spawning.

Injuries from non-retention in gillnet fisheries suppress reproductive maturation in escaped fish

Exploitation of fisheries resources has unintended consequences, not only in the bycatch and discard of non-target organisms, but also in damage to targeted fish that are injured by gear but not landed (non-retention). Delayed mortality due to non-retention represents lost reproductive potential in exploited stocks, while not contributing to harvest. Our study examined the physiological mechanisms by which delayed mortality occurs and the extent to which injuries related to disentanglement from commercial gear compromise reproductive success in spawning stocks of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.). We found evidence for elevated stress in fish injured via non-retention in gillnet fisheries. Plasma cortisol levels correlated with the severity of disentanglement injury and were elevated in fish that developed infections related to disentanglement injuries. We also analyzed sex steroid concentrations in females (estradiol-17β and 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one) to determine whether non-retention impairs reproductive potential in escaped individuals. We demonstrate evidence for delayed or inhibited maturation in fish with disentanglement injuries. These findings have important implications for effective conservation and management of exploited fish stocks and suggest means to improve spawning success in such stocks if retention in commercial fisheries is improved and incidental mortality reduced.

Conservation physiology in practice: how physiological knowledge has improved our ability to sustainably manage Pacific salmon during up-river migration

Despite growing interest in conservation physiology, practical examples of how physiology has helped to understand or to solve conservation problems remain scarce. Over the past decade, an interdisciplinary research team has used a conservation physiology approach to address topical conservation concerns for Pacific salmon. Here, we review how novel applications of tools such as physiological telemetry, functional genomics and laboratory experiments on cardiorespiratory physiology have shed light on the effect of fisheries capture and release, disease and individual condition, and stock-specific consequences of warming river temperatures, respectively, and discuss how these findings have or have not benefited Pacific salmon management. Overall, physiological tools have provided remarkable insights into the effects of fisheries capture and have helped to enhance techniques for facilitating recovery from fisheries capture. Stock-specific cardiorespiratory thresholds for thermal tolerances have been identified for sockeye salmon and can be used by managers to better predict migration success, representing a rare example that links a physiological scope to fitness in the wild population. Functional genomics approaches have identified physiological signatures predictive of individual migration mortality. Although fisheries managers are primarily concerned with population-level processes, understanding the causes of en route mortality provides a mechanistic explanation and can be used to refine management models. We discuss the challenges that we have overcome, as well as those that we continue to face, in making conservation physiology relevant to managers of Pacific salmon.