Comparative Agonistic and Feeding Behavior of Hatchery-Reared and Wild Salmon in Aquaria

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Authors: Fenderson, Owen C., Everhart, W. Harry, Muth, Kenneth M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1968
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f68-001; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f68-001

When hatchery-reared and wild landlocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr of the same age and size were permitted to compete for social dominance and for food in aquaria, twice as many hatchery salmon attained dominance as wild salmon. Dominant hatchery salmon also showed a higher intensity of aggressiveness than dominant wild salmon, displaying a higher and more variable mean nipping rate. Socially dominant salmon ate more food per fish than subordinates, but there were no statistically significant differences in feeding rate between dominant hatchery and dominant wild salmon, or between subordinate hatchery and subordinate wild salmon.Hatchery salmon displayed lower feeding rates than wild salmon when they were held in separate compartments of an aquarium and compared at three temperatures. This difference in feeding rate probably was not a reflection of differences in adaptation to temperature or food preference, but, rather, was the result of interference with feeding caused by the more intense social interaction among hatchery fish.It is suggested that high levels of aggressiveness may contribute to mortalities of hatchery-reared salmon planted in streams because of loss of feeding time, excessive use of energy, and increased exposure to predators.