Genetic, Environmental, and Maturational Effects on Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar ) Survival in Acute Low pH Trials

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Author: Schom, C. B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1986
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Big Salmon; Big Salmon River; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f86-192; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f86-192

Wild sea-run anadromous salmon (Salmo salar) were captured in Big Salmon River in New Brunswick and transported to the Atlantic Salmon Federation's research centre for spawning. Four year-classes were established, one each in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983, using a nested design, i.e. one female with one anadromous male and one or two mature parr. The mature parr, in all but the first year, were from families identified as to survival time in acute low pH trials. Resistance to low pH, i.e. survival time, was family specific and independent of the trial conditions. The heritabilities had dominant and additive components with, however, the apparent larger dam than sire effect an artifact of the experimental design. The most significant component appeared to be the dominant gene component. The mature parr were more resistant than the nonmature parr. Finally, genetic gains from selection were much greater in the down direction than the up direction, and this appeared to be a consequence of negative hatchery selection.