Imprinting and Homing of Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar ) Kelts

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Authors: Foster, J. R., Schom, C. B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1989
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Canada; Big Salmon; Big Salmon River; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f89-090; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f89-090

Experiments were conducted to determine if a process similar to imprinting occurs during each seaward migration of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar). Displaced Atlantic salmon kelts homed to the site from which they had previously emigrated to sea as smolts (Big Salmon River, New Brunswick, Canada) and did not home to their release sites, or their overwintering sites 150 km away. Delaying release of kelts past the time of normal seaward migration did not cause the behavioral changes associated with interference of the imprinting process described for smolts. Delayed release kelts did not remain near their seawater or estuarine release sites, home to their release sites, or non-selectively home to suitable spawning streams near their release sites. Delayed released kelts travelled away from the release site faster than kelts released during their normal time of seaward migration, but they did not return either to Passamaquoddy Bay or their natal stream in the calendar year of their release (the normal time for this stock) or in subsequent years.