Developmental rates of embryos of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in response to various levels of temperature, dissolved oxygen, and water exchange

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Hamor, T., Garside, E. T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1976
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z76-221; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z76-221

Embryos of Atlantic salmon. Salmo salur L., were incubated from fertilization to completion of hatching at 5 and 10 °C, at 20, 50, and 100% air-saturation, and at several rates of water exchange from 0.2 to 15 ml/s. Developmental rate to various structural stages, expressed as the reciprocal of time units, and hatching time were significantly controlled by temperature, oxygen supply, and rate of water exchange. Survival during embryogenesis and during the hatching period were limited primarily by oxygen supply and secondarily by water exchange, both having highly significant effects. The effect of temperature ranked third but was also statistically significant. Lower temperature reduced the rate of development and enhanced survival through hutching. Developmental rate and survival increased directly with increasing concentration of dissolved oxygen and with increasing rate of water exchange.