Ecophysiological exploration: the microbiota, metabolic rate and behaviour of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

• Main Author: Lindsay, Eleanor Clare
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: QL Zoology; QR Microbiology; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://theses.gla.ac.uk/81938/; https://theses.gla.ac.uk/81938/13/2021LindsayPhD.pdf

Across many taxa, there is wide intra- and interspecific variation in metabolic rate and in the microbial community composition within the gut. In separate studies, both the metabolic rate and the gut microbiota of an organism have been shown to be related to diet, environment and ontogeny or life history, all of which can have repercussions on survival. Nonetheless, few studies have examined a host’s gut microbiota and metabolic rate concurrently. The experiments within this thesis explore whether a relationship exists between the gut microbiota and metabolic rate in juvenile Atlantic salmon. In addition, this thesis examines whether the genetic origin of the fish can account for any variation in the gut microbial community composition, host physiology, or in host behaviour. To the author's knowledge, these experiments are the first to demonstrate a link between the metabolic rate and the gut microbiota in Atlantic salmon. importantly, the use of common garden experiments uncovered that the genetic background of the fish had an impact on both fish physiology and the gut microbiota. Additionally, rearing environment was shown to impact fish behaviour, which could have consequences for fish physiology, metabolic rate and their gut microbiota. These findings not only highlight the need to consider the gut microbiota when studying host physiology, but also has implications for aquaculture, particularly within the context of fish farm escapees.