Water chemistry and its effects on the physiology and survival of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts

T. Liebich; S. D. McCormick; D. Kircheis; Kevin Johnson; R. Regal; T. Hrabik

doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2011.03046.x

Home/Archive/USGS

USGS · 70035784

Water chemistry and its effects on the physiology and survival of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts

T. Liebich·S. D. McCormick·D. Kircheis·Kevin Johnson·R. Regal·T. Hrabik

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The physiological effects of episodic pH fluctuations on Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts in eastern Maine, U.S.A., were investigated. During this study, S. salar smolts were exposed to ambient stream‐water chemistry conditions at nine sites in four catchments for 3 and 6 day intervals during the spring S. salar smolt migration period. Plasma chloride, plasma glucose, gill aluminium and gill Na + ‐ and K + ‐ATPase levels in S. salar smolts were assessed in relation to ambient stream‐water chemistry during this migration period. Changes in both plasma chloride and plasma glucose levels of S. salar smolts were strongly correlated with stream pH, and S. salar smolt mortality occurred in one study site with ambient stream pH between 5·6 and 5·8 during the study period. The findings from this study suggest that physiological effects on S. salar smolts are strongly correlated with stream pH and that in rivers and streams with low dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations the threshold for physiological effects and mortality probably occurs at a higher pH and shorter exposure period than in rivers with higher DOC. Additionally, whenever an acidification event in which pH drops below 5·9 coincides with S. salar smolt migration in eastern Maine rivers, there is potential for a significant reduction in plasma ions of S. salar smolts.

Explore related subjects

Journal of Fish Biology Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 43.59630591596548° to 45.042478050891546° latitude; -69.598388671875° to -67.43408203124999° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

T. Liebich, S. D. McCormick, D. Kircheis, Kevin Johnson, R. Regal, T. Hrabik. 2011-07-22. Water chemistry and its effects on the physiology and survival of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2011.03046.x

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related USGS reports

USGS2026

Plasticity in the reproductive biology of Yellowstone cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus virginalis bouvieri in Yellowstone Lake following lake trout Salvelinus namaycush invasion

Yellowstone cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus virginalis bouvieri in Yellowstone Lake are the focus of intensive conservation efforts due to the threat of predation by invasive lake trout Salvelinus namaycush . Suppression gillnetting has reduced the abundance of predatory lake trout, and the Yellowstone cutthroat trout population is recovering. Long-term monitoring indicates the size structure of the population shifted following lake trout invasion, suggesting that reproductive demographic rates of Yellowstone cutthroat trout may have changed. Length at 50% probability of maturity, as assessed using histological analysis of gonadal tissue, was 479 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] 467–490 mm) for females and 406 mm (95% CI 386–430 mm) for males, compared to 330 mm for males and females historically. Currently, age at 50% probability of maturity is 6.6 for females and 5.4 for males. The rate of skipped spawning was 3% for females and 38% for males. Mean absolute fecundity was 2897 ovarian follicles/individual at present compared to 1141 ovarian follicles/individual before lake trout invasion. Mean relative fecundity was 2157 ovarian follicles/kg. This research illustrates the plasticity in the reproductive strategies of fishes as a result of an invasive species. Understanding the reproductive biology of fish populations is vital for effective fisheries management, and these results are integral to a population model that can be used to develop new conservation benchmarks for Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

Wyoming↗

USGS2025

Too hot for comfort: Elevated temperatures influence gene expression and exceed thermal tolerance of bigmouth shiners, Ericymba dorsalis

Environmental and associated ecosystem change may affect the persistence of fish species based on their ability to adapt to changing conditions, including decreasing flows and rising water temperatures. Exceeding the thermal tolerances of stream fish will likely result in a loss of ability to maintain metabolic processes. We evaluated the critical thermal maximum (CTmax) of bigmouth shiner ( Ericymba dorsalis ) and analysed the expression of heat shock protein 70 messenger RNA (mRNA) (HSP70) to quantify a thermal stress response over a gradient of temperatures (25°C–31°C). E. dorsalis HSP70 mRNA expression was upregulated in response to temperatures >25°C, indicating a stress response. This study supports the existence of a thermal stress threshold for E. dorsalis . The frequency at which this threshold is exceeded may increase under forecasted future climate scenarios for Nebraska.

Nebraska↗

USGS2025

Seaward movements and mortality of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. kelts in the Penobscot River, Maine

The Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. is an endangered species in the United States, but post-spawn downstream movements remain poorly understood. We conducted a 2-year acoustic telemetry study to characterize downstream movements and to quantify apparent mortality and downstream passage of post-spawn adults (kelts) in the Penobscot River, Maine, USA ( N = 112). The majority of tagged S. salar kelts (54%) exhibited a rapid movement seaward post-release instead of overwintering in the river. Salmo salar kelts that overwintered exhibited two patterns, distinguished by whether a dam was present or not. We found no relationship between post-release movement pattern, sex, body condition index or release year. Estimated apparent mortality rates were high (83%), with a greater probability of mortality occurring near the dams and release site. Apparent mortality rate did not differ by sex, body condition or year, but it was greater for individuals that moved out directly post-release and less for those that overwintered. While our results may suggest that overwintering in the river is a favourable pattern for survival, these results may be related to the closures of the designated downstream passages at the first two dams encountered by S. salar kelts. In fact, 55% of S. salar kelts passed a dam when the designated passages were closed. Altogether, these results may demonstrate the complex nature of downstream passage for S. salar kelts, particularly when having to navigate multiple dams.

Penobscot River↗