Abstract

Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts were produced with similar energetic states as wild S. salar and the effect of low energetic state on smolt migration was tested. The total energetic state of the fish (body lipids and proteins) in the spring was correlated with Fulton's condition factor (K). Fish at a low energetic state swam slower but migrated further than fish at a higher energetic state when tested in two experimental streams. During a period of starvation throughout the winter and spring, fish conserved their body-lipid reserves at 15% by using more protein as an energy source and the metabolic shift occurred between 35 and 15% body lipids. An energetic state of approximately 35kJ g(-1) (K approximate to 065) appeared to be the critical limit for survival.

Keywords

body lipids; condition factor; feed restriction; smolt; starvation; wild-like

Published in

Journal of Fish Biology
2018, Volume: 92, number: 4, pages: 961-978
Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

• Persson, Lo

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Leonardsson, Kjell

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Alanärä, Anders

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Aquacultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.13555

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/95049