Effect of incubation temperature on the development of five species of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus) embryos and alevins

Abstract

1988. Effect of incubation temperature on the development of five species of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus) embryos and alevins. Can. J. Zool. 66: 266 -273. Embryo and alevin survival, time to hatching and emergence, and alevin and fry size of five species of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus) were observed at five incubation temperatures (2, 5, 8, 11, and 14°C). No pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) or chum (0. keta) salmon embryos survived to hatching at 2°C. Coho ( 0 . kisutch) and sockeye ( 0 . nerka) salmon had higher embryo survival at 2°C than chinook ( 0 . tschawytscha) salmon. At 14"C, chum, pink, and chinook salmon had higher embryo survival than coho or sockeye salmon. In all species, peaks of embryo mortality occurred at specific developmental stages (completion of epiboly, eye pigmentation, and hatching). Alevin survival to emergence was high for all species, except for coho and pink salmon at 14°C. Hatching and emergence time varied inversely with incubation temperature, but coho salmon hatched and emerged sooner at all temperatures than the other species. Coho and sockeye salmon alevins were larger at 2"C, pink, chum, and chinook salmon alevins were larger at 5 and 8°C. Coho salmon fry were larger at 2"C, chinook and chum salmon fry were larger at 5"C, and sockeye and pink salmon fry were larger at 8°C. High incubation temperatures reduced fry size in all species. Each species of Pacific salmon appears to be adapted to different spawning times and temperatures, and thus indirectly to specific incubation temperatures, to ensure maximum survival and size and to maintain emergence at the most favorable time each year. MURRAY, C. B., et MCPHAIL, J. D. 1988. Effect of incubation temperature on the development of five species of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus) embryos and alevins. Can. J. Zool. 66 : 266-273.La survie des embryons et des alevins, le temps necessaire l'eclosion et a l'emergence, ainsi que la taille des larves (alevins vesicules) et des alevins ont ete mesurCs chez cinq espkces de saumons du Pacifique (Oncorhynchus) gardCs a cinq tempkra-

Bi-Annual Report 2010-2011: Shaping pulse flows to meet environmental and energy objectives

“…Incubation survival was modeled as a function of temperature. Fry were assumed to emerge from the gravel at a size of 35 mm after accumulating 895.8 degree days (⁰C) (Murray and McPhail 1988). From this point forward, growth and survival of juveniles was tracked until individuals in the quantile accumulated the required degree days, DDsmo, and fork length, SmoltSize, to become smolt and migrate to sea.…”

Water temperature of streams in the Cook Inlet basin, Alaska, and implications of climate change

“…Stream temperature is an important physical factor of Pacific salmon habitat, and its effects on various salmon life stages have been extensively researched (Bell, 1973;Alderice and Velsen, 1978;Murray and McPhail, 1988;Groot and Margolis, 1991). To maximize survival, each species of Pacific salmon has adapted to specific spawning times and temperatures in order that incubation and emergence occur at the most favorable time of the year (table 1).…”

Spawning site selection and the influence of incubation environment on larval success in interior Fraser coho.

“…Salmonids have evolved temperature specific life history strategies to ensure that spawning occurs at a time that will maximize the incubation and emergence survival of their offspring (Murray and McPhail, 1988;Quinn, 2005). The influence of temperature has been extensively studied, and findings show that temperature can control the timing of upstream migration (Shepherd et al, 1986;Hodgson and Quinn, 2002) and affects the growth rate and development of larval fish (Heming, 1982;Tang et al, 1987;Beecham and Murray, 1990;Leman, 1993;Killeen et al, 1999;Ojangurgen et al, 1999).…”

“…Interior watersheds in British Columbia are a good example: there has been a limited focus on incubation research compared to coastal watersheds (example of coastal bias shown in a review by Richter and Kolmes, 2005), with the exceptions of Cope (1996) andWilliamson (2006). In addition, studies that have examined incubation habitat features in relation to larval salmonid success have typically done so in a laboratory or hatchery setting, rather than in-stream environments (Shumway et al, 1964;Murray and McPhail, 1988). While it is recognized that these laboratory studies are useful, it is questionable whether or not their results can provide a realistic evaluation of the factors that affect incubation success within a stream environment.…”

“…This 'zone of thermal tolerance' is much narrower during embryonic development than in later life stages. Murray and McPhail (1988) demonstrated that incubation temperature is also directly related to the rate of embryonic development. Additionally, timing of spawning is influenced primarily by temperature.…”