Thermal sensitivity varies among full sibling families of Atlantic salmon

Authors: Griffith, Andrew; Legacki, Erin; Peterson, Brian

Submitted to: Fish Biology Congress
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Atlantic salmon constitutes a growing fishery in the US and is supported by land-based aquaculture systems in which the fish are cultivated throughout their lifecycle in recirculating aquaculture systems or in net pens in the field. Here we investigate the acute respiratory capacity (respiratory q10) among distinct larval families of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) spawned in a hatchery facility. Individual larvae from full sibling families were incubated along a thermal gradient (4 - 14°C) in calibrated respiration vials. Linear declines in oxygen concentration were determined using a non-invasive optical oxygen sensor and used to calculate individual respiration rates and family-based q10 for respiration rate. Clear genotype x environment interactions were observed whereby some larval families exhibited negative rate-increases with warmer environments as opposed to others that exhibited enhanced respiration rates. To identify potential mechanistic insight for these trends, metabolites from the citrate synthase pathway, a key metabolic pathway involved in cellular oxidative phosphorylation, were quantified in preserved whole-tissue from each larval family using a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying genotype x environmental interactions as they may provide insight into salmon breeding programs selecting for tolerance in dynamic environments.