Effects of growth on age of maturity and spermatogenesis in male chinook salmon

Growth and Male Maturation in Salmon

Project Title

Description

One critical problem for captive rearing of chinook salmon is the loss of fish due to early sexual maturation of males. In many species males may mature early relative to females, with the incidence varying among species, stocks, and rearing conditions for cultured fish. In a captive broodstock program it is undesirable to produce mature males at a time when females of the same stock are not mature. Research to date, primarily from Atlantic and chinook salmon, indicates that genetic, biotic, and abiotic factors influence the incidence of early male maturation. It may be possible to reduce the incidence of early male maturation through alteration of abiotic conditions such as water temperature and photoperiod, or biotic factors such as growth rates or diet composition. The approach of this project is to identify systematically seasonal periods when maturation is initiated by factors that influence onset of maturation. This information is then used to develop diets and growth regimes and rearing strategies which reduce the incidence of early male maturity. Diets and growth regimes are being developed that sustain growth and provide sufficient stored energy for appropriate life-cycle transitions and achieve target size for release as adult fish. The mechanism whereby growth affects the process of spermatogenesis is also being investigated.

Principal Investigators

Penny Swanson and Karl Shearer (Resource Enhancement Utilization Technology Division)

Collaborators

Jon Dickey, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle
Nicholas Hodges, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle
Briony Campbell School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle
Paul Parkins, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

Physiology/Endocrinology

Growth and Male Maturation in Salmon

Project Title

Description

Principal Investigators

Collaborators

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