Dataset Information

Ultrasound as a noninvasive tool for monitoring reproductive physiology in female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

ABSTRACT: Aiming to explore ultrasound technology as a noninvasive method for maturation monitoring, we compared ultrasound observations and measurements in female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during the last year before ovulation with standard, invasive methods such as gonadosomatic index (GSI), gonad histology and sex hormone analysis. Ultrasound measurements of ovaries correlated strongly (R > 0.9, P < 0.01) with ovary weight and GSI, and could be used as a noninvasive tool for GSI estimation. Using ultrasound, we were able to identify females with advanced oocyte development and elevated sex hormone and GSI levels earlier than previously observed. Histological studies confirmed these observations showing oocyte yolk accumulation 10 months before ovulation and 8 months before significant increase in sex hormones. Levels of the sex hormone 11-keto testosterone (11-KT) indicated a new role of this hormone at final maturation in salmon females. We propose the use of ultrasound as an alternative method to traditionally used invasive methods during sexual maturation monitoring in wild and farmed Atlantic salmon broodstock populations. Eliminating sacrifice of valuable broodfish, and reducing handling stress, would improve animal welfare in present-day broodstock management.

SUBMITTER: Naeve I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5936688 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Ultrasound as a noninvasive tool for monitoring reproductive physiology in female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Naeve Ingun I Mommens Maren M Arukwe Augustine A Kjørsvik Elin E

Physiological reports 20180501 9

Aiming to explore ultrasound technology as a noninvasive method for maturation monitoring, we compared ultrasound observations and measurements in female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during the last year before ovulation with standard, invasive methods such as gonadosomatic index (GSI), gonad histology and sex hormone analysis. Ultrasound measurements of ovaries correlated strongly (R > 0.9, P < 0.01) with ovary weight and GSI, and could be used as a noninvasive tool for GSI estimation. Using u ...[more]

PMID: 29732739

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Project description:BackgroundAs farming of Atlantic salmon is growing as an aquaculture enterprise, the need to identify the genomic mechanisms for specific traits is becoming more important in breeding and management of the animal. Traits of importance might be related to growth, disease resistance, food conversion efficiency, color or taste. To identify genomic regions responsible for specific traits, genomic large insert libraries have previously proven to be of crucial importance. These large insert libraries can be screened using gene or genetic markers in order to identify and map regions of interest. Furthermore, large-scale mapping can utilize highly redundant libraries in genome projects, and hence provide valuable data on the genome structure.ResultsHere we report the construction and characterization of a highly redundant bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library constructed from a Norwegian aquaculture strain male of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The library consists of a total number of 305,557 clones, in which approximately 299,000 are recombinants. The average insert size of the library is 188 kbp, representing 18-fold genome coverage. High-density filters each consisting of 18,432 clones spotted in duplicates have been produced for hybridization screening, and are publicly available 1. To characterize the library, 15 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) derived overgos and 12 oligo sequences derived from microsatellite markers were used in hybridization screening of the complete BAC library. Secondary hybridizations with individual probes were performed for the clones detected. The BACs positive for the EST probes were fingerprinted and mapped into contigs, yielding an average of 3 contigs for each probe. Clones identified using genomic probes were PCR verified using microsatellite specific primers.ConclusionIdentification of genes and genomic regions of interest is greatly aided by the availability of the CHORI-214 Atlantic salmon BAC library. We have demonstrated the library's ability to identify specific genes and genetic markers using hybridization, PCR and fingerprinting experiments. In addition, multiple fingerprinting contigs indicated a pseudo-tetraploidity of the Atlantic salmon genome. The highly redundant CHORI-214 BAC library is expected to be an important resource for mapping and sequencing of the Atlantic salmon genome.

Project description:Background: Climate change is leading to increased water temperatures and reduced oxygen levels at sea-cage sites, and this is a challenge that the Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry must adapt to it if it needs to grow sustainably. However, to do this, the industry must better understand how sea-cage conditions influence the physiology and behavior of the fish. Method: We fitted ~2.5 kg Atlantic salmon on the south coast of Newfoundland with Star-Oddi milli-HRT ACT and Milli-TD data loggers (data storage tags, DSTs) in the summer of 2019 that allowed us to simultaneously record the fish's 3D acceleration (i.e., activity/behavior), electrocardiograms (and thus, heart rate and heart rate variability), depth, and temperature from early July to mid-October. Results: Over the course of the summer/fall, surface water temperatures went from ~10-12 to 18-19.5°C, and then fell to 8°C. The data provide valuable information on how cage-site conditions affected the salmon and their determining factors. For example, although the fish typically selected a temperature of 14-18°C when available (i.e., this is their preferred temperature in culture), and thus were found deeper in the cage as surface water temperatures peaked, they continued to use the full range of depths available during the warmest part of the summer. The depth occupied by the fish and heart rate were greater during the day, but the latter effect was not temperature-related. Finally, while the fish generally swam at 0.4-1.0 body lengths per second (25-60 cm s-1), their activity and the proportion of time spent using non-steady swimming (i.e., burst-and-coast swimming) increased when feeding was stopped at high temperatures. Conclusion: Data storage tags that record multiple parameters are an effective tool to understand how cage-site conditions and management influence salmon (fish) behavior, physiology, and welfare in culture, and can even be used to provide fine-scale mapping of environmental conditions. The data collected here, and that in recent publications, strongly suggest that pathogen (biotic) challenges in combination with high temperatures, not high temperatures + moderate hypoxia (~70% air saturation) by themselves, are the biggest climate-related challenge facing the salmon aquaculture industry outside of Tasmania.

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Dataset Information

Ultrasound as a noninvasive tool for monitoring reproductive physiology in female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Publications

Ultrasound as a noninvasive tool for monitoring reproductive physiology in female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

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