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HAVBRUKS-Havbruk - en næring i vekst

The salmon in a warmer world: Aerobic scope of Atlantic salmon at different temperatures

Awarded: NOK 3.3 mill.

Norway can expect rising water temperatures, and the potential effect of this on the performance of farmed and wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is presently not understood. Long before a rise in water temperature reach the critical temperature (Tc) that is immediately leathal, it will affect the performance with regard to feeding, growth and reproduction. This is because rising temperatures reduce the aerobic scope. Oxygen consumption rises with temperature, and aerobic scope is the maximal range by whi ch oxygen consumption can be increased above the demand of basal metabolism. Aerobic scope will start to decrease above a certain temperature, the pejus temperature (Tp), where the rise in maximal rate of oxygen delivery slows down and the amount of energ y that can be devoted to feeding, growth and reproduction will start to decrease. In two recent papers in the journal Science, a reduced aerobic scope has been identified as a key factor threatening population survival on a warmer planet. Still, Tp has no t been determined for Atlantic salmon populations or aquaculture stocks, and to do this is a major aim of this research proposal. The research will be carried out together with scientists at the Norwegin University of Life Sciences (Prof. Hans Magnus Gjøe n, Dr. Øyvind Øverli), major breeders of Norwegian salmon for aquaculture and restocking, and Prof. Anthony Farrell (Univ. British Columbia) - the foremost expert on the effect on temperature on Pacific salmon. We will determine the resting and maximal ra tes of oxygen consumption in one aquaculture stock and 3 populations (from France to Finnmark) as fry (freshwater) and smolt (sea water). This will allow us to identify individual, stock and population differences in Tp that will predict cultured salmon p erformance in the warm future, as well as the ability of wild populations to cope with high temperatures, and hence their potential to contribute thermal tolerance to existing aquaculture stocks.

Funding scheme:

HAVBRUKS-Havbruk - en næring i vekst