Date of Award
2012
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research
Keywords
Biological sciences, Health and environmental sciences, Aquaculture, Chinook salmon, Conservation, Escapes, Genetics, Outbreeding depression
Supervisor
Daniel D. Heath
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Wild Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) populations could be adversely affected through reproductive interactions with escaping farmed salmon. To determine the reproductive ability of farmed Chinook salmon relative to wild, I compared sperm traits, as well as fertilization and reproductive success in competitive spawning channels. Farmed Chinook salmon males had greater sperm performance relative to wild males, and they were equally successful at competing for mates and fertilizing eggs. However, farm-sired offspring experienced lower survival to the fry stage, which could mediate any impact on the wild populations. Given that hybridization can lead to negative genetic effects via outbreeding, I also tested the theory of outbreeding depression in backcrossed hybrid (F2) Chinook salmon using fitness related traits. I found no evidence of outbreeding depression in Chinook salmon, which further suggests that the introgression of farmed genes into the wild would not result in negative fitness consequences for wild salmon populations.
Recommended Citation
Lehnert, Sarah, "Reproductive interactions between wild and farmed Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Conservation and ecological implications" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4824.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/4824