Measures of egg quality and hatchery performance of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Srivastava, Rakesh Kumar (1990) Measures of egg quality and hatchery performance of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF (Migrated (PDF/A Conversion) from original format: (application/pdf)) - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (18MB) [English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. (Original Version)

Abstract

The present study examined how morphological, biological and biochemical characteristics of eggs correlated with overall performance (survival, growth) of eggs and alevins of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). In addition, the effect of time of stripping on biochemical composition of laboratory-reared charr eggs was studied, and the biological, morphological and biochemical egg quality criteria of cultured and wild Atlantic salmon (anadromous) were compared and evaluated. Fertilization and hatching success, growth and survival of developing embryos, alevins and fry were recorded as biological measures of egg quality. These measures were compared to levels of protein, lipid, carbohydrate, moisture, ash, total and free amino acids as potential biochemical indicators, and to egg size, yolk-sac volume at hatching, alevin size at hatching and age at hatching as potential morphological indicators of egg quality. -- For Arctic charr, eggs collected in the middle of the spawning period had the highest protein, lipid, carbohydrate and energy content, which were associated with higher fertilization and hatching success, and growth and survival of embryos, alevins and fry, than that of eggs collected early or late in the spawning period. Eggs collected from wild Atlantic salmon had higher protein, lipid, carbohydrate and energy content and concomitantly higher fertilization and hatching success, faster development and greater growth and survival of embryos, alevins and fry than those collected from cultured stock. The total amino acid pool, and the protein, lipid, carbohydrate and energy content of eggs, alevins and fry decreased simultaneously during embryonic development of both Arctic charr and Atlantic salmon because they were utilized in metabolic processes. -- Egg diameter and alevin length were positively correlated with egg weight and alevin weight, respectively. There was no correlation between egg weight and alevin weight or egg diameter and alevin length at hatching for either Arctic charr or Atlantic salmon. -- The amino acids, serine, valine, tryptophan, lysine, isoleucine and threonine were important for growth and survival of embryos, alevins and fry of Arctic charr. However, alanine, aspartic acid, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine and valine were important for growth and survival of embryos, alevins and fry of Atlantic salmon. -- It is suggested that energy level and/or amino acid content of eggs could be used as a condition index for the future development, growth and survival of embryos and alevins of salmonids.

Actions (login required)

View Item