Influence of Egg Nutritional Content on Salmonine Offspring Survival in Lake Ontario

Session: 08a. - Restoration of Native Fishes

Matthew Futia, The College at Brockport - State University of New York, [email protected]
Jacques Rinchard, The College at Brockport, State University of New York, [email protected]

Abstract

In Lake Ontario, natural recruitment of multiple salmonine fishes has had limited success, which has been attributed to a bottleneck at the early life stage. One hypothesis for elevated offspring mortality is Thiamine Deficiency Complex (TDC), a vitamin deficiency linked to maternal diet that results in up to 100% mortality in hatchery settings. Thus, one objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of TDC in various salmonines (Chinook and Coho Salmon and Lake, Brown, and Steelhead Trout) from Lake Ontario by measuring egg thiamine concentrations and comparing them to corresponding offspring mortality rates. In addition to thiamine, egg fatty acid concentrations may be another factor influencing offspring survival and are also dependent on maternal diet. Therefore, the second objective of this study was to determine fatty acid compositions of salmonine eggs and make comparisons with corresponding offspring mortality rates as well. Lastly, egg fatty acid compositions were used to indicate maternal diet for each salmonine through comparisons with fatty acid compositions of prey fish from Lake Ontario. Comparisons among egg thiamine concentrations, egg fatty acid concentrations, and offspring mortality will be discussed, as well as correlations with maternal diet.

1. Keyword
fish diets

2. Keyword
vitamin B

4. Additional Keyword
Salmonine