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Maternal provisioning of offspring and the use of those resources during ontogeny: variation within and between Atlantic Salmon families
Author(s) -
Berg O. K.,
Hendry A. P.,
Svendsen B.,
Bech C.,
Arnekleiv J. V.,
Lohrmann A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
functional ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2435
pISSN - 0269-8463
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2001.00473.x
Subject(s) - hatching , biology , ontogeny , offspring , salmo , zoology , ecology , composition (language) , human fertilization , larva , anatomy , endocrinology , fishery , pregnancy , linguistics , philosophy , fish <actinopterygii> , genetics
Summary1 The size and proximate composition of eggs and alevins (larvae) were measured from six full sibling families of Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar ), at six stages between fertilization and first feeding. 2 Egg and alevin size measures (diameter, wet mass, dry mass) and proximate composition attributes (water, protein, fat, energy) were all highly correlated with each other ( r = 0·89–0·99), suggesting that each is a reasonable surrogate for any other. 3 Most of the variation in egg size (95·0–97·0%) and composition attributes (95·5–97·9%) was partitioned between, rather than within, females. Most of this variation was attributable to differences in female size, owing to the length of time spent at sea. 4 Fat, protein and energy content varied less on a relative basis (controlling for egg size variation) than on an absolute basis, suggesting that certain combinations of egg attributes are optimal regardless of egg size. 5 Stored fat decreased by 9·6 µg day −1 before hatching but increased by 27·4 µg day −1 after hatching. The increase after hatching suggests that alevins actively synthesize (probably from protein) and store lipids between hatching and first feeding. 6 Stored protein decreased by 8·8 µg day −1 before hatching and by 181·3 µg day −1 after hatching. Assuming all metabolic energy was derived from stored protein, metabolic rate increased logarithmically from 0·115 J day −1 to 5·43 J day −1 . Rates of oxygen consumption estimated from protein loss (6·09–288·9 µl O 2 d −1 ) were similar to those reported in studies that measured oxygen consumption using respirometry. 7 Alevins appear to convert protein to fat, a change that their mothers were unable or unwilling (in an evolutionary sense) to make. This may reflect the conflicting goals of parents and offspring for maximizing fitness.