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The Use of Electromyogram Telemetry to Estimate Energy Expenditure of Adult Fall Chinook Salmon
Author(s) -
Geist David R.,
Abernethy C. Scott,
Blanton Susan L.,
Cullinan Valerie I.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(2000)129<0126:tuoett>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - telemetry , chinook wind , oncorhynchus , energy expenditure , fishery , respirometer , biotelemetry , environmental science , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , biology , anatomy , respiration , engineering , telecommunications , endocrinology
Excess energy expenditure during the upstream migration of adult fall chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha may reduce spawning success or lead to increased prespawning mortality. Recent advances in biotelemetry make it possible to assess the energetic costs of upstream migration. Our objectives were to evaluate the use of physiological telemetry to estimate the energy expended by adult fall chinook salmon at different swimming velocities and to compare these data to those associated with other species of salmonids. An electromyogram (EMG) telemetry system was used to obtain, transmit, and record an integrated EMG pulse signal that represented the time between muscle contractions. The EMG telemetry system provides a means to evaluate the effects of structural or operational changes in the hydropower system on energy expenditure and reproductive success of upstream migrant adult salmon. Seven adult salmon (71.5 to 106 cm fork length [FL]) were tagged and exercised in a respirometer at 15 and 20°C. The EMG pulse rates were similar between temperatures tested, but small fish (≤90 cm FL) had a greater pulse rate than did large fish (>90 cm FL). Oxygen consumption was related to swimming velocity, and approximately 76% of the variance in oxygen consumption could be explained by a model that included EMG pulse rate and fish size‐class designation. The results of our study showed that adult fall chinook salmon had similar swimming performances when compared with other salmonids, and EMG transmitters could be used to assess activity rates (and oxygen consumption) in wild migrating fall chinook salmon.