THE INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE AND GENOTYPE ON THE GROWTH RATE OF HATCHERY-REARED SALMONIDS

Abstract

Growth rates of three salmonid species, brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), lake trout (S. namaycush), and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and one hybrid, splake (S. namaycush × S. fontinalis) were compared at 10 and 16 °C. Two strains of each species, and one of the splake hybrid were examined. At 10 °C the ranking of specific growth rate from highest to lowest for species was: rainbow trout, lake trout, splake, brook trout. At 16 °C the order was: brook trout, rainbow trout, splake, and lake trout. Brook trout, rainbow trout and splake had significantly higher specific growth rates at 16 °C but lake trout showed no difference at the two temperatures. Strain differences were significant in lake trout and rainbow trout, but not in brook trout. Rainbow trout showed a significant strain by temperature interaction. The ranking of feed conversion efficiencies from best to poorest was: lake trout, 10 °C; splake, 10 °C; brook trout, 16 °C; splake, 16 °C; rainbow trout, 16 °C; rainbow trout, 10 °C; lake trout, 16 °C; brook trout, 10 °C. Key words: Temperature, genetics, growth, salmonids, aquaculture