The effect of different photoperiods on growth and smoltification in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Photoperiod has been implicated as an effective mediator of growth and smelting in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). To investigate this 0+ parr of Atlantic salmon were treated with three different photoperiods: 24Light:0Dark; 16L:8D; 8L:16D; held static during the experimental period. This preliminary report shows that growth was greatest under the continous light regime, followed by the 8L:16D photoperiod and the 8L:l6D regime. Several bloodparametres were measured as indicators of stress. These indicators showed no large differences between photoperiods. Thus, extended periods of light does not seem to stress the fish, on the contrary, manipulating photoperiods is an effective means of increasing growth and controlling smelting in Atlantic salmon

The effect of different photoperiods on growth and smoltification in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Photoperiod has been implicated as an effective mediator of growth and smelting in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). To investigate this 0+ parr of Atlantic salmon were treated with three different photoperiods: 24Light:0Dark; 16L:8D; 8L:16D; held static during the experimental period. This preliminary report shows that growth was greatest under the continous light regime, followed by the 8L:16D photoperiod and the 8L:l6D regime. Several bloodparametres were measured as indicators of stress. These indicators showed no large differences between photoperiods. Thus, extended periods of light does not seem to stress the fish, on the contrary, manipulating photoperiods is an effective means of increasing growth and controlling smelting in Atlantic salmon

Identification of a sex-linked SNP marker in the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) using RAD sequencing

The salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer, 1837)) is a parasitic copepod that can, if untreated, cause considerable damage to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar Linnaeus, 1758) and incurs significant costs to the Atlantic salmon mariculture industry. Salmon lice are gonochoristic and normally show sex ratios close to 1:1. While this observation suggests that sex determination in salmon lice is genetic, with only minor environmental influences, the mechanism of sex determination in the salmon louse is unknown. This paper describes the identification of a sex-linked Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) marker, providing the first evidence for a genetic mechanism of sex determination in the salmon louse. Restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) was used to isolate SNP markers in a laboratory-maintained salmon louse strain. A total of 85 million raw Illumina 100 base paired-end reads produced 281,838 unique RAD-tags across 24 unrelated individuals. RAD marker Lsa101901 showed complete association with phenotypic sex for all individuals analysed, being heterozygous in females and homozygous in males. Using an allele-specific PCR assay for genotyping, this SNP association pattern was further confirmed for three unrelated salmon louse strains, displaying complete association with phenotypic sex in a total of 96 genotyped individuals. The marker Lsa101901 was located in the coding region of the prohibitin-2 gene, which showed a sex-dependent differential expression, with mRNA levels determined by RT-qPCR about 1.8-fold higher in adult female than adult male salmon lice. This study's observations of a novel sex-linked SNP marker are consistent with sex determination in the salmon louse being genetic and following a female heterozygous system. Marker Lsa101901 provides a tool to determine the genetic sex of salmon lice, and could be useful in the development of control strategies

A survey of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) gene superfamily in the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis)

Salmon lice,Lepeophtheirus salmonis(Krøyer, 1837), are fish ectoparasites causing significant economic damage in the mariculture of Atlantic salmon,Salmo salarLinnaeus, 1758. The control ofL.salmonisat fish farms relies to a large extent on treatment with anti-parasitic drugs. A problem related to chemical control is the potential for development of resistance, which inL.salmonisis documented for a number of drug classes including organophosphates, pyrethroids and avermectins. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) gene superfamily is found in all biota and includes a range of drug efflux transporters that can confer drug resistance to cancers and pathogens. Furthermore, some ABC transporters are recognised to be involved in conferral of insecticide resistance. While a number of studies have investigated ABC transporters inL.salmonis, no systematic analysis of the ABC gene family exists for this species. This study presents a genome-wide survey of ABC genes inL.salmonisfor which, ABC superfamily members were identified through homology searching of theL.salmonisgenome. In addition, ABC proteins were identified in a reference transcriptome of the parasite generated by high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of a multi-stage RNA library. Searches of both genome and transcriptome allowed the identification of a total of 33 genes / transcripts coding for ABC proteins, of which 3 were represented only in the genome and 4 only in the transcriptome. Eighteen sequences were assigned to ABC subfamilies known to contain drug transporters,i.e. subfamilies B (4 sequences), C (11) and G (2). The results suggest that the ABC gene family ofL.salmonispossesses fewer members than recorded for other arthropods. The present survey of theL.salmonisABC gene superfamily will provide the basis for further research into potential roles of ABC transporters in the toxicity of salmon delousing agents and as potential mechanisms of drug resistance

Population genetic structure of the parasitic copepod Lepeophtheirus salmonis throughout the Atlantic

The parasitic copepod Lepeophtheirus salmonis is responsible for huge economic losses in the salmonid aquaculture industry, and has been linked with declines of wild salmonid popu­lations. In order to elucidate population genetic structure throughout the Atlantic Ocean, 2495 lice representing 27 samples collected from 22 locations were analysed for 14 microsatellite loci. Significant overall genetic variation was observed (14 loci: global FST = 0.0057, p < 0.0001), although this decreased slightly when an outlier locus (LsalSTA3), detected as a candidate for positive selection, was removed (13 neutral loci: global FST = 0.0022, p < 0.0001). A relationship between physical and genetic distance was observed (R2 = 0.179, p = 0.0013), but only when data from LsalSTA3 was included. No overall genetic variation was observed among the 19 samples collected in Norway (Norwegian global FST < 0.0001, p = 0.6). None of the within-country (Canada, Ireland, Shetland and Faroe Islands) pairwise FST values were statistically significant when analysing the 13 neutral loci and following Bonferroni correction. Samples taken at 5 Norwegian farms did not exhibit significant genetic differences before and after medicated treatment. We conclude that L. salmonis ­displays weak but nevertheless statistically significant population genetic variation throughout the Atlantic. Analysis of temporal samples, potentially combined with larger numbers of markers giving greater genome coverage, will be required to fully elucidate the biological significance of the observed variation

Carotenoid limitation of sexual coloration along an environmental gradient in guppies

Carotenoids produce most of the brilliant orange and yellow colours seen in animals, but animals cannot synthesize these pigments and must rely on dietary sources. The idea that carotenoids make good signals because they are a scarce limiting resource was proposed two decades ago and has become the leading hypothesis for the role of carotenoids in animal communication. To our knowledge, until now, however, there has been no direct evidence that carotenoids are a limiting resource in nature. We showed that carotenoid availability in the wild limits the expression of sexual coloration in guppies (Poecilia reticulata), a species in which females prefer males with brighter orange carotenoid-containing spots. Further, the degree of carotenoid limitation varies geographically along a replicated environmental gradient (rainforest canopy cover), which opens new avenues for testing signal evolution theory

Salmon lice - impact on wild salmonids and salmon aquaculture

Salmon lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, are naturally occurring parasites of salmon in sea water. Intensive salmon farming provides better conditions for parasite growth and transmission compared with natural conditions, creating problems for both the salmon farming industry and, under certain conditions, wild salmonids. Salmon lice originating from farms negatively impact wild stocks of salmonids, although the extent of the impact is a matter of debate. Estimates from Ireland and Norway indicate an odds ratio of 1.1:1-1.2:1 for sea lice treated Atlantic salmon smolt to survive sea migration compared to untreated smolts. This is considered to have a moderate population regulatory effect. The development of resistance against drugs most commonly used to treat salmon lice is a serious concern for both wild and farmed fish. Several large initiatives have been taken to encourage the development of new strategies, such as vaccines and novel drugs, for the treatment or removal of salmon lice from farmed fish. The newly sequenced salmon louse genome will be an important tool in this work. The use of cleaner fish has emerged as a robust method for controlling salmon lice, and aquaculture production of wrasse is important towards this aim. Salmon lice have large economic consequences for the salmon industry, both as direct costs for the prevention and treatment, but also indirectly through negative public opinion