Standard metabolic rate, growth rate and smolting of the juveniles in three Atlantic salmon stocks

We examined oxygen consumption and growth rates of juveniles in three Finnish Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) stocks (Neva, Saimaa, Teno) reared at the same fish farm. The measurements were carried out four times: in winter 2005, early spring 2006, autumn 2006 and late spring 2007 using fish hatched in February 2005, and the size and temperature ranges were wide. The salmon stocks differed in their geographical origin and native habitat presumably selecting for differences in physiological parameters. The southernmost Neva stock had higher values of a relative standard metabolic rate (rSMR) at the yolk-sac stage than the Teno stock, and the northernmost Teno stock had a higher growth rate (SGR) values at the smolt stage than the two other stocks. In addition, the stocks differed in physiological parameters characteristic of smolting: the post-smolts in the northernmost Teno stock had significantly higher rSMR and SGR, and lower condition factor values than the ones in the two other stocks.