Effects of water temperature on growth of juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)

Abstract

Growth rates were calculated for recently emerged juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) held at constant water temperatures of 4°, 8°, and 12°C for 6 weeks. The juveniles in all treatments were fed live zooplankton to excess, and exhibited a minimum growth rate of 1.64% body weight per day (bw/d) at 4°C and maximum growth rate of 3.25% bw/d at 12°C. Growth rates were significantly different (P < 0.05) between 4°, 8°, and 12°C treatment groups. A linear model of juvenile pink salmon growth was developed using data from this and five other studies. This model provides a simple and reliable means to project the potential growth rate of juvenile pink salmon when natural zooplankton prey is abundant and estuarine water temperatures are between 4.0° and 18.3°C.


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