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Interspecific relationships between Atlantic salmon and coho salmon were studied at early life stages in laboratory and semi-natural stream channels. During emergence, the survival and dispersal patterns were similar for the two species in single or mixed populations. Survival of Atlantic salmon fry was reduced in the presence of older coho fry. However, no predation was observed. Microdistribution differed between the two species, with Atlantic salmon fry more numerous in riffles when coho were present. Coho juveniles had a pelagic and gregarious distribution, in contrast to the benthic behaviour of the Atlantic salmon. In laboratory streams, Atlantic salmon fry moved out or adopted a subordinate cryptic behaviour which allowed them to escape predation while negatively affecting their growth.

The effects of independently altering chloride, calcium, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on the toxicity of silver were compared between rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). The 96-h median lethal concentration toxicity tests for both species were performed under the same conditions, within the same containers. In addition, the effect of altering [Cl{sup {minus}}] on silver-induced perturbations to body Na{sup +} influx and gill silver load was studied. Toxicity tests were conducted in synthetic soft water (50 {micro}M Na{sup +}, 50 {micro}M Cl{sup {minus}}, 50 {micro}M Ca{sup 2+}, 0.3 mg DOC/L). The [Cl{sup {minus}}], [Ca{sup 2+}], and [DOC] were adjusted by the addition of NaCl, CaNO{sub 3}, or humic acid, respectively. On the basis of total silver, increasing [Cl{sup {minus}}] over a range of 50 {micro}M to 1,500 {micro}M resulted in a 4.3-fold increase in the 96-h LC50 values (decrease in toxicity) for rainbow trout, but did not significantly affect the 96-h LC50 values for fathead minnows. Increasing water [Ca{sup 2+}] (from 50 to 2,000 {micro}M) had only a small influence on the 96-h LC50 values in both species. If the 96-h LC50 values are calculated on the basis of ionic silver, Ag{sup +}, then, in themore » case of rainbow trout, toxicity correlates to Ag{sup +}. However, this correlation does not exist for fathead minnows. Increasing [Cl{sup {minus}}] did not affect the degree of perturbation of Na{sup +} influx during acute exposure (first 4 h) to 8 {micro}g Ag/L in either species, nor did it affect the whole-body silver uptake rates, but it did reduce the gill silver load. These results demonstrate that differences exist in the way in which water chemistry ameliorates silver toxicity between rainbow trout and fathead minnows.« less

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We report the cloning of a new trout myogenic cDNA which encodes helix-loop-helix protein homologous to the myogenic factor myogenin. Northern analyses indicate that trout myogenin (Tmyogenin) transcripts accumulate in large amounts in the myotomal masculature of embryos and frys. In adults, transcripts concentrate within the thin lateral layer of red (slow oxydative) muscle fibres. They are present only in low amounts in white (fast glycolytic) muscle fibres which constitute the major part of the trunk musculature. Using an in vitro myogenesis system, we observed that the trout myogenin encoding gene is not activated until myosatellite cells fuse to generate multinucleated myotubes, indicating that Tmyogenin lies downstream of muscle determination factors. All these observations show that in a major taxinomic group like teleosts, a gene with homology to myogenin exists. Its activation during myogenesis suggests that it acts as a major developmental regulator of muscle differentiation.