Imprinting of Hatchery-reared Salmon to Targeted Spawning Locations: A New Early Imprinting

Paradigm for Supplementation Programs?

Andrew Dittman Todd Pearsons David Noakes Ryan Couture Joseph O’Neil

Darran May Michelle Havey Thomas Quinn

M. Gorman

2012 NW Fish Culture Conference December 12, 2012

Millions of hatchery salmon are transported and released annually into Northwest Rivers

Keri Wiginton

Smolt acclimation is the primary tool for imprinting salmon to release locations.

Smolt acclimation is the primary tool for imprinting salmon to release locations.

Issues: -Cost -Permitting -Logistics -Multiple locations -Inappropriate locations

An Alternative (Complementary) Approach: Larval Imprinting to “natal” sites

M. Gorman

1. The concept 2. Background 3. Set-up 4. Experiments -Larval learning -Water handling -Real world testing

Sequential Imprinting hypothesis

From Keefer and Caudill 2012

Larval Imprinting Scenario

S

Spawning site A

Spawning site B

C

-Collect broodstock from spawning populations -Spawn and fertilize at Central hatchery

Hatchery Acclimation

pond

Larval Imprinting Scenario

S

Spawning site A

Spawning site B

C

-Collect broodstock from spawning populations -Spawn and fertilize at Central hatchery -Collect natal site water and transport to hatchery -Incubate in natal water during hatching and emergence

Hatchery Acclimation

pond

Larval Imprinting Scenario

S

Spawning site A

Spawning site B

C

-Collect broodstock from spawning populations -Spawn and fertilize at Central hatchery -Collect natal site water and transport to hatchery -Incubate in natal water during hatching and emergence -Transport to acclimation site and release

Hatchery Acclimation

pond

Larval Imprinting Scenario

S

Spawning site A

Spawning site B

C

-Collect broodstock from spawning populations -Spawn and fertilize at Central hatchery -Collect natal site water and transport to hatchery -Incubate in natal water during hatching and emergence -Transport to acclimation site and release -Adult returns to targeted spawning area

Hatchery Acclimation

pond

An Alternative (Complementary) Approach: Larval Imprinting to “natal” sites

M. Gorman

1. The concept 2. Background 3. Set-up 4. Experiments -Larval learning -Water handling -Real world testing

Experimental evidence for imprinting hypothesis

Scholz et al. 1976

Imprinting is associated with thyroid hormone surges that occur during smolting

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28-Feb 27-Mar 24-Apr 27-May 27-Jun 25-Jul

ATPase

Plasma T4

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Smolt PresmoltUninjected

PresmoltSaline

PresmoltTSH

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enta

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fish

at

trac

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to Im

prin

ting

odor

Treatment

PEA

Morpholine

Hasler and Scholz 1983 (Dittman et al. unpublished)

Salmon experience T4 surge as smolts and as embryos

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Fertilizedegg (0-

30d)

Eyed egg(30-60d)

Hatch(53-63d)

Alevin(60-90d)

Emergence(88-93d)

Fry(94-125d)

Fry(126-155d)

Fry(156-185d)

Fry(186-227d)

Tota

l T4

(ng/

g bo

dy w

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t)

Developmental Stage of Odor Exposure (Time period in days post fertilization) Tilson et al. 1994

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Fertilizedegg (0-30d)

Eyed egg(30-60d)

Hatch(53-63d)

Alevin(60-90d)

Emergence(88-93d)

Fry(94-125d)

Fry(126-155d)

Fry(156-185d)

Fry(186-227d)

Smolt(481-541d)

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f mat

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fish

att

ract

ed to

Impr

intin

g od

or

Developmental Stage of Odor Exposure (Time period in days post fertilization)

PEA

Morpholine

Salmon imprint to natal site as smolts and as embryos

Tilson et al. 1994

T4 surges are associated with imprinting

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Fertilizedegg (0-

30d)

Eyed egg(30-60d)

Hatch(53-63d)

Alevin(60-90d)

Emergence(88-93d)

Fry(94-125d)

Fry(126-155d)

Fry(156-185d)

Fry(186-227d)

Smolt(481-541d)

Perc

enta

ge o

f mat

ure

fish

at

trac

ted

to Im

prin

ting

odor

Developmental Stage of Odor Exposure (Time period in days post fertilization)

PEA

Morpholine

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Fry(400 d)

Smolt(541 d)

Plas

ma

T4 (

ng/m

l)

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25

Fertilizedegg (0-

30d)

Eyed egg(30-60d)

Hatch(53-63d)

Alevin(60-90d)

Emergence(88-93d)

Fry(94-125d)

Fry(126-155d)

Tota

l T4

(ng/

g bo

dy w

eigh

t)

Tilson et al. 1994

An Alternative (Complementary) Approach: Larval Imprinting to “natal” sites

M. Gorman

1. The concept 2. Background 3. Set-up 4. Experiments -Larval learning -Water handling -Real world testing

Lake Sammamish Kokanee

Re-circulating Incubation System Concept and Design by S. Schroder, E. Sanborn & E. Jouper. WDFW

Recirculating incubation system for natal imprinting

S. Schroder, E. Sanborn & E. Jouper. WDFW

An Alternative (Complementary) Approach: Larval Imprinting to “natal” sites

M. Gorman

1. The concept 2. Background 3. Set-up 4. Experiments -Larval learning -Water handling -Real world testing

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Water Choices

Incubated in lake water

Incubated in hatchery water

Salmon learn natal waters during embryonic exposure

Dittman, Havey,and Quinn

Fall Creek Well water Carnes Creek

Y-maze testing of emergent fry

Clackamas Spring Chinook

Can larval Chinook and steelhead learn tributary waters?

Spring Chinook embryonic learning?

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Incubated in Fall Creek (FC vs. WW)

Incubated in Carnes Creek (CC vs. WW)

Dittman, Couture, O’Neil, and Noakes

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Perc

ent a

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cuba

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Incubated in Fall Creek (FC vs. WW)

Incubated in Carnes Creek (CC vs. WW)

Incubated in Well Water (WW vs. FC)

Spring Chinook embryonic learning?

Dittman, Couture, O’Neil, and Noakes

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Perc

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Incubated in Fall Creek (FC vs. WW)Incubated in Carnes Creek (CC vs. WW)Incubated in Well Water (WW vs. FC)Incubated in Fall Creek (FC vs. CC)Incubated in Carnes Creek (CC vs. FC)

Spring Chinook embryonic learning?

Dittman, Couture, O’Neil, and Noakes

An Alternative (Complementary) Approach: Larval Imprinting to “natal” sites

M. Gorman

1. The concept 2. Background 3. Set-up 4. Experiments -Larval learning -Water handling -Real world testing

Wenatchee River outlet (release) Lake Wenatchee

net pens (acclimation)

Bridge Site White River rm 2

Chiwawa

Tall Timber Ranch White River rm 11.5

White River Spring Chinook acclimation/release sites

White River Experiments

Assess different strategies for collecting and storing imprinting waters to retain chemical properties that are critical for olfactory discrimination.

Electro-olfactogram analysis (EOG) -Assess olfactory sensitivity to spawning target site waters -Using cross-adaptation studies, identify differences between olfactory signature of different spawning target site water. -Using cross-adaptation studies, assess different strategies for collecting and storing imprinting waters. -Control water (Bridge site (BS), collected and tested same day) -BS water held 12-72 hr at 4° C (~40°F) and 50° F (ambient hatchery) -BS water frozen at -20° C -BS water UV-treated -BS water lyophilized

EOG apparatus for measuring olfactory sensitivity to imprinted odors

Typical EOG responses of coho salmon to increasing concentration of amino acids

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10-6 M

10-4 M

10-7 M

10-5 M

Time (s)

EOG response to White River water (Bridge site)

Dittman, May, and Pearsons

Dittman, May, and Pearsons

Representative EOG traces in salmon pre-adapted to treated water A) Frozen water, B) UV-treated water, and then pulsed with BS water.

EOG Cross Adaptation Studies

Dittman, May, and Pearsons

Dittman, May, and Pearsons

Conclusions

• Water at proposed acclimation sites are chemically distinct

• Freezing or holding BS water at 40° and 50° for up to one week did not compromise the olfactory integrity of the water

• UV treatment and lyophilization did alter the olfactory properties of BS water

Future Directions -Importance of incubation in well vs. surface water. -Chemical analysis of tributary olfactory signatures. -Assess physiological correlates of early imprinting. -Explore the use of “artificial” imprinting odors. - Program level field test of early imprinting strategies