The effect of temperature and dietary energy content on female maturation and egg nutritional content in Atlantic salmon

Abstract

The environment experienced by a female influences reproductive traits in many species of fish. Environmental factors such as temperature and diet are not only important mediators of female maturation and reproduction but also of egg traits and offspring fitness through maternal provisioning. In this study, we use 3-year-old tank-reared Atlantic salmon from two Finnish populations to investigate the effect of temperature and diet on maturation and egg traits. We show that a temperature difference of 2°C is sufficient to delay maturation in female Atlantic salmon whereas a 22% reduction in dietary energy content had no effect on maturation. Diet did not influence the body size, condition or fecundity of the mature females or the size or protein content of the eggs. However, a higher energy diet increased egg lipid content. Neither female body size nor condition were associated with egg size or fat/protein composition. Our results indicate that female salmon that have a poorer diet in terms of energy content may have a reproductive disadvantage due to the lower energy provisioning of eggs. This disadvantage has the potential to translate into fitness consequences for their offspring.