Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Maine
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The energetic costs of migrating Atlantic salmon are high, and high energy demands likely influence gonadal development (egg size), spawning performance and probability of surviving to spawn again. Because the size of an egg can be a good predictor of survival probability, how egg size relates to embryo physiology is of interest for both conservation and aquaculture.
Working with partners at the University of Maine, we are developing techniques to quantify energy expenditure during embryonic development Moving forward, the respirometer trials will be expanded to include temperature acclimation treatments of embryos in conjunction with later life metabolic patterns. Such information can help to better understand the combined roles of dams and climate change in the restoration of Atlantic salmon.