David Noakes

• In-person event
• 4440Q, Carleton Technology and Training Centre, Carleton University
• 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6

• Contact
• Jean-Guy Godin, jeanguy.godin@carleton.ca

Olfactory and Geomagnetic Imprinting in Chinook Salmon and Steelhead

David Noakes, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife & Oregon Hatchery Research Center

Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA

12:00 (Note Special Time) 

Faculty Hosts: Jean-Guy Godin and Steven Cooke

Migration • Orientation • Behaviour • Life stage differences

I will present information from our ongoing studies of the mechanisms used by Pacific salmon during their migration movements. Adult Pacific salmon use chemical cues to return to their freshwater spawning locations, from imprinting as juvenile smolts. We have shown that they also imprint on the chemical features of their water during embryonic development. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead trout (O. mykiss) preferred river water compared to well water, regardless of their rearing water, suggesting an intrinsic attraction of “surface” water. Fish responded equally to different sources of river water, suggesting they have similar chemical signals. We have established that Chinook salmon and steelhead use geomagnetic cues to orient their movements, as embryos, juveniles and adults. Embryos use such cues to direct their vertical movements within the spawning substrate. Adults use magnetic information to direct their spawning migration. Most remarkably, juveniles use geomagnetic cues to determine their location and to direct their movement to the appropriate ocean feeding areas, in the absence of any experience outside the hatchery environment.