No abstract

No abstract

When unifying genomic resources among studies and comparing data between species, there is often no better resource than a genome sequence. Having a reference genome for the Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) will enable the extensive genomic resources available for Pacific salmon, Atlantic salmon, and rainbow trout to be leveraged when asking questions related to the Chinook salmon. The Chinook salmon’s wide distribution, long cultural impact, evolutionary history, substantial hatchery production, and recent wild-population decline make it an important research species. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the genome of a Chilliwack River Hatchery female Chinook salmon (gynogenetic and homozygous at all loci). With a reference genome sequence, new questions can be asked about the nature of this species, and its role in a rapidly changing world.

No abstract

In salmonids, growth hormone (GH) stimulates growth, appetite and the ability to compete for food. This study tested the hypothesis that increased GH levels in GH‐transgenic coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum) increase competitive ability through higher feeding motivation. The transgenic strain of salmon used contained a gene construct consisting of the sockeye metallothionein‐B promoter fused to the type 1 growth gene coding region. The transgenic animals (mean size = 250 g) were F1 individuals. In six consecutive feeding trials, the intake of contested food pellets by size‐matched pairs consisting of one control (1 year older non‐transgenic coho salmon) and one GH‐transgenic coho salmon was compared. Pellets were provided sequentially until neither fish took three consecutive pellets; the identity of the fish taking each pellet was noted. Calculated on the three first pellets offered at each feeding trial, the transgenic coho salmon consumed 2.5 times more contested pellets than the controls, supporting the hypothesis that GH transgenesis increases the ability to compete for food. Overall, the transgenic fish consumed 2.9 times more pellets that the non‐transgenic controls, indicating a high feeding motivation of the transgenic fish throughout the feeding trials. It appears that GH transgenesis and GH treatments can induce similar changes in the feeding behaviour of salmonids. Depending on how transgenic and wild individuals differ in other fitness‐related characters, escaped GH transgenic fish may compete successfully with native fish in the wild.