Publication Abstract

An electrophysiological study on theeffects of pH on olfaction in mature male Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr

A. Moore

The olfactory responses ofmature male Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) parr to known odorants were studied afterexposure of the olfactory epithelia to water of varying pH. Electrophysiologicalrecordings from the olfactory epithelia indicated that the responses of fish to bothtestosterone and urine from ovulated female Atlantic salmon were significantly reduced atpH 5-5 and 4-5 and abolished at pH 3-5. Concentration response studies indicated that atpH 5-5 and 6-5 significantly higher concentrations of testosterone and urine were requiredto produce the same amplitude responses as controls. Both testosterone and urine havepreviously been shown to be important chemical cues eliciting behavioural andphysiological responses in Atlantic salmon. The results are therefore discussed inrelation to the possible sublethal effects of acidification on reproduction and behaviourof Atlantic salmon and the effects on salmonid stocks.

Reference:

A. Moore, 1994. An electrophysiological study on the effects of pH on olfaction in maturemale Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr. Journal of Fish Biology, 45: 493-502.