Líffræðifélag Íslands
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2015

Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V52

Relationship between egg size, metabolic rate, growth and personality traits of individuals in divergent populations of Salmonids

Louise Vernier(1), Samantha V. Beck(1), Anett Reilent(1,2), David Benhaïm(3), Bjarni K. Kristjánsson(1) & Camille A.-L. Leblanc(1)

1. Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University College, Sauðarkrókur, Iceland, 2. Department of Zoology University of Tartu, Estonia, 3. INTECHMER/CNAM, BP 324, 50103 Cherbourg Cedex, France

Kynnir / Presenter: Louise Vernier

Tengiliður / Corresponding author: Louise Vernier (louise@mail.holar.is)

Arctic charr is a salmonid of great interest to scientists, particularly because of its high level of intraspecific diversity. Commonly, two morphs can be found to coexist in a same lake: benthic and pelagic. Clear differences in life history traits, morphology, behavior, and life history, e.g. egg size, have been identified between these morphs. Egg size has been linked to early growth, development and behavior. Differences in physiology, especially how it can connect to egg size, has little been studied in these morphs. For example, no study has measured the metabolic rate of individuals from embryonic stage to the first months of juveniles’ life. Thus, little is known about the differences in energy requirements between morphs. The aim of this study is to study relationships between egg size, metabolic rate, growth, and personality traits of individuals during early stages of development in several morphs of Arctic charr. Individuals will be isolated at eye-stage and studied for growth, metabolic rate, and behavior at several critical points in development. At first feeding these fish will be observed for mobility and feeding, and later tested for boldness vs. shyness using open field test. The results will provide valuable information about the importance of egg size for diversification of Arctic charr, through differences in metabolic rate, growth and personality traits.