Parental influence on growth rate, smolting rate and survival in hatchery reared juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar

Abstract

The proportion of potential 1‐year smolts, their mean length, the mean length of potential 2‐year smolts, and the mortality rate in four half‐sib families of Atlantic salmon, reared under four contrasted conditions of overhead cover, is shown to be inffuenced primarily by genetic factors (89.9%, 86.1 %, 82.7% and 80.2% of total variance respectively). Variation between families in smolting rate and mortality rate is influenced by both parents, but more by the male than the female. Variation in mean length is influenced almost entirely by the female parent. These results are discussed in relation to previous findings on bimodality of size distribution and inheritance of growth and mortality characteristics in Atlantic salmon.