Effects of migration distance on whole-body and tissue-specific energy use in American shad (Alosa sapidissima)

Abstract

We examined total and tissue-specific energy content of upstream-migrating American shad (Alosa sapidissima) in the Connecticut River. Total energy depletion over the course of the 228-km migration ranged from 35 to 60%. The approximate contributions of different tissues to energy use during migration were white muscle 57%, subdermal fat 27%, red muscle 8%, viscera 6%, and liver 2%. American shad preferentially use energy stores in the skin and its subdermal fat layer (depleted by 63%) while sparing red muscle protein. Both lipid and protein were used as energy sources throughout migration, although lipids were depleted to a greater extent (e.g., white muscle lipid decreased 48% and protein 30%). Large fish expended 2-21% more energy during migration than small fish. Migrating to upriver sites (198-228 km) is 50-100% more energetically expensive than to lower river sections for females. This suggests that upriver range expansion may be limited by females in that they may have reached a threshold level of energy expenditure in this upriver area. American shad may possess physiological mechanisms for tissue-specific energy use allowing maintenance of critical tissues necessary for postspawning survival.