Experimental Confirmation of the Olfactory Hypothesis with Homing, Artificially Imprinted Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

Abstract

To test the olfactory hypothesis of salmon homing, fingerling coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) were exposed to low concentrations of an odorous synthetic chemical, morpholine during presmolt and smolting periods. Equal numbers of these fish were not exposed (controls). Both groups were stocked directly into Lake Michigan near Oak Creek, South Milwaukee Wisconsin. Another paired group of exposed and unexposed fish was released 13 km north of Oak Creek. During the adult spawning migration 18 mo later, morpholine was dripped into Oak Creek and the returning salmon were censused.For four experiments over 2 consecutive yr, the number of exposed and unexposed fish captured at the artificially scented stream were, 216 vs. 28, 437 vs. 49, 647 vs. 65, and 439 vs. 55. These differences were highly significant (P <.001).During the 3rd yr, morpholine was not added to the stream during the spawning migration and exposed and nonexposed fish returned in equal, low numbers (51 vs. 55, P >.05). These results confirm the existence of odor imprinting and long-term olfactory memory in coho salmon, It is possible that this mechanism is also used in the natural imprinting situation.