Lunar cycles of coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch. I. Growth and feeding. 1987

K J Farbridge, and J F Leatherland

Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch Walbaum) parrs and smolts, maintained in a laboratory under a fixed artificial 12 h light:12 h dark photoperiod from the time of hatching, exhibited a pattern of alternating periods of rapid and slow growth in body mass; the peaks and troughs in growth rate were significantly different from one another. The alternating growth rate changes were rhythmic in nature, of approximately 14 to 15 days in length. Evidence for cyclic patterns of growth in relative length and in food consumption was also found in coho salmon parr. Peak food intake appeared to occur 2-4 days after each peak of growth in relative mass. Although the pattern of growth in relative length was less clear, there was evidence to suggest that growth in length might be out of phase with growth in mass. There was no pattern of cycling growth rates in coho salmon parr subsampled from a common stock. The significance of this is discussed. The data suggest that the lunar cycle acts as a Zeitgeber for synchronization of the growth rate rhythms.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010507 Periodicity The tendency of a phenomenon to recur at regular intervals; in biological systems, the recurrence of certain activities (including hormonal, cellular, neural) may be annual, seasonal, monthly, daily, or more frequently (ultradian). Cyclicity,Rhythmicity,Biological Rhythms,Bioperiodicity,Biorhythms,Biological Rhythm,Bioperiodicities,Biorhythm,Cyclicities,Periodicities,Rhythm, Biological,Rhythmicities,Rhythms, Biological
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D005247 Feeding Behavior Behavioral responses or sequences associated with eating including modes of feeding, rhythmic patterns of eating, and time intervals. Dietary Habits,Eating Behavior,Faith-based Dietary Restrictions,Feeding Patterns,Feeding-Related Behavior,Food Habits,Diet Habits,Eating Habits,Behavior, Eating,Behavior, Feeding,Behavior, Feeding-Related,Behaviors, Eating,Behaviors, Feeding,Behaviors, Feeding-Related,Diet Habit,Dietary Habit,Dietary Restriction, Faith-based,Dietary Restrictions, Faith-based,Eating Behaviors,Eating Habit,Faith based Dietary Restrictions,Faith-based Dietary Restriction,Feeding Behaviors,Feeding Pattern,Feeding Related Behavior,Feeding-Related Behaviors,Food Habit,Habit, Diet,Habit, Dietary,Habit, Eating,Habit, Food,Habits, Diet,Pattern, Feeding,Patterns, Feeding,Restrictions, Faith-based Dietary
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001256 Astronomy The science concerned with celestial bodies and the observation and interpretation of the radiation received in the vicinity of the earth from the component parts of the universe (McGraw Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 5th ed)
D012474 Salmon Fish of the genera ONCORHYNCHUS and Salmo in the family SALMONIDAE. They are anadromous game fish, frequenting the coastal waters of both the North Atlantic and Pacific. They are known for their gameness as a sport fish and for the quality of their flesh as a table fish. (Webster, 3d ed). Oncorhynchus gorbuscha,Oncorhynchus nerka,Oncorhynchus tshawytscha,Salmo salmo,Salmon, Chinook,Salmon, Pink,Salmon, Sockeye,Chinook Salmon,Pink Salmon,Sockeye Salmon
D055580 Astronomical Phenomena Aggregates of matter in outer space, such as stars, planets, and comets; their properties; and the processes they undergo. Astronomical Processes,Astronomic Concepts,Astronomic Phenomena,Astronomic Phenomenon,Astronomic Process,Astronomic Processes,Astronomical Concepts,Astronomical Process,Astrophysical Concepts,Astrophysical Phenomena,Astrophysical Phenomenon,Astrophysical Processes,Astronomic Concept,Astronomical Concept,Astrophysical Concept,Concept, Astronomic,Concept, Astronomical,Concept, Astrophysical,Concepts, Astronomic,Concepts, Astronomical,Concepts, Astrophysical,Phenomena, Astronomic,Phenomena, Astronomical,Phenomena, Astrophysical,Phenomenon, Astronomic,Phenomenon, Astrophysical,Process, Astronomic,Process, Astronomical,Processes, Astronomic,Processes, Astronomical,Processes, Astrophysical

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