Smoltification induced by a 'skeleton' photoperiod in underyearling coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

Underyearling coho salmon fry were subjected to three initial photoperiod treatments (6L∶18D, 10L∶14D, 14L∶10D) for two months and subsequently to three final treatments (16L∶8D, 9L∶6D∶1L∶8D, 10L∶14D) in a factorial design. Growth rates and seawater adaptability were monitored regularly. The groups that were exposed initially to 6L∶18D or 10L∶14D and then to 16L∶8D grew faster and had lower plasma sodium ion levels after seawater challenge tests than any of the other groups. Fish which were initially exposed to 6 L or 10 L daylength and then to a 9L∶6D∶1L∶8D skeleton photoperiod, showed a slightly lower growth rate and seawater adaptability than those given the corresponding complete 16L∶8D photoperiod. However fish maintained on skeleton photoperiods had significantly greater growth rates and seawater adaptability than those kept on the 10L∶14D photoperiod. This indicates that it is not the accumulated number of hours of exposure to light that initiates smolting, but rather the time during the day when light is experienced. Fish exposed initially to 14L∶10D showed little or no response to subsequent changes in photoperiod, suggesting that responsiveness to inductive photoperiods depends on the initial photoperiod treatment.