Effects of Oxygen Supplementation on Lake Trout Brood Stock

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of oxygen supplementation and nitrogen supersaturation on the fecundity and performance of Lewis Lake strain lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, brood stock. Performance of brood fish held in water supersaturated with oxygen was compared to that of controls raised at or below 100% saturation for 334 days. Incoming water averaged 78.4% saturation in the morning; the addition of oxygen increased saturation to 104.6%. As a result, average morning nitrogen saturation was reduced from 105.7% to 100.9%. In oxygen-supplemented water, peak daily oxygen saturation averged 129.0% in the afternoon. At this saturation level, average nitrogen gas was reduced to 98.4% saturation. Total gas pressure never exceeded 109.1% with oxygen supplementation; however, nitrogen supersaturation reached 110% in raceways with no oxygen supplementation. Weight gain, feed conversion, egg survival, egg size, and number of eggs per female were not affected by increasing oxygen saturation.