Effects of maternal oxidative stress and gametic cortisol exposure on Fraser River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) offspring

Though intergenerational effects have been reported in a range of taxa, little is known about the potential effects of oxidative stress and gametic cortisol exposure on future generations of fish. The semelparous life history of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) provides a unique opportunity to explore intergenerational effects of oxidative stress. I assessed oxidative health in sockeye salmon (O. nerka) from three distinct populations in the Fraser River (British Columbia) and demonstrated that maternal oxidative stress is not conferred to offspring and that oxidative stress appears to be related to population at specific offspring life stages. I also assessed the effect of maternal oxidative health on egg cortisol levels, the effect of egg cortisol on offspring oxidative health and the effect of artificially elevated egg cortisol and found that there may be a buffering mechanism in the mother and the egg to avoid negative effects of hypercortisolism on oxidative health.