WSU/UI and NMFS SALMON INITIATIVE Salmon Restoration Research Program Executive Summary   Objective – Establish a multi-investigator program in the area of Fish Reproduction and Salmon Biology to enhance research activities and promote interactions between the investigators. The benefit is an integrated program to address and apply basic aspects of fish reproduction and biology to the improvement of native salmon stocks in the Northwest. Organization- Utilizes the organization and existing structure for the Center for Reproductive Biology at the University of Idaho and Washington State University to help administer and integrate the research programs with the Northwest Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Services. Summary - The collaborative fish reproduction research proposed will address concerns regarding the conservation and enhancement of native salmon populations. The products expected from these projects are (1) an increase in the number of salmonid populations represented and the inclusion of maternal genomes in a developing germplasm repository, (2) a more complete accounting of the genetic sex of the wild populations and a more complete understanding of the genes on the Y chromosome, (3) new methods to estimate genetic damage in salmonid populations, (4) increases in egg and sperm quality, (5) identification of the interactions between disease, immunology and reproduction and (6) identification of mechanisms of olfactory imprinting to develop hatchery practices that will minimize straying and negative interactions between hatchery and wild salmon. All of the projects are designed to identify possible insults that may compromise the reproductive performance of threatened and endangered native populations of fish. The salmon biology research directly addresses many of the questions and issues raised in the NWRSC Salmon Research Plan. Projects - The central theme of the proposed projects is an integrated approach to a basic understanding of the mechanisms controlling salmon biology and reproduction. The outcomes of these research activities are expected to provide (1) new information with which to make informed decisions and (2) new or improved procedures to increase the reproductive efficiency of captive broodstock programs. WSU/UI PROJECTS – Project 1 - Dr. Joseph Cloud, UI, Establishing a Germplasm Repository for ESA-listed Anadromous Salmonids in the Columbia Basin. Project 2 - Dr. James Nagler, UI; Gary Thorgaard, WSU; and Ruth Phillips, WSU, Genetic Sex of Wild Chinook Salmon Project 3 - Dr. Gary Thorgaard, WSU, Genetic analysis of domestication behavior in Oncorhynchus mykiss Project 4 - Dr. Rolf Ingermann, UI, Impact of Stress on Gamete Quality in Salmonids Project 5 - Dr. Douglas Call and Terry McElwain, WSU, Microarray detection of multiple pathogens in managed and wild salmon populations Project 6- Dr. Ken Cain, UI, Reduction of disease-related impacts on important salmonid stocks through broodstock immunization against key pathogens. Project 7 - Dr. Buel D. Rodgers, WSU, Identification of Environmental Stressors Encountered During Salmonid Migration Project 8 – Dr. Ruth Phillips, WSU-Vancouver, Mapping the Male Specific Genes on the Y Chromosome in Chinook Salmon.   NMFS PROJECTS – Project 9 – Dr. Penny Swanson, REUTD, Northwest Fisheries Service Center and Dr. Briony Campbell, University of Washington, “Environmental and endocrine regulation of early stages of gametogenesis in salmon”. Project 10 – Lyndal Johnson, EC, Northwest Fisheries Service Center, “Contaminant effects on fish reproduction”. Project 11 – Dr. Andrew Dittman, REUTD, Northwest Fisheries Service Center, “Mechanism of olfactory imprinting and homing, and impacts of hatchery practices on straying in salmon” Project 12 – Dr. Nat Scholz, EC, Northwest Fisheries Service Center, “Contaminant effects on fish neurobiology and development” Project 13 – Dr. Mark Strom, REUTD, Northwest Fisheries Service Center, “Fish migratory health and disease”. Project 14 – Dr. Brian Beckman and Dr. Don Larsen, REUTD, Northwest Fisheries Service Center, “Effects of genetics and environment on salmon life history pathways”. Project 15 – Dr. Linda Park, CB, Northwest Fisheries Service Center, “Mapping genes for development, age of maturity and Growth”.
		For more information and/or feedback send mail to: crb@mail.wsu.edu .