A Pheromone Hypothesis for Homeward Migration in Anadromous Salmonids

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Abstract
In hypotheses to explain the mechanism of homing in salmon, no directional cues are common for both open sea navigation and selection of the home river and area of origin within the river system. Seasonal migration schedules in the anadromous salmonids of the Salangen river system, Norway are presented. The species are char Salmo alpinus L. (= Salvelinus alpinus (L.)), trout Salmo trutta L. and Atlantic salmon S. salar L. Based on their migration schedules, a pheromone hypothesis is proposed for the entire homeward navigation in anadromous salmonids. Homeward navigation is an inherited response to population-specific pheromone trails released from descending smolt. During the downstream migration in spring and summer the smolt descend almost continually into the sea. The pheromones are thought to be released from the skin mucus.

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