Study
Discrimination of Stream Odors by Fishes and Its Relation to Parent Stream Behavior
Hasler, Arthur D.; Wisby, Warren J.
The American Naturalist, 1951
Fish were trained to distinguish water taken from two different streams, and the discrimination was tested again after the olfactory epithelium was blocked.
- Studied in
- Actinopterygii
- Sample size
- fish trained to discriminate water from two streams
Fish could be trained to tell the two waters apart, and lost the ability when their sense of smell was blocked.
What it means
The authors' reading, and ours. Where they differ, that difference is the point.
How the authors put it
Streams carry distinguishable odours, fish can learn them, and this could account for the return of salmon to their natal stream.
How NatureHQ reads it
The hypothesis paper, and it is worth reading as one. It does not show that salmon home by smell; it shows that the ingredients exist — streams differ chemically, fish can learn the difference, and the learning is olfactory. Everything after this is an attempt to test the idea it proposed.
- Not salmon, and not homing: a discrimination-learning experiment in an aquarium.
- Establishes possibility rather than use.
What this study is used for on NatureHQ
One study can inform several subjects. Here is everywhere this one is cited.
Published by: University press journalsPublished in a university press journal.
Checked against Crossref on 2026-09-28, and they agree on the title, the authors and the year.
NatureHQ summarises research in its own words and does not reproduce published text. Reviewed 2026-09-03.