The Residence Time of Juvenile Fraser River Sockeye Salmon in the Strait of Georgia

Simulated mixtures of juvenile sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) were constructed using parasite data to represent proportionally the major component stocks of Fraser River and Lake Washington sockeye migrating within the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, in 1982–84. Samples of migrating juveniles were also collected from Bedwell Harbour, South Pender Island, British Columbia, each year and analyzed for parasites and stock composition. The compositions of simulated and sample mixtures were estimated using a maximum likelihood stock composition model. Simulated mixture compositions were accurately estimated for most stocks for all year-classes. When significant misassignment occurred between stocks, the stocks were analyzed as a complex using the allocate-sum procedure. Sample mixture estimates correctly identified the dominant stock for each year-class, although for 1984 the dominant group was determined as a complex of three stocks because the individual stocks were not distinguishable. The results indicate that it is feasible to use parasites as natural tags to estimate stock compositions of migrating juvenile sockeye salmon in the Strait of Georgia.

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Migratory patterns of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) smolts in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, as determined by analysis of parasite assemblages

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z89-240 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 67 (7) ◽

pp. 1670-1678 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

C. Groot ◽

R. E. Bailey ◽

L. Margolis ◽

K. Cooke

Keyword(s):

Sockeye Salmon ◽

River Estuary ◽

River System ◽

Fraser River ◽

Strait Of Georgia ◽

The Pacific ◽

Lake Washington ◽

Migratory Routes ◽

Migratory Patterns ◽

Parasite Assemblages

Sockeye salmon smolts from the Fraser River system, migrating northward through the Strait of Georgia towards the Pacific Ocean, follow either an eastern route by immediately travelling northward upon leaving the Fraser River estuary or a western route by first crossing the Strait of Georgia towards Vancouver Island and then moving northward diagonally across the Strait of Georgia to join smolts migrating along the mainland shore. We used variations in parasite assemblages among Fraser River and Lake Washington sockeye smolt stocks and a maximum-likelihood mixture model to estimate the stock composition of the smolts along the two migratory routes. The results showed that most Fraser River sockeye smolts migrate northward via both the eastern and western routes through the Strait of Georgia, indicating that there is no stock specific route selection. Lake Washington smolts were more prevalent along the western route and we suggest that these smolts are transported westward when attempting to cross the Fraser River plume.

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Early marine growth of juvenile Fraser River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in relation to juvenile pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and sockeye salmon abundance

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f2012-078 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 69 (9) ◽

pp. 1499-1512 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Skip McKinnell ◽

Maxine Reichardt

Keyword(s):

Sockeye Salmon ◽

Oncorhynchus Nerka ◽

Pink Salmon ◽

Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽

First Year ◽

Fraser River ◽

Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽

Strait Of Georgia ◽

Average Survival

Mortality of salmon in the ocean is considered to be greatest during the first few months and that its magnitude is an inverse of growth. First year marine growth (M1) in two Fraser River sockeye salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka ) populations was positively correlated, reflecting a shared oceanic experience as postsmolts. M1 declined abruptly in both populations after 1977, corresponding to a well-documented change in climate. The reduction in average M1 was not accompanied by a detectable reduction in average survival. In both populations, M1 was significantly greater in even years when juvenile pink salmon ( Oncorhynchus gorbuscha ) are abundant in the Strait of Georgia, suggesting that interspecific competition there has little effect on M1. All correlations of M1 with regional pink salmon or sockeye salmon abundances, lagged to align ocean entry years, were negative, but few (pink) or none (sockeye) were statistically significant. The negative correlations were due to the long-term changes (pink salmon abundance increasing, sockeye M1 smaller). Odd year dominance of juvenile pink salmon in northern British Columbia, Canada, is persistent and corresponds with the biennial pattern of M1 variation in Fraser River sockeye salmon and may be the source of the significant odd–even year line effect on M1.

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The Synchronous Failure of Juvenile Pacific Salmon and Herring Production in the Strait of Georgia in 2007 and the Poor Return of Sockeye Salmon to the Fraser River in 2009

Marine and Coastal Fisheries ◽

10.1080/19425120.2012.676607 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 403-414 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

R. J. Beamish ◽

C. Neville ◽

R. Sweeting ◽

K. Lange

Keyword(s):

Sockeye Salmon ◽

Pacific Salmon ◽

Fraser River ◽

Strait Of Georgia ◽

The Poor ◽

Juvenile Pacific Salmon

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Quantifying survival of age-2 Chilko Lake sockeye salmon during the first 50 days of migration

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2017-0425 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (1) ◽

pp. 136-152 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Erin L. Rechisky ◽

Aswea D. Porter ◽

Timothy D. Clark ◽

Nathan B. Furey ◽

Marika Kirstin Gale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acoustic Telemetry ◽

Sockeye Salmon ◽

Detection Efficiency ◽

River Estuary ◽

Downstream Migration ◽

Survival Models ◽

Fraser River ◽

Strait Of Georgia ◽

Individual Covariates ◽

Body Size Effect

We used acoustic telemetry to investigate survival of age-2 sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) as they emigrated from Chilko Lake, British Columbia, Canada, to northeastern Vancouver Island (NEVI) from 2010 to 2014. We built on our previously reported results by including an additional year of data and by converting survival estimates into rates (distance and time) to compare across disproportionate habitats. We also refined our survival estimates by including individual covariates in our survival models and by re-investigating the detection efficiency of the final detection site. There was a tag burden effect in 2012 and a body size effect in 2013. Excluding 2010, survival during the 35- to 47-day migration to NEVI (range of annual mean travel time; 1044 km) ranged between 8% and 14%. Weekly survival rate (S·week−1) during downstream migration to the Fraser River estuary, through the central Strait of Georgia (CSOG), and NEVI was 25%–46%, 75%–90%, and 34%–64%, respectively. In addition to marked losses in freshwater tributaries, sockeye also experienced high losses north of the CSOG consistent with earlier results for Cultus Lake sockeye.

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Biochemical Studies on Sockeye Salmon During Spawning Migration: XI. The Free Histidine Content of the Tissues

Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada ◽

10.1139/f60-026 ◽

1960 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 347-351 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

J. D. Wood ◽

D. W. Duncan ◽

M. Jackson

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Sockeye Salmon ◽

Alimentary Tract ◽

Oncorhynchus Nerka ◽

The Other ◽

Spawning Migration ◽

Fraser River ◽

Initial Value ◽

Spawning Grounds ◽

Biochemical Studies

During the first 250 miles (400 km) of spawning migration of Fraser River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) the free histidine content of the muscle, alimentary tract, and head+skin+bones+tail decreased to a small fraction of the initial value. A further decrease occurred in the levels of this amino acid in the alimentary tract during the subsequent 415-mile (657-km) migration to the spawning grounds, no change being observed with the other tissues. Comparatively small changes in free histidine were found with heart, spleen, liver, kidney and gonads during migration.

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The Qualitative and Quantitative Distribution of Plankton in the Strait of Georgia in Relation to Certain Oceanographic Factors

Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada ◽

10.1139/f57-015 ◽

1957 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 521-552 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Joseph Eugène Henri Légaré

Keyword(s):

Salinity Gradient ◽

General Distribution ◽

Fraser River ◽

Strait Of Georgia ◽

Quantitative Distribution ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Chemical Factors ◽

Physical And Chemical ◽

Plankton Communities ◽

Made In

In order to gain some picture of the seasonal variations in the plankton communities two cruises were made in the Strait of Georgia, one in June 1955, and the other in November 1955; 165 plankton collections were taken, also surface temperatures.The correlation of these data have resulted in a number of conclusions concerning the distribution of plankton in the Strait of Georgia. The chief factor affecting the general distribution of plankton is the salinity gradient. The inflow of fresh water from the Fraser River forms zones of varying properties, and leads to the development of different plankton communities. The extent to which physical and chemical factors may determine the presence or absence of certain organisms from the zones described is discussed.

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A widespread decrease in productivity of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) populations in western North America

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f2012-063 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 69 (8) ◽

pp. 1255-1260 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

Randall M. Peterman ◽

Brigitte Dorner

Keyword(s):

Sockeye Salmon ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Oncorhynchus Nerka ◽

Geographic Area ◽

Fraser River ◽

Western North America ◽

Southeast Alaska ◽

The Past ◽

Large Geographic Area ◽

Marine Areas

We used data on 64 stocks of sockeye salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka ) from British Columbia (B.C.), Washington, and Alaska to determine whether recent decreases in abundance and productivity observed for Fraser River, B.C., sockeye have occurred more widely. We found that decreasing time trends in productivity have occurred across a large geographic area ranging from Washington, B.C., southeast Alaska, and up through the Yakutat peninsula, Alaska, but not in central and western Alaska. Furthermore, a pattern of predominantly shared trends across southern stocks and opposite trends between them and stocks from western Alaska was present in the past (1950–1985), but correlations have intensified since then. The spatial extent of declining productivity of sockeye salmon has important implications for management as well as research into potential causes of the declines. Further research should focus on mechanisms that operate at large, multiregional spatial scales, and (or) in marine areas where numerous correlated sockeye stocks overlap.

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