scholarly journals Assessing demographic effects of dams on diadromous fish: a case study for Atlantic salmon in the Penobscot River, Maine

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (8) ◽  
pp. 2423-2437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie L. Nieland ◽  
Timothy F. Sheehan ◽  
Rory Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Population Viability Analysis ◽  
River System ◽  
Diadromous Fish ◽  
Viability Analysis ◽  
Penobscot River ◽  
Passage Efficiency ◽  
Demographic Effects

Abstract Dams are a major contributor to the historic decline and current low abundance of diadromous fish. We developed a population viability analysis to assess demographic effects of dams on diadromous fish within a river system and demonstrated an application of the model with Atlantic salmon in the Penobscot River, Maine. We used abundance and distribution of wild- and hatchery-origin adult salmon throughout the watershed as performance metrics. Salmon abundance, distribution to upper reaches of the Penobscot watershed, and the number and proportion of wild-origin fish in the upper reaches of the Penobscot watershed increased when dams, particularly mainstem dams, were removed or passage efficiency was increased. Salmon abundance decreased as indirect latent mortality per dam was increased. Salmon abundance increased as marine or freshwater survival rates were increased, but the increase in abundance was larger when marine survival was increased than when freshwater survival was increased. Without hatchery supplementation, salmon abundance equalled zero with low marine and freshwater survival but increased when marine and freshwater survival rates were increased. Models, such as this one, that incorporate biological, environmental, and functional parameters can be used to predict ecological responses of fish populations and can help evaluate and prioritize management and restoration actions for diadromous fish.

scholarly journals Halfway to self-sustainability: Reintroduced migratory European Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) still need management interventions for population viability

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sinah Drenske ◽  
Viktoriia Radchuk ◽  
Cédric Scherer ◽  
Corinna Esterer ◽  
Ingo Kowarik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Population Viability Analysis ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
Extinction Probability ◽  
Population Growth Rates ◽  
Viability Analysis ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Stochastic Events

Northern Bald Ibis (NBI) have disappeared from Europe already in Middle Age. Since 2003 a migratory population is reintroduced in Central Europe. We conducted demographic analyses of survival and reproduction of 384 NBI over a period of 12 years (2008-2019). These data also formed the basis for a population viability analysis (PVA) simulating the possible future development of the NBI population in different scenarios. We tested life-stage specific survival rates for differences between these stages, raising types and colonies as well as the influence of stochastic events and NBI supplements on the population growth. Stage specific survival rates ranged from 0.64 to 0.78. 61% of the mature females reproduce with a mean fecundity of 2.15 fledglings per nest. The complementary PVA indicated that the release population is close to self-sustainability with a given lambda 0.95 and 24% extinction probability within 50 years. Of the 326 future scenarios tested, 94 % reached the criteria of <5% extinction probability and population growth rates >1. In case of positive population growth, stochastic events had a limited effect. Of 820 sub-scenarios with different stochastic event frequencies and severities 87 % show population growth despite the occurrence of stochastic events. Predictions can be made based on the results of the individual-based model as to whether and under what circumstances the reintroduced NBI population can survive. This study shows that a PVA can support reintroduction success that should work closely together with the project in the field for mutual benefit, to optimize future management decisions.

scholarly journals Antibody against infectious salmon anaemia virus among feral Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 865-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocco C. Cipriano
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Salmo Salar ◽  
River System ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Infectious Salmon Anaemia Virus ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Connecticut River ◽  
Atlantic Salmon Salmo Salar ◽  
Penobscot River ◽  
Infectious Salmon Anaemia

AbstractCipriano, R. C. 2009. Antibody against infectious salmon anaemia virus among feral Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 865–870. Archived sera from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) that returned to the Penobscot River (Maine), Merrimack River (Massachusetts), and Connecticut River (in Massachusetts) from 1995 to 2002 were analysed for antibodies against infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Up to 60 samples were archived per river system per year. In a given year, the number of fish sampled by ELISA for ISAV antibodies in the Penobscot River ranged from 2.9 to 11.2%, and the range of salmon sampled in the Merrimack River and the Connecticut River was 31.3–100% and 20.0–67.5%, respectively. Archived sera were not available for the 1995 and 2002 year classes from the Connecticut River. In all, 1141 samples were processed; 14 serum samples tested positive for antibodies to ISAV. In the Penobscot River, serum from one fish tested positive in each of the 1995 and 1999 year-class returns, and sera from two fish tested positive in the 1998 returns. In the Merrimack River, sera from four fish tested positive in each of the 1996 and 1997 returns, and sera from two fish were positive in the 2002 return. None of the archived sera from Atlantic salmon that returned to the Connecticut River tested positive.

Modeling the impacts of dams and stocking practices on an endangered Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) population in the Penobscot River, Maine, USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (10) ◽  
pp. 1795-1807
Author(s):  
Justin R. Stevens ◽  
John F. Kocik ◽  
Timothy F. Sheehan
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Salmo Salar ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Scenario Planning ◽  
Accurate Estimate ◽  
Survival Model ◽  
Spatially Explicit ◽  
Atlantic Salmon Salmo Salar ◽  
Penobscot River ◽  
Flow Dependency

Dams challenge Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) conservation, while hatcheries are a common but poorly evaluated recovery tool. We developed a spatially explicit smolt survival model for the Penobscot River, Maine, USA, population. By partitioning survival through dams (with flow dependency), free-flowing river reaches, and the estuary (with dam dependency), the model quantified how these factors influenced the number of fish entering the ocean. Given historical impounded conditions, 74%–22% of hatchery smolts released entered the ocean annually from 1970 to 2012. Of 19.7 million smolts stocked, 7.7 million entered the ocean (39%). Survival was most variable at dams (range 95% to 63%), followed by in-river (range 98% to 70%) and estuary (range 88% to 82%). Overall, lower-river stocking sites resulted in significantly higher numbers at ocean entry because of fewer dam encounters and shorter migrations. Higher flows also resulted in reduced losses. By reconstructing these freshwater and estuary dynamics, the model provides a more accurate estimate of ocean recruitment annually and can be used for scenario planning of future stocking locations relative to predicted flows while being adaptable to new survival rates.

Analysis of Growth of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) in a Small Newfoundland River

1978 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. P. Chadwick ◽  
T. R. Porter ◽  
P. Downton
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Salmo Salar ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
River System ◽  
First Year ◽  
Commercial Fishery ◽  
Atlantic Salmon Salmo Salar ◽  
Dependent Relationship ◽  
Survival Density ◽  
Sea Survival

Growth and sea survival rates decreased with increasing smolt age, with survival being 12, 6, and 3% for 3+, 4+, and 5+ smolt, respectively. All spawning fish were grilse, which suggests that older smolt became large salmon and were thus more vulnerable to the commercial fishery. A density-dependent relationship was observed for 3+ smolt in their 1st yr of growth, but not for older smolt; younger smolt probably spend their juvenile life in a more productive but space-limiting part of the river. Variation between river-system environments may be responsible for the opposing results of studies on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) life history. Key words: Salmo salar, growth, sea survival, density dependence, first-year growth, age at smoltification

scholarly journals Can we reestablish a self-sustaining population? A case study on reintroduced Crested Ibis with population viability analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yashuai Zhang ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
Zhenxia Cui ◽  
Min Li ◽  
Xia Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Wild Population ◽  
Population Viability Analysis ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
Viability Analysis ◽  
Crested Ibis ◽  
Reintroduced Population

Abstract Background One of the most challenging tasks in wildlife conservation and management is clarifying which and how external and intrinsic factors influence wildlife demography and long-term viability. The wild population of the Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) has recovered to approximately 4400, and several reintroduction programs have been carried out in China, Japan and Korea. Population viability analysis on this endangered species has been limited to the wild population, showing that the long-term population growth is restricted by the carrying capacity and inbreeding. However, gaps in knowledge of the viability of the reintroduced population and its drivers in the release environment impede the identification of the most effective population-level priorities for aiding in species recovery. Methods The field monitoring data were collected from a reintroduced Crested Ibis population in Ningshan, China from 2007 to 2018. An individual-based VORTEX model (Version 10.3.5.0) was used to predict the future viability of the reintroduced population by incorporating adaptive patterns of ibis movement in relation to catastrophe frequency, mortality and sex ratio. Results The reintroduced population in Ningshan County is unlikely to go extinct in the next 50 years. The population size was estimated to be 367, and the population genetic diversity was estimated to be 0.97. Sensitivity analysis showed that population size and extinction probability were dependent on the carrying capacity and sex ratio. The carrying capacity is the main factor accounting for the population size and genetic diversity, while the sex ratio is the primary factor responsible for the population growth trend. Conclusions A viable population of the Crested Ibis can be established according to population viability analysis. Based on our results, conservation management should prioritize a balanced sex ratio, high-quality habitat and low mortality.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document