Do chemically contaminated river estuaries in Puget Sound (Washington, USA) affect the survival rate of hatchery-reared Chinook salmon?

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Meador
Keyword(s):  
Chinook Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Puget Sound ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Parallel Analysis ◽  
Differential Survival ◽  
Juvenile Chinook Salmon ◽  
Juvenile Chinook

This study examined the rate of survival for hatchery-reared, ocean-type juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) to the adult life stage in relation to contamination status for estuaries where they temporarily reside. The hypothesis tested here is that juvenile Chinook from Puget Sound (Washington, USA) area hatcheries exhibit differential survival as categorized by the state of contamination in their respective natal estuaries. Data were examined from 20 hatcheries that released fish to 14 local estuaries in the Greater Puget Sound area over 37 years (1972–2008). A parallel analysis was also conducted for coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) outmigrating from many of the same hatcheries. For all years combined, juvenile Chinook transiting contaminated estuaries exhibited an overall rate of survival that was 45% lower than that for Chinook moving through uncontaminated estuaries, which was confirmed when tested year by year. The results for coho originating from the same hatcheries and sharing a similar marine distribution indicated no substantial differences among estuaries. These observations have important implications for wild juvenile Chinook that spend more time in the estuary compared with hatchery-reared fish.

Some like it slow: a bioenergetic evaluation of habitat quality for juvenile Chinook salmon in the Lemhi River, Idaho

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (7) ◽  
pp. 1221-1232
Author(s):  
Richard A. Carmichael ◽  
Daniele Tonina ◽  
Ernest R. Keeley ◽  
Rohan M. Benjankar ◽  
Kevin E. See
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Chinook Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Aquatic Organism ◽  
Morphological Complexity ◽  
Juvenile Chinook Salmon ◽  
Temperature Regimes ◽  
Juvenile Chinook ◽  
Key Aspects

Management and conservation of freshwater habitat requires fine spatial resolution and watershed-scale and life-stage-specific methods due to complex linkages among land, climate, water uses, and aquatic organism necessities. In this study, we present a valley-scale microhabitat resolution, process-based bioenergetics approach that combines high-resolution topobathymetric LiDAR survey with two-dimensional hydrodynamic and bioenergetics modeling. We applied the model to investigate the role of lateral habitat, stream morphological complexity, water use, and temperature regimes on aquatic habitat quality distribution of juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) within the Lemhi River (eastern Idaho, USA). Modeling results showed two key aspects: (i) a reduction in diverted flows is not sufficient to improve habitat quality potentially because of a legacy of morphological simplification (directly due to straightening and wood removal and indirectly due to low in-channel flows) and (ii) morphological complexity and connectivity with side channels and margin areas, which are key and vital elements to support suitable habitats that meet or exceed energetic needs to sustain or promote growth of individuals and populations.

scholarly journals Managed Wetlands Can Benefit Juvenile Chinook Salmon in a Tidal Marsh

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Aha ◽  
Peter B. Moyle ◽  
Nann A. Fangue ◽  
Andrew L. Rypel ◽  
John R. Durand
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Chinook Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha ◽  
Nursery Habitat ◽  
San Francisco Estuary ◽  
Rice Fields ◽  
Fish Growth ◽  
Juvenile Chinook Salmon ◽  
Juvenile Chinook

AbstractLoss of estuarine and coastal habitats worldwide has reduced nursery habitat and function for diverse fishes, including juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Underutilized off-channel habitats such as flooded rice fields and managed ponds present opportunities for improving rearing conditions and increasing habitat diversity along migratory corridors. While experiments in rice fields have shown enhanced growth rates of juvenile fishes, managed ponds are less studied. To evaluate the potential of these ponds as a nursery habitat, juvenile Chinook salmon (~ 2.8 g, 63 mm FL) were reared in cages in four contrasting locations within Suisun Marsh, a large wetland in the San Francisco Estuary. The locations included a natural tidal slough, a leveed tidal slough, and the inlet and outlet of a tidally muted managed pond established for waterfowl hunting. Fish growth rates differed significantly among locations, with the fastest growth occurring near the outlet in the managed pond. High zooplankton biomass at the managed pond outlet was the best correlate of salmon growth. Water temperatures in the managed pond were also cooler and less variable compared to sloughs, reducing thermal stress. The stress of low dissolved oxygen concentrations within the managed pond was likely mediated by high concentrations of zooplankton and favorable temperatures. Our findings suggest that muted tidal habitats in the San Francisco Estuary and elsewhere could be managed to promote growth and survival of juvenile salmon and other native fishes.

Predator avoidance ability of juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) subjected to sublethal exposures of gas-supersaturated water

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 757-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
M G Mesa ◽  
J J Warren
Keyword(s):  
Chinook Salmon ◽  
Predator Avoidance ◽  
Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha ◽  
Control Fish ◽  
Dissolved Gas ◽  
Juvenile Chinook Salmon ◽  
Unexposed Control ◽  
Lateral Lines ◽  
Gill Filaments ◽  
Juvenile Chinook

To assess the effects of gas bubble trauma (GBT) on the predator avoidance ability of juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), we created groups of fish that differed in prevalence and severity of gas emboli in their lateral lines, fins, and gills by exposing them to 112% total dissolved gas (TDG) for 13 days, 120% TDG for 8 h, or 130% TDG for 3.5 h. We subjected exposed and unexposed control fish simultaneously to predation by northern squawfish (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) in water of normal gas saturation in 6, 18, and 10 tests using prey exposed to 112, 120, and 130% TDG, respectively. Only fish exposed to 130% TDG showed a significant increase in vulnerability to predation. The signs of GBT exhibited by fish sampled just prior to predator exposure were generally more severe in fish exposed to 130% TDG, which had the most extensive occlusion of the lateral line and gill filaments with gas emboli. Fish exposed to 112% TDG had the most severe signs of GBT in the fins. Our results suggest that fish showing GBT signs similar to those of our fish exposed to 130% TDG, regardless of their precise exposure history, may be more vulnerable to predation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document