Residence times of juvenile salmon and steelhead in off-channel tidal freshwater habitats, Columbia River, USA

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 684-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary E. Johnson ◽  
Gene R. Ploskey ◽  
Nichole K. Sather ◽  
David J. Teel
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
Chinook Salmon ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Columbia River ◽  
Tidal Freshwater ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Residence Times ◽  
Juvenile Salmonids ◽  
Freshwater Habitats

We documented two life history strategies for juvenile salmonids as expressed in off-channel tidal freshwater habitats of the Columbia River: (i) active migrations by upper river Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during the primary spring and summer migration periods and (ii) overwinter rearing in tidal freshwater habitats by coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and naturally produced Chinook salmon mostly from lower river sources. During spring–summer 2007–2008, acoustic-tagged fish originating above Bonneville Dam (rkm 234) had short residence times in off-channel areas (rkm 192–203): median 2.5 and 2.6 h for yearling (mean lengths 134 and 158 mm) and 3.0 and 3.4 h for subyearling (104 and 116 mm) Chinook salmon and 2.5 h for yearling steelhead (215 mm). The percentage of fish in off-channel areas out of the total in the main- and off-channels areas was highest for yearling Chinook salmon (8.1% and 9.3% for 2007 and 2008, respectively) and lowest for steelhead (4.0% for 2008) and subyearling Chinook salmon (3.6% and 6.1% for 2007 and 2008, respectively). In late January and early February 2010, 2011, and 2012, we captured and tagged yearling Chinook and coho salmon occupying off-channel tidal freshwater habitats. Median residence times in off-channel areas were 11.6–25.5 days for juvenile Chinook (106, 115, and 118 mm, respectively by year) and 11.2 days for coho salmon (116 mm). This study is the first to estimate residence times for juvenile salmonids specifically in off-channel areas of tidal fresh water and, most importantly, residence times for Chinook salmon expressing a life history of overwintering in tidal fresh water. The findings support restoration of shallow off-channel habitats in tidal freshwater portions of the Columbia River.

scholarly journals Ecology of Juvenile Salmonids in Shallow Tidal Freshwater Habitats in the Vicinity of the Sandy River Delta, Lower Columbia River, 2007

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn L. Sobocinski ◽  
Gary E. Johnson ◽  
Nichole K. Sather ◽  
Adam Storch ◽  
Tucker A. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Columbia River ◽  
River Delta ◽  
Tidal Freshwater ◽  
Juvenile Salmonids ◽  
Freshwater Habitats

scholarly journals Abundance, Survival, and Life History Strategies of Juvenile Chinook Salmon in the Skagit River, Washington

2015 ◽  
Vol 144 (3) ◽  
pp. 627-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara S. Zimmerman ◽  
Clayton Kinsel ◽  
Eric Beamer ◽  
Edward J. Connor ◽  
David E. Pflug
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Chinook Salmon ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Juvenile Chinook Salmon ◽  
Juvenile Chinook ◽  
Skagit River

Physiological Characterization of Hatchery-Origin Juvenile Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss Adopting Divergent Life-History Strategies

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle C. Hanson ◽  
William L. Gale ◽  
William G. Simpson ◽  
Benjamen M. Kennedy ◽  
Kenneth G. Ostrand
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
Gonadosomatic Index ◽  
Life History Strategy ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Migratory Fish ◽  
Physiological Characterization ◽  
Subunit Expression ◽  
Mature Fish

Abstract Smoltification by juvenile Pacific salmonids has been described as a developmental conflict whereby individuals face several life-history decisions. Smoltification occurs as a result of interactions between organismal condition and environmental cues, although some fish may forgo ocean migration and remain in freshwater streams for some time (residualize). We compared the physiological profiles of steelhead that were actively migrating to the ocean (migratory fish) and those that remained in fresh water (residuals) for at least a period of between 2 wk and 3 mo after release from a hatchery facility. In addition, we investigated the physiological characterization of residuals that further differentiated into precocial freshwater residents or parr that will either precocially mature in fresh water or migrate to the ocean in the future. Residuals had higher condition factors and gonadosomatic index than migratory fish and were characterized as less prepared for saltwater due to low levels of gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity and Na+,K+-ATPase α1b-subunit expression. Residuals tended to be males with the highest condition factors. Sex-specific differences are probably reflective of male fish adopting an alternative life-history strategy foregoing outmigration as a result of condition at the time of release. Collection of residuals throughout the fall suggested that residual hatchery fish further diversify into precocially mature fish that will presumably attempt to spawn without ever migrating to the ocean or into parr that will precocially mature or migrate in a future year.

Life history variation in upper Columbia River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): a comparison using modern and ~500-year-old archaeological otoliths

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 603-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica A. Miller ◽  
Virginia L. Butler ◽  
Charles A. Simenstad ◽  
David H. Backus ◽  
Adam J.R. Kent
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Chinook Salmon ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha ◽  
Columbia River ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Life History Variation ◽  
Archaeological Collections ◽  
Before And After

Conservation planning often occurs only after a species has been extirpated from portions of its historical range and limited information is available on life history diversity prior to development. To provide information on Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) life history before and after local extirpation, we examined the chemical (87Sr:86Sr, Sr:Ca) and structural composition of modern and archaeological otoliths from the upper Columbia River. We compared otoliths from modern spring (yearling migrant, n = 15) and summer–fall (yearling (n = 7) and subyearling (n = 12) migrants) runs with those from extirpated runs (n = 8) to estimate the number of and similarity among natal environments and reconstruct aspects of the migratory history. Presumptive natal sources were most similar between the archaeological collections and the modern summer–fall run. Chinook salmon represented by the archaeological otoliths also displayed life history traits, including size at freshwater emigration and adult size at return to fresh water, most similar to the summer–fall subyearling run. These data indicate that there is the potential to maintain aspects of predevelopment Chinook salmon life histories in the Columbia River, and strategies that promote maintenance of that life history diversity may be warranted.

scholarly journals Ecology of Juvenile Salmon in Shallow Tidal Freshwater Habitats in the Vicinity of the Sandy River Delta, Lower Columbia River, 2008

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nichole K. Sather ◽  
Gary E. Johnson ◽  
Adam Storch ◽  
David Teel ◽  
John R. Skalski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Columbia River ◽  
River Delta ◽  
Tidal Freshwater ◽  
Juvenile Salmon ◽  
Freshwater Habitats
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