Juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) responses to salmon carcasses and in-stream wood manipulations during winter and spring
We investigated the growth rate, winter survival, presmolt size, and emigration timing of juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in response to salmon carcasses and in-stream wood. Experimental trials were conducted during two consecutive years and pre-winter fish size and densities differed between years. Sixteen pens with emigration traps were built in a side-channel of the Mamquam River, British Columbia. Pens were randomly assigned salmon carcasses, in-stream wood, both carcasses and in-stream wood, or neither (control). Our first trial was conducted between December 1996 and August 1997 and the second between December 1997 and August 1998. Initial rearing densities and average individual body mass were 3.1 fish·m–2 and 2.4 g, respectively, in the first trial and were 1.6 fish·m–2 and 6.6 g, respectively, in the second trial. Results were influenced by both fish initial size and density. During the first trial (smaller-sized fish at high densities), salmon carcasses increased fish growth rates and presmolt size. Winter survival did not increase in response to any treatment; however, a pre-winter size-related survival pattern was observed during the first trial. During the second trial, (larger-sized fish at low densities), no treatment influenced fish growth rates or presmolt size but all treatments augmented fish survival.