Influence of large woody debris on retention, immigration, and growth of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) in stream pools

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 1902-1908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bret C Harvey

Over 4 months and about 1 year, coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) age-1 in Little Jones Creek, California, remained at similar rates in pools with and without large woody debris. This result was based on attempts in July and November 1995 to collect and tag all fish in 22 pools and three collections of fish from the same pools in November 1995, May 1996, and August 1996. Retention of fish appeared to be greater in pools with large woody debris in May 1996. The presence of large woody debris in pools did not influence immigration or growth of cutthroat trout. However, both immigration and growth increased downstream over the 3850-m study reach. Low retention and substantial immigration of cutthroat trout into experimental pools indicate that movement is important in the dynamics of this population. First- and second-order channels appear to be important sources of fish for the third-order study reach, while the study reach may export significant numbers of fish to downstream reaches accessible to anadromous fish.


1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 2161-2166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bret C Harvey ◽  
Rodney J Nakamoto ◽  
Jason L White

To improve understanding of the significance of large woody debris to stream fishes, we examined the influence of woody debris on fall and winter movement by adult coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) using radiotelemetry. Fish captured in stream pools containing large woody debris moved less than fish captured in pools lacking large woody debris or other cover. Fish from pools lacking cover commonly moved to habitats with large boulders or brush, particularly during the day. Movements by fish over 1-day periods were strongly influenced by large woody debris or other elements providing cover. Fish initially found in habitats lacking large woody debris, large boulders, or brush cover moved the most extensively, while fish initially found in pools with large woody debris moved the least. Fish did not move extensively in response to a bankfull flood, although some moved to habitat downstream of large woody debris in tributaries or secondary channels. Habitat downstream of woody debris in the main channel was not used during the flood, apparently because of extreme turbulence. Overall, these observations provide additional evidence for the value of habitat complexity to some stream fishes and support previous observations of minimal effects of flooding on adult fish.



2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 906-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
M F Solazzi ◽  
T E Nickelson ◽  
S L Johnson ◽  
J D Rodgers

We used a BACI (before-after-control-impact) experimental design to examine the effects of increasing winter habitat on the abundance of downstream migrant salmonids. Two reference streams and two treatment streams were selected in the Alsea and Nestucca basins of Oregon. Population parameters for juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), age-0 trout (Oncorhynchus spp.), steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) were estimated each year for 8 years in each stream. Stream habitat was modified to increase the quality and quantity of winter habitat during the summers of 1990 (Nestucca Basin) and 1991 (Alsea Basin). Complex habitat was constructed by adding large woody debris to newly created alcoves and dammed pools. Numbers of coho salmon summer juveniles and smolts increased in the treatment streams relative to the control streams during the posttreatment period. Overwinter survival of juvenile coho salmon also increased significantly in both treatment streams posttreatment. Summer trout populations in the treatment streams did not change, but downstream migrant numbers the following spring did increase. These increases suggest that winter habitat was limiting abundance of all three species.



2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-186
Author(s):  
Jamie Glasgow ◽  
Jennifer D. De Groot ◽  
Maureen P. Small

AbstractUnderstanding the conservation status of native fish populations is increasingly important because they are put at risk by mounting anthropogenic pressures, including climate change. Conventional approaches to assess fish populations can be logistically challenging and cost-prohibitive. As a result, resource managers often make assumptions about the status of fish populations based on limited information. The watersheds of Washington’s San Juan Islands were considered too small to support wild salmonid populations. Many streams flow only seasonally, and all have been subjected to varying degrees of anthropogenic impacts affecting their ecological integrity. Nonetheless, we found that at least five watersheds in the archipelago support populations of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki). To better understand the conservation status of coastal cutthroat trout populations there, we genotyped approximately fifty trout in each of three watersheds: Cascade and Doe Bay creeks on Orcas Island and Garrison Creek on San Juan Island. Results suggest that two watersheds support native populations and one supports naturalized hatchery fish. The likely native coastal cutthroat trout diversity documented in the two watersheds contributes to the overall diversity of the species, demonstrates that species’ resiliency, and provides justification for conservation measures. Effective management and conservation planning in data-limited situations requires the use of a precautionary approach. Population genetics provide a useful tool for identifying vulnerable fish populations and understanding their relationships with other conspecific populations. This information can inform restoration goals and help identify and prioritize restoration and protection measures.



1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 2097-2104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise K Hawkins ◽  
Chris J Foote

We compared the survival and development of embryos from fertilization to emergence of two populations of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki), one population of steelhead (Oncorhymchus mykiss), and their reciprocal hybrids under controlled conditions (10 ± 1°C). The egg weight of the steelhead (0.110 ± 0.008 (SE) g) was nearly twice that of coastal cutthroat trout (0.056 ± 0.003 and 0.051 ± 0.001 g for the two populations). Fertilization success, survival, duration of hatching and emergence periods, yolk absorption relative to total alevin weight, and yolk conversion efficiency were similar among the cross types. There was no evidence of reduced hatchability or viability of hybrids despite maternal and paternal species effects on size and development. Fish with cutthroat dams had lower percent hatch, were smaller at hatch and emergence, grew more slowly, used less yolk per day, reached 50% yolk absorption earlier, and had a smaller percent yolk at hatch than those fish with steelhead dams. Fish sired by cutthroat males hatched and emerged earlier and took less time between the two stages than fish sired by steelhead. As a consequence, hybrids with cutthroat dams emerged late and had little yolk, while hybrids with steelhead dams emerged early and had an abundance of yolk.



2001 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 282-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Roni ◽  
Thomas P Quinn

Thirty streams in western Oregon and Washington were sampled to determine the responses of juvenile salmonid populations to artificial large woody debris (LWD) placement. Total pool area, pool number, LWD loading, and LWD forming pools were higher in treatment (LWD placement) than paired reference reaches during summer or winter. Juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) densities were 1.8 and 3.2 times higher in treated reaches compared with reference reaches during summer and winter, respectively. The response (treatment minus reference) of coho density to LWD placement was correlated with the number of pieces of LWD forming pools during summer and total pool area during winter. Densities of age-1+ cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) and steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) did not differ between treatment and reference reaches during summer but were 1.7 times higher in treatment reaches during winter. Age-1+ steelhead density response to treatment during summer was negatively correlated with increases in pool area. Trout fry densities did not differ between reaches, but the response of trout fry to treatment was negatively correlated with pool area during winter. Our research indicates that LWD placement can lead to higher densities of juvenile coho during summer and winter and cutthroat and steelhead during winter.



2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 1797-1807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Romero ◽  
Robert E Gresswell ◽  
Judith L Li

We examined the influence of riparian vegetation patterns on coastal cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki clarki diet and prey from the summer of 2001 through the spring of 2002. Benthic and drifting invertebrates, allochthonous prey, and fish diet were collected from deciduous, conifer, and mixed sections of three Oregon coastal watersheds. The nine sites were best characterized as a continuum of deciduous cover, and shrub cover and proportion of deciduous canopy were positively correlated (r = 0.74). Most sources of prey (benthic invertebrate biomass, allochthonous invertebrate inputs, aquatic and total invertebrate drift) and aquatic prey ingested by coastal cutthroat trout were greater where shrub cover was more abundant. Only aquatic drift, total invertebrate drift, and allochthonous invertebrates were positively correlated with deciduous vegetation. Compared with coniferous sites, allochthonous invertebrates under deciduous and mixed canopies were almost 30% more abundant. Stream discharge likely influenced seasonal fluxes of aquatic invertebrate biomass in the benthos and drift. Aquatic insects dominated gut contents during this study; however, terrestrial prey were most common in the diet during the summer and fall. In the Pacific northwest, systematic removal of deciduous riparian vegetation to promote conifers may have unintended consequences on food resources of coastal cutthroat trout and aquatic food web interactions.



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