Survival, Ocean Growth, and Ocean Distribution of Differentially Timed Releases of Hatchery Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

1989 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 1216-1226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen B. Mathews ◽  
Yukimasa Ishida
Keyword(s):  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽  
Adult Survivors ◽  
Small Fish ◽  
Large Fish ◽  
Release Date ◽  
Marine Life ◽  
Coos Bay ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Marine Survival

Estimates of growth rates in early ocean life and length frequency distributions at time of release for adult survivors were inferred from scale measurements for lots of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) released at several dates from a Columbia River hatchery (Big Creek) and a southern Oregon hatchery (Coos Bay). Analysis of these measurements failed to support either of two literature-suggested hypotheses for the variability of marine survival of hatchery coho by date of release: (1) intraseasonal variability of food supply during early marine life; and (2) intraseasonally improving ability of smaller individuals within release lots to convert to salt water. Marine survival improved substantially with date of release at both hatcheries. However, fish released earliest, which survived relatively poorly, grew as fast in early marine life as fish released later, which survived better. Thus, poor survival of the early released fish did not appear related to lack of food at early ocean life. For the Big Creek hatchery, no significant differences were seen between the mean lengths at date of release and the mean release-date lengths of adult survivors back calculated from their scales, for lots released on May 5, June 3, and July 2. Apparently, small and large fish of each lot survived with equal probability. For the Coos Bay hatchery, the mean release-date lengths of adult survivors were significantly larger than the mean lengths of all fish released, for each of six lots released between early June and late July. Thus, large fish apparently survived better than small ones within each of these six lots. But there was no seasonal trend in survivability of small fish relative to large ones, contrary to hypothesis (2)

Importance of Smolt Size and Early Ocean Growth to Interannual Variability in Marine Survival of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 2181-2194 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Blair Holtby ◽  
Bruce C. Andersen ◽  
Ronald K. Kadowaki
Keyword(s):  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽  
Northwest Coast ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Ocean Conditions ◽  
Marine Survival

The importance of smolt size and early ocean growth to the marine survival of coho salmon was examined over a 17-yr period at Carnation Creek, British Columbia. Comparisons of overall marine survival were made both between-years, using two smolt age-groups of different mean sizes, and within-years using observed smolt size distributions and smolt size distributions back-calculated from the scales of returning adults. Large size did not confer a consistent survival advantage but large smolts did survive better in years when marine survival was relatively poor. Marine survivals were strongly correlated with early ocean growth as estimated by the spacing of the first five ocean circuli on the scales of returning adults. Marine survival and early ocean growth were positively correlated with ocean conditions indicative of strong upwelling along the northwest coast of Vancouver Island. Neither smolt survival nor early ocean growth were correlated with regional coho smolt production. Our observations suggest that interannual variability in smolt survival was being driven by ocean conditions that determined smolt growth rates which subsequently affected the susceptibility of smolts to a size-selective predator.

Environmental factors influencing freshwater survival and smolt production in Pacific Northwest coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

2004 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 360-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
P W Lawson ◽  
E A Logerwell ◽  
N J Mantua ◽  
R C Francis ◽  
V N Agostini
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽  
Stream Flows ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Life Phase ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Queets River ◽  
Marine Survival

Climate variability is well known to affect the marine survival of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in Oregon and Washington. Marine factors have been used to explain up to 83% of the variability in Oregon coastal natural coho salmon recruitment, yet about half the variability in coho salmon recruitment comes from the freshwater life phase of the life cycle. This seeming paradox could be resolved if freshwater variability were linked to climate and climate factors influencing marine survival were correlated with those affecting freshwater survival. Effects of climate on broad-scale fluctuations in freshwater survival or production are not well known. We examined the influence of seasonal stream flows and air temperature on freshwater survival and production of two stock units: Oregon coastal natural coho salmon and Queets River coho salmon from the Washington Coast. Annual air temperatures and second winter flows correlated strongly with smolt production from both stock units. Additional correlates for the Oregon Coast stocks were the date of first fall freshets and flow during smolt outmigration. Air temperature is correlated with sea surface temperature and timing of the spring transition so that good freshwater conditions are typically associated with good marine conditions.

Effects of Gravel Size, Egg Depth, and Egg Density on Intragravel Movement and Emergence of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Alevins

1970 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 1191-1199 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Dill ◽  
T. G. Northcote
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽  
High Density ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Gravel Size ◽  
Egg Density ◽  
The Mean

In experimental aquaria with large gravel (3.2–6.3 cm), vertical and lateral movements of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) alevins were more extensive and area utilized per alevin was greater than in small gravel (1.9–3.2 cm). At low density (50 per aquarium) the alevins moved farther towards the inlet, but the mean area occupied per alevin was the same as that at high density (100 per aquarium). Burial depths tested (20 and 30 cm) had no significant effect on vertical or lateral movements or on area utilized per alevin. Alevin orientation in the gravel, survival to emergence, and timing of emergence were not affected by any of the environmental variables examined.

Mirror-Elicited Agonistic Behaviour and Body Morphology as Predictors of Dominance Status in Juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

1993 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 676-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Blair Holtby ◽  
Douglas P. Swain ◽  
G. Michael Allan
Keyword(s):  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽  
Fork Length ◽  
Mirror Image ◽  
Large Fish ◽  
Agonistic Interactions ◽  
Dominance Status ◽  
Body Depth ◽  
Body Morphology ◽  
Eventual Dominance

We tested whether body morphology and aggressive behaviour, measured through mirror image stimulation (MIS), could predict the eventual dominance status of juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) tested in paired contests and in stream tank interactions with several individuals. Dominance in paired contests was predicted by MIS behaviour on the fifth observation day using newly emerged juveniles and by MSS behaviour on the first observation day using 7-wk-old juveniles. In both.w420020 dstrials, deeper bodied fish tended to be dominant. In the stream tank tests, the MIS behaviour SAM (swim-against-mirror) and fork length were the best predictors of dominance. Large fish with high levels of SAM tended to be dominant. After removing the effects of fish size, neither body depth nor fin size consistently predicted dominance ability. SAM was positively correlated with overt aggressive behaviours in stream tanks but not with lateral displays, juvenile coho salmon appeared to react to conspecifics and to their own mirror images in a quantitatively similar way, and both MIS behaviour and body morphology were significant predictors of the outcome of agonistic interactions among individuals.

Reference points for coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) harvest rates and escapement goals based on freshwater production

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 677-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Bradford ◽  
Ransom A Myers ◽  
James R Irvine
Keyword(s):  
Reference Point ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Ocean Productivity ◽  
Freshwater Habitats ◽  
Marine Survival ◽  
Stick Model

We describe a simple scheme for the management of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) population aggregates that uses reference points derived from an empirical analysis of freshwater production data. We fit a rectilinear "hockey stick" model to 14 historical data sets of female spawner abundance and resulting smolt production and found that at low spawner abundance, the average productivity was about 85 smolts per female spawner. Variation in productivity among streams may be related to the quality of the stream habitat. We show how freshwater productivity can be combined with forecasts of marine survival to provide a limit reference point harvest rate. Our method will permit harvest rates to track changes in ocean productivity. We also used the historical data to estimate that, on average, a density of 19 female spawners·km-1 is required to fully seed freshwater habitats with juveniles. However, there was considerable variation among the streams that might limit the utility of this measure as a reference point. Uncertainty in the forecasts of marine survival and other parameters needs to be incorporated into our scheme before it can be considered a precautionary approach.

Influences of Upwelling, Ocean Temperature, and Smolt Abundance on Marine Survival of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the Oregon Production Area

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas E. Nickelson
Keyword(s):  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽  
High Survival ◽  
Ocean Temperature ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Adult Relationships ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Production Area ◽  
Marine Survival

The relationships between the marine survival of hatchery and wild coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the Oregon Production Area and ocean upwelling, ocean temperature, and smolt abundance were investigated. Hatchery coho appear to be more sensitive than wild coho to changes in upwelling-related factors although this difference may be due to errors in the estimates of wild smolts and adults that were used in the analysis. Two levels of upwelling (strong and weak), which are associated with a twofold difference in survival of hatchery coho smolts, were identified. Significant relationships were identified between survival of hatchery smolts and survival of wild smolts that migrated in strong upwelling years and sea-surface temperature during that year. Similar relationships were not as apparent for smolts migrating in weak upwelling years as they were for smolts migrating in strong upwelling years. Each major component of coho production (wild, public hatchery, and private hatchery), when treated separately, as well as public and private hatchery coho combined, exhibited linear smolt-to-adult relationships. Only hatchery plus wild coho that migrated in weak upwelling years and hatchery plus wild coho in all years combined exhibited nonlinear smolt-to-adult relationships. I concluded that these nonlinear relationships were caused by a shift in the stock composition of the Oregon Production Area coho population from predominantly high-survival, wild fish when smolt numbers were low to predominantly low-survival, hatchery fish when smolt numbers were high.

Electrophoretic Variation, Regional Differences, and Gene Flow in the Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) of Southern British Colombia

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 822-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
C F. Wehrhahn ◽  
R. Powell
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Enzyme Loci ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
Last Ice Age ◽  
The Mean ◽  
British Colombia ◽  
River Fish

Populations of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in southern British Columbia were assayed for genetic variation at 26 enzyme loci. The mean heterozygosity was only 0.25 ± 0.06%. Previously studied wild Oregon cohos had a mean heterozygosity of 1.36 ± 0.37% compared with 0.30 ± 0.09% in Lower Coastal Mainland and 0.13 ± 0.08% in Upper Fraser River fish for the same enzyme loci. A plausible explanation for the very low mean heterozygosity is that British Columbia coho salmon went through an extreme population bottleneck during or after the last ice age. Lower Coastal Mainland salmon are significantly different from the fish of Vancouver Island and can be easily distinguished from Oregon and Capilano Hatchery (Coastal Mainland, B.C.) fish, it should be feasible to determine the relative proportions of different stocks in large oceanic coho salmon samples. The maximum likelihood estimate of the migration rate between spawning populations is 5.8 ± 1.2 breeding adults per generation. This is enough to prevent adaptation to local habitats by small populations of fewer than 100 breeding adults, but it is not high enough to impede selection in large populations of 1000 or more breeding adults.

Overwintering habitats of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and other juvenile salmonids in the Keogh River system, British Columbia

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 254-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Swales ◽  
F. Caron ◽  
J. R. Irvine ◽  
C. D. Levings
Keyword(s):  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽  
Cutthroat Trout ◽  
River System ◽  
Salmo Gairdneri ◽  
Dolly Varden Char ◽  
Main River ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Density And Biomass

Catches of overwintering juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the Keogh River system, Vancouver Island, were higher in two small (8 and 25 ha), shallow (mean depth 2 – 3 m) lakes and their outlet and inlet streams than in the main river, where steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri) were predominant. Dolly Varden char (Salvelinus malma), cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki), and threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) were also present in the lakes. The distribution of coho salmon in the lakes was restricted largely to areas close to the bank, with few fish being captured in offshore areas or in mid-water. Apparent differences in the abundance of coho salmon between the two lakes may have been related to differences in fish community composition, with sticklebacks being particularly numerous in Misty Lake, where catches of coho salmon were lower than in Long Lake. The population density and biomass of coho salmon overwintering in Long Lake were estimated to be 176 fish/ha and 1.14 kg ha−1, respectively. The mean length of coho salmon in the lakes was greater than that of coho salmon in the tributary streams and main river, and the mean length of the salmon in the lakes generally increased with distance away from shore.

Patterns of Timing and Size of Wild Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Smolts Migrating from the Keogh River Watershed on Northern Vancouver Island

1989 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 1086-1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Irvine ◽  
B. R. Ward
Keyword(s):  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽  
Optimal Timing ◽  
River Watershed ◽  
Fast Growing ◽  
Additional Work ◽  
Early Peak ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Two Peaks

Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) smolts leaving the Keogh River and its tributaries demonstrated consistent patterns in their timing and size. An initial early peak in the mean size of migrating smolts occurred several weeks before the peak in their timing, and in several years when smolt migration was monitored until July, a late peak in size occurred near the end of the smolt migration. Changes in the mean size of smolts were not related to their origin within the watershed, and varying age compositions were only partially responsible for the two peaks in mean size. Fish overwintering in tributary lakes grew faster than fish overwintering in tributary streams. A greater proportion of lake-origin smolts migrated to sea after only 1 yr in freshwater than stream-origin smolts. It appears that fish that wait until their second spring to smoltify are among the first to emigrate that spring. These relatively large 2 + smolts, combined with fast growing 1 + smolts that leave early during their first spring, cause the first peak in size. The small numbers of large smolts leaving the Keogh River at the ends of several of the smolt runs apparently left then because of minor flow increases in the river. As has been found with releases of coho smolts from nearby hatcheries, fish that left the Keogh River early in the smolt run generally had a more northerly marine catch distribution than later migrating smolts. A greater proportion of fish migrating to sea late in the smolt run were caught in the fishery than fish migrating early. Additional work examining the marine survival of early and late migrating wild smolts is recommended to enable detailed comparisons to be made between the optimal timing and size of wild and hatchery smolts.

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