Natural otolith microstructure patterns reveal precise homing to natal incubation sites by sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 766-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P Quinn ◽  
Eric C Volk ◽  
Andrew P Hendry

Experimental results suggest that anadromous salmon and trout learn (imprint) the odors of their natal site just prior to or during seaward migration. In contrast, information on the life histories of several species and the genetic structure of populations indicate that they must imprint earlier in life, probably during incubation in the gravel or when they emerge as free-swimming fry. To test the hypothesis that sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) home to their incubation-emergence sites (rather than just to the lake where they reared before migrating to sea), we took advantage of the natural variation in otolith microstructure caused by differences in thermal regimes during incubation. We collected otoliths from adult sockeye salmon that returned to discrete spawning areas in Iliamna Lake, Alaska, and Lake Washington, Washington, and, in blind trials, these were classified based on comparison with otoliths from juveniles from the same sites and using information on site-specific thermal regimes. Our analysis showed that the salmon were much more likely to return to their natal incubation site than would have occurred by chance. Estimated straying rates were about 0.1% from the Woody Island population to the Pedro Pond population in Iliamna Lake and about 1% from the Cedar River population to the Pleasure Point population in Lake Washington. The results were consistent with genetic evidence for fine-scale structure of salmon populations and with conservation based on spatial scales appropriate for the early life history of the fish.

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 1255-1260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall M. Peterman ◽  
Brigitte Dorner

We used data on 64 stocks of sockeye salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka ) from British Columbia (B.C.), Washington, and Alaska to determine whether recent decreases in abundance and productivity observed for Fraser River, B.C., sockeye have occurred more widely. We found that decreasing time trends in productivity have occurred across a large geographic area ranging from Washington, B.C., southeast Alaska, and up through the Yakutat peninsula, Alaska, but not in central and western Alaska. Furthermore, a pattern of predominantly shared trends across southern stocks and opposite trends between them and stocks from western Alaska was present in the past (1950–1985), but correlations have intensified since then. The spatial extent of declining productivity of sockeye salmon has important implications for management as well as research into potential causes of the declines. Further research should focus on mechanisms that operate at large, multiregional spatial scales, and (or) in marine areas where numerous correlated sockeye stocks overlap.


1994 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 974-980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley D. Rice ◽  
Robert E. Thomas ◽  
Adam Moles

We compared the impact of exposure to seawater on three sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) stocks: one that normally migrates to sea as underyearlings (sea-type) and two with the more common life history strategies of 1 (river-type) or 2 (lake-type) yr of freshwater residence prior to seaward migration. Innate differences in survival, ability to regulate tissue chlorides, and oxygen consumption when first introduced into salt water were more evident in April and May when fish were less than 50 mm in length. In fish longer than 50 mm, the only significant differences among the stocks were in saltwater growth. Between June and August, sea-type fish showed faster growth than river-type fish which in turn grew faster than lake-type fish. When introduced into salt water in October, virtually no growth occurred in any stock, regardless of fish size. River-type and lake-type sockeye, which normally overwinter 1 and 2 yr, respectively, in freshwater, can be reared in seawater if underyearlings are raised to a length of 50 mm before release into salt water, similar to the normal life history of sea-type underyearlings. Early life history appears to be influenced more by habitat than by genetics.


1974 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E. Thorne ◽  
James J. Dawson

The feasibility of estimating the escapement of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) into Lake Washington by hydroacoustics was explored during 1971. Surveys were made of large fish targets within the lake just before and after the spawning migration of sockeye salmon up the Cedar River. A decrease was observed after the spawning migration comparable to the estimated escapement as determined by weir counts and spawning ground surveys.


1988 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 586-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Bailey ◽  
L. Margolis ◽  
C. Groot

Simulated mixtures of juvenile sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) were constructed using parasite data to represent proportionally the major component stocks of Fraser River and Lake Washington sockeye migrating within the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, in 1982–84. Samples of migrating juveniles were also collected from Bedwell Harbour, South Pender Island, British Columbia, each year and analyzed for parasites and stock composition. The compositions of simulated and sample mixtures were estimated using a maximum likelihood stock composition model. Simulated mixture compositions were accurately estimated for most stocks for all year-classes. When significant misassignment occurred between stocks, the stocks were analyzed as a complex using the allocate-sum procedure. Sample mixture estimates correctly identified the dominant stock for each year-class, although for 1984 the dominant group was determined as a complex of three stocks because the individual stocks were not distinguishable. The results indicate that it is feasible to use parasites as natural tags to estimate stock compositions of migrating juvenile sockeye salmon in the Strait of Georgia.


1985 ◽  
Vol 42 (10) ◽  
pp. 1595-1607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall M. Peterman

Interannual variations in mean age of maturity tend to be positively correlated among 10 stocks of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) which spawn in rivers emptying into Bristol Bay, Alaska. Taking a comparative approach, I utilized data from British Columbia and Alaska sockeye stocks with different life histories to test alternative hypotheses about sources of these variations in mean age at maturity. The hypotheses included freshwater environment, marine environment, and parental influences. Freshwater hypotheses were rejected and while some parental effects do exist, they are small compared with the effect of events in early marine life. Early marine growth rate data do not exist for these stocks but evidence from five other sockeye stocks shows that fast growth during this period tends to lead to earlier age at maturity.


2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 1209-1221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid B Spies ◽  
Eric C Anderson ◽  
Kerry Naish ◽  
Paul Bentzen

The Lake Washington watershed (Washington, USA) has been the recipient of numerous transplantations of nonnative Oncorhynchus nerka (both sockeye salmon and their landlocked form, kokanee) over the past century and currently contains self-sustaining populations of both ecotypes. Microsatellite DNA markers were used to identify native and introduced groups while characterizing population structure. This study confirmed that Baker Lake sockeye transplantations during the 20th century contributed to three current sockeye populations: Cedar River, Issaquah Creek, and Pleasure Point Beach in the Lake Washington watershed. Distinctive allele distributions at two loci, One101 and One114, provide evidence that a fourth Lake Washington sockeye population, Bear Creek, is divergent from other Lake Washington sockeye and may be of substantially native origin despite heavy stocking activity in the watershed over the past century. Data from these loci also suggest the presence of native genes in populations that had been regarded as entirely of introduced origin.


1979 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 1145-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E. Thorne

Hydroacoustic techniques were used on Lake Washington from 1972 to 1975 to estimate the potential escapement of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). Target strength measurements were used to establish a threshold which would separate the larger adult sockeye salmon from smaller resident fish. The acoustic estimates of escapement were very similar to those obtained from visual observations at the Hiram M. Chittenden ship canal locks, observations on the Cedar River, and spawning ground surveys. Key words: hydroacoustic, acoustic, methodology, sockeye salmon, escapement


1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 1387-1394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P Hendry ◽  
Jay E Hensleigh ◽  
Reg R Reisenbichler

Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) introduced into Lake Washington in the 1930s and 1940s now spawn at several different sites and over a period of more than 3 months. To test for evolutionary divergence within this derived lineage, embryos that would have incubated in different habitats (Cedar River or Pleasure Point Beach) or at different times (October, November, or December in the Cedar River) were reared in the laboratory at 5, 9, and 12.5°C. Some developmental variation mirrored predictions of adaptive divergence: (i) survival at 12.5°C was highest for embryos most likely to experience such temperatures in the wild (Early Cedar), (ii) development rate was fastest for progeny of late spawners (Late Cedar), and (iii) yolk conversion efficiency was matched to natural incubation temperatures. These patterns likely had a genetic basis because they were observed in a common environment and could not be attributed to differences in egg size. The absolute magnitude of divergence in development rates was moderate (Late Cedar embryos emerged only 6 days earlier at 9°C) and some predictions regarding development rates were not supported. Nonetheless our results provide evidence of adaptive divergence in only 9-14 generations.


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