SH HISTORY AnD miGRATIOn PATTERnS 11 .A725 no.2 Of ARCTIC GRAYlinG
RESEARCH REPORT NO. 2 Alaska Department of Fish and Came Juneau, Alaska :t [ rAt2-§ V\N , 1-
STATE OF ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
William A. Egan Governor
Walter Kirkness Commissioner
RESEARCH REPORT NO. 2 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Juneau, Alaska
~---·-·--·----·------Life History and Migration Patterns of Arctic Grayling, Thymallus arcticus, (Pallas), in the Tanana River Drainage of Alaska*
Roger J. Reed**
• This investigation was supported in part by Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Funds Project F-5-R-1 <1959-1960) and F-5-R-2 <1960-1961). ** Dr.. Reed is now employed by the U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Biological Laboratory, Auke Bay, Alaska. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ------9 Study Area and Habitats ------11 Materials and ~vfethods ------11 Life History ------12 Early life history ------14 Age and growth ------14 Feeding selection and behavior ------20 Parasites ------21 Migration Patterns ------23 Conclusions ------27 Acknowledgments ------28 Literature Cited ------29 Life History and Migration Patterns of Arctic Grayling, Thymallus arcticus, (Pallas), in the Tanana River Drainage of Alaska
ABSTRACT Thirteen hundred Arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus (Pallas), were collected from four habitats of the Tanana River drainage in Alaska. A description is given of each habitat which lists their general physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Growth rates determined for the grayling in Alaska were less than those described in published reports from Canada and Montana. In Alaska, sexually immature grayling showed little growth differences between sexes; mature males grew faster than females. Stomach contents of specimens collected in May and June were composed largely of larval and nymphal aquatic insects. Spawning behavior did not differ from that desc,ribed in published reports for the species. Eggs had an average diameter o'f 2.7 mm and were nonadhesive. Young-of-the-year fish, with approximately 17 weeks of summer growth, ranged from 54 mm to 96 mm and averaged 78 mm fork length. Electroshocking, seining, frame sets, incline traps, and hook and line methods were used to capture grayling for a study of migration patterns in tributaries of the Tanana River. A plastic sub cutaneous tag proved very effective for fish more than 6 inches in total length; 907 tags were recovered from 9,210 tagged fish released. The move ments of grayling in two tributaries are described. The copepod parasite, Salmincola edwardsii, was found on some grayling specimens from all areas sampled. INTRODUCTION
The work accomplished in this report was conducted during the first phase of a continued study by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Sport Fish Division. Unknown factors in the life history of the Arctic grayling and the complex of inter- and intra-stream movement in the Tanana River drainage are of major concern in the Department's management program. The Arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus (Pallas), a major sport fish of the vast coastal and interior watersheds of the Arctic and western Alaska, is found in four habitats: (1) lakes, (2) spring-fed streams, (3) bog-fed streams, and (4) rapid runoff streams. Grayling are not indigenous to Southeastern Alaska, Kodiak Island or the Aleutian Islands but are well distributed throughout the rest of the state •Grayling have been introduced into several lakes on an experimental basis by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. ~8" / ' I 64-' ~- so• 56' ------·----+------ 1&40 ,... 1$2." Figure !-Grayling collection areas in Alaska and Northwest Canada. 1- STUDY AREAS AND HABITATS to 7.4; the streambed is composed of mud and sand. Bog-fed streams The Tanana River watershed was freeze solid in winter. selected as the study site for several Rapid runoff streams are perhaps reasons: ( 1 l migration data resulting the most common habitat of the from past Fish and Wildlife Service Tanana River. These streams show tagging programs on the Tanana extreme fluctuations of flow and tributaries could be used, (2) the water temperature during the sum Richardson Highway afforded an mer, heavy siltation during high easy route to study streams and water periods, a shifting stream bot lakes, (3) greater fishing pressure tom, a pH range of 7.2 to 7.8, and occurred in this drainage than in they normally freeze solid in winter. other interior Alaska watersheds, and finally, (4) the Tanana River system seemed to have a good representation MATERIALS AND METHODS of the different types of aquatic habitats utilized by Arctic grayling in Thirteen hundred grayling were Alaska. collected by hook and line from the Four different habitat types were following areas in Alaska in 1960: recognized within the Tanana drain Lake Habitat age: (1) lakes, (2) spring-fed Fielding Lake streams, (3) bog-fed streams and <4l Tangle Lake rapid runoff streams. Each habitat Paxson Lake (Copper River drain type differs slightly in· the environ agel mental pressures to which grayling Bog-fed Habitat are exposed during all or part of their Shaw Creek life. Little Salcha River Most of the lake habitats in the Tolovana River Tanana drainage show evidence of thermostratification during the rela Spring-fed Habitat tively short summer, a pH range of Delta Clearwater River 7.0 to 8.0 and a light to heavy plank Richardson Clearwater River ton production. Two groups of gray Chena Clearwater River ling live in many of the Tanana Rapid Runoff Habitat drainage lakes: (1) residents, which Chatanika River remain the year round, and (2) Goodpaster River migrants which migrate each spring Big Salcha River and fall. Spawning occurs in the out let and inlet tributaries. Paxson and In addition, Dr. Allen Seymour of Fielding Lakes are examples of this the Washington School of Fisheries habitat type ~AIRBANKS 85 MILES CLEARWATER RIVER 4- Miles RIVER Figure 2-Locations of the Tanana River tributaries used in the 1960 Arctic grayling migra. tion study. -12- migrating into the ice-free Delta the depression was assailed. A short Clearwater River on May 10, 1960. dorsal fin, clharacteristic of the Fishermen had reported that most of female grayling, was observed at the the grayling caught during this surface near the tail of the riffle. period were mature and ready to Her lighter coloration made it easy spawn. However, this was not verified. to identify and follow movements. At Fielding Lake, the ice had just The male made several rushes to broken up when the field crew arrived ward her. Kruse <1959) did not ob on June 6, 1960. Adult grayling were serve females being attacked by taken in a gill net fished across the males in Grebe Lake, Wyoming; how mouth of a small inlet stream. ever, Fabricus and Gustafson <1954) Examination of specimens estab did note this in Europe with Thy lished that many of the females were manus thymallus. ripe. A half-mile section of the tribu Male courtship continued with a tary to Fielding Lake was surveyed series of dorsal fin displays around to count adults and observe spawning the female. It is suggested that re behavior. Two hundred and eighty peated display may act as a releaser six grayling were counted and the mechanism for both sexes. The male estimated size ranged from 13 to 18 then drifted over beside her and inches, total length. folded his dorsal fin over her back In general, adult grayling spend and they swam side by side to the the winter in the Tanana River and depression. They positioned them begin to enter small tributaries by selves over the depression and late April. Distances traveled by spawning began. groups of spawning fish are often Grayling spawning at Fielding great. Distances grayling must travel Lake followed the same pattern re to reach their spawning grounds in ported by Brown <1938a), Tryon Tanana tributaries varies from 10 (1947) and Kruse <1959) for grayling to 100 miles. The possible migration in Montana and Ward (1951) for routes taken within the main Tanana grayling in the Athabasca drainage River to reach the tributaries are in Canada. unknown at present. Henshall (1902) The spawning behavior of fish ob reported that "grayling traveled far served in an overflow slough in the to reach suitable spawning sites in Chena River differed slightly from Montana." "Adults of the Athabasca the Fielding Lake pattern. A male drainage in Canada made a long run and female grayling entered the to reach their spawning grounds" slough swimming side by side with SOURDOUGH CREEK ____. FAITH CREEK---+---+--. POOL CREEK McMANUS CREEK '------':...--CHATANIKA RIVER rL--STEESE HIGHWAY ,I Figure 3-Study tributaries and the hydroelectric power system on the Chatanika River watershed in Alaska. -14- young-of-the-year fish. Not a single tributed to the differences found in specimen was taken during the sum mean growth values of grayling mer. The same negative results in sampled in some Alaska watersheds. obtaining young grayling from this The Kukpuk River specimens (Arctic system were experienced by Wojcik Alaska) had the advantage of two <1955). Fingerlings collected from the additional months of growth; how Chatanika River in late September ever, they demonstrated a slower during their migration out of Faith growth than most of the Tanana Creek Goodpaster 208.4 209.1 241.9 235.9 269.0 284.0 315.5 River +17.65 + 9.15 +13.71 +14.04 + 8.06 + 9.79 + 6.32 ------(27) (32) (17) (16) (4) (3) (1) Big Salcha River 200.3 197.1 235.8 232.3 282.5 283.3 304.8 -+11.74 -+12.78 -+ 5.61 -+15.39 -+ 9.00 -+ 5.78 BOC-FED (18) (13) (31) (23) ( 11) (3) (1) STREAMS Tolovana 160.0 155.0 185.9 187.2 228.5 226.0 ------304.8 River + 7.68 + 8.43 + 14.59 -+16.25 - +18.35 -+ 3.00 (5) (16) (19) (23) (9) (12) (6) (5) (2) (1) (2) Shaw 203.0 207.7 250.5 241.6 285.2 279.0 310.5 317.0 356.5 387.0 373.0 Creek +10.66 +13.35 +11.75 + 7.31 + 9.66 +14.88 +10.61 +17.69 +19.30 ------{6) (7) (18) (21) (16) (8) (7) (5) (6) (1) (3) (2) Little Salcha 150.0 156.0 177.6 181.8 209.6 221.6 264.9 ---- 311.2 306.5 335.0 351.1 384.0 River -+ 7.81 -+ 3.72 -+13.49 -+14.02 -+18.75 +14.02 + 6.57 ---- +14.23 + 4.94 ( ) = Number of specimens. Both sexes were significantly differ Five of the samples which had the ent at the 0.5 percent level for within fastest growth rate of 3-year-olds sample variation. Male grayling were selected for additional tests showed the greater within sample 18.0 17.0 16.0 15.0 14.0 Ui' 13.0 fil :r: zu 12.0 !::. :r: 11.0 t-< ~ fil 10.0 ..:! ::.:; ..: 9.0 0 r.. 8.0 MONTANA-CANADIAN 7.0 DELTA CLEARWATER GOODPASTER RIVER LITTLE SALCHA RIVER FIELDING LAKE 5.0 4.0 II III IV V VI VII VIII IX AGE CLASS Figure 4-Comparison of growth curves for the Arctic grayling in Alaska to the Montana Canadian Stocks (after Kruse, 1959). -18- Table 2-Analysis of variance tests on random growth data of age Ill Arctic grayling drawn from nine sample areas within the Tanana River drainage. Source Sum of Squares D.F. M.S. F. Variation 45,885 1 45,885 93.P'* Between Main effect 137,144 278 493 Sexes Deviation Total 183,029 279 Variation c:! 16,709 8 2,089 Within Sexes 61,030 131 466 4.68** 77,739 139 ? 20,085 8 2,511 76,104 131 581 4.32** 96,189 139 Variation Between Sexes Goodpaster River 234 1 234 4,622 24 193 1.23 4,856 25 Chatanika River 211 1 211 .563 5,247 14 375 5,458 15 Big Salcha River 104 1 104 .366 7,951 28 284 8,055 29 "*=Highly significant D.F. =Degrees of freedom M.S.= Mean squares F.=F Test data, and no significant differences Information gained from the var were found in either area for age VI ious testing of growth rates between specimens (Table 4). Age VII males sexes establishes that immature from Fielding Lake showed a signifi grayling show little or no difference, cant growth difference from age VII whereas mature males appear to females. grow more than mature females. Table 3.-Mean growth rates obtained from random data of 3-year-old grayling in the Tanana River drainage, 1960, listed in order of greatest growth attained. Sample area Mean total length (mm.)* Males Females Richardson Clearwater River 250.8 (21) 255.2 (21) Goodpaster River 241.9 (13) 235.9 (13) Shaw Creek 240.3 (19) 234.6 (19) Big Salcha River 236.1 (16) 232.3 (16) Fielding Lake 229.2 (12) 210,4 (12) Tangle Lakes 226.2 (33) 228.9 (33) Chena Clearwater River 225.7 (13) 225.6 (13) Little Salcha River 224.4 ( 8) 221.6 ( 8) Chatanika River 209.0 ( 8) 216.2 ( 8) -·- '' ( ) Indicate number of specimens. -19- Table 4.-Analysis of variance tests on growth rate data obtained from age VI and VII grayling, Delta Clearwater River and Fielding Lake, Alaska. Sam1>le Area Age Class Source Sum of Squares D.F. M.S. F. Delta Clearwater VI Main effect 1,111 1 1,111 River Deviation 7,608 24 317 3.50 Total 8,719 25 VII 532 1 532 1,914 8 239 2.23 2,446 9 Fielding Lake VI 882 1 882 4,706 16 492 3.00 5,588 17 VII 4,184 1 4,184 ** 1,045 20 52 80.46 5,229 21 D.F.- Degrees of Freedom F.=FTest M.S.= Mean Squares **=Highly significant Feeding selection and behavior Delta Clearwater River (Figure 2) The contents in the stomachs of were recorded daily during the 1,300 grayling were examined. Food tagging program. Through most of items were recorded and assigned a June and early July, a period of 19+ percentage based on relative bulk. hours of daylight each day, grayling Insect and other animal life were fed on a 24-hour basis. The principal classified as to order. Grayling had food items were immature Epheme- fed principally on aquatic and ter- roptera nymphs and Diptera larvae restrial insects during the four-week which were taken as they attempted collection period 400 I 375 350 325 300 275 t ~ 250 i!l :::E 225 1- ::> z ~ 200 1- z ~ 175 1- >< 100 75 25sor 0 I I I _ I I I - II WIII -IV V VI VII VIII AGE CLASS Figure 5-Age composition occurring in 1,200 Arctic grayling collected by hook and line from the Tanana River, Copper River, and Arctic drainages in Alaska. Fish up through age class V were sexually immature. -21- Table 5.-Percent occurrence of categories of material in stomach contents of I ,300 Arctic grayling from 13 watersheds in Alaska collected in 1960. Location Diptera Ephemerida Tricoptera Plecoptera Hemtotera Other~' Debris** Big Salcha River ------10.60 3.82 26.60 5.62 14.01 30.00 9.35 Richardson Clearwater River ------54.16 6.20 32.25 5.57 2.20 4.20 11.80 Chena Clearwater River ------52.59 - 2.42 - 9.30 11.05 24.65 Delta Clearwater River ------31.40 11.75 10.80 21.85 - 9.90 14.30 Tolovana River ------2.61 - 50.65 4.60 - 8.3 33.84 Chatanika River ------11.65 .01 57.05 .37 2.65 9.00 19.27 Little Salcha River ------6.00 - 78.84 .23 11.00 3.05 8.90 Goodpaster River ------11.70 - 16.40 6.10 15.70 40.04 16.55 Shaw Creek ------69.47 - 10.35 - 2.00 5.20 19.46 Fielding Lake ------32.75 - 34.70 8.50 2.25 10.25 11.55 Tangle Lake ------78.40 .16 6.80 .74 1.05 2.00 11.58 Paxon Lake ------41.35 .65 4.05 - 10.05 12.00 31.90 Kukpuk River ------6.60 - 44.35 .01 - 9.10 48.13 ':'Coleoptera, Odonata, Hymenoptera, Gammarus, and Lemmus were in eluded in this category. '~~'Bark, leaves, spruce needles and sand were included in this category. were so numerous on the gill fila drainage. It is suggested that grayling ments that the operculum was wing return to the same tributary for 1 or like in appearance. One grayling from 2 years until a certain size is reached the Kukpuk River had 86 parasites and then the following spring enter attached to the gills. The same para another system further up the Tan site was also identified from grayling ana. The Shaw Creek-Richardson collected by Fish and Wildlife Service Clearwater-Goodpaster complex is personnel at Ugashik Lake (Figure favorably located for testing the up 1). Miller <1946l reported Salmincola river migration theory Table 6.-Frequency of occurrence in Arctic grayling of the Copepod parasite, Salmincola edwards1i'' Area Percentage Big Salcha River ------28 Delta Clearwater River ------47 Richardson Clearwater River ------26 Little Salcha ------2 Shaw Creek ------40 Goodpaster River ------30 Chena Clearwater River ------15 Tolovana River ------34 Chatanika River ------3 Kukpuk River ------38 Paxson Lake ------60 Fielding Lake ------39 Tangle Lakes ------36 * 100 specimens examined in each area. -23- fishery. This operation diverts water reported catching large grayling in from the upper tributaries of the this area. Chatanilm into an open ditch-siphon Adult grayling spread downstream system which transports it to the from the forks of the Delta Clear plant 40 miles away Table 7.-Results of the 1960 tagging program on the Arctic grayling; Tanana River drain age, Alaska. Catch per Number Tag Hour Tagging Period Water Area Tagged Returns (Field Crew)* May !-October 12 Chatanika River 4,500 689 june I 0-Septcmber 30 Delta Clearwater River 2,160 200 4.1 july 26-july 29 August 7-August 13 Goodpaster River 2,000 12 16.7 August 23- August 27 Richardson Clearwater River 350 6 8.3 August 19-August 21 Shaw Creek 200 7.1 9,210 907 *Hook and line. -24- r still seen feeding on the riffles each in a lack of data about the timing of aftemoon. As September ended, the the mature grayling runs into and out adults had moved below the camp of the Chatanika River. Early spring ground (Figure 6), and feeding was floods in the river greatly reduced the limited to the last 4 miles of the efficiency of the sampling gear. river. Fishermen reported a few Electrofishing was impossible and catches in October, and a tag was seining results were poor. Sampling retumed from the mouth of the units were either washed away or Clearwater River on October 30. clogged with debris. Late fall con A combination of factors resulted ditions were worse with falling leaves DELTA CLEARWATER RIVER I ADULTS f JUNE 13-20 ' CAMPGROUND ...... __ IMMATURES ' ',, DIRT ROAD SEPT. ' ' ' \ ~ ',, .... ______DELTA JUNCTION- 15 MILES TANANA RIVER SLOUGH t IMMATURES JUNE 16-30 Figure 6--Arctic grayling migration patterns in the Delta Clearwater River during the 1960 season. -25- TABLE 8-Tag return data of immature and mature Arctic grayling collected from the Delta Clearwater River Alaska. Type of June june july july August August Sept. Sept. Oct. Oct. Movement 1-15 16-30 1-15 16-31 1-15 16-31 1-16 17-30 1-15 16-31 Total Upstream - - 33 35 27 17 - 3* - - 115 Downstream I* !"' 7 13** 2 8 2 8* - I 43 No Movement - - 10 25 3 - - 4* - - 42 ------50 73 32 25 2 15 - I 200 '' Mature recaptures. ;''' Movement downstream of only one mile may possibly be from the effects of tagging. TABLE 9-Tag return data of immature Arctic grayling collected from the Chatanika River, Alaska. Type of May June june july july August August Sept. Sept. Oct. Move merit 15-31 1-15 16-30 1-15 16-31 1-15 16-31 1-15 16-30 1-15 Total Upstream 4 16 51 39 25 24 10 3 3 - 175 Downstream - 3 2 - 13* 2 IF I 4 7 43 No Movement 145 31 76 36 6 83 56 I I - 435 Both Ways - - - 4 - 9 5 I 16 I 36 ------149 50 129 79 44 118 82 6 24 8 689 ''' Movement downstream of only one mile may possibly be from the effects of tagging. clogging nets, ice forming over the temperatures than were recorded in gear, and high water returning be 1960. The power operations again fore the investigation was completed. diverted water into the Davidson Tag return data from young gray Ditch but a constant flow continued ling captured during the 1960 field to reach the main river below the season showed a definite upstream diversion dam. In 1960, this section and downstream migration -28- LITERATURE CITED Brown, C.J.D. vannsfiskar. Nationaltrykkeriet, 1938a. Observations on the life Oslo, p. 358. history and breeding habits of Kruse, Thomas E. the Montana grayling. Copeia, 1959. Grayling of Grebe Lake, 1938, no. 3, p. 132-136. Yellowstone National Park, 1938b. The feeding habits of the Wyoming. Fishery Bulletin 149, Montana grayling Thymallus U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, montanus. Journal of Wildlife vol. 59, p·. 307-351. Management, vol. 2, no. 3, p. Laird, James A. 135-145. 1928. Grayling in the east. Trans Brown, C.J.D. actions of the American Fishery 1943. Age and growth of Mon Society, vol. 58, p. 167-169. tana grayling. Journal of Wild Leonard, J.W. life Management, vol. 7, no. 4, 1939. Feeding habits of the Mon p, 353-364. tana grayling Thymallus mon Butler, R.L. tanus -30-