Spatial-Temporal Patterns in Distribution and Feeding of Juvenile Salmon and Herring in Puget Sound, WA
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Spatial-temporal patterns in distribution and feeding of juvenile salmon and herring in Puget Sound, WA Iris M. Kemp A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science University of Washington 2014 Committee: David A. Beauchamp Timothy E. Essington Julie E. Keister Sandra L. Parker-Stetter Program Authorized to Offer Degree: School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences © Copyright 2014 Iris M. Kemp University of Washington Abstract Spatial-temporal patterns in distribution and feeding of juvenile salmon and herring in Puget Sound, WA Iris M. Kemp Chair of the Supervisory Committee: David A. Beauchamp, Professor School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences This study described the distribution and feeding of juvenile salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) and Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) in Puget Sound to explore the potential for resource competition among these species. We used surface townets, midwater trawls, and acoustics surveys to assess distributions of fish in surface waters, among bathymetric zones, and depth strata in the water column. Seasonal and spatial variability was evident in epipelagic biomass. Occurrence of biomass generally increased progressively during the summer and shifted to deeper depths. Despite considerable variability, spatial, temporal, and dietary overlap was observed among herring and juvenile salmon, especially for Chinook and coho salmon. Crab larvae and amphipods were important prey for most salmon species and herring. Herring were present in higher abundances than salmon and had high population-level consumption demand. If food resources are limiting, there is potential for competitive interactions among salmon and herring. Table of Contents Page List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ iv Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter I: Spatial-temporal distribution of juvenile salmon and forage fish in Puget Sound: seasonal habitat use ......................................................................................................................... 6 Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 7 Study Area ............................................................................................................................... 8 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Survey design ........................................................................................................................ 10 Data collection & processing ................................................................................................. 11 Data analysis .......................................................................................................................... 13 Epipelagic fish biomass distribution from acoustics surveys ............................................ 13 Vertical and horizontal distribution of species caught in trawls ........................................ 14 Seasonal patterns in relative biomass observed by gear type ............................................ 15 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Epipelagic fish biomass distribution from acoustics surveys ............................................ 15 Vertical and horizontal distribution of species caught in trawls ........................................ 18 Seasonal patterns in relative biomass observed by gear type ............................................ 18 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 19 References ................................................................................................................................. 41 i Chapter II: Evaluating potential for resource competition between juvenile salmon and Pacific herring ........................................................................................................................................... 52 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 52 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 53 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 55 Data collection ....................................................................................................................... 55 Data Analysis ......................................................................................................................... 56 Diet composition ................................................................................................................ 56 Proportional diet contribution of prey taxa ........................................................................ 57 Diet overlap values between species pairs ......................................................................... 57 Bioenergetics model individual consumption demand ...................................................... 58 Calculations of population-level consumption .................................................................. 60 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 61 Salmon and herring in trawls ............................................................................................. 61 Proportional diet contribution of prey taxa ........................................................................ 62 Diet overlap values between species pairs ......................................................................... 64 Per-capita and population-level consumption .................................................................... 64 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 65 References ................................................................................................................................. 88 Appendix A ................................................................................................................................. 100 ii List of Tables Table 1.1. Shelf zone: seasonality of biomass presence by depth in the upper 60 m of the water column........................................................................................................................................... 26 Table 1.2. Transition zone: seasonality of biomass presence by depth in the upper 60 m of the water column. ................................................................................................................................ 28 Table 1.3. Offshore zone: seasonality of biomass presence by depth in the upper 60 m of the water column. ................................................................................................................................ 30 Table 1.4. Seasonality of shelf/transition/offshore biomass presence in the upper 60 m of the water column. ................................................................................................................................ 32 Table 2.1. Literature values for prey energy densities and indigestible fractions. ....................... 73 Table 2.2. Differences in diet composition by species, month, and year. .................................... 74 Table 2.3. Comparisons of prey dispersions for each species. ..................................................... 74 Table 2.4. Effects on diet composition of salmon and herring by month and year. ..................... 75 Table 2.5. Estimations of salmon and herring abundance ............................................................ 77 Table A1. Numbers of tows and counts of species caught in surface townets ........................... 100 Table A2. Length-weight regressions for salmon species and herring. ...................................... 102 Table A3. Number of samples and average diet composition of salmon and herring. ............... 103 Table A4. Bioenergetics model inputs and results for Main Basin. ........................................... 106 iii List of Figures Figure 1. 1. Monthly sampling effort for acoustics, midwater trawls, and surface townets. ........ 37 Figure 1.2. Proportional distribution of integrated backscatter in the water column for shelf, transition, and offshore zones in Central Puget Sound. ................................................................ 38 Figure 1.3. Catch per unit effort by 15 m depth increment in midwater trawls............................ 39 Figure 1.4. Normalized abundance of fish/backscatter in Central Basin