Early Marine Ecology of Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus Keta) in Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska
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EARLY MARINE ECOLOGY OF JUVENILE CHUM SALMON IN KUSKOKWIM BAY, WESTERN ALASKA NORTH PACIFIC RESEARCH BOARD PROJECT FINAL REPORT EARLY MARINE ECOLOGY OF JUVENILE CHUM SALMON (ONCORHYNCHUS KETA) IN KUSKOKWIM BAY, ALASKA PROJECT R0327 FINAL REPORT to NORTH PACIFIC RESEARCH BOARD 1007 West 3rd Avenue, Suite 100 Anchorage, Alaska 99501 Nicola Hillgruber1, Christian E. Zimmerman2, Sean E. Burril1, and Lewis J. Haldorson1 1 School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 11120 Glacier Highway, Juneau, Alaska 99801, (907) 796-6288, [email protected] 2 Alaska Science Center, US Geological Survey, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, (907)786-3954, [email protected] January 2007 • This report does not constitute a publication and is for information only. All data herein are to be considered provisional and shall not be cited without the author’s permission. MANUSCRIPT IS NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT THE AUTHORS’ PERMISSION Abstract Little is known about the estuarine residence of juvenile chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in western Alaska. It is at this stage, however, that juveniles might experience high mortality rates that may ultimately determine year class strength. Recent fluctuations in the abundance of chum salmon in the Kuskokwim River have demonstrated a need for more information on chum salmon life history, but particularly on factors impacting the critical estuarine life stage. Here we present results on spatial and temporal patterns of estuarine distribution, diet, and condition of chum salmon juveniles in 2003 and 2004 in Kuskokwim Bay. In addition, we used spatially-explicit foraging/bioenergetic modeling to assess the growth potential of Kuskokwim Bay habitats for outmigrating juvenile chum salmon in 2004, based on an intensive field sampling program in that year. Based on zooplankton abundance, water temperatures and turbidity, we modeled growth potential for small and large juveniles outmigrating early, in the middle and towards the end of the season. Our results provide the first data on timing of outmigration and estuarine distribution of chum salmon in relation to seasonally and spatially changing environmental conditions in Kuskokwim Bay. In addition, we determined seasonal and spatial patterns in diet and energy density of juvenile chum salmon and estimated the post-emergence age and duration of residence for chum salmon juveniles in Kuskokwim Bay. Our results indicate that timing of outmigration may be of high importance for the condition, growth, and subsequent survival probability. Further research is needed to more closely examine the role of changing environmental conditions, on estuarine residence, condition, and growth of juvenile salmonids in Kuskokwim Bay, particularly in light of the observed changing climatic conditions in the Bering Sea. Keywords Chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, western Alaska, smolts, distribution, outmigration, estuarine residence, diet, energy density, Wisconsin model ii MANUSCRIPT IS NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT THE AUTHORS’ PERMISSION Citation Hillgruber N, Zimmerman CE, Burril SE, Haldorson LJ (2007) Early marine ecology of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska. North Pacific Research Board Final Report 327, 171 pages. iii MANUSCRIPT IS NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT THE AUTHORS’ PERMISSION TABLE OF CONTENTS STUDY CHRONOLOGY ................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1 STUDY OBJECTIVES..................................................................................................... 3 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 1 – FISH DISTRIBUTION .......................................................................... 6 ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 8 MATERIAL AND METHODS............................................................................................... 9 RESULTS ........................................................................................................................ 11 General ..................................................................................................................... 11 Environmental Conditions ........................................................................................ 11 Fish Catch Composition ........................................................................................... 12 Timing of Outmigration and Distribution of Juvenile Salmonids............................. 13 Chum Salmon Size..................................................................................................... 14 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................... 14 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 18 LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. 21 LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ 25 CHAPTER 2 – DIET ...................................................................................................... 42 ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... 43 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 44 MATERIAL AND METHODS............................................................................................. 45 Study area ................................................................................................................. 45 Field methods............................................................................................................ 46 Laboratory methods.................................................................................................. 47 Statistical methods .................................................................................................... 48 RESULTS ........................................................................................................................ 49 General feeding patterns........................................................................................... 49 iv MANUSCRIPT IS NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT THE AUTHORS’ PERMISSION Interannual diet comparison..................................................................................... 50 Weekly diet comparison ............................................................................................ 51 Size class diet comparison ........................................................................................ 52 Salinity diet comparison ........................................................................................... 54 Diel feeding study ..................................................................................................... 55 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................... 55 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 60 LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. 66 LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ 71 LIST OF APPENDICES...................................................................................................... 83 CHAPTER 3 – ENERGY DENSITY ............................................................................ 86 ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... 87 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 88 MATERIALS AND METHODS ........................................................................................... 89 Field Methods ........................................................................................................... 89 Laboratory Methods.................................................................................................. 90 Statistical Methods.................................................................................................... 91 RESULTS ........................................................................................................................ 92 General ..................................................................................................................... 92 Monthly Comparisons............................................................................................... 92 Size Class Comparisons............................................................................................ 92 Salinity Range Comparisons..................................................................................... 93 DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................................