Local Salmonids

* Adapted from “2.3 Local Pacific Salmon Species” by the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (www.n- sea.org)

Objective - Know the names and facts about six of the Pacific salmonid species

- Be able to compare and contrast the lifecycles of different salmonids Materials - Printed “six salmonid species” table for students

- Pen/pencil Background In this exercise, students will learn the differences between six of the local Pacific salmonid species. There are many species found locally that belong to the family Salmonidae, which are also known as Salmonids. We focus on these six because they are often considered as the most culturally, ecologically, recreationally, and commercially important. In addition to appearance, the six species have slightly different habitat requirements, including the season for spawning, the duration of time spent in fresh water and saltwater. Five of our species, Chinook, coho, chum, pink, and sockeye, are salmon. Our sixth species, steelhead, is actually a type of trout.

Procedure

1. Included are several pages of information on salmonids – Salmon Facts (general information about pacific salmonids), and a fact sheet for each of the six Pacific Salmonid species (Chinook, coho, chum, saockeye, pink, and steelhead). Students should read these to familiarize themselves with the species.

2. Once the fact sheets have been read, have the students complete the Six Pacific Salmonid Species chart. This chart addresses the scientific and common name, weight, length, and interesting facts about each species. All information needed to complete the chart can be found on these fact sheets. This can be done in teams or as a class. Discussion Questions

1. What is unique about the Pink salmon’s life cycle compared to the rest of the salmonids’ life cycles? (2 year cycle, only return to Washington on odd years).

2. Name two salmonid life cycles that differ significantly from one another? Name two of those differences. 3. Name three habitat differences for different salmonids that are needed for them to successfully complete their lifecycle.

4. What feature of a Steelhead’s habitat do you think is the most important for its survival? Why?

5. Why do you think Steelhead choose to migrate through Puget Sound so quickly? Do you think they are safer in Puget Sound or in the open ocean?

6. What commonalities do you notice about each salmonid’s status in Puget Sound? (emphasis being on that most are threatened or endangered).

NGSS

3-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes 3-LS1-1. Develop models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, reproduction, and death. Scientific and Engineering Disciplinary Core Ideas Crosscutting Concepts Practices  Scientific findings are LS1.B: Growth and  Patterns based on recognizing Development of Organisms: patterns. Reproduction is essential to the continued existence of every kind of organism. Plants and animals have unique and diverse life cycles. (3-LS1-1)

https://www.nextgenscience.org/dci-arrangement/3-ls1-molecules-organisms-structures-and-processes

Six Salmonid Species – Answer Key

Species Name Unique (Common and Average Weight Average Length Scientific) Lifestyle Trait

Answers for this Chinook column will Oncorhynchus 10-24 lbs 36-58 inches tshawytscha depend on students

Chum Oncorhynchus 9-15 lbs 25-40 inches keta

Coho Oncorhynchus 6-12 lbs 24-38 inches kisutch

Pink Oncorhynchus 3.5-5 lbs 20-25 inches gorbuscha

Sockeye Oncorhynchus 4-8 lbs 25-33 inches nerka

Steelhead Oncorhynchus 6-11 lbs 24-36 inches mykiss

Pacific Salmon Facts What is the difference between a salmon and a trout? There are many differences, but one major difference is that salmon are anadromous while most trout are not. Anadromous fish hatch in freshwater, then at some point they migrate to the ocean to feed and grow into an adult. This can take 1-5 years depending on species. Then they return to their freshwater home streams to spawn and produce offspring. Anadromous salmon die after they spawn. Trout stay in freshwater their whole lives and can spawn multiple times. Steelhead are unique because they are an anadromous type of rainbow trout. Steelhead can spawn more than once, though many die after their first spawning event. The Coastal Cutthroat Trout is also anadromous.

How big is the biggest salmon? How small is the smallest? The Chinook is the largest salmonid. Chinook can grow to be up to 58 inches long and 120 pounds! The smallest salmon is the Pink, which is usually between 3.5-5 pounds.

How fast can salmon swim? A migrating sockeye salmon can swim for long periods at an estimated speed of one body length per second. For a 24 inch fish that is 1.4 miles per hour! However, over short distances of burst swimming, the speed can be five or more body lengths per second, which is at least 7.0 miles per hour. That’s a fast fish! However, when the salmon is swimming upstream against a strong river current the speed can be much less.

How high can a salmon leap? Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye can jump as high as eight feet. Chum and pink salmon usually jump no more than three feet.

What predators eat salmon? Juvenile Salmon: larger trout, adult salmon, sculpins, squawfish, crows, northern pikeminnow, mergansers, osprey, kingfishers, terns, gulls, other birds, seals, and harbor porpoise. Adult Salmon: Eagles, gulls, seals, whales, halibut, dolphins, porpoises, wolves, bears, and people.

Why do salmon turn different colors when they spawn? In the ocean salmon are a silvery color. When the leave the ocean to head back to their native streams, other skin pigments appear. Scientists think that spawning colors may help salmon find members of their own species to mate with.

How does a salmon find its home stream? Scientists believe salmon use and inner magnetic compass to navigate at sea. Salmon can also sense day length, which tells them when the seasons are changing. As a migrating salmon approaches its home stream, it uses its sense of smell to find the familiar smell of the stream it lived in as a juvenile. This migration back to their home is a result of “home stream imprinting” that occurred as the juvenile salmon grew in its home stream and began its migration to the ocean.

What habitat conditions do salmon need? Different types of salmon need slightly different habitat conditions to spawn. However, they all need water that is clear, clean, and cool.

How long do salmon stay at sea? Different species stay at sea for different periods of time. However, keep in mind that juvenile salmon migrate to the estuary or ocean in the spring, and after spending 1-6 years in the ocean, they typically return to their native streams in the late summer or fall. So, if a salmon spends one year at sea, what that really means is they spent two complete summers at sea (spring through fall of the next year). Chinook

Also known as: Blackmouth, King, Spring, Tyee Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Average Weight: 10-24 lbs Length at Maturity: 36-58 inches Status in Puget Sound: Chinook are listed as a threatened species Chinook Life Cycle  There are two different types of Chinook in Puget Sound, Spring Chinook and Fall Chinook. Spring Chinook migrate from the ocean upstream in April to July and spawn in August to September while fall Chinook spawn October to November.  Chinook are typically three to five years old when they spawn.  Juvenile chinook will spend anywhere from a few months to three years in freshwater before migrating to the ocean (depending on sub-type).  Chinook with then spend between 1 to 6 years in the ocean before returning home to spawn. The typical duration spent in the ocean is 2 to 4 years. Habitat  Chinook are most often found in rivers and occasionally in larger creeks. Spawning usually occurs in fast water side channels and main stem areas with larger gravel size and more water flow than other types of salmon utilize. Interesting Information  Largest of the Pacific salmon

Chum

Also known as: Dog, Keta, Calico, Siverbrite Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus keta Average Weight: 9-15 lbs, up to 45 lbs Length at Maturity: 25-40 inches Status in Puget Sound: Hood Canal summer run is listed as threatened. Chum Life Cycle  Adults migrate and spawn between November and January.  Upon hatching, juvenile chum will almost immediately migrate to the estuarine and ocean waters.  Chum will grow and mature in the ocean for 3-5 years before returning to their home stream (60-90% mature at 4 years) Habitat  Chum spawn in the lower reaches of rivers and streams, often near streams. They will rarely spawn farther than 62 miles from the ocean.  Since Chum do not spend much time in freshwater, the condition of the estuarine and marine waters is much more important for their development than the freshwater. Interesting Information  Most abundant wild salmon in Washington state and second largest Pacific salmon  Unlike other salmon, chum form schools.  Spawning males have large, almost canine-like, fangs.

Coho

Also known as: Silver Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus kisutch Average Weight: 6-12 lbs, up to 35 lbs Size at Maturity: 24-38 inches Status in Puget Sound: listed as a species of concern Coho Life Cycle:  Mature adults return to spawn from August-October.  Coho spawn in small streams with consistent water flow that are often not used by other salmon species.  Juvenile Coho typically live in streams for 1-2 years then head straight to the ocean without spending time in the estuary.  Most Coho will spend one year at sea, but some spend two years. Habitat Needs:  Small streams with cool, unobstructed water flow and small to medium size gravel.  Estuary conditions are not as important for Coho since they spend little time there. Interesting Information:  Spawning males develop a strongly hooked snout and large teeth.  Some males will return to spawn after only a few months at sea.  Some populations will spend their entire lives in lakes and never go to the ocean.  Some extinct population are believed to have migrated hundreds of miles inland to spawn in the upper reaches of the Snake River in Idaho and the Columbia River in Washington. Pink

Also known as: Humpy, Humpback Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Average Weight: 3.5-5 lbs, up to 12 lbs Length at Maturity: 20-25 inches Status in Puget Sound: not listed as threatened or endangered Pink Life Cycle:  Pink mature and return to spawn in late June-October when they are two years old. Because of the two year cycle, specific populations will have adults returning in odd years or even years, but not both.  After juveniles hatch, they migrate directly to sea making virtually no use of freshwater for growth. Therefore, Pink salmon can spawn at very high densities because food, rather than space for growing juveniles, limits the density of juveniles in streams.  Pink salmon spend roughly one and a half years at sea before returning to spawn at two years of age.

Habitat Needs:  Tend to spawn closer to the mouth of the river than other species. May spawn in the mouth of the river, or the intertidal zone if enough fresh water is present.

Interesting Information:  Most abundant salmon species and the smallest at maturity.  In Washington State, Pink salmon return only in odd numbered years.  Male pink salmon will develop a pronounced hump on their back when they mature. Sockeye

Also known as: Red, blueback

Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus nerka

Average Weight: 4-8 lbs, up to 15 lbs

Length at Maturity: 25-33 inches

Status in Puget Sound: not listed as threatened or endangered

Sockeye Life Cycle:

 The majority of sockeye spawn in or near lakes.  Juveniles will spend one to three years in the lake before migrating to the ocean.  Most sockeye will spend two years in the ocean before returning at age four to spawn. Some sockeye will not return to spawn until they are 5-6 years old.

Habitat Needs:

 Because most sockeye spawn in or near lakes, they are typically only found in watersheds with a viable lake.

Interesting Information:

 Some populations of sockeye will never migrate, instead they will spend their whole lives in a lake. These fish are commonly called kokanee.  Sockeye are the only salmon species to use lakes as part of their life cycle.  Sockeye salmon turn a bright red when they return to spawn.

Steelhead

Also known as: sea-run rainbow trout

Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus mykiss

Average Weight: 6-11 lbs, up to 55 lbs

Length at Maturity: 24-36 inches, up to 45 inches

Status in Puget Sound: threatened

Steelhead Life Cycle:

 Steelhead take 2-3 weeks to migrate out of Puget Sound from the time they leave their freshwater stream. They usually do not spend a lot of time in Puget Sound, instead opting to swim straight to the Pacific Ocean.  Steelhead are much larger than salmon when they migrate through Puget Sound.  There is a large amount of variation in the steelhead life cycle, and even within the same river system.  Steelhead stay in the freshwater for up to 7 years before migrating to the ocean.  Steelhead will typically stay in the ocean from 2-3 years before returning to spawn.  Steelhead and rainbow trout will freely interbreed in the streams.

Habitat Needs:

 Steelhead are capable of surviving in streams with a wide range of temperatures.  Over the winter, steelhead need deep pools that have a low water velocity.  For spawning, steelhead need gravel that has a low percentage of silt (very fine particles).

Interesting Information:

 Some will never migrate to the ocean, instead remaining in the native stream. These fish are known as rainbow trout and they are the same species as steelhead!  Unlike salmon, steelhead have the potential to spawn more than once. Six Salmonid Species

Species Name Unique (Common and Average Weight Average Length Scientific) Lifestyle Trait

Chinook Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Chum Oncorhynchus keta

Coho Oncorhynchus Kisutch

Pink Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

Sockeye Oncorhynchus nerka

Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss