Evaluating habitat effects on population status: influence of habitat restoration on spring‐run Chinook salmon

Honea, J. M.; Jorgensen, Jeffrey C.; McClure, Michelle; Cooney, Tom; Engie, Kim; Holzer, Damon M.; Hilborn, Ray

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.2009.02208.x

Cited by 55 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(53 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Historically, wild spring-run Chinook salmon were distributed throughout the Wenatchee River mainstem and its major tributaries (Honea et al, 2009). Returning adults were highly mobile and had the potential to colonize new habitats.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildfire may increase habitat quality for spring Chinook salmon in the Wenatchee River subbasin, WA, USA

Flitcroft

Falke

Reeves

et al. 2016

Forest Ecology and Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

a b s t r a c tPacific Northwest salmonids are adapted to natural disturbance regimes that create dynamic habitat patterns over space and through time. However, human land use, particularly long-term fire suppression, has altered the intensity and frequency of wildfire in forested upland and riparian areas. To examine the potential impacts of wildfire on aquatic systems, we developed stream-reach-scale models of freshwater habitat for three life stages (adult, egg/fry, and juvenile) of spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Wenatchee River subbasin, Washington. We used variables representing pre-and post-fire habitat conditions and employed novel techniques to capture changes in in-stream fine sediment, wood, and water temperature. Watershed-scale comparisons of high-quality habitat for each life stage of spring Chinook salmon habitat suggested that there are smaller quantities of high-quality juvenile overwinter habitat as compared to habitat for other life stages. We found that wildfire has the potential to increase quality of adult and overwintering juvenile habitat through increased delivery of wood, while decreasing the quality of egg and fry habitat due to the introduction of fine sediments. Model results showed the largest effect of fire on habitat quality associated with the juvenile life stage, resulting in increases in high-quality habitat in all watersheds. Due to the limited availability of pre-fire high-quality juvenile habitat, and increased habitat quality for this life stage post-fire, occurrence of characteristic wildfires would likely create a positive effect on spring Chinook salmon habitat in the Wenatchee River subbasin. We also compared pre-and post-fire model results of freshwater habitat for each life stage, and for the geometric mean of habitat quality across all life stages, using current compared to the historic distribution of spring Chinook salmon. We found that spring Chinook salmon are currently distributed in stream channels in which in-stream habitat for most life stages has a consistently positive response to fire. This compares to the historic distribution of spring Chinook, in which in-stream habitat exhibited a variable response to fire, including decreases in habitat quality overall or for specific life stages. This suggests that as the distribution of spring Chinook has decreased, they now occupy those areas with the most positive potential response to fire. Our work shows the potentially positive link between wildfire and aquatic habitat that supports forest managers in setting broader goals for fire management, perhaps leading to less fire suppression in some situations.Ó 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.

show abstract

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildfire may increase habitat quality for spring Chinook salmon in the Wenatchee River subbasin, WA, USA

Flitcroft

Falke

Reeves

et al. 2016

Forest Ecology and Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…4). The relationship between survival and water temperature during the in-gravel and summer rearing life stages was based on multiple observational experiments for each stage (see Honea et al 2009) and is therefore likely robust. The link between survival and water temperature at the spawning life stage, in contrast, was based on only 1 data set and should be verified as more observations are made.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing freshwater life-stage vulnerability of an endangered Chinook salmon population to climate change influences on stream habitat

Honea¹,

McClure²,

Jorgensen³

et al. 2016

Clim. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

tat and how species respond (Groves et al. 2012, Seney et al. 2013. Each stage of a species' life history may be affected differently by changes in its habitat. For example, Radchuk et al. (2013) ABSTRACT: We linked a set of climate, hydrology, landscape, and fish population models to estimate the relative influence of freshwater habitat variables on the abundance of a population of endangered stream-type Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha responding to a warming climate. The hydrology models estimated that increases in annual air temperature and winter precipitation would lead to increases in water temperature and changes in discharge, including higher flows during the egg-incubation period and lower flows during the summer rearing period. The spatially explicit population model estimated a resulting decline of 0 to 7% in the number of spawners, with 3 of 4 global climate models estimating a decline of 4 to 7%. Increased water temperature during the summer spawning period was the most limiting among habitat variables modeled, but our modeling suggested that aggressive habitat restoration (increasing forested area and reducing impervious area) could mitigate some spawner abundance reductions. Better knowledge of the links between climate changes and habitat response, including increased streambed scour due to the larger and more frequent winter high-discharge events predicted by our hydrology models, would improve our ability to estimate climate effects on populations. Future limitation by elevated summer water temperature, and potentially egg-pocket scour, would further stress an endangered population currently limited by the percentage of fine sediment around egg pockets. Identifying such changes demonstrates the utility of models that consider climate and integrate life-stage-specific habitat influences over a species' life cycle, thereby indicating restoration actions with the potential to benefit sensitive life stages.

show abstract

“…Salmon have been part of tribal culture for over 9000 years [74]. Many of the models for salmon have been developed to examine stock recruitment, escapement rates, and fish takes [75], hydrology [76], habitat characteristics [26], and survivorship [25]. The Honea et al [25] model indicated that population status could be improved by streambed restoration, with the reduction in the percentage of fine sediments.…”

Section: Critical Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The salmon prefer nesting in areas with water velocities greater than 1 m/s, and where flow fluctuations are stream Population levels necessary to maintain stable levels reduced [24]. Excessive fine sediment impairs egg survival [25]. Geist et al [26] estimated that water velocities between 1.4 and 2 m/s, water depth 2 -4 m, and lateral slope of the riverbed of less than 4% was ideal for spawning habitat.…”

Section: Chinook Salmonmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many of the models for salmon have been developed to examine stock recruitment, escapement rates, and fish takes [75], hydrology [76], habitat characteristics [26], and survivorship [25]. The Honea et al [25] model indicated that population status could be improved by streambed restoration, with the reduction in the percentage of fine sediments. Models that combine the biological and physical factors affecting population stability will increase our understanding of options for restoration and management of viable Chinook salmon populations in the Columbia River and elsewhere.…”

Section: Critical Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Habitat protection for sensitive species: Balancing species requirements and human constraints using bioindicators as examples

Burger¹,

Gochfeld²,

Powers³

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Vertebrates have particular habitat needs as a function of life cycle and reproductive stage. This paper uses four species as examples to illustrate a paradigm of environmental assessment that includes physical, biological, toxicological and human dimensions. Species used include Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens), northern pine snake (Pituophis m. melanoleucus), and red knot (Calidris canutus rufa, a sandpiper). The life cycles of these species include reliance on habitats that are aquatic, terrestrial, aerial, or combinations of these. Two species (frog, snake) are sedentary and two (salmon, sandpiper) are long-distance migrants. While some measurement endpoints are similar for all species (reproductive success, longevity, contaminant loads), others vary depending upon life cycle and habitat. Salmon have a restricted breeding habitat requiring coarse sand, moderate current, and high oxygen levels for adequate egg incubation. Leopard frogs require still water of appropriate temperature for development of eggs. Pine snakes require sand compaction sufficient to sustain a nest burrow without collapsing, and full sun penetration to the sand to allow their eggs in underground nests to incubate and hatch. Red knots migrate to high Arctic tundra, but incubate their own eggs, so temperature is less of a constraint, but feedinging habitat is. These habitat differences suggest the measurement endpoints that are essential to assess habitat suitability and to manage habitats to achieve stable and sustainable populations. Habitat use and population stability have implications for human activities for some, but not all species. Salmon are important economically, recreationally, and as part of Native American culture and diet. Red knots are of interest to people mainly because of their long, intercontinental migrations and declining populations. Other measurement endpoints for these four species illustrate the differences and similarities in metrics necessary to assess habitat needs. The implications of these differences are discussed.

show abstract

Evaluating habitat effects on population status: influence of habitat restoration on spring‐run Chinook salmon

Cited by 55 publications

References 38 publications

Wildfire may increase habitat quality for spring Chinook salmon in the Wenatchee River subbasin, WA, USA

Wildfire may increase habitat quality for spring Chinook salmon in the Wenatchee River subbasin, WA, USA

Assessing freshwater life-stage vulnerability of an endangered Chinook salmon population to climate change influences on stream habitat

Habitat protection for sensitive species: Balancing species requirements and human constraints using bioindicators as examples

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About