Fate of Coho Salmon (<i>Oncorhynchus kisutch</i>) Carcasses in Spawning Streams

Cederholm, Carl J.; Houston, Dave; Cole, David; Scarlett, W. J.

doi:10.1139/f89-173

Cited by 157 publications

(139 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

136

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The marine-derived nutrients and energy in salmon tissue enhances freshwater productivity (Wipfli et al 1999) and is also utilized by riparian plants and animals (Bilby et al 1996;Ben-David et al 1998). Thus, partial consumption of salmon affects the energy and nutrients available to both the aquatic and terrestrial foodwebs (Mathisen et al 1988;Cederholm et al 1989;Willson and Halupka 1995;Bilby et al 1996Bilby et al , 1998Willson et al 1998;Wipfli et al 1998). We present data that are a first step in quantifying the relationship between salmon density and salmon consumption, yet more data are needed on the time required to catch and process salmon, the energetic content of the fish, and the densities of bears using salmon streams.…”

Section: Salmon Attributesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumption choice by bears feeding on salmon

2001

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Consumption choice by brown (Ursus arctos) and black bears (U. americanus) feeding on salmon was recorded for over 20,000 bear-killed fish from 1994 to 1999 in Bristol Bay (sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka) and southeastern Alaska (pink, O. gorbuscha and chum salmon O. keta). These data revealed striking patterns of partial and selective consumption that varied with relative availability and attributes of the fish. As the availability of salmon decreased, bears consumed a larger proportion of each fish among both years and habitats. When availability was high (absolute number and density of salmon), bears consumed less biomass per captured fish, targeting energy-rich fish (those that had not spawned) or energy-rich body parts (eggs in females; brain in males). In contrast, individual fish were consumed to a much greater extent, regardless of sex or spawning status, in habitats or years of low salmon availability. The proportion of biomass consumed per fish was similar for males and females, when spawning status was statistically controlled, but bears targeted different body parts: the body flesh, brain and dorsal hump in males and the roe in females. Bears thus appeared to maximize energy intake by modifying the amount and body parts consumed, based on availability and attributes of spawning salmon.

show abstract

Section: Salmon Attributesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumption choice by bears feeding on salmon

2001

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Additionally, higher water temperature, to a limit, may also increase metabolic and developmental rates of biofilm and invertebrates (Allan 1995), ultimately affecting their production. Redistribution of salmon from streams onto land through flooding and vertebrate scavenging (Cederholm et al 1989;Ben-David et al 1998) may influence community responses to spawner loading. Nutrients that would otherwise leach directly into streams are often instead spread throughout the terrestrial environment via whole or fragmented carcasses or carnivore feces at various distances from the stream (Cederholm et al 1989;Ben-David et al 1998;Willson et al 1998).…”

Section: Ecological Considerations and Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stream gradient will likely affect carcass and nutrient retention; low-gradient systems may have a smaller flushing effect than high-gradient ones. Cederholm and Peterson (1985) and Cederholm et al (1989) found that woody debris in streams functions to retain carcasses; more debris means more carcass and nutrient retention and may be particularly important during high flows. Boulders, pools, side channels, and lakes may also be important carcass storage areas.…”

Section: Ecological Considerations and Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Southeast Alaska is a major Pacific salmon producer (Wertheimer 1997) and contains over 5200 anadromous salmon streams totaling 40 000 km in length (Halupka et al 1999). Salmon have great potential to subsidize multiple trophic levels in these systems because (i) they are nutrient rich (Mathisen et al 1988), (ii) they contain desirable stoichiometry (Hesson 1997), (iii) their runs often span much of the year and achieve high numbers (Groot and Margolis 1991), (iv) they can decompose slowly (from weeks to months) (Kline et al 1997;Wipfli et al 1998) metering nutrient release over time (Parmenter and Lamarra 1991), and (v) they are consumed by many invertebrates and vertebrates in both freshwater and riparian food webs (Cederholm et al 1989;Bilby et al 1996;Wipfli et al 1998). There are several pathways by which MDN can influence freshwater and riparian food webs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Influence of salmon spawner densities on stream productivity in Southeast Alaska

Wipfli¹,

Hudson²,

Chaloner³

et al. 1999

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

125

107

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:We conducted this study to determine the relationship between salmon spawner abundance and stream biofilm and benthic macroinvertebrate abundance in Southeast Alaska. Experiments took place in outdoor artificial and natural streams. Six pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) carcass treatments (0.00, 1.45, 2.90, 4.35, 5.80, and 7.25 kg wet mass) placed in artificial channels were subsampled repeatedly for biofilm ash-free dry mass (AFDM), chlorophyll a, and macroinvertebrates. In a small (nonanadromous) forest stream, we sampled benthos throughout a 66-m reach 17 days after distributing 60 carcasses along the lower half of that reach. All response variables significantly increased in response to carcass additions in both artificial and natural streams. Chlorophyll a continued to increase across all loading rates, while AFDM and total macroinvertebrate densities showed no further response to loading beyond the first treatment (1.45 kg) in artificial streams. In the natural stream, AFDM and chironomid densities continued increasing across loading levels. These results indicated that increased spawner densities increased lower trophic level abundance until a trophic capacity was reached. Salmon escapement goals should consider food web effects, especially on trophic levels that support juvenile salmonids, that ultimately affect freshwater salmon production.Résumé : Nous avons entrepris cette étude pour déterminer la relation entre, d'une part, l'abondance des saumons reproducteurs et, d'autre part, l'abondance des films biologiques fluviaux et des macroinvertébrés dans le sud-est de l'Alaska. Les expériences ont été effectuées à l'extérieur dans des canaux artificiels et un cours d'eau naturel. On a procédé à cinq traitements consistant en l'introduction de carcasses de saumon rose (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) (1,45, 2,90, 4,35, 5,80, et 7,25 kg poids humide) avec témoin (0,00 kg) dans des canaux artificiels; on y a prélevé à plusiers reprises des sous-échantillons pour mesurer la masse à sec sans cendre des films biologiques ainsi que la chlorophylle a et les macroinvertébrés. Dans un petit cours d'eau forestier non fréquenté par des saumons anadromes, nous avons échantillonné le benthos d'un tronçon de 66 m 17 jours après avoir distribué 60 carcasses dans la moitié inférieure de ce tronçon. Toutes les variables mesurées se sont significativement accrues en réponse aux introductions de carcasses tant dans les canaux artificiels que dans le cours d'eau naturel. La quantité de chlorophylle a n'a pas cessé de s'accroître d'un traitement à l'autre, tandis que la masse à sec sans cendre des films biologiques et les densités de macroinvertébrés ont plafonné dès le premier traitement (1,45 kg) dans les canaux artificiels. Dans le cours d'eau naturel, la masse à sec sans cendre des films biologiques et les densités des chironomides n'ont cessé de s'accroître d'un traitement à l'autre. Ces résultats ont indiqué que l'accroissement des densités de reproducteurs a eu pour effet d'accroître l'abondance des organismes des ...

show abstract

“…The range of Pacific salmon spans substantial variation in latitude, climate, geomorphology, and ecology (Augerot 2005). The extent of salmon nutrient retention in a watershed will be influenced by variation in seasonal high discharge events and winter freezing in relation to the spawning period, as well as stream variables such as large wood and pools, which facilitate carcass retention (Cederholm and Peterson 1985, Cederholm et al 1989, Minakawa and Gara 2005. The coincidence of salmon spawning and seasonal leaf-litter input, which may vary across regions, could facilitate salmon nutrient retention (Peterson and Matthews 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistent ecological effects of a salmon-derived nutrient pulse on stream invertebrate communities

et al. 2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Pulsed resource subsidies can have ecological effects that persist over time. These subsidies can be particularly important in aquatic ecosystems, which are often resource-limited. Anadromous salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) deliver annual nutrient pulses to many freshwater ecosystems around the North Pacific. The persistent ecological consequences of this nutrient subsidy are poorly understood across the range of Pacific salmon and likely depend on stream habitat, background nutrient dynamics, and the abundance of spawning salmon. Using a model selection approach, we examined relationships among spawning salmon density, stream habitats, and the abundance and diversity of stream invertebrates ten months after salmon spawning, across 21 streams in central British Columbia, Canada. Total invertebrate abundance increased with salmon density and with higher stream temperatures. Invertebrate diversity was more closely related to stream habitat characteristics than to salmon density. These results suggest that salmon nutrients have a greater impact on stream invertebrate population sizes than on the variety of taxa that inhabit these streams. The three most common invertebrate families-grazing mayflies (Heptageniidae), predatory stoneflies (Chloroperlidae), and chironomid midges (Chironomidae)-all increased in abundance with salmon density. Stream habitat variables (temperature, pH, and substrate size) also explained significant variation in the abundances of the three groups. These results suggest that salmon nutrients retained in the watershed from previous years help support greater abundances of some invertebrate taxa. Thus the pulsed nutrient subsidy provided by spawning salmon may have ecological effects that persist many months, or even years, after it is delivered.Key words: aquatic conservation; ecosystem-based management; fisheries; food web; Fraser River; marine-derived nutrients; nutrient pulse; Oncorhynchus nerka; productivity; resource subsidy.

show abstract

Fate of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Carcasses in Spawning Streams

Cited by 157 publications

References 6 publications

Consumption choice by bears feeding on salmon

Consumption choice by bears feeding on salmon

Influence of salmon spawner densities on stream productivity in Southeast Alaska

Persistent ecological effects of a salmon-derived nutrient pulse on stream invertebrate communities

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About