Juvenile Chinook Salmon and Forage Fish Use of Eelgrass Habitats in a Diked and Channelized Puget Sound River Delta

Rubin, Stephen P.; Hayes, Michael C.; Grossman, Eric E.

doi:10.1002/mcf2.10035

Cited by 13 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Further, this method is supported by other research (Candy and Beacham ; Rubin et al. ). For H1 and H2, only data from the nearshore and delta flats habitats were used because sampling with the lampara seine included only one estuarine emergent marsh site.…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 64%

“…We assumed that each captured fish SEASONAL USE, CHINOOK SALMON, JUVENILE was an independent observation because an examination of recapture dates for the CWT groups failed to suggest a regular pattern. Further, this method is supported by other research (Candy and Beacham 2000;Rubin et al 2018). For H1 and H2, only data from the nearshore and delta flats habitats were used because sampling with the lampara seine included only one estuarine emergent marsh site.…”

Section: Seasonal Use Chinook Salmon Juvenilementioning

confidence: 96%

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Seasonal Use of a Nonnatal Marine Basin by Juvenile Hatchery Chinook Salmon

Hayes

Hodgson²,

Ellings³

et al. 2019

Mar Coast Fish

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Information on the movement patterns of fishes is essential for managers that are making critical resource decisions. We examined the frequency of a keystone species, Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha that migrated from different marine basins to the Nisqually River estuary, which lies within the southernmost marine basin (hereafter, “South basin”) in Puget Sound (Washington, USA). Hatchery‐reared juvenile fish were sampled by using beach seine, lampara seine, and fyke nets to determine seasonal trends in frequency, habitat use, and the influence of different capture methods. The captured fish originated from three marine basins, nine Puget Sound rivers, and fourteen hatcheries. The data revealed a consistent pattern showing that most of the tagged fish (72%) were from the nearby Nisqually River (in the South basin), but fish from more northerly marine basins (hereafter, “Outbasin”) were also common. Although the majority of the tagged fish (99%) that were captured during April and May were originally released into rivers adjacent to the South basin, 90% of the fish that were captured in August and September had originated from rivers adjacent to Outbasin locations (up to 130 km distant). A comparison of sampling methods showed that the beach seine produced 27% Outbasin fish compared with 53% that were obtained with the lampara seine. The analysis of habitat use suggested that during June and July, more Outbasin fish (>40%) were captured in delta flats and nearshore habitats than in estuarine emergent marsh habitat (26%). Release location (river basin), but not distance, appeared to be an important factor that influenced the percentage of Outbasin fish that were captured in the South basin. However, it appeared that the fish that were released at light weights and early dates were more likely to be captured. Information on the movement of juvenile salmon to a nonnatal marine basin may help to increase our understanding of features of life history and survival, and it has application elsewhere, as many marine species are artificially propagated, released in large numbers, and have the potential to use nonnatal habitats.

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Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 64%

Section: Seasonal Use Chinook Salmon Juvenilementioning

confidence: 96%

Seasonal Use of a Nonnatal Marine Basin by Juvenile Hatchery Chinook Salmon

Hayes

Hodgson²,

Ellings³

et al. 2019

Mar Coast Fish

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“…For instance, juvenile salmon were found unevenly distributed across the estuary, using some eelgrass beds and not others. Unequal use of eelgrass meadows by species of juvenile salmon has also been found in other estuaries (Hodgson, Ellings, Rubin, Hayes, & Grossman, ; Rubin et al, ). In addition, different salmon species had different habitat associations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…For sockeye and coho salmon an association with nearshore vegetation such as eelgrass or macroalgae habitat has not been previously documented (Hosack et al, ; Murphy, Johnson, & Csepp, ). Juvenile Chinook salmon have demonstrated variable eelgrass association, with strong association in some cases (Rubin et al, ; Semmens, ) and not in others (Dumbauld et al, ; Healey, ; Hosack et al, ). In addition, juvenile Chinook salmon have also been found in high abundances on sand and mudflat habitat types (Levings, ; Thom et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nearshore estuarine vegetation such as eelgrass beds, macroalgae, marshes, and riparian vegetation are commonly cited as being preferred habitat for species of juvenile salmon (Hering, Bottom, Prentice, Jones, & Fleming, ; Levy & Northcote, ; McNatt, Bottom, & Hinton, ; Quiñones & Mulligan, ; Shaffer, ). For example, both Chinook ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) and chum ( Oncorhynchus keta ) salmon distributions are disproportionately associated with eelgrass habitat when other habitats are available (Harris, Neff, Johnson, & Thedinga, ; Kennedy, Juanes, & El‐Sabaawi, ; A. L. Macdonald, ; Rubin, Hayes, & Grossman, ; Semmens, ). Vegetation is hypothesized to provide shelter from predators and support increased secondary production and increased diversity of prey (plankton and epiphytic fish) (Bottom & Jones, ; Duggins, Simenstad, & Estes, ; Semmens, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estuary habitat associations for juvenile Pacific salmon and pelagic fish: Implications for coastal planning processes

Sharpe

Carr‐Harris

Arbeider

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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Assessment of risk from industrial developments often relies on simple habitat descriptions for focal species. However, simple habitat metrics may not be accurate predictors of locations that species actually use. Understanding the nature of habitat is particularly pressing for estuaries, as they are among the most degraded ecosystems globally but provide critical rearing habitat for many species, including Pacific salmon. Canadian environmental impact assessment approaches use simple habitat‐type models to assess risk from developments and assume that different species of salmon rely on the same habitat. This study asked what combination of habitat type and biophysical covariates best predicted use of estuary habitat by juvenile salmon and two dominant small pelagic fish. Fish were sampled via purse seine throughout the Skeena River estuary (British Columbia, Canada) for 2 years across different habitat types (eelgrass, open water, sandy banks, and rocky shores). Simple habitat‐type models were compared with models with more complex biophysical variables to predict the variability in relative abundance of juvenile Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch), and sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) salmon, along with pelagic fish species Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) and surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus). The combination of variables that best predicted abundance differed across fish species. Pelagic fish were associated with near‐shore sites, increased temperature (herring), and increased salinity (smelt). Juvenile coho and sockeye salmon (but not Chinook), were more abundant in higher turbid waters. Chinook and sockeye salmon used eelgrass habitat more frequently than other habitat types, whereas coho salmon were more abundant in areas with high macroalgae cover. Models with these variables had greater predictive power than those using habitat type alone for juvenile salmon. Simple classifications of estuary habitat currently used in environmental risk assessment may not reflect the complex nature of fish–habitat associations. Understanding biophysical factors associated with estuary fish abundance can inform management of estuary habitat to support their nursery function for important fish.

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