The Retention of Coho Salmon (<i>Oncorhynchus kisutch</i>) Carcasses by Organic Debris in Small Streams

Cederholm, Carl J.; Peterson, N. Phil

doi:10.1139/f85-150

Cited by 50 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…In forested regions, fallen trees in streams create physical barriers that retain carcasses (Cederholm and Peterson 1985) and pools where carcasses accrue and decompose or become buried in the stream substrate. Direct consumption by predators and scavengers also stores the biomass as consumer tissue.…”

Section: The Salmon Inputmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pacific Salmon in Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems

Gende¹,

Edwards²,

Willson³

et al. 2002

BioScience

451

416

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Articles Salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest have been declining for decades, so much so that many runs are threatened or endangered; others have been completely extirpated (Nehlsen et al. 1991). This "salmon crisis" looms large in the public eye, because it has serious and wideranging economic, cultural, and ecological repercussions. Billions of dollars have gone into industrial and agricultural projects that alter regional rivers in ways that, often unintentionally, make them inaccessible or unsuitable for salmon. Recently, billions more have been spent in largely unsuccessful attempts to restore the languishing salmon runs (Lichatowich 1999). Moreover, enormous nonmonetary resources have been expended in assigning and denying responsibility for failed runs and debating the possible efficacy of various remedies.As resources that are devoted to reversing declining runs of salmon have increased, scientists and resource managers have been expanding our understanding of the ecological role of salmon and other anadromous fishes, which return from the sea to spawn in fresh water. We have known for years that spawning salmon serve as a food resource for wildlife species (e.g., Shuman 1950) and, when they die after spawning (as most Pacific salmon do), their carcasses provide nutrients (e.g., carbon [C], nitrogen [N], phosphorus [P]) to freshwater systems (e.g., Juday et al. 1932). More recently, scientists have documented that these "salmon-derived nutrient" subsidies may have significant impacts on both freshwater and riparian communities and on the life histories of organisms that live there (Willson et al. 1998, Cederholm et al. 1999.Because of the burgeoning interest in salmon, growing indications of their ecological importance, and recent calls for management to consider the role of salmon in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (e.g., Larkin and Slaney 1997), we take this opportunity to review what is understood about the function of salmon as key elements of ecological systems. Our objectives are twofold. First, we expand on previous reviews of salmon (Willson et al. 1998, Cederholm et al. 1999) to include recent research that has amplified and modified earlier ideas about the contribution of salmon to ecosystem processes. In doing so, we describe the composition, magnitude, and distribution of marine inputs to freshwater and terrestrial systems via salmon. We use an expanding group of studies pertaining to stream nutrient budgets and salmon physiology to construct a schematic that illustrates salmon-derived products and the pathways by which they enter and are retained in aquatic and terrestrial food webs. We then consider the ecological variation associated with salmonid ecosystems and how this may influence the ecological response to the salmon input. Second, we consider how this variation in ecosystem response may influence management and conservation efforts.

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Section: The Salmon Inputmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pacific Salmon in Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems

Gende¹,

Edwards²,

Willson³

et al. 2002

BioScience

451

416

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…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%

Influence of salmon spawner densities on stream productivity in Southeast Alaska

Wipfli¹,

Hudson²,

Chaloner³

et al. 1999

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

125

107

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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 ...

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“…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

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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.

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The Retention of Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Carcasses by Organic Debris in Small Streams

Cited by 50 publications

References 3 publications

Pacific Salmon in Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems

Pacific Salmon in Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems

Influence of salmon spawner densities on stream productivity in Southeast Alaska

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

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