Chinook salmon exhibit long-term rearing and early marine growth in the Fraser River, British Columbia, a large urban estuary

Chalifour, Lia; Scott, Donald S.; MacDuffee, Misty; Stark, Steven B.; Dower, John F.; Beacham, Terry D.; Martin, Tara G.; Baum, Julia K.

doi:10.1139/cjfas-2020-0247

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Many studies have measured the growth of juvenile salmon (primarily subyearlings) in estuaries, with reported rates ranging between 0.2 and 2.0 mm/d (Miller and Simenstad 1997;Goertler et al 2016;Levings 2016;Moore et al 2016;Chalifour et al 2021). We estimate that upper Snake River steelhead and interior spring Chinook Salmon may have increased by as much as 12 and 7 mm, respectively, as they moved through the CRE, based on simple linear regression of length versus location across the 195 km of our study area.…”

Section: Growth Of Salmonmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…2016; Chalifour et al. 2021). We estimate that upper Snake River steelhead and interior spring Chinook Salmon may have increased by as much as 12 and 7 mm, respectively, as they moved through the CRE, based on simple linear regression of length versus location across the 195 km of our study area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2016; Chalifour et al. 2021). By contrast, Sockeye Salmon O. nerka , yearling Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon O. kisutch , and steelhead are thought to largely use estuaries as migration corridors.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…From the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, to the Central Valley, California, use of estuaries by juvenile salmon is spatially and temporally variable, with abundances, diets, residence times, and growth rates varying by habitat location and type, as well as the species and size of salmon (Chapman et al 2013;Teel et al 2014;Carr-Harris et al 2015;Goertler et al 2016;Roegner et al 2016;Miller et al 2020;Chalifour et al 2021). In general, Chum Salmon O. keta and subyearling Chinook Salmon O. tshawytscha (predominantly fall run; note that salmon run timing refers to the season [e.g., spring, summer, or fall] in which adult salmon return to freshwater to eventually spawn) are the most estuarine-dependent salmon, spending weeks to months feeding and growing in shallow-water estuarine habitats (e.g., tidal wetlands, edges of the main channel) before entering marine waters (Simenstad et al 1982;Levings 2016;McNatt et al 2016;Sather et al 2016;Chalifour et al 2021). By contrast, Sockeye Salmon O. nerka, yearling Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon O. kisutch, and steelhead are thought to largely use estuaries as migration corridors.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…2020; Chalifour et al. 2021). In general, Chum Salmon O. keta and subyearling Chinook Salmon O. tshawytscha (predominantly fall run; note that salmon run timing refers to the season [e.g., spring, summer, or fall] in which adult salmon return to freshwater to eventually spawn) are the most estuarine‐dependent salmon, spending weeks to months feeding and growing in shallow‐water estuarine habitats (e.g., tidal wetlands, edges of the main channel) before entering marine waters (Simenstad et al.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Life in the Fast Lane: Feeding and Growth of Juvenile Steelhead and Chinook Salmon in Main‐Stem Habitats of the Columbia River Estuary

et al. 2022

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Very little is known about the ecology of juvenile Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. that rapidly traverse estuaries. For these species and life history types, main‐stem habitats are thought to largely function as migratory corridors rather than as productive habitats that support feeding or growth, although little research has focused on this issue. This is especially true in the highly modified Columbia River estuary, where it is unclear whether fast‐migrating salmon benefit from extensive tidal marsh restoration. To address this deficit, we sampled migratory juvenile steelhead O. mykiss and Chinook Salmon O. tshawytscha at locations spread across nearly 200 km of the Columbia River estuary. Our results demonstrated that these juvenile salmon were actively feeding and growing as they moved downstream; dominant prey included chironomids, other insects, and corophiid and gammarid amphipods. We also observed variation in diet composition and quantity between years, which was likely associated with the highly contrasting river conditions. Insulin‐like growth factor 1 hormone levels and the size of juvenile salmon increased as the fish moved downstream, suggesting that prey quality and quantity were sufficient to fuel rapid growth, which may increase survival in marine waters. Our results have direct management implications for habitat restoration and suggest the potential for competition between hatchery and wild salmon. Overall, our results support a fundamental shift in the view of main‐channel estuarine habitats from serving primarily as a migration corridor to serving as productive habitat where rapidly moving salmon actively feed and grow.

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Section: Growth Of Salmonmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Life in the Fast Lane: Feeding and Growth of Juvenile Steelhead and Chinook Salmon in Main‐Stem Habitats of the Columbia River Estuary

et al. 2022

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Acute Toxicity of 6PPD‐Quinone to Early Life Stage Juvenile Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Salmon

Marlatt

Liu

et al. 2023

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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The breakdown product of the rubber tire antioxidant N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine-quinone (6PPD)-6-PPD-quinone has been strongly implicated in toxic injury and death in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in urban waterways. Whereas recent studies have reported a wide range of sensitivity to 6PPD-quinone in several fish species, little is known about the risks to Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), the primary prey of endangered Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) and the subject of much concern. Chinook face numerous conservation threats in Canada and the United States, with many populations assessed as either endangered or threatened. We evaluated the acute toxicity of 6PPD-quinone to newly feeding (~3 weeks post swim-up) juvenile Chinook and coho. Juvenile Chinook and coho were exposed for 24 h under static conditions to five concentrations of 6PPD-quinone. Juvenile coho were 3 orders of magnitude more sensitive to 6PPDquinone compared with juvenile Chinook, with 24-h median lethal concentration (LC50) estimates of 41.0 and more than 67 307 ng/L, respectively. The coho LC50 was 2.3-fold lower than what was previously reported for 1+-year-old coho (95 ng/L), highlighting the value of evaluating age-related differences in sensitivity to this toxic tire-related chemical. Both fish species exhibited typical 6PPD-quinone symptomology (gasping, increased ventilation, loss of equilibrium, erratic swimming), with fish that were symptomatic generally exhibiting mortality. The LC50 values derived from our study for coho are below concentrations that have been measured in salmon-bearing waterways, suggesting the potential for population-level consequences in urban waters. The higher relative LC50 values for Chinook compared with coho merits further investigation, including for the potential for population-relevant sublethal effects.

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Evaluating the influence of environmental and biological factors on migration behavior and residence duration of wild subyearling Chinook Salmon in a fjord estuary using miniature acoustic transmitters

et al. 2023

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Seaward migration and early marine residence are high mortality periods in Pacific salmon lifecycles. The conservation of these species requires knowledge of habitat use patterns during early life to address survival bottlenecks. Using new miniaturized transmitters (V3‐307 Hz, Innovasea Systems, Inc), we investigated the association between biological (size, growth, day of release) and environmental (temperature, salinity, depth, discharge, tide direction) factors and the residence behaviour of sub‐yearling Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in a fjord estuary in British Columbia. Wild sub‐yearling Chinook Salmon (n = 49; 67 ‐ 95 mm) were experimentally released into the estuary of which 36 exited successfully. Median residence duration was 11.2 days (95% CI: 6.5 ‐ 15.5). Using model selection and time‐to‐event analysis, we found tide direction and salinity to be important factors influencing the probability of a fish leaving the estuary. Fish were 75% more likely to leave the estuary on an ebb tide. Higher salinity also increased the probability of a fish leaving the estuary. Fish successful in leaving the estuary displayed either direct or indirect movement patterns in the estuary, with most fish (71%) being indirect movers making multiple trips upstream and downstream. Within the estuary, most movements occurred at night (76%) regardless of tide direction. This study provides the first direct measure of estuary residence duration in wild sub‐yearling Chinook Salmon, as well as a valuable description of movement ecology in this age‐class of fish. While this was a small study in a single year, it indicates this estuary to be a stopover habitat for larger sub‐yearlings. Studies indicating the use of habitats by specific populations, as presented here, are integral to the design of habitat‐based conservation measures for mobile species.

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Chinook salmon exhibit long-term rearing and early marine growth in the Fraser River, British Columbia, a large urban estuary

Cited by 16 publications

References 44 publications

Life in the Fast Lane: Feeding and Growth of Juvenile Steelhead and Chinook Salmon in Main‐Stem Habitats of the Columbia River Estuary

Life in the Fast Lane: Feeding and Growth of Juvenile Steelhead and Chinook Salmon in Main‐Stem Habitats of the Columbia River Estuary

Acute Toxicity of 6PPD‐Quinone to Early Life Stage Juvenile Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Salmon

Evaluating the influence of environmental and biological factors on migration behavior and residence duration of wild subyearling Chinook Salmon in a fjord estuary using miniature acoustic transmitters

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