Migration and survival of Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, 2012–2019
Abstract Background Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka (Okanagan Sockeye) are one of two remaining self-sustaining Sockeye Salmon populations in the Columbia River Basin. We used detection histories of smolts implanted with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags between 2012 and 201...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Animal Biotelemetry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-021-00262-y |
| _version_ | 1819007422667161600 |
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| author | Josh Murauskas Kim Hyatt Jeff Fryer Elliot Koontz Skyeler Folks Richard Bussanich Katy Shelby |
| author_facet | Josh Murauskas Kim Hyatt Jeff Fryer Elliot Koontz Skyeler Folks Richard Bussanich Katy Shelby |
| author_sort | Josh Murauskas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka (Okanagan Sockeye) are one of two remaining self-sustaining Sockeye Salmon populations in the Columbia River Basin. We used detection histories of smolts implanted with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags between 2012 and 2019 to estimate survival and behavioral metrics during reintroduction efforts and changing environmental conditions over the monitoring period. Results Smolts migrating to McNary Dam, whose route includes 130 km of the Okanagan River and 388 km of the Columbia River, generally had high survival (mean of 87.0% per 100 km) and fast migration speeds (up to 50 km/day) relative to other salmonids in the region. Smolt-to-adult returns (SARs) ranged from 0.4 to 6.1% and were greater for fish originating from Skaha Lake compared to cohorts tagged in Osoyoos Lake. Most adults returned after 2 years in the ocean (69%), followed by jacks (27%), and adults that spent 3 years at sea (4%), though Skaha Lake adults had a significantly younger age structure than cohorts from Osoyoos Lake. Survival of adults from Bonneville Dam (rkm 235) upstream to Wells Dam (rkm 830) was generally high (80–92%), and migration speed decreased in upstream reaches. Survival from Wells Dam to the Okanagan River was only estimable in 2018, where 64% of adults survived to the spawning grounds. The upstream migration of adult Okanagan Sockeye was significantly compromised during the drought of 2015 when less than 5% of Okanagan Sockeye that returned to the Columbia River reached spawning grounds. Conclusions Our results indicate that Okanagan Sockeye have exceptional survival and migratory ability relative to other salmonids, though poor ocean conditions combined with warming water temperatures in freshwater habitats in recent years have the potential to devastate the population. The success of reintroduction efforts to increase spatial structure and diversity of Okanagan Sockeye is, therefore, critical to maintaining the population in years to come. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:24:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-70965666b9504af89d9f9ad3b41fa2f7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-3385 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:24:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Biotelemetry |
| spelling | doaj.art-70965666b9504af89d9f9ad3b41fa2f72022-12-21T19:22:01ZengBMCAnimal Biotelemetry2050-33852021-09-019111610.1186/s40317-021-00262-yMigration and survival of Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, 2012–2019Josh Murauskas0Kim Hyatt1Jeff Fryer2Elliot Koontz3Skyeler Folks4Richard Bussanich5Katy Shelby6Four Peaks Environmental Science & Data SolutionsFisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological StationColumbia River Inter-Tribal Fish CommissionFour Peaks Environmental Science & Data SolutionsOkanagan Nation AllianceOkanagan Nation AllianceFour Peaks Environmental Science & Data SolutionsAbstract Background Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka (Okanagan Sockeye) are one of two remaining self-sustaining Sockeye Salmon populations in the Columbia River Basin. We used detection histories of smolts implanted with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags between 2012 and 2019 to estimate survival and behavioral metrics during reintroduction efforts and changing environmental conditions over the monitoring period. Results Smolts migrating to McNary Dam, whose route includes 130 km of the Okanagan River and 388 km of the Columbia River, generally had high survival (mean of 87.0% per 100 km) and fast migration speeds (up to 50 km/day) relative to other salmonids in the region. Smolt-to-adult returns (SARs) ranged from 0.4 to 6.1% and were greater for fish originating from Skaha Lake compared to cohorts tagged in Osoyoos Lake. Most adults returned after 2 years in the ocean (69%), followed by jacks (27%), and adults that spent 3 years at sea (4%), though Skaha Lake adults had a significantly younger age structure than cohorts from Osoyoos Lake. Survival of adults from Bonneville Dam (rkm 235) upstream to Wells Dam (rkm 830) was generally high (80–92%), and migration speed decreased in upstream reaches. Survival from Wells Dam to the Okanagan River was only estimable in 2018, where 64% of adults survived to the spawning grounds. The upstream migration of adult Okanagan Sockeye was significantly compromised during the drought of 2015 when less than 5% of Okanagan Sockeye that returned to the Columbia River reached spawning grounds. Conclusions Our results indicate that Okanagan Sockeye have exceptional survival and migratory ability relative to other salmonids, though poor ocean conditions combined with warming water temperatures in freshwater habitats in recent years have the potential to devastate the population. The success of reintroduction efforts to increase spatial structure and diversity of Okanagan Sockeye is, therefore, critical to maintaining the population in years to come.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-021-00262-ySockeye SalmonPIT tagsColumbia River BasinSurvival |
| spellingShingle | Josh Murauskas Kim Hyatt Jeff Fryer Elliot Koontz Skyeler Folks Richard Bussanich Katy Shelby Migration and survival of Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, 2012–2019 Animal Biotelemetry Sockeye Salmon PIT tags Columbia River Basin Survival |
| title | Migration and survival of Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, 2012–2019 |
| title_full | Migration and survival of Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, 2012–2019 |
| title_fullStr | Migration and survival of Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, 2012–2019 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Migration and survival of Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, 2012–2019 |
| title_short | Migration and survival of Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, 2012–2019 |
| title_sort | migration and survival of okanagan river sockeye salmon oncorhynchus nerka 2012 2019 |
| topic | Sockeye Salmon PIT tags Columbia River Basin Survival |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-021-00262-y |
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