Fidelity to Natal Tributary Streams by Kokanee Following Introduction to a Large Oligotrophic Reservoir
The WAC Bennett Dam was completed in 1968 and impounded the Upper Peace River to form the Williston Reservoir in north central British Columbia. In 1990, an enhancement project was initiated to stock Columbia River Kokanee (non-anadromous Sockeye Salmon; <i>Oncorhynchus nerka</i>) from s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Fishes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/7/3/123 |
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| author | J. Mark Shrimpton Paige W. Breault Luc A. Turcotte |
| author_facet | J. Mark Shrimpton Paige W. Breault Luc A. Turcotte |
| author_sort | J. Mark Shrimpton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The WAC Bennett Dam was completed in 1968 and impounded the Upper Peace River to form the Williston Reservoir in north central British Columbia. In 1990, an enhancement project was initiated to stock Columbia River Kokanee (non-anadromous Sockeye Salmon; <i>Oncorhynchus nerka</i>) from southeastern British Columbia into tributary streams that drained into regions of the reservoir that were accessible by anglers. The current distribution of spawning Columbia-origin Kokanee in the Williston Reservoir watershed, however, does not reflect the locations where these fish were initially stocked and suggests extensive straying. Whether or not Kokanee will develop fidelity to specific spawning locations is not known, but it is important information to effectively manage these introduced fish. We used otolith microchemistry to estimate fidelity to natal streams by Columbia-origin Kokanee in the Williston Reservoir. Otolith elemental signatures for the region of the otolith that formed during the larval period and characterized the natal redd environment showed considerable variation among samples. Natal signatures tended to cluster for each river but not for all spawners, suggesting elemental signatures from other rivers. Homing to one of the four natal streams we examined was classified to be 73% based on linear discriminant analysis, although variation in the elemental signatures within each group suggests that homing by Kokanee to specific natal streams may be as low as 55%. Based on similarity of water elemental signatures for tributaries within large rivers, however, the proportion of fish that returned to their general region was likely higher and estimated to be approximately 83%. The result of regional homing could be reproductive isolation and adaptation to local conditions. It is unclear, however, if the current estimated level of straying will limit genetic differentiation and prevent local adaptation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:49:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-739dc9ccf523416391a94f2169e5b163 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2410-3888 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:49:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fishes |
| spelling | doaj.art-739dc9ccf523416391a94f2169e5b1632023-11-23T16:36:26ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882022-05-017312310.3390/fishes7030123Fidelity to Natal Tributary Streams by Kokanee Following Introduction to a Large Oligotrophic ReservoirJ. Mark Shrimpton0Paige W. Breault1Luc A. Turcotte2Department of Ecosystem Science & Management, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, CanadaGreat Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, CanadaStock Assessment Fraser River & Interior Area, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 985 McGill Place, Kamloops, BC V2C 6X6, CanadaThe WAC Bennett Dam was completed in 1968 and impounded the Upper Peace River to form the Williston Reservoir in north central British Columbia. In 1990, an enhancement project was initiated to stock Columbia River Kokanee (non-anadromous Sockeye Salmon; <i>Oncorhynchus nerka</i>) from southeastern British Columbia into tributary streams that drained into regions of the reservoir that were accessible by anglers. The current distribution of spawning Columbia-origin Kokanee in the Williston Reservoir watershed, however, does not reflect the locations where these fish were initially stocked and suggests extensive straying. Whether or not Kokanee will develop fidelity to specific spawning locations is not known, but it is important information to effectively manage these introduced fish. We used otolith microchemistry to estimate fidelity to natal streams by Columbia-origin Kokanee in the Williston Reservoir. Otolith elemental signatures for the region of the otolith that formed during the larval period and characterized the natal redd environment showed considerable variation among samples. Natal signatures tended to cluster for each river but not for all spawners, suggesting elemental signatures from other rivers. Homing to one of the four natal streams we examined was classified to be 73% based on linear discriminant analysis, although variation in the elemental signatures within each group suggests that homing by Kokanee to specific natal streams may be as low as 55%. Based on similarity of water elemental signatures for tributaries within large rivers, however, the proportion of fish that returned to their general region was likely higher and estimated to be approximately 83%. The result of regional homing could be reproductive isolation and adaptation to local conditions. It is unclear, however, if the current estimated level of straying will limit genetic differentiation and prevent local adaptation.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/7/3/123otolith microchemistryKokaneehomingstocking |
| spellingShingle | J. Mark Shrimpton Paige W. Breault Luc A. Turcotte Fidelity to Natal Tributary Streams by Kokanee Following Introduction to a Large Oligotrophic Reservoir Fishes otolith microchemistry Kokanee homing stocking |
| title | Fidelity to Natal Tributary Streams by Kokanee Following Introduction to a Large Oligotrophic Reservoir |
| title_full | Fidelity to Natal Tributary Streams by Kokanee Following Introduction to a Large Oligotrophic Reservoir |
| title_fullStr | Fidelity to Natal Tributary Streams by Kokanee Following Introduction to a Large Oligotrophic Reservoir |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fidelity to Natal Tributary Streams by Kokanee Following Introduction to a Large Oligotrophic Reservoir |
| title_short | Fidelity to Natal Tributary Streams by Kokanee Following Introduction to a Large Oligotrophic Reservoir |
| title_sort | fidelity to natal tributary streams by kokanee following introduction to a large oligotrophic reservoir |
| topic | otolith microchemistry Kokanee homing stocking |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/7/3/123 |
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