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Pre-spawning migration of adult Pacific lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus, in the Willamette River, Oregon, U.S.A.

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Abstract

We describe the migration distances and timing of the adult Pacific lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus, in the Willamette River Basin (Oregon, U.S.A.). We conducted aerial surveys to track radio-tagged fish upstream of a major waterfall and hydropower complex en route to spawning areas. We detected 24 out of the 43 fish that passed the waterfall-hydropower complex. Of the detected fish, 17 were detected multiple times. Their maximum migration distance upstream in the mainstem Willamette approximated a normal distribution. The maximum distance migrated upstream did not significantly correlate with total body length (r = −0.186, P = 0.385) or date that the fish passed Willamette Falls (r = −0.118, P = 0.582). Fish migrated primarily during the spring to early summer period before stopping during the summer, when peak river temperatures (≥20°C). However, at least three fish continued to migrate upstream after September. Behavior ranged from relatively slow migration, followed by holding; to rapid migration, followed by slow migration further up in the basin. This study provides a basis for informing more detailed research on Pacific lamprey in the future.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Bureau of Reclamation. We are grateful to personnel from the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission for suggesting the idea for this project and providing assistance with tracking. D. Hatch, D. Ward, C. Robinson, and J. Brunzell provided helpful recommendations on tracking. H. Li assisted with administrative oversight. Oregon State University, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also provided assistance with tracking. Y. Di provided statistical consultation. S. Sower, D. Noakes and D. Markle provided helpful comments on an early draft of this paper. Thanks to R. Lampman for making Fig. 1. Two anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments. The Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is funded jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State University. Any use of trade names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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Correspondence to Benjamin J. Clemens.

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Clemens, B.J., Mesa, M.G., Magie, R.J. et al. Pre-spawning migration of adult Pacific lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus, in the Willamette River, Oregon, U.S.A.. Environ Biol Fish 93, 245–254 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9910-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9910-3

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