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Tradeoffs between homing and habitat quality for spawning site selection by hatchery-origin Chinook salmon

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Abstract

Spawning site selection by female salmon is based on complex and poorly understood tradeoffs between the homing instinct and the availability of appropriate habitat for successful reproduction. Previous studies have shown that hatchery-origin Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) released from different acclimation sites return with varying degrees of fidelity to these areas. To investigate the possibility that homing fidelity is associated with aquatic habitat conditions, we quantified physical habitat throughout 165 km in the upper Yakima River basin (Washington, USA) and mapped redd and carcass locations from 2004 to 2008. Principal components analysis identified differences in substrate, cover, stream width, and gradient among reaches surrounding acclimation sites, and canonical correspondence analysis revealed that these differences in habitat characteristics were associated with spatial patterns of spawning (p < 0.01). These analyses indicated that female salmon may forego spawning near their acclimation area if the surrounding habitat is unsuitable. Evaluating the spatial context of acclimation areas in relation to surrounding habitat may provide essential information for effectively managing supplementation programs and prioritizing restoration actions.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Yakama Nation for providing logistical support and identifying redds. Additionally, we are grateful to NOAA Fisheries, USGS Western Region Biological Resource Division State Partnership Program, and the Water Center at the University of Washington for providing funding. This publication is partially funded by the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean (JISAO) under NOAA Cooperative Agreement No. NA17RJ1232, Contribution # 1844. Tanya Cram, James Chu, and Ethan Welty were essential volunteers assisting with the habitat surveys. We also thank Hiroo Imaki and Patricia Haggerty for GIS assistance. Thomas Quinn, Julian Olden, Phil Roni, and two anonymous reviewers provided valuable comments. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Jeremy M. Cram & Ryan S. Klett

  2. U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Cascadia Field Station, University of Washington, School of Environmental and Forest Science, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Christian E. Torgersen

  3. Fish Ecology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA, 98112, USA

    George R. Pess

  4. School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Darran May

  5. Grant County Public Utility District, P.O. Box 878, Ephrata, WA, 98823, USA

    Todd N. Pearsons

  6. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA, 98112, USA

    Andrew H. Dittman

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  1. Jeremy M. Cram
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  2. Christian E. Torgersen
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Correspondence to Jeremy M. Cram.

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Cram, J.M., Torgersen, C.E., Klett, R.S. et al. Tradeoffs between homing and habitat quality for spawning site selection by hatchery-origin Chinook salmon. Environ Biol Fish 96, 109–122 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-012-0026-1

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