Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Probable consequences of climate change on freshwater production of Adams River sockeye salmon (Oncorynchus nerka)

  • Published:
GeoJournal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We combine information on the influence of temperature on the thermal physiology, growth, and survival of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) with projections of temperature change associated with a doubling of atmospheric CO2 concentrations (over pre-industrial levels) to determine the effect of global warming on two freshwater life history stages (lake residence of juveniles, and spawning by adults) of sockeye salmon from Adams River, British Columbia. Air temperatures are expected to increase by approximately 4.0° and 2.5° C in the summer and winter respectively in the vicinity of the Adams River. Shuswap Lake is used as a rearing area by the juvenile sockeye salmon and global warming will probably change the production characteristics of lake towards a more oligotrophic system. This will cause a reduction in the abundance and availability of food for the juvenile sockeye salmon, and hence a decrease in their freshwater growth, and freshwater and marine survival. However, the increased temperature encountered by adults on the spawning grounds of the Adams River is unlikely to result in higher rates of prespawning mortality. It is anticipated that the net effect of global warming over all freshwater life history stages will be a reduction in the freshwater production of Adams River sockeye salmon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atmospheric Environment Service (AES): Canadian Climate Normals: 1951–1980. Temperature and Precipitation. 103 pp. British Columbia. Atmospheric Environment Service, Toronto, Ontario 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beyer, J. M.; Lucchetti, G.; Gray, G.: Digestive tract evacuation in northern squawfish (Ptychocheilus oregonensis). Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 45, 548–553 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bilton, H. T.; Robins, G. L.: The effects of starvation and subsequent feeding on survival and growth of Fulton Channel sockeye salmon fry (Oncorhynchus nerka). J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 32: 2295–2332 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Birtwell, I. K.; Levings, I. K., McDonald, J. S., Rogers, I. H.: A review of fish habitat issues in the Fraser River system. Water Poll. Res J. of Canada. 23:103–124 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brannon, E. L.: Mechanisms stabilizing salmonid fry emergence timing p. 120–124. In: Smith, H. D.; Margolis, L.; Wood, C. C. (eds.), Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) population biology and future management. Can. Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 96 (1987)

  • Brett, J. R.: Temperature tolerance of young Pacific salmon, genus Oncorhynchus. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 9: 265–323 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brett, J. R.; Shelbourn, J. E.; Shoop, C. T.: Growth rate and body composition of fingerling sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka, in relation to temperature and ration size. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 26: 2363–2394 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger, C. V.; Wlimot, R. L.; Wangaard, D. B.: Comparison of spawning areas and times for two runs of chinook salmon (Oncohynchus tshawytscha) in the Kenai River, Alaska. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 42: 693–700 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chilton, R. H. H.: A Summary of Climatic Regimes in British Columbia. 103 pp. British Columbia Ministry of the Environment, Victoria, Canada 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, C. W.; Levy, D. A.: Diel vertical migrations in juvenile sockeye salmon and the antipredation window. Am. Nat. 131: 271–290 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggers, D. M.: The nature of prey selection by planktivorous fish. Ecol. 58: 46–59 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilhousen, P.: Prespawning mortalities of sockeye salmon in the Fraser River system and possible causal factors. Int. Pacific Salmon Fish. Comm. Bull. XXVI, 58 pp. (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodlad, J. C.; Gjernes, T. W.; Brannon, E. L.: Factors affecting sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) growth in four lakes of the Fraser River system. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 31: 871–892 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, M. A.: Sustainable development of the Pacific salmon resources of the Fraser River basin, p. 133–154. In: Dorcey, A. H. J. (ed.), Perspectives on sustainable development in water management: towards agreement in the Fraser River basin. Westwater Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, M. A.; Cass, A. J.: Effect of smolt size on smolt-to-adult survival for Chilko lake sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 48: 988–994. (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoar, W. S.: 1976. Smolt transformation: evolution, behaviour, and physiology. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 33: 1233–1252 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Holdridge, L. R.: Determination of world plant formations form simple climatic data. Science 105: 367–368 (1947)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyatt, K. C.; Stockner, J. G.: Responses of sockeye salmon (Oncorhvnchus nerka) to fertilization of British Columbia coastal lakes. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 42: 320–331 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • Levy, D. A.: Reciprocal diel vertical migration behaviour in planktivores and zooplankton in British Columbia lakes. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 47: 1755–1764.

  • Levy, D. A.; Wood, C. C.: Review of proposed mechanisms for sockeye salmon population cycles in the Fraser River. Bull. Math. Biol. 54: 241–261 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  • McBean, G. A.: Climate change and its effect on British Columbia's water and fish. Research Contract Report to the Canadian Department of the Environment. N.H.R.I. Saskatoon, Canada 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magnuson, J. L.; Meisner, J. D.; Hill, D. K.: Potential changes in the thermal habitat of Great Lakes fish after global climate warming. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 119: 254–264 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Magnuson, J. J.; Crowder, L. B.; Medvick, P. A.: Temperature as an ecological resource. Amer. Zool. 19: 331–343 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Meisner, J. D.; Rosenfeld, J. S.; Regier, H. A.: The role of groundwater in the impact of climate warming on stream salmonines. Fisheries 13: 2–8 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R. J.; Brannon, E. L.: The origin and development of life history patterns in Pacific salmonids pp. 296–309. In: Brannon, E. L.; Salo, E. O. (eds.), Salmon and trout migratory behaviour symposium. School of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, R. D.: Hydrology and water supply in the Fraser River basin, pp. 21–40. In: Dorcey, A. H. J. (ed.), Water in sustainable development: Exploring our common future in the Fraser River basin. Westwater Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Northcote, T. G.; Larkin, P. A.: The Fraser River: A major salmonine production system pp. 172–204. In: Dodge, D. P. (ed.), Proceedings of the International Large River Symposium. Can. Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 106 (1989)

  • Northcote, T. G.; Burwash, M. D.: Fish and fish habitats of the Fraser River basin, pp. 117–144. In: Dorcey, A. J. H. (ed.), Water in sustainable development: Exploring our common future in the Fraser River basin. Westwater Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, R. W.; Lantz, R. L.; Claire, E. W.; Moring, J. R.: Some effects of gravel mixtures on emergence of coho salmon and steelhead trout fry. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 104: 461–466 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricker, W. E.: The consumption of young sockeye salmon by predaceous fish. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 5: 293–313 (1941)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricker, W. E.: The effect of reduction of predaceous fish on the survival of young sockeye salmon in Cultus Lake. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 5: 315–336 (1941) b

    Google Scholar 

  • Roos, J. F.: Restoring Fraser River salmon: a history of the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission. Published by the Pacific Salmon Commission. Vancouver, Canada 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schindler, D.W; Beaty, K. G.; Fee, E. J.; Cruikshank, D. R.; DeBruyn, F. R.; Findlay, D. L.; Linsey, G. A.; Shearer, J. A.; Stainton, M. P.; Turner, M. A.: Effects of climate warming on lakes of the central boreal forest. Sci. 250: 967–970 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlesinger, M. E.; Mitchell, J. F. B.: Climate model simulations of the equilibrium climatic response to increased carbon dioxide. Reviews of Geophysics 25: 760–798 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, W. B.; Crossman, E. J.: Freshwater fishes of Canada. Fish. Res. Board. Can. Bull. 184 (1973)

  • Shepherd, B. G.; Hartman, G. F.; Wilson, W. J.: Relationship between stream and intragravel temperatures in coastal drainages, and some implications for fisheries workers. Can J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 43: 1818–1822 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shortreed, K. S.; Stockner, J. G.: Effect of nutrient additions on lower trophic levels of an oligotrophic lake with a seasonal deep chlorophyll maximum. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 47: 262–273 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shuter, B. J.; Post, J. R.: Climate, population viability, and the zoogeography of temperate fishes. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 119: 314–336 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Slaymaker, O.: Implications of the processes of erosion and sedimentation for sustainable development in the Fraser River basin, pp. 93–114. In: Dorcey, A. H. J. (ed.), Perspectives on sustainable development in water management: toward agreement in the Fraser River basin. Westwater Research Centre. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slaymaker, O.: Climate change and erosion processes in mountain regions of western Canada. Mountain Res. and Dev. 10: 171–182 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. B.: From global to regional climate change: relative knowns and unknowns about global warming. Fisheries 15: 2–6 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stockner, T. G.: Lake fertilization: the enrichment cycle and lake sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) production, pp. 198–215. In: Smith, H. D.; Margolis, L.; Wood, C. C. (eds.), Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) population biology and future management. Can. Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 96 (1987)

  • Stockner, J. G.; Shortreed, K. S.: Algal picoplankton production and contribution to food-webs in oligotrophic lakes in British Columbia. Hydrobiologia 173: 151–166 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  • Torn, W. M.: Climate change and fish communities: a conceptual framework. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 119: 337–352 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, I. V.; Gilhousen, P.; Saito, W.; Gjernes, T.; Morton, K.; Johnson, R.; Brock, D.: Studies of the lacustrine biology of the sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in the Shuswap system. Int. Pacific Salmon Fish. Comm. Bull. XXIV, 108pp. (1989)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Biological Sciences Branch, 555 West Hastings Street, V6 B 5G3, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Henderson M. A. Dr.

  2. Levy Research Services Limited, 102-2221 Folkstone Way, V7S 2Y6, West Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Levy D. A. Dr.

  3. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Biological Sciences Branch, 4160 Marine Drive, BC V7V IN6, West Vancouver, Canada

    Stockner J. S. Dr.

Authors
  1. Henderson M. A. Dr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Levy D. A. Dr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stockner J. S. Dr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Henderson, M.A., Levy, D.A. & Stockner, J.S. Probable consequences of climate change on freshwater production of Adams River sockeye salmon (Oncorynchus nerka). GeoJournal 28, 51–59 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216406

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216406

Keywords

Search

Navigation