Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The relationship between migration speed and release date for chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta fry exiting a 110-km northern Japanese river

  • Original Article
  • Biology
  • Published:
Fisheries Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The relationship between release date and migration speed was examined for hatchery chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta fry exiting the Nishibetsu River in eastern Hokkaido, northern Japan so that future releases might be scheduled so that fry arrive at the ocean during periods favoring high survival. Separate marked groups of chum salmon released in early April, mid-April, and early May in 2008, late March and mid-April in 2009, and mid-April in 2010 were recaptured with a rotary screw trap 12 km above the river mouth. Chum salmon in later release groups tended to migrate downstream faster than fish in earlier release groups. Those released after mid-April arrived in the lower river on average 9 days after release, while those released before mid-April arrived on average 26–28 days after release. Most marked fish arrived in the lower river during late April to mid-May. These results suggest that chum salmon are adapted to adjust their migratory speed so as to arrive at the ocean during a relatively discrete period, presumably during a time of high productivity favoring good survival.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mayama H, Ishida Y (2003) Japanese studies on the early ocean life of juvenile salmon. NPAFC Bull 3:41–68

    Google Scholar 

  2. Nagata M, Miyakoshi Y, Ando D, Fujiwara M, Sawada M, Shimada H, Asami H (2007) Influence of coastal seawater temperature on the distribution and growth of juvenile chum salmon, with recommendations for altered release strategies. NPAFC Bull 4:223–235

    Google Scholar 

  3. Saito T, Shimizu I, Seki J, Nagasawa K (2009) Relationship between zooplankton abundance and the early marine life history of juvenile chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. Fish Sci 75:303–316. doi:10.1007/s12562-008-0040-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kobayashi T, Harada S (1966) Ecological observation on the salmon of Nishibetsu River II. The moving, growth and feeding habit of pink salmon fry, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Walbaum), during seaward migration (in Japanese with English abstract). Sci Rep Hokkaido Salmon Hatch 20:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kobayashi T (2009) History of the Pacific salmon enhancement in Japan (in Japanese). Hokkaido University Press, Sapporo

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kobayashi T (1981) Note on the seaward migration of chum and pink salmon fry (in Japanese with English abstract). Aquabiology 17:440–444

    Google Scholar 

  7. Iwata M (1982) Downstream migration and seawater adaptability of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) fry. In: Melteff BR, Neve RA (eds) Proceeding of the North Pacific aquaculture symposium. University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, pp 51–59

  8. Nagata M, Miyamoto M (1986) The downstream migration of chum salmon fry, Oncorhynchus keta, released into the Utabetsu River of eastern Hidaka in Hokkaido, and the estimation of predation amount of the fry by fresh water sculpin, Cottus nozawae Snyder (in Japanese with English abstract). Sci Rep Hokkaido Fish Hatch 41:13–22

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kobayashi T, Harada S, Abe S (1965) Ecological observations on the salmon of Nishibetsu River 1. The migration and growth of chum salmon fry, Oncorhynchus keta (Walbaum) (in Japanese with English abstract). Sci Rep Hokkaido Salmon Hatch 19:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  10. Mayama H, Seki J, Shimizu I (1983) Studies on the chum salmon released in the Ishikari River System II. On the seaward migration and inshore distribution of liberated fry in 1980 and 1981 (in Japanese with English abstract). Sci Rep Hokkaido Salmon Hatch 37:1–22

    Google Scholar 

  11. McCormick SD, Hansen LP, Quinn TP, Saunders RL (1998) Movement, migration, and smolting of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Can J Fish Aqua Sci 55(Suppl 1):77–92. doi:10.1139/d98-011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Björnsson BT, Stefansson SO, McCormick SD (2011) Environmental endocrinology of salmon smoltification. Gen Comp Endocrinol 170:290–298. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2010.07.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Beamish FWH (1978) Swimming capacity. In: Hoar WS, Randall DJ (eds) Fish physiology, vol VII. Locomotion. Academic Press, New York, pp 101–187

  14. Quinn TP (2005) The behavior and ecology of Pacific salmon and trout. University of Washington Press, Seattle

    Google Scholar 

  15. Giorgi AE, Hillman TW, Stevenson JR, Hays SG, Peven CM (1997) Factors that influence the downstream migration rates of juvenile salmon and steelhead through the hydroelectric system in the mid-Columbia River Basin. North Am J Fish Manage 17:268–282. doi:10.1577/1548-8675(1997)017<0268:FTITDM>2.3.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Beckman BR, Larsen DA, Lee-Pawlak B, Dickhoff WW (1998) Relation of fish size and growth rate to migration of spring chinook salmon smolts. North Am J Fish Manage 18:537–546. doi:10.1577/1548-8675(1998)018<0537:ROFSAG>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Crittenden RN (1994) A diffusion model for the downstream migration of sockeye salmon smolts. Ecol Model 71:69–84. doi:10.1016/0304-3800(94)90076-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Irvine JR (1986) Effects of varying discharge on the downstream movement of salmon fry, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Walbaum. J Fish Biol 28:17–28. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1986.tb05137.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Steel EA (1999) In-stream factors affecting juvenile salmonid migration. PhD dissertation, University of Washington, Seattle

  20. Michel CJ, Ammann, AJ, Chapman ED, Sandstrom PT, Fish HE, Thomas MJ, Singer GP, Lindley ST, Klimley AP, MacFarlane RB (2012) The effects of environmental factors on the migratory movement patterns of Sacramento River yearling late-fall run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Env Biol Fish. doi:10.1007/s10641-012-9990-8

  21. Hoar WS (1951) The behaviour of chum, pink and coho salmon in relation to their seaward migration. J Fish Res Board Can 8:241–263. doi:10.1139/f50-015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Keenleyside MHA, Hoar WS (1955) Effects of temperature on the responses of young salmon to water currents. Behaviour 7:77–87. doi:10.1163/156853955X00030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Tsukamoto K (1988) Otolith tagging of ayu embryo with fluorescent substances. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 54:1289–1295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Salo (1991) Life history of chum salmon. In: Groot C, Margolis L (eds) Pacific salmon life histories. UBC Press, Vancouver, pp 231–309

  25. Clarke WC, Hirano T (1995) Osmoregulation. In: Groot C et al (eds) Physiological ecology of Pacific salmon. UBC Press, Vancouver, pp 318–377

  26. Kasugai K, Torao M, Kakizaki H, Adachi H, Shinhama H, Ogasawara Y, Kawahara S, Arauchi T, Nagata M (2012) Distribution and abundance of juvenile chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in Nemuro Bay, eastern Hokkaido, Japan. NPAFC Tech Rep 8: 58–61. http://www.npafc.org/new/publications/Technical%20Report/TR8/Kasugai%20et%20al.pdf

  27. R Development Core Team (2009) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna

  28. Rousseau K, Martin P, Boeuf G, Dufour S (2012) Salmonid smoltification. In: Dufour S et al (eds) Metamorphosis in fish. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 167–215

    Google Scholar 

  29. Fried SM, McCleave JD, LaBar GW (1978) Seaward migration of hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, smolts in the Penobscot River Estuary, Maine: riverine movements. J Fish Res Board Can 35:76–87. doi:10.1139/f78-011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Kobayashi T (1980) Salmon propagation in Japan. In: Thorpe JE (ed) Salmon ranching. Academic Press, London, pp 91–107

    Google Scholar 

  31. Holtby LB, McMahon TE, Scrivener C (1989) Stream temperatures and inter-annual variability in the emigration timing of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) smolts and fry and chum salmon (O. keta) fry from Carnation Creek, British Columbia. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 46:1396–1405. doi:10.1139/f89-179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Walters CJ, Hilborn R, Peterman RM, Stanley MJ (1978) Model for examining early ocean limitation of Pacific salmon production. J Fish Res Board Can 35:1303–1315. doi:10.1139/f78-205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Torao M, Takeuchi K, Sasaki Y, Kasugai K, Murakami Y, Nagata M (2010) Seasonal timing of downstream migration and migrating speed of the hatchery and wild pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha fry in the Tohoro River, eastern Hokkaido, Japan (in Japanese with English abstract). Sci Rep Hokkaido Fish Hatch 64:7–15

    Google Scholar 

  34. Kaeriyama M (1986) Ecological study on early life of the chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta (Walbaum) (in Japanese with English abstract). Sci Rep Hokkaido Salmon Hatch 40:31–92

    Google Scholar 

  35. Bilton HT, Alderdice DF, Schnute JT (1982) Influence of time and size at release of juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) on returns at maturity. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 39:426–447. doi:10.1139/f82-060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Irvine, JR, O’Neill M, Godbout L, Schnute J (in press) Effects of smolt release timing and size on the survival of hatchery-origin coho salmon in the Strait of Georgia. Prog Oceanog (not uploaded on web yet)

  37. Machidori S, Kato F (1985) Spawning populations and marine life of masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou). Int North Pac Fish Comm Bull 43:1–138

    Google Scholar 

  38. Mayama H, Nomura T, Ohkuma K (1989) Reciprocal transplantation experiment of masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) population 2. Comparison of seaward migrations and adult returns of local stock and transplanted stock of masu salmon (in Japanese with English abstract). Sci Rep Hokkaido Salmon Hatch 43:99–113

    Google Scholar 

  39. Koyama T, Nagata M (1995) Seaward migration of domestic, wild origin and interstrain hybrids of masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) (in Japanese with English abstract). Sci Rep Hokkaido Fish Hatch 49:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  40. Koyama T, Nagata M, Miyakoshi Y, Hayano H, Irvine JR (2007) Altered smolt timing for masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou resulting from domestication. Aquaculture 273:246–249. doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2007.10.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Lowrey PL, Takahashi JS (2004) Mammalian circadian biology: elucidating genome-wide levels of temporal organization. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 5:407–441. doi:10.1146/annurev.genom.5.061903.175925

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Miyatake T (1997) Genetic trade-off between early fecundity and longevity in Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae). Heredity 78:93–100. doi:10.1038/hdy.1997.11

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Miyatake T, Shimizu T (1999) Genetic correlations between life-history and behavioral traits can cause reproductive isolation. Evolution 53:201–208. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2640932

    Google Scholar 

  44. Miyatake T (2006) Allochronic reproductive isolation and biological clock (in Japanese). Jap J Ecol 56:10–24

    Google Scholar 

  45. Quinn TP, Unwin MJ, Kinnison MT (2000) Evolution of temporal isolation in the wild: genetic divergence in timing of migration and breeding by introduced chinook salmon populations. Evolution 54:1372–1385. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2640632

    Google Scholar 

  46. O’Malley KG, Ford MJ, Hard JJ (2010) Clock polymorphism in Pacific salmon: evidence for variable selection along a latitudinal gradient. Proc R Soc B 277:3703–3714. doi:10.1098/rspb.2010.0762

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Fujise M, Okada Y, Arauchi T, Ono I (2003) Control of the development of chum salmon eggs and alevins at hatcheries by conditioning water temperature (in Japanese). Tec Rep Nat Salmon Res Center 169:25–32. http://salmon.fra.affrc.go.jp/kankobutu/tech_repo/tech_repo169_p25-32.pdf

Download references

Acknowledgments

We express our sincere thanks to Yoshimi Toda, Yuichi Akiyama, Kotaro Ono, Jun-ichi Nakano, Tetsuo Nakazawa, Shigeo Iguchi, Yoshifumi Shimo, Hitoshi Kawakami, Masayuki Kimura, Masaki Ohno, Takeo Sasaki, and Hiroshi Kakizaki of Nemuro Salmon Enhancement Programs Association, who helped to install the screw trap, and reared chum salmon fry. Yutaka Ogasawara, Toshinori Ohashi, Shinji Kawahara, Katsuhiko Ohashi, Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Sakamoto, and Mahito Miyamoto also assisted with field sampling. Chisato Suzuki, Seiko Ito, Mikiko Minami, and Chikako Shimokawara measured and extracted otoliths. The Nakashibetsu District Public Works Management Office, Kushiro Department of Public Works Management provided discharge data for the Nishibetsu River. We thank Dr. Yasuyuki Miyakoshi for his constructive comments on drafts of this paper, Lana Fitzpatrick for editorial input, and the editor and two anonymous referees for their useful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Doto Research Branch, Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute, Hokkaido Research Organization, 3-1-10 Maruyama, Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido, 086-1164, Japan

    Kiyoshi Kasugai & Mitsuru Torao

  2. Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute, Hokkaido Research Organization, 3-373 Kitakashiwagi-cho, Eniwa, Hokkaido, 061-1433, Japan

    Mitsuhiro Nagata

  3. Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 6N7, Canada

    James R. Irvine

Authors
  1. Kiyoshi Kasugai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mitsuru Torao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mitsuhiro Nagata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. James R. Irvine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kiyoshi Kasugai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kasugai, K., Torao, M., Nagata, M. et al. The relationship between migration speed and release date for chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta fry exiting a 110-km northern Japanese river. Fish Sci 79, 569–577 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-013-0615-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-013-0615-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation