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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Genomic region associated with run timing has similar haplotypes and phenotypic effects across three lineages of Chinook salmon

Abstract Conserving life‐history variation is a stated goal of many management programs, but the most effective means by which to accomplish this are often far from clear. Early‐ and late‐migrating forms of Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) face unequal pressure from natural and anthropogenic forces that may alter the impacts of genetic variation underlying heritable migration timing. Genomic regions of chromosome 28 are known to be strongly associated with migration variation in adult Chinook salmon, but it remains unclear whether there is consistent association among diverse lineages and populations in large basins such as the Columbia River. With high‐throughput genotyping (GT‐seq) and phenotyping methods, we examined the association of genetic variation in 28 markers (spanning GREB1L to ROCK1 of chromosome 28) with individual adult migration timing characteristics gleaned from passive integrated transponder recordings of over 5000 Chinook salmon from the three major phylogeographic lineages that inhabit the Columbia River Basin. Despite the strong genetic differences among them in putatively neutral genomic regions, each of the three lineages exhibited very similar genetic variants in the chromosome 28 region that were significantly associated with adult migration timing phenotypes. This is particularly notable for the interior stream‐type lineage, which exhibits an earlier and more constrained freshwater entry than the other lineages. In both interior stream‐type and interior ocean‐type lineages of Chinook salmon, heterozygotes of the most strongly associated linkage groups had largely intermediate migration timing relative to homozygotes, and results indicate codominance or possibly marginal partial dominance of the allele associated with early migration. Our results lend support to utilization of chromosome 28 variation in tracking and predicting run timing in these lineages of Chinook salmon in the Columbia River.

Willis, Stuart C.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Utility of parentage‐based tagging for monitoring Coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) in the interior Columbia River basin

Abstract By the 1980s, after decades of declining numbers in the mid‐1900s, Coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) were considered extirpated from the interior Columbia River. In the mid‐1990s, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and the Nez Perce Tribe began successful reintroduction programs of Coho salmon upstream of Bonneville Dam, but which were initially sourced from lower Columbia River hatcheries. Here we present the first Coho salmon parentage‐based tagging (PBT) baseline from seven hatchery programs located in the interior Columbia River basin, and two sites at or downstream of Bonneville Dam, composed of over 32,000 broodstock samples. Analyses of baseline collections revealed that genetic structure followed a temporal pattern based on 3‐year broodlines rather than geographic location or stocking history. Across hatchery programs, similar levels of genetic diversity was present. The PBT baseline provided multiple direct applications such as identification of origin for Coho salmon collected in a mixed stock at Priest Rapids Dam and the detection of the proportion and distribution of hatchery‐origin fish on the spawning grounds in the Methow River basin. The PBT baseline for Coho salmon is freely available for use and can be downloaded from FishGen.net .

Horn, Rebekah L.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Odor exposure during imprinting periods increases odorant-specific sensitivity and receptor gene expression in coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch )

ABSTRACT Pacific salmon are well known for their homing migrations; juvenile salmon learn odors associated with their natal streams prior to seaward migration, and then use these retained odor memories to guide them back from oceanic feeding grounds to their river of origin to spawn several years later. This memory formation, termed olfactory imprinting, involves (at least in part) sensitization of the peripheral olfactory epithelium to specific odorants. We hypothesized that this change in peripheral sensitivity is due to exposure-dependent increases in the expression of odorant receptor (OR) proteins that are activated by specific odorants experienced during imprinting. To test this hypothesis, we exposed juvenile coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, to the basic amino acid odorant l-arginine during the parr–smolt transformation (PST), when imprinting occurs, and assessed sensitivity of the olfactory epithelium to this and other odorants. We then identified the coho salmon ortholog of a basic amino acid odorant receptor (BAAR) and determined the mRNA expression levels of this receptor and other transcripts representing different classes of OR families. Exposure to l-arginine during the PST resulted in increased sensitivity to that odorant and a specific increase in BAAR mRNA expression in the olfactory epithelium relative to other ORs. These results suggest that specific increases in ORs activated during imprinting may be an important component of home stream memory formation and this phenomenon may ultimately be useful as a marker of successful imprinting to assess management strategies and hatchery practices that may influence straying in salmon.

Dittman, Andrew H. (ORCID:000000016482359X)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Long-Term Surveillance and Maintenance Plan for the Salmon, Mississippi, Site

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) prepared this Long-Term Surveillance and Maintenance Plan (LTS&M Plan) for the Salmon, Mississippi, Site (the Salmon site) to describe LM’s plan and policy for future site activities. The Salmon site consists of 1470 acres in Lamar County, Mississippi, approximately 10 miles west of Purvis, Mississippi, and about 21 miles southwest of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The site is located over a large subsurface salt formation referred to as the Tatum Salt Dome. Two nuclear tests (Project Dribble) and two gas explosive tests (Project Miracle Play) were conducted in the salt dome between 1964 and 1970. Salmon, the first nuclear test, was conducted on October 22, 1964, and created a cavity approximately 2700 feet (ft) below ground surface (bgs). The second nuclear test, Sterling, was conducted on December 3, 1966. The Sterling test and the two gas explosions—Diode Tube on February 2, 1969, and Humid Water on April 19, 1970—were all conducted in the cavity created by the Salmon test. The four explosions were conducted as part of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission’s (AEC’s) Vela Uniform program. Testing at the site ended in 1970 after the second gas detonation. The tests resulted in residual contamination and postdetonation features that require long-term oversight.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
NASA NTRS2010

Modelling the Future Hydroclimatology of the Lower Fraser River and its Impacts on the Spawning Migration Survival of Sockeye Salmon

Short episodic high temperature events can be lethal for migrating adult Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.). We downscaled temperatures for the Fraser River, British Columbia to evaluate the impact of climate warming on the frequency of exceeding thermal thresholds associated with salmon migratory success. Alarmingly, a modest 1.0 C increase in average summer water temperature over 100 years (1981-2000 to 2081-2100) tripled the number of days per year exceeding critical salmonid thermal thresholds (i.e. 19.0 C). Refined thresholds for two populations (Gates Creek and Weaver Creek) of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) were defined using physiological constraint models based on aerobic scope. While extreme temperatures leading to complete aerobic collapse remained unlikely under our warming scenario, both populations were increasingly forced to migrate upriver at reduced levels of aerobic performance (e.g. in 80% of future simulations, => 90% of salmon encountered temperatures exceeding population specific thermal optima for maximum aerobic scope; T(sub opt)) = 16.3 C for Gates Creek and T(sub sopt)=14.5 C for Weaver Creek). Assuming recent changes to river entry timing persist, we also predicted dramatic increases in the probability of freshwater mortality for Weaver Creek salmon due to reductions in aerobic, and general physiological, performance (e.g. in 42% of future simulations =>50% of Weaver Creek fish exceeded temperature thresholds associated with 0 - 60% of maximum aerobic scope). Potential for adaptation via directional selection on run-timing was more evident for the Weaver Creek population. Early entry Weaver Creek fish experienced 25% (range: 15 - 31%) more suboptimal temperatures than late entrants, compared with an 8% difference (range: 0 - 17%) between early and late Gates Creek fish. Our results emphasize the need to consider daily temperature variability in association with population-specific differences in behaviour and physiological constraints when forecasting impacts of climate change on migratory survival of aquatic species.

Hague, M. J.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Mechanistic Simulations Suggest Riparian Restoration Can Partly Counteract Climate Impacts to Juvenile Salmon

Climate change is reducing summertime water availability and elevating water temperature, placing human consumptive needs in competition with needs of coldwater fishes. Here we worked with natural resource managers in the Snoqualmie River (Washington, USA) to develop riparian management scenarios, and used a process-based modeling system to examine how a threatened population of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytcha) may respond to climate change and whether riparian restoration could reduce climate effects. Linking models of global climate, regional hydrology and water temperature, and fish, we projected that streams would become warmer year-round and drier during summer, further stressing salmon. Climate change accelerated egg emergence, increased juvenile growth and survival, and accelerated outmigration of sub-yearling migrants. Growth was depressed for salmon remaining instream during summer (potential yearling migrants). Riparian restoration counteracted ~10% of summer increases in water temperature, and affected salmon similarly regardless of whether riparian buffers were partially or fully restored, whereas riparian degradation further warmed streams. Riparian restoration fully mitigated climate change effects on potential yearling migrant size, but only minimally affected sub-yearling migrants (assessment metrics changed <2%). Our results will be useful for watershed managers in aligning priorities for fish and humans and our framework can be applied elsewhere.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

The effect of reducing dietary lipid and food availability on precocious male maturation in Chinook Salmon: A production-scale hatchery experiment

Abstract Objective Age of maturation in Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha is phenotypically plastic, influenced by both genotype and environmental factors, including the availability and composition of the diet. Salmon hatchery programs often rear fish under accelerated growth regimes using high-lipid diets that can result in earlier age at maturity, including increased prevalence of age-2 males (minijacks). The goal of this investigation was to compare alternative dietary regimes to mitigate for this shift in age at maturity in hatchery-reared Umatilla River fall Chinook Salmon. Methods Juvenile fish were reared at Bonneville Hatchery, Oregon, under four dietary treatments across four replicate brood years. Dietary treatments included two feeding frequencies (standard [fed 7 days/week] and reduced [fed 4 days/week]) and two dietary lipid levels (standard [18%] and reduced [12%]) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Dietary treatments were applied for approximately 9 months, beginning in March (a month after fry emergence) and lasting until December of the first year, after which all fish were reared on the standard feeding regime (7 days–18%) until the time of release the following spring as yearlings. Result We observed significant interannual variation in the proportion of minijacks produced among dietary treatments. For all brood years, decreasing the feeding frequency from 7 to 4 days/week reduced the proportion minijacks by 35.9%, and lowering dietary lipid from 18% to 12% reduced the proportion minijacks by 30%. The combined effects of reducing the feeding frequency and lowering dietary lipid were additive, reducing the proportion minijacks by 65.5% compared to the standard rearing regime. Growth and energetic indices were monitored throughout and confirmed findings from previous laboratory-based studies indicating that physiological status 10–12 months prior to spawn timing is important for the “decision” to mature. Conclusion Results of this investigation provide useful insights for optimizing rearing regimes for the Umatilla River program and other Chinook Salmon hatchery programs.

Harstad, Deborah L. (ORCID:0000000202676085)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Body size and early marine conditions drive changes in Chinook salmon productivity across northern latitude ecosystems

Disentangling the influences of climate change from other stressors affecting the population dynamics of aquatic species is particularly pressing for northern latitude ecosystems, where climate‐driven warming is occurring faster than the global average. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Yukon‐Kuskokwim (YK) region occupy the northern extent of their species' range and are experiencing prolonged declines in abundance resulting in fisheries closures and impacts to the well‐being of Indigenous people and local communities. These declines have been associated with physical (e.g., temperature, streamflow) and biological (e.g., body size, competition) conditions, but uncertainty remains about the relative influence of these drivers on productivity across populations and how salmon–environment relationships vary across watersheds. To fill these knowledge gaps, we estimated the effects of marine and freshwater environmental indicators, body size, and indices of competition, on the productivity (adult returns‐per‐spawner) of 26 Chinook salmon populations in the YK region using a Bayesian hierarchical stock‐recruitment model. Across most populations, productivity declined with smaller spawner body size and sea surface temperatures that were colder in the winter and warmer in the summer during the first year at sea. Decreased productivity was also associated with above average fall maximum daily streamflow, increased sea ice cover prior to juvenile outmigration, and abundance of marine competitors, but the strength of these effects varied among populations. Maximum daily stream temperature during spawning migration had a nonlinear relationship with productivity, with reduced productivity in years when temperatures exceeded thresholds in main stem rivers. These results demonstrate for the first time that well‐documented declines in body size of YK Chinook salmon were associated with declining population productivity, while taking climate into account.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2022

Maine Ecological Forecasting II: Identifying Forest Cover and Assessing Federally Endangered Atlantic Salmon Habitat in Maine Using Earth Observations

Major declines in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations have occurred alongside dam construction, shifting temperatures, and changing land use and land cover (LULC), restricting the last remaining wild population in the United States to Maine. In collaboration with the Maine Department of Marine Resources and the Downeast Salmon Federation, the NASA DEVELOP team utilized Earth observations to assess changes within critical salmon habitat. The team used the Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM), Landsat 8 Operation Land Imager (OLI), Sentinel-2 MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI), and National Land Cover Database (NLCD) to refine historical LULC maps from 1985 to 2021. The team also used elevation data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and IDRISI TerrSet Land Change Modeler to forecast LULC change to 2040. From Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (LST) data, the team derived a time series, summer averages, and anomaly maps between 2000 and 2021. The team analyzed LST in relation to LULC classes, specifically forest cover type, and in-situ stream temperature from the Spatial Hydro-Ecological Decision System (EcoSHEDS). LULC trends from 1985 to 2021 revealed a net transition of coniferous forest to other classes, such as deciduous forest and developed land. The team found an association between warmer temperatures and a greater presence of developed and mixed forest classes per 10,000 acres across Maine. These visualizations and analyses will aid partners in identifying riparian locations with ideal or unfavorable habitat conditions to inform Atlantic salmon population recovery efforts.

Tony Bowman↗
DOE OSTI2023

Temperature-dependent oxygen isotope fractionation in otoliths of juvenile Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha )

Oxygen thermometry has become a widely used technique for reconstructing thermal history in calcifying organisms but interpretation can be subject to predictive error from vital effects. To better understand these processes in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) we experimentally constructed a temperature-dependent, otolith–water fractionation relationship for oxygen isotopes (δ 18 O) by rearing post-yolk absorptive juvenile fish at nominal temperatures from 6 to 21 °C. Temperature and otolith precipitation rate had significant effects on the otolith–water δ 18 O fractionation, but somatic growth rate did not. The slope of the δ 18 O fractionation equation also differed significantly from that of synthetic aragonite. Furthermore, our results suggest the expression of kinetic effects on δ 18 O fractionation in otoliths of Chinook salmon that are increasingly constrained at higher temperatures by other physical and physiological processes involved in mineral formation. Species-specific δ 18 O fractionation equations have considerable utility to reconstruct temperature history in Pacific salmon, but applications should recognize the potential for inferential uncertainty arising from interacting vital effects.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Can portable glucose and lactate meters be a useful tool in quantifying stress of juvenile Chinook salmon?

Blood plasma analyses can provide researchers, aquaculture facilities and fisheries managers with valuable insights into the physiological state and welfare of fish. For example, glucose and lactate are part of the secondary stress response system, and elevated concentrations are indicators of stress. However, analysing blood plasma in the field can be logistically difficult and typically involves sample storage and transport to quantify concentrations in a laboratory setting. Portable glucose and lactate meters offer an alternative to laboratory assays and have shown to be relatively accurate in fish, but these tools have only been validated for a few fish species. The objective of this study was to investigate if portable meters could be reliably used in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). As part of a larger stress response study, juvenile Chinook salmon (157 ± 17 mm fork length [mean ± standard deviation; SD]) were exposed to stress-inducing treatments and sampled for blood. Laboratory reference glucose concentrations (milligrams per deciliter; mg/dl; n = 70) were positively correlated with the Accu-Check Aviva meter (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN) measurements (R 2 = 0.79), although glucose values were 1.21 ± 0.21 (mean ± SD) times higher in the laboratory than with the portable meter. Lactate concentrations (milliMolar; mM; n = 52) of the laboratory reference were also positively correlated (R 2 = 0.76) with the Lactate Plus meter (Nova Biomedical, Waltham, MA) and were 2.55 ± 0.50 times higher than portable meter. Our results indicate both meters could be used to measure relative glucose and lactate concentrations in Chinook salmon and provide fisheries professionals with a valuable tool, particularly in remote field settings.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Achieving Productivity to Recover and Restore Columbia River Stream-Type Chinook Salmon Relies on Increasing Smolt-To-Adult Survival

Abstract We analyzed and compared productivity and survival rates of populations of stream-type Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha from the upper and middle ranges of their distribution in the Columbia River basin. These two groups of populations undergo vastly different exposures during migration through the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS). Declines of the Snake River populations, listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, have been associated with the development and operation of the FCRPS. In contrast, John Day River stream-type Chinook Salmon populations, which were less affected by the FCRPS, have declined to a lesser extent and are not listed. Smolt-to-adult survival rates (SARs) accounted for a majority of the variation in life cycle survival rates of Snake River Chinook Salmon. Productivity declined to 13% and 44% of historical productivity levels for Snake River and John Day River populations, respectively. A synthesis of previous studies contrasting anthropogenic impacts between the two regions supports the conclusion that FCRPS impacts explain the large difference in population productivity. Our results suggest that SARs of 4% would result in an expected productivity of up to 70% of historical levels (a SAR level consistent with regional restoration objectives). The SARs have been shown to be highly influenced by conditions within the FCRPS (e.g., water velocity and passage through dam powerhouses). Marine conditions also influence SARs; however, meaningful management actions are only available to affect conditions within the FCRPS. Given the importance of SARs to overall life cycle productivity, recovery and restoration strategies need to prioritize actions that have potential to substantially increase SARs by addressing the significant impacts of main-stem dams. This study highlights the importance of considering river management options in the face of increasingly variable and warming ocean conditions.

Petrosky, Charles E.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Retracted: Monitoring Hatchery Broodstock Composition and Genetic Variation of Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon in the Columbia River Basin with Multigeneration Pedigrees

Abstract Hatchery production of Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Columbia River basin comprises most of the anadromous salmonid production in this region. Hatchery facilities and programs serve to mitigate for impacts to salmonids due to the construction and operation of hydropower dams and habitat impacts from development in addition to the conservation and restoration of natural populations. A genetic method referred to as parentage-based tagging (PBT) enables highly reliable detection of hatchery-origin fish and inference of multigeneration pedigrees. This study compiles 11 years of PBT data from nearly 125,000 interior stream-type Chinook Salmon from 24 spawning hatcheries located in tributaries of the mid- and upper Columbia River as well as the Salmon, Clearwater, and Grande Ronde River subbasins. Multigenerational pedigrees allowed investigation of the proportion of natural- and hatchery-origin broodstock (pNOB and pHOB, respectively) for each hatchery and enumeration of the scale of production between segregated and integrated programs. We then compared how pHOB and the scale of production influenced the number of stray fish observed, genetic diversity, relatedness, and age-class compositions within broodstocks. Over 91.0% of hatchery broodstock could be assigned back to their parents, and there was an overall rate of less than 1.0% of broodstock that were unintentionally incorporated into nonnatal hatchery programs. We evaluated 14 segregated programs with 0.0–10.0% pNOB, 7 intermediate programs (10.1–50.0% pNOB), and 3 integrated programs (>50.0% pNOB). There was no correlation between the scale of production or pNOB with the level of genetic diversity, but as production size increased, so did the effective number of breeders. This study demonstrates the utility of PBT as a monitoring tool for hatchery broodstocks, and results suggest that segregated and integrated programs have tradeoffs that generally align with their intended broodstock management purpose of providing fish for harvest and/or fish for supplementation or reintroduction.

Horn, Rebekah L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Multigeneration Pedigrees to Monitor Hatchery Broodstock Composition and Genetic Variation of Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon in the Columbia River Basin

Abstract Hatchery production of Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Columbia River basin comprises most of the anadromous salmonid production in this region. Hatchery facilities and programs serve to mitigate for impacts to salmonids due to the construction and operation of hydropower dams and habitat impacts from development in addition to the conservation and restoration of natural populations. A genetic method referred to as parentage-based tagging (PBT) enables highly reliable detection of hatchery-origin fish and inference of multigeneration pedigrees. This study compiles 11 years of PBT data from nearly 125,000 interior stream-type Chinook Salmon from 24 spawning hatcheries located on tributaries of the mid- and upper Columbia River and in the Salmon, Clearwater, and Grande Ronde River subbasins. Multigenerational pedigrees allowed for investigation of the proportions of natural- and hatchery-origin broodstock (pNOB and pHOB, respectively) for each hatchery and enumeration of the scale of production between segregated and integrated programs. We then compared how pHOB and the scale of production influenced the number of stray fish observed, genetic diversity, relatedness, and age-class compositions within broodstocks. Over 91.0% of hatchery broodstock could be assigned back to their parents, and overall less than 1.0% of broodstock consisted of fish that were unintentionally incorporated into nonnatal hatchery programs. We evaluated 11 segregated programs with 0.0–10.0% pNOB, 9 intermediate programs (10.1–50.0% pNOB), and 3 integrated programs (>50.0% pNOB). There was no correlation between the scale of production or pNOB with the level of genetic diversity, but as production size increased, so did the effective number of breeders. This study demonstrates the utility of PBT as a monitoring tool for hatchery broodstocks, and results suggest that segregated and integrated programs have tradeoffs that generally align with their intended broodstock management purpose of providing fish for harvest and/or fish for supplementation or reintroduction.

Horn, Rebekah L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Genetic variation associated with adult migration timing in lineages of Steelhead and Chinook Salmon in the Columbia River

Abstract With the discovery of a major effect region (GREB1L, ROCK1) for adult migration timing in genomes of both Chinook Salmon and Steelhead, several subsequent studies have investigated the effect size and distribution of early and late migration alleles among populations in the Columbia River. Here, we synthesize the results of these studies for the major lineages of Chinook Salmon and Steelhead that include highly distinct groups in the interior Columbia River that exhibit atypical life histories from most coastal lineage populations of these two species. Whole‐genome studies with high marker density have provided extensive insight into SNPs most associated with adult migration timing, and suites of markers for each species have been genotyped in large numbers of individuals to further validate phenotypic effects. For Steelhead, the largest phenotypic effect sizes have been observed in the coastal lineage (36% of variation for passage timing at Bonneville Dam; 43% of variation for tributary arrival timing) compared to the inland lineage (7.5% of variation for passage timing at Bonneville Dam; 8.4% of variation for tributary arrival timing) that overwinter in freshwater prior to spawning. For Chinook Salmon, large effect sizes have been observed in all three lineages for multiple adult migration phenotypes (Coastal lineage: percentage of variation of 27.9% for passage timing at Bonneville Dam, 28.7% for arrival timing for spawning; Interior ocean type: percentage of variation of 47.6% for passage timing at Bonneville Dam, 39.6% for tributary arrival timing, 77.9% for arrival timing for spawning; Interior stream type: percentage of variation of 35.3% for passage at Bonneville Dam, 9.8% for tributary arrival timing, 4.7% for arrival timing for spawning). Together, these results have extended our understanding of genetic variation associated with life history diversity in distinct populations of the Columbia River, however, much research remains necessary to determine the causal mechanism for this major effect region on migration timing in these species.

Narum, Shawn R.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Visual and genetic stock identification of a test fishery to forecast Columbia River spring Chinook salmon stocks 2 weeks into the future

Abstract Modern fisheries management strives to balance opposing goals of protection for weak stocks and opportunity for harvesting healthy stocks. Test fisheries can aid management of anadromous fishes if they can forecast the strength and timing of an annual run with adequate time to allow fisheries planning. Integration of genetic stock identification (GSI) can further maximize utility of test fisheries by resolving run forecasts into weak‐ and healthy‐stock subcomponents. Using 5 years (2017–2022) of test fishery data, our study evaluated accuracy, resolution, and lead time of predictions for stock‐specific run timing and abundance of Columbia River spring Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ). We determined if this test fishery (1) could use visual stock identification (VSI) to forecast at the coarse stock resolution (i.e., classification of “lower” vs. “upriver” stocks) upon which current management is based and (2) could be enhanced with GSI to forecast at higher stock resolution. VSI accurately identified coarse stocks (83.3% GSI concordance), and estimated a proxy for abundance (catch per unit effort, CPUE) of the upriver stock in the test fishery that was correlated ( R 2 = 0.90) with spring Chinook salmon abundance at Bonneville dam (Rkm 235). Salmon travel rates (~8.6 Rkm/day) provided predictions with 2‐week lead time prior to dam passage. Importantly, GSI resolved this predictive ability as finely as the hatchery broodstock level. Lower river stock CPUE in the test fishery was correlated with abundance at Willamette Falls (Rkm 196, R 2 = 0.62), but could not be as finely resolved as achieved for upriver stocks. We described steps to combine VSI and GSI to provide timely in‐season information and with prediction accuracy of ~12.4 mean absolute percentage error and high stock resolution to help plan Columbia River mainstem fisheries.

Hess, Jon E.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Water Temperature, Prey Concentration and Salmonid Density Influence Daily Growth of Wild Juvenile Salmonids in Tributaries of the Upper Salmon River, Idaho ( USA )

ABSTRACT Theory, experiments and field studies indicate that the somatic growth rate of freshwater consumers is shaped by the individual, additive and multiplicative effects of multiple factors, including consumer size and condition, temperature, prey resources and biotic interactions. While our understanding of how these factors affect wild populations of freshwater consumers is improving, the topic remains poorly studied, especially with respect to mobile species. Here, we report on an 8‐year, seven‐stream ( n = 49 stream‐year combinations) observational study examining the individual and interactive effects of invertebrate prey concentration (F, mg/m 3 ), mean daily water temperature (T, °C) and juvenile Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) density (D, fish/100 m 2 ) on summer daily growth rates (%/d) of mobile, anadromous, juvenile Chinook salmon (age‐0+, n = 382) and sub‐yearling (age‐0+, n = 61) and yearling (age‐1+) steelhead trout ( O. mykiss , n = 70) rearing in cold (mean daily summer: 12.1°C, range: 4.2°C–16.7°C) mountain tributaries of the Salmon River basin in central Idaho (USA). AIC c model selection indicated that daily juvenile salmonid growth positively correlated with water temperature, prey biomass concentration, local juvenile Chinook density and the interaction between water temperature and food but with species and age‐specific differences. Water temperature was a covariate in all top‐ranked models, with daily growth (%/day) rate increasing (0.05%–0.23%/d) linearly with mean daily summer water temperature. In addition to a direct positive relationship with daily growth rate, there was evidence that prey concentration positively interacted with water temperature to accelerate daily growth (F × T). The positive relationship between juvenile salmonid daily growth rate and juvenile Chinook density is difficult to explain and could result from confounding factors. The individual success observed in these streams may contribute to population‐level benefits for the focal consumers, as prey‐rich, warm summers may result in larger individuals with higher energy reserves at the end of the summer/autumn growing season, contributing to improved overwinter survival. Our results, taken in combination with evidence from models, experiments and observational studies, have climate change implications. Current and predicted increases in water temperature will necessitate higher rates of prey consumption by aquatic ectothermic consumers to offset accelerated metabolic demands. Thus, to improve the resilience of mobile freshwater consumers in a warming climate, we suggest that natural resource managers not only consider physical and chemical habitat conditions but also biotic conditions, including the spatiotemporal quantity and quality of prey resources.

Kiffney, Peter. M. [Fish Ecology, Northwest Fisher↗
NASA NTRS2022

Maine Ecological Forecasting III: Utilizing Earth Observations to Monitor Federally Endangered Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Habitat in Maine: An Interactive Workshop

Shifting patterns in land use and land cover (LULC), temperature, and precipitation have exacerbated a rapid decline in Federally Endangered wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations. The team at NASA DEVELOP partnered with the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and the Downeast Salmon Federation (DSF) to create a comprehensive workshop designed to demonstrate the applicability of Earth observations in examining these threats using the Penobscot, Union, and Machias Rivers as case studies. This entailed curating tutorials for acquiring and analyzing satellite data using Google Earth Engine, EarthExplorer, and Earthdata. The team demonstrated how to classify LULC in ArcGIS Pro from 1985 until 2021 using Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM), Landsat 8 Operation Land Imager (OLI), Sentinel-2 MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI), and datasets from the United Stated Geological Survey (USGS) National Land Cover Database (NLCD), showing an overall transition from coniferous forests to other LULC classes. The team also demonstrated how to use historical data from Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM IMERG) to generate 2021 land surface temperature (LST) and precipitation maps, respectively, showing that Maine was abnormally dry during the summer in an increasingly warm region. These workshop materials will aid the partners in integrating NASA Earth observations into their future salmon habitat restoration initiatives.

Jonathan Falciani↗