North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission

Technical Report 17

Table of Contents

The Use of Spatial Stream Network Models to Evaluate the Effects of Varying Stream Temperatures on Wild Coho Life History Expression and Survival

Authors: 
Marisa N.C. Litz, Mickey Agha, John J. Winkowski, Devin West, and Jennifer Kordosky

Abstract Excerpt:
Climate change is affecting survival of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) stocks all along the west coast of North America. In this study, we evaluated survival of wild coho salmon (O. kisutch) measured at Bingham Creek in western Washington, where a full census trap has operated since 1982 (Fig. 1). Annually at the trapping site, all coho smolts were marked with a coded wire tag (CWT) and released. Returns of tagged precocious males (jacks) and recoveries of tagged adults in fisheries and returning to the trap were used to estimate marine survival. The relationship between jack and adult marine survival has been used as a management tool to forecast returns of wild coho throughout coastal watersheds for decades but has become increasingly unreliable. The goal of this study was to use environmental indicators to better account for variation in jack and adult marine survival and improve forecasting skills.

*This is the first paragraph of an extended abstract. Download the full abstract below.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23849/npafctr17/44.49.

Citation

Litz, M.N.C., M. Agha, J.J. Winkowski, D. West, and J. Kordosky.  2021.  The use of spatial stream network models to evaluate the effects of varying stream temperatures on wild coho life history expression and survival.  N. Pac. Anadr. Fish Comm. Tech. Rep. 17: 44–49.  https://doi.org/10.23849/npafctr17/44.49.