Climate change can have significant effects on salmon growth and survival and the Bering Sea has experienced significant climate shifts in recent decades. Studies have shown that pink salmon can adversely affect growth and survival of sockeye, chum, and Chinook salmon at sea, whereas pink salmon fry can enhance growth and survival of coho salmon smolts. Anecdotal observations by AYK biologists indicate these mechanisms are operating in the AYK region. We proposed to test the hypotheses that climate change and pink salmon have adversely affected growth and abundance of Norton Sound chum salmon, whereas pink salmon have positively influenced growth and abundance of Norton Sound and Kuskokwim coho salmon. These hypotheses will be tested by reconstructing seasonal and annual growth of Norton Sound chum and coho salmon, and Kuskokwim coho salmon from historical collections of scales, 1967-2006. Age composition, catch and escapement of Norton Sound chum salmon will be used to reconstruct Norton Sound chum returns from parent spawning years. These datasets will be compared with climate indices and the alternating-year pattern of AYK pink salmon, which provides a natural experimental control to test the hypotheses. This project addresses several Highest Priority Research Themes identified in the Research and Restoration Plan.
The goal of the project is to evaluate effects of climate change and pink salmon interactions on growth and abundance of Norton Sound chum and coho salmon and Kuskokwim coho salmon. Specific objectives of this project are: Reconstruct annual and seasonal growth indices of Kwiniuk River chum salmon, 1975-2006, based on scale pattern analysis. Reconstruct Norton Sound adult chum salmon returns from each brood year (total or index return) using recently assembled age composition data (data recovery project), predictions of age composition from long-term age composition datasets (e.g., Kwiniuk and Unalakleet stocks), and available catch and spawning escapement data for each watershed in Norton Sound. Evaluate potential adverse effects of pink salmon and climate change on growth of Kwiniuk River chum salmon, and abundance of Norton Sound chum salmon. Reconstruct annual and seasonal growth indices of Unalakleet River coho salmon, 1983-2006, and Kuskokwim coho salmon, 1967-2006, based on scale pattern analysis. Evaluate potential beneficial effects of pink salmon abundance on growth and abundance of Unalakleet River and Kuskokwim River coho salmon.
Greg Ruggerone
gruggerone@nrccorp.com
Natural Resources Consultants, Inc.
206-285-3480
1900 West Nickerson Street, Suite 207
Seattle
WA
98119
A Final Report is available for this project: Click to view
A Project Authorization Statement is available for this project: Click to view
The following Semi Annual Progress Reports are available
January 2008
First Year Funding: $137,334.00
Second Year Funding:
Third Year Funding:
Fourth Year Funding:
Fields of Expertise |
| Biological Science |
| Population Biology - 26 Other Projects |
| Physical Science |
| Socio/Economic |
Professional Activity |
| Field research and Data Collection - 37 Other Projects |
Ecosystems |
| Freshwater – Rivers/Streams - 45 Other Projects |
| Marine – Pelagic - 11 Other Projects |
Ecosystem Components |
| Fish - 51 Other Projects |
| Species Groups |
| Anadromous salmonids - 51 Other Projects |
| Chum - 24 Other Projects |
| Coho - 17 Other Projects |
| Specific research issues |
| Climate change - 8 Other Projects |
| Ocean migration and survival - 10 Other Projects |
Geographic Regions |
| Kuskokwim River Watershed - 22 Other Projects |
| Norton Sound - 18 Other Projects |
Technological Expertise/Lab Methods |
| Lab Methods |
| Hard Part Analysis - 2 Other Projects |
| Technology |
Modeling |
| Method |
| Type |
Physical Science Specialties Areas |
Management/Policy/Social |