The findings suggest that elevated peak flows during the incubation period of salmon eggs can negatively impact egg survival and smolt production. This is because high peak flows can physically disrupt salmon redds, leading to the crushing or displacement of eggs. Unlike temperature changes, physical disturbances are challenging for salmon to evade or adapt to due to their specific spawning habitat requirements.
Seasonal and daily variations in streamflow can also limit freshwater salmon habitat. Extreme flows during egg incubation periods can limit egg-to-fry survival rates by scouring redds, crushing eggs, or depositing fine sediments that reduce available oxygen.
High streamflow can contribute to the disappearance of eggs from the upper segment of spawning grounds, even without mechanical disturbance of the bed. Turbulent water can dislodge eggs from coarse bed materials, and eggs are susceptible to predation. Movement of streambed material during peak flows indirectly affects egg survival. Increased sediment deposition reduces water movement and dissolved oxygen levels in the gravel, which can delay embryo development, lead to premature emergence, and result in smaller fry. These effects diminish fry's ability to compete for resources and increase vulnerability to predation, negatively impacting egg-to-fry survival.
While flood events play a crucial role in determining the survival of Chinook salmon eggs, they also contribute to the formation and maintenance of rearing habitats. Eliminating flood events entirely would have adverse effects on juvenile salmon. Instead, it is important to address any impairment of natural processes that may cause higher-than-normal flood magnitudes or frequencies.
Literature Cited:
J. Ryan Bellmore, Christopher J. Sergeant, Rebecca A. Bellmore, Jeffrey A. Falke, and Jason B. Fellman. 2022. Modeling coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) population response to streamflow and water temperature extremes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 80(2): 243-260. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2022-0129
Leppi, J.C., Rinella, D.J., Wilson, R.R. and Loya, W.M. (2014), Linking climate change projections for an Alaskan watershed to future coho salmon production. Glob Change Biol, 20: 1808-1820. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12492
Mantua, N., Tohver, I. & Hamlet, A. Climate change impacts on streamflow extremes and summertime stream temperature and their possible consequences for freshwater salmon habitat in Washington State. Climatic Change 102, 187–223 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-010-9845-2
Goode, J.R., Buffington, J.M., Tonina, D., Isaak, D.J., Thurow, R.F., Wenger, S., Nagel, D., Luce, C., Tetzlaff, D. and Soulsby, C. (2013), Potential effects of climate change on streambed scour and risks to salmonid survival in snow-dominated mountain basins. Hydrol. Process., 27: 750-765. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9728
P W Lawson, E A Logerwell, N J Mantua, R C Francis, and V N Agostini. 2011. Environmental factors influencing freshwater survival and smolt production in Pacific Northwest coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 61(3): 360-373. https://doi.org/10.1139/f04-003
Shanley, C. S., & Albert, D. M. (2014). Climate change sensitivity index for Pacific salmon habitat in Southeast Alaska. PLoS One, 9(8), e104799.
McNeil, W. J. (1969). Survival of pink and chum salmon eggs and alevins. Salmon and trout in streams. HR McMillan Lectures in Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, 101-117.
Beamer, E., Hayman, B., & Hinton, S. (2005). Linking Watershed Conditions to Egg-to-Fry Survival of Skagit Chinook Salmon. An appendix to the Skagit River System Cooperative Chinook Recovery Plan. Draft Version, 2.
Cunjak, R.A., Linnansaari, T. and Caissie, D. (2013), The complex interaction of ecology and hydrology in a small catchment: a salmon's perspective. Hydrol. Process., 27: 741-749. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9640
Mantua, N., Tohver, I., & Hamlet, A. (2009). Impacts of climate change on key aspects of freshwater salmon habitat in Washington State.
Kaylor, Matthew J., Armstrong, Jonathan B., Lemanski, Joseph T., Justice, Casey, and White, Seth M.. 2022. “ Riverscape Heterogeneity in Estimated Chinook Salmon Emergence Phenology and Implications for Size and Growth.” Ecosphere 13( 7): e4160. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4160.
CUNJAK, R.A. and THERRIEN, J. (1998), Inter-stage survival of wild juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 5: 209-223. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2400.1998.00094.x
The findings suggest that elevated peak flows during the incubation period of salmon eggs can negatively impact egg survival and smolt production. This is because high peak flows can physically disrupt salmon redds, leading to the crushing or displacement of eggs. Unlike temperature changes, physical disturbances are challenging for salmon to evade or adapt to due to their specific spawning habitat requirements. Seasonal and daily variations in streamflow can also limit freshwater salmon habitat. Extreme flows during egg incubation periods can limit egg-to-fry survival rates by scouring redds, crushing eggs, or depositing fine sediments that reduce available oxygen.
High streamflow can contribute to the disappearance of eggs from the upper segment of spawning grounds, even without mechanical disturbance of the bed. Turbulent water can dislodge eggs from coarse bed materials, and eggs are susceptible to predation. Movement of streambed material during peak flows indirectly affects egg survival. Increased sediment deposition reduces water movement and dissolved oxygen levels in the gravel, which can delay embryo development, lead to premature emergence, and result in smaller fry. These effects diminish fry's ability to compete for resources and increase vulnerability to predation, negatively impacting egg-to-fry survival.
While flood events play a crucial role in determining the survival of Chinook salmon eggs, they also contribute to the formation and maintenance of rearing habitats. Eliminating flood events entirely would have adverse effects on juvenile salmon. Instead, it is important to address any impairment of natural processes that may cause higher-than-normal flood magnitudes or frequencies.
Literature Cited:
J. Ryan Bellmore, Christopher J. Sergeant, Rebecca A. Bellmore, Jeffrey A. Falke, and Jason B. Fellman. 2022. Modeling coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) population response to streamflow and water temperature extremes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 80(2): 243-260. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2022-0129
Leppi, J.C., Rinella, D.J., Wilson, R.R. and Loya, W.M. (2014), Linking climate change projections for an Alaskan watershed to future coho salmon production. Glob Change Biol, 20: 1808-1820. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12492
Mantua, N., Tohver, I. & Hamlet, A. Climate change impacts on streamflow extremes and summertime stream temperature and their possible consequences for freshwater salmon habitat in Washington State. Climatic Change 102, 187–223 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-010-9845-2
Goode, J.R., Buffington, J.M., Tonina, D., Isaak, D.J., Thurow, R.F., Wenger, S., Nagel, D., Luce, C., Tetzlaff, D. and Soulsby, C. (2013), Potential effects of climate change on streambed scour and risks to salmonid survival in snow-dominated mountain basins. Hydrol. Process., 27: 750-765. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9728
P W Lawson, E A Logerwell, N J Mantua, R C Francis, and V N Agostini. 2011. Environmental factors influencing freshwater survival and smolt production in Pacific Northwest coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 61(3): 360-373. https://doi.org/10.1139/f04-003
Shanley, C. S., & Albert, D. M. (2014). Climate change sensitivity index for Pacific salmon habitat in Southeast Alaska. PLoS One, 9(8), e104799.
McNeil, W. J. (1969). Survival of pink and chum salmon eggs and alevins. Salmon and trout in streams. HR McMillan Lectures in Fisheries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, 101-117.
Beamer, E., Hayman, B., & Hinton, S. (2005). Linking Watershed Conditions to Egg-to-Fry Survival of Skagit Chinook Salmon. An appendix to the Skagit River System Cooperative Chinook Recovery Plan. Draft Version, 2.
Cunjak, R.A., Linnansaari, T. and Caissie, D. (2013), The complex interaction of ecology and hydrology in a small catchment: a salmon's perspective. Hydrol. Process., 27: 741-749. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9640
Mantua, N., Tohver, I., & Hamlet, A. (2009). Impacts of climate change on key aspects of freshwater salmon habitat in Washington State.
Kaylor, Matthew J., Armstrong, Jonathan B., Lemanski, Joseph T., Justice, Casey, and White, Seth M.. 2022. “ Riverscape Heterogeneity in Estimated Chinook Salmon Emergence Phenology and Implications for Size and Growth.” Ecosphere 13( 7): e4160. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4160.
CUNJAK, R.A. and THERRIEN, J. (1998), Inter-stage survival of wild juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 5: 209-223. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2400.1998.00094.x
Joshua Weinheimer, Joseph H. Anderson, Mark Downen, Mara Zimmerman, Thom Johnson. (2017) Monitoring Climate Impacts: Survival and Migration Timing of Summer Chum Salmon in Salmon Creek, Washington. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 146:5, pages 983-995