Affiliation:
1. Earth to Ocean Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
Abstract
We examine the importance of stream habitat characteristics in governing variation in spawning densities of sockeye salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka ) across 32 streams in the Fraser River Basin, British Columbia, Canada. We used mixed-effects models to examine four competing hypotheses for the influence of abiotic stream characteristics acting on either adult salmon or embryo mortality. All models that received support using Akaike’s information criterion included stream characteristics that are associated with cover. These included the percent area of pools, percentage of the banks that were undercut, and large woody debris (in that order). These results suggest the importance of stream characteristics, which reduce risk of predation on adults, in determining spawning sockeye salmon densities. Thus, identification of a small number of physical characteristics of streams provides insight into ecological processes that determine population densities. This information can be used to quantify habitat quality, which can guide habitat prioritization for conservation.
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Subject
Aquatic Science,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Reference45 articles.
1. Anderson, D.R. 2008. Model based inference in the life sciences: a primer on evidence. Springer, New York.
2. Bain, M., and Stevenson, N. 1999. Aquatic habitat assessment: common methods. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Md.
3. Bjornn, T.C., and Reiser, D.W. 1991. Habitat requirements of salmonids in streams. In Influences of forest and rangeland management of salmonid fishes and their habitat. Edited by W. Meehan. American Fisheries Society Special Publication, Bethesda, Md. pp. 83–138.
4. The Response of Salmon Populations to Geomorphic Measurements at Three Scales
5. Basin-scale availability of salmonid spawning gravel as influenced by channel type and hydraulic roughness in mountain catchments
Cited by
14 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献