Joel, Interesting dilemma, but there's some information missing that's important for full understanding. First, are these animals introduced as eggs to the mid and upper tribs and the females you mention have made the migration? What do you mean by "acclimated release site"?
If these animals were introduced as eggs to the upper river tribs, your thoughts on energetics is likely the single largest contributing factor in spawning success. There're reams of information on size-selective pressures on salmon populations, and an animal genetically and energetically adapted to a short migration won't easily transition to a long one.
One other factor that you may consider is that the average size among Columbia River coho has gone through a period of decline up to about four years ago, though I'm unfamiliar with any subsequent studies. If the brood source is affected by reduced average size, the progeny is likely to reflect reduced survivorship. Brian S. Bigler NW Region Asst. Biology Program Manager Washington State Department of Transportation > * 206-440-4519 > * [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message----- From: <Joel Hubble [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Friday, April 05, 2002 7:07 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: hatchery coho incubation survival
Dear Fish List Colleges,
First alittle background information. We are conducting a coho reintroduction study in the mid and upper tributaries (Yakima, Wenatchee, Methow) to the Columbia River using a lower river broodstock (since all mid and upper river stocks are extripated). Last fall in the 3 tributaries we are reintroducing coho we noticed females (primarily) dropping out and spawning well short of their acclimated release sites, suggesting that there's an energenics issue. Essentially a stammina issue in that a lower river stock fish is "being asked" to upmigrate a much greater distant than normal. We have noticed less than ideal or normal egg-to-fry survival in the hatchery from these hatchery broodstock in all 3 subbasins. I'm wondering if the poor incubation survival rate is somehow related to poor egg quality that is related to upmigration stress? Is there methods to measure egg quality (i.e. amounts of lipids, protiens, etc)?
Water quality tests have have shown nothing to suggest that the water source is the problem, as well as, the pathological results.
Thanks for your ideas and thoughts.
Joel Hubble Yakama Tribe
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