| ID |
2155 |
| Citation |
Johnston, N. T., E. A. MacIsaac, P. J. Tschaplinski, and K. J. Hall. 2004. Effects of the abundance of spawning sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) on nutrients and algal biomass in forested streams. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 61: 384 - 403. |
| Organization |
Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Simon Fraser University; Ministry of Forests; University of British Columbia |
| URL |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f03-172 |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
We used natural variation in sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spawner biomass among sites and years in three undisturbed, forested watersheds in interior British Columbia to test the hypotheses that salmon were a major source of particulate organic matter inputs to the streams and that carcass biomass determined stream-water nutrient concentrations and epilithic algal production. Sockeye carcasses were retained at the spawning sites, primarily (75–80%) by large woody debris (LWD) or pools formed by LWD. The abundance and distribution of sockeye salmon determined stream-water nutrient concentrations and epilithic chlorophyll a concentrations during late summer and early fall when most primary production occurred in the oligotrophic streams. Periphyton accrual rates were elevated at sites with high salmon biomass. Peak chlorophyll a concentration increased with increasing carcass biomass per unit discharge above a threshold value to reach maxima 10-fold greater than ambient levels. Epilithic algae were dominated by a few common, large diatom taxa. Salmon carcasses were the dominant source of particulate organic carbon in low gradient stream reaches. Nutrient budget modeling indicated that most of the salmon-origin nutrients were exported from the spawning streams or removed to the terrestrial ecosystem; diffuse impacts may extend over a much larger area than simply the sites used for spawning. |
| Information Type |
Article |
| Regional Watershed |
Middle River |
| Sub-watershed if known |
Bivouac Creek; Forfar Creek; Gluskie Creek |
| Aquifer # |
|
| Comments |
|
| Project status |
|
| Contact Name |
|
| Contact Email |
|
