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Title: The role of density-dependent and –independent processes in spawning habitat selection by salmon in an Arctic riverscape

Abstract

Density-dependent (DD) and density-independent (DI) habitat selection is strongly linked to a species’ evolutionary history. Determining the relative importance of each is necessary because declining populations are not always the result of altered DI mechanisms but can often be the result of DD via a reduced carrying capacity. Here, we developed spatially and temporally explicit models throughout the Chena River, Alaska to predict important DI mechanisms that influence Chinook salmon spawning success. We used resource-selection functions to predict suitable spawning habitat based on geomorphic characteristics, a semi-distributed water-and-energy balance hydrologic model to generate stream flow metrics, and modeled stream temperature as a function of climatic variables. Spawner counts were predicted throughout the core and periphery spawning sections of the Chena River from escapement estimates (DD) and DI variables. In addition, we used isodar analysis to identify whether spawners actively defend spawning habitat or follow an ideal free distribution along the riverscape. Aerial counts were best explained by escapement and reference to the core or periphery, while no models with DI variables were supported in the candidate set. Moreover, isodar plots indicated habitat selection was best explained by ideal free distributions, although there was strong evidence for active defense of coremore » spawning habitat. These results are surprising, given salmon commonly defend spawning resources, and are likely due to competition occurring at finer spatial scales than addressed in this study.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5]
  1. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States). Inst. of Arctic Biology
  2. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States). U.S. Geological Survey
  3. Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, AK (United States)
  4. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  5. Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (Canada)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1396138
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-17-27606
Journal ID: ISSN 1932-6203
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
PLoS ONE
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 12; Journal Issue: 5; Journal ID: ISSN 1932-6203
Publisher:
Public Library of Science
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; Earth Sciences

Citation Formats

Huntsman, Brock M., Falke, Jeffrey A., Savereide, James W., Bennett, Katrina E., and Boyce, Mark S. The role of density-dependent and –independent processes in spawning habitat selection by salmon in an Arctic riverscape. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0177467.
Huntsman, Brock M., Falke, Jeffrey A., Savereide, James W., Bennett, Katrina E., & Boyce, Mark S. The role of density-dependent and –independent processes in spawning habitat selection by salmon in an Arctic riverscape. United States. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177467
Huntsman, Brock M., Falke, Jeffrey A., Savereide, James W., Bennett, Katrina E., and Boyce, Mark S. Mon . "The role of density-dependent and –independent processes in spawning habitat selection by salmon in an Arctic riverscape". United States. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177467. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1396138.
@article{osti_1396138,
title = {The role of density-dependent and –independent processes in spawning habitat selection by salmon in an Arctic riverscape},
author = {Huntsman, Brock M. and Falke, Jeffrey A. and Savereide, James W. and Bennett, Katrina E. and Boyce, Mark S.},
abstractNote = {Density-dependent (DD) and density-independent (DI) habitat selection is strongly linked to a species’ evolutionary history. Determining the relative importance of each is necessary because declining populations are not always the result of altered DI mechanisms but can often be the result of DD via a reduced carrying capacity. Here, we developed spatially and temporally explicit models throughout the Chena River, Alaska to predict important DI mechanisms that influence Chinook salmon spawning success. We used resource-selection functions to predict suitable spawning habitat based on geomorphic characteristics, a semi-distributed water-and-energy balance hydrologic model to generate stream flow metrics, and modeled stream temperature as a function of climatic variables. Spawner counts were predicted throughout the core and periphery spawning sections of the Chena River from escapement estimates (DD) and DI variables. In addition, we used isodar analysis to identify whether spawners actively defend spawning habitat or follow an ideal free distribution along the riverscape. Aerial counts were best explained by escapement and reference to the core or periphery, while no models with DI variables were supported in the candidate set. Moreover, isodar plots indicated habitat selection was best explained by ideal free distributions, although there was strong evidence for active defense of core spawning habitat. These results are surprising, given salmon commonly defend spawning resources, and are likely due to competition occurring at finer spatial scales than addressed in this study.},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0177467},
journal = {PLoS ONE},
number = 5,
volume = 12,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon May 22 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Mon May 22 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

A Rapid-Assessment Method to Estimate the Distribution of Juvenile Chinook Salmon in Tributary Habitats Using eDNA and Occupancy Estimation
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Main stem and off-channel habitat use by juvenile Chinook salmon in a sub-Arctic riverscape
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