Columbia River Basin Steelhead Kelt Reconditioning Physiology Research

Transcription

1 Columbia River Basin Steelhead Kelt Reconditioning Physiology Research Andy Pierce 1, 2, Doug Hatch 2, Dave Fast 3, Scott Everett 4, Matt Abrahamse 3, Laura Jenkins 1, Neil Graham 2, Lea Medeiros 1, Jim Nagler 1 Thanks to YN Fisheries, NPT Fisheries, USFWS Dworshak National Fish Hatchery, WDFW, IDFG, and many others. 1 University of Idaho, Moscow ID 2 Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Portland OR 3 Yakama Nation, Toppenish WA 4 Nez Perce Tribe, Lapwai ID PCSMM 218 Walla Walla

2 Kelt reconditioning is a restoration strategy that takes advantage of the repeat spawning life history of steelhead. 1% 7% 3%

3 Kelt reconditioning is being implemented at several locations in the Columbia River Basin. Yakima Prosser Upper Columbia Winthrop Snake Nez Perce TH, Dworshak Questions: What determines survival in kelt reconditioning? How does does survival vary between locations and over time?

4 Natural repeat spawning female steelhead have two major post-spawning life histories. Spawning Skip spawning is common in seasonally breeding iteroparous fishes, and is driven by energetics (Rideout 25). Return Migration Kelt Migration Skip spawning rates increase from 5% in the mid-columbia to 7% at Lower Granite (Keefer 28). Skip Spawner 17 months Consecutive Spawner 5 months Fecundity and egg size are greater in skip spawning than consecutive spawning Atlantic salmon (Reid & Chaput 212). Ocean Questions: Are these life histories found in captive reconditioning? What is the effect on reproductive performance?

5 In salmonids, maturation is initiated during a critical period about 1 year before spawning. Spring Summer/Fall Spring April August/September INITIATION CONTINUATION SPAWNING Survival, Growth, and Energy Reserves Questions: When is rematuration determined in steelhead kelts? What are the inputs to the decision?

6 The Reproductive Endocrine Axis regulates reproductive maturation in female salmonids. Environmental cues: Photoperiod Brain Internal cues: Energy stores Pituitary (FSH, LH) Estradiol (E2) Liver Vitellogenin (VG) Ovary Steroids (E2, 17,2DHP)

7 In rainbow trout, E2, VG, and Gonadosomatic Index increase beginning 6-9 months before spawning. 4 S p a w n i n g 5 G S I ( % B W ), V t g ( m g / m l ) E 2 V G G S I E 2 ( p g / m l ) M a r c h A p r i l M a y J u n e J u l y A u g u s t S e p t e m b e r O c t o b e r N o v e m b e r D e c e m b e r J a n u a r y F e b r u a r y M o n t h Sources: Bromage, Whitehead & Breton 1982 Gen Comp Endocrinol; Whitehead, Bromage & Breton 1983 Gen Comp Endocrinol; Tyler, Sumpter & Witthames 199 Biol Reprod; Prat, Sumpter & Tyler1996 Biol Reprod

8 Objectives Assess survival in kelt reconditioning projects and factors influencing survival. Determine whether the consecutive and skip spawning life histories are found in kelts reconditioned in captivity. Investigate when reproductive decisions are made in kelts. Assess reproductive performance in reconditioned kelts.

9 Wild steelhead kelts Methods DNFH hatchery steelhead model Post-spawning rainbow trout model Air spawning Egg metrics Blood sampling Plasma hormone assay PIT tag detection

10 In Yakima River kelts, survival was related to fish condition, collection date, and fork length. D. Hatch et al., 213, North American Journal of Fisheries Management.

11 Consecutive and skip spawning life histories are found in reconditioned Yakima River kelts. Fish can be screened by blood hormone level before release. V t g ( m g / m l ) V t g ( m g / m l ) V t g ( m g / m l ) C o u n t V t g ( m g / m l ) C o u n t / 2 9 / / 1 3 / / 1 3 / R e m a t u r i n g % % % N o n - r e m a t u r i n g E 2 ( p g / m l ) E 2 ( p g / m l ) E 2 ( p g / m l ) / 1 / / 1 4 / / 1 / % % % E 2 ( p g / m l ) E 2 ( l o g 1 p g / m l ) E 2 ( l o g 1 p g / m l ) A. Pierce et al., 217, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

12 F e m a le s k ip S u rv iv a l to re le a s e (% ) re m a tu ra tio n ra te (% ) F e m a le c o n s e c u tiv e D. Hatch et al., Kelt Reconditioning and Reproductive Success Evaluation Research 1/1/217-12/31/217, Bonneville Power Administration Annual Report. re m a tu ra tio n ra te (% ) Survival and consecutive maturation rates vary in CRB kelt reconditioning projects. Skip maturation rates are high. S u r v iv a l C o n s e c u tiv e M a tu r a tio n P ro s s e r W in th ro p D N F H H O R LG R Y e a r Y e a r S k ip M a tu r a tio n Y e a r

13 Plasma estradiol diverged at 2 weeks after spawning in airspawned DNFH kelts. Growth diverged over the first 1 weeks after spawning. E s tr a d io l 1 7 -B c o n c e n tr a tio n (p g /m l) M a s s S G R (% c h a n g e in b o d y w e ig h t p e r d a y ) 1 1 b c 1 a R e m a tu rin g b * * * *.5 a a.3 b * b b c a * A.1 * 1 B c * 1 D E D C B C N o n -re m a tu rin g -.1 A A A B B W e e k s a fte r S p a w n in g 1 -w e e k in te rv a ls a fte r s p a w n in g L. Jenkins et al., in preparation. Asterisks indicate significant differences between rematuring and non-rematuring fish; letters indicate differences over time. 215 spawn year.

14 R e p e a t S p a w n W e e k - M a id e n S p a w n W e e k Spawn timing was not shifted in consecutive spawning DNFH kelts. Skip spawners spawned 3 weeks earlier than their maiden spawn date. 5-5 N = 2 5 N = 2 2 C o n s e c u tiv e S p a w n e r s S k ip S p a w n e r s L. Jenkins et al., submitted. One sample t-test versus, Consecutive Spawners P=.85; Skip Spawners P<.1.

15 F e c u n d ity In d iv id u a l E g g M a s s (g ) T o ta l E g g M a s s (g ) Fecundity increased from maiden to consecutive to skip spawners. Egg size increased strongly in skip spawners B A A B B A C B A M a id e n C o n s e c u tiv e S k ip M a id e n C o n s e c u tiv e S k ip M a id e n C o n s e c u tiv e S k ip L. Jenkins et al., submitted. Letters indicate significant differences between groups (GLM followed by independent contrasts).

16 Rematuring reconditioned female kelts released in the fall of 217 are moving into spawning tributaries now. 9 released 1/24/17 65 detected at LGR 65 released 1/24/17 52 detected at PRO

17 Conclusions Reconditioned kelts express the consecutive and skip spawning life histories. Fish can be screened for maturation status before release. Survival and consecutive maturation rates near 6% can be expected, at least for Yakima and Upper Columbia kelts. Reproductive performance increases in reconditioned kelts versus maiden spawners. Reconditioned kelts are spawning throughout the Columbia River Basin. Additional ongoing research not covered Reproductive success in the wild and in a spawning channel (J. Stephenson, R. Branstetter). Genetic stock identification of kelts (A. Matala et al., 216, ICES J. Marine Sci). Models of benefit of kelt reconditioning (J. Trammel et al., 216, NAJFM; R. Lessard). Homing of kelts (D. Hatch). Energy reserves in kelts versus maidens (A. Pierce, L. Jenkins, M. Abrahamse).