Chum Salmon in the Canadian Arctic: The past, the present and the future

Transcription

1 Photo: M. Gruben Photo: R. Popko Photo: K. Dunmall Chum Salmon in the Canadian Arctic: The past, the present and the future Karen Dunmall 1, 2 Rob Bajno 1, Margaret Docker 2, Jim Reist 1 1: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 2: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Subsistence fishing Aklavik, NT Subsistence harvest Norman Wells, NT Commercial fishing boat Hay River, NT

2 Photo: K. Dunmall Outline The Past Historical presence Passive salmon collection program The Present Population structure analyses Catch Date & Location Morphology Genetic Analyses Community Involvement Communication Data Collection & Monitoring The Future Next steps

3 Mackenzie River watershed

4 Historical Presence Abundance in Canadian Arctic varies with species: Chum are the most frequent Pacific salmon species captured in the Canadian Arctic. Pink salmon are the second most frequent species captured All other species of Pacific salmon are extremely rare. Peel River Chum salmon are natal; all other species are vagrants Chum salmon are the only species natal to the Canadian Arctic suspected spawning populations in 3 tributaries of the Mackenzie River: the Peel, Liard and Slave Rivers. Liard River Slave River

5 Photo: J. Firth Pacific Salmon Collection Program DFO passive salmon collection program ( ) Started in 2000 (some were reported earlier) 263 salmon of all species reported to New research project started in 2011, continued in salmon were reported in salmon were reported in 2012 Total salmon reported ( ): 515 Chum is most common = 396 Pink = 74 Sockeye (and kokanee) = 18 Chinook = 15 Coho = 2 Pink salmon from Peel River, 2012

6 Chum and Pink Salmon in the Canadian Arctic

7 Pacific Salmon: Catch Locations

8 Population Structure: Mackenzie River? And Pacific Rim? Elsewhere? Peel River? Liard River? Slave River?

9 Previous Work: Pacific Rim Population Structure From Beacham et al From Beacham et al. 2009

10 Photo by K. Dunmall Chum Salmon Population Genetics Study 17 DNA microsatellite markers have been used to genotype 266 individuals. A model-based clustering method (STRUCTURE; Pritchard et al. 2000) for inferring population structure was used to determine the number of genetic groups present. Individuals were assigned to a population (or populations) based on their individual genotype; not based on any a priori spatial assumptions.

11 Chum Salmon Population Genetics Study Results: According to the STRUCTURE analysis, the number of inferred genetic groups = 2. There are no obvious correlations between assignments and local collection sites and/or collection years. Further investigations to resolve definable fine-scale structure will be undertaken. The population structure of these individuals within the broader chum salmon distribution in the Arctic will be explored

12 Chum Salmon Length by Year Caught

13 Frequency n = 205 n = 205 Median = 671 mm Chum salmon caught in 2011 Chum salmon caught in Fork Length (mm) Chum salmon returning to Liard River (From Irvine et al )

14 Chum Salmon Length by Location Delta Mid GSL

15 Chum Salmon Age Data Delta Mid GSL Age Delta Mid GSL Total % Total

16 Photo by K. Dunmall Community Involvement Communities throughout the Northwest Territories are heavily involved in this project. Pacific Salmon Reward Program Monitoring Pacific salmon catch locations and year-to-year relative abundance Monitoring environmental conditions (i.e. water temperature) Communication is essential Website Facebook site Letters, phone calls, s, brochures, posters Community presentations

17 arcticsalmon

18 Photo by K. Dunmall Future Work Many unknowns! Where do chum salmon spawn in the Mackenzie River? Are they spawning successfully? Are there multiple populations within the Mackenzie River? Are they adapted to specific spawning sites or environmental conditions? Are the higher numbers of chum salmon due to increased inputs from other sources or from increased populations within the Mackenzie River? Many more questions! Marine habitat use patterns? Interaction with native chars? Rat River Valley, NT

19 Photo by K. Dunmall Acknowledgements Previous work on salmon in Canadian Arctic. Richardson mountains near Aklavik, NT J. Babaluk, J. Irvine, E. Linn, N. Mochnacz, J. Reist, S. Stephenson, local community members. All communities and local harvesters for turning in salmon! DFO Inuvik, Yellowknife & NWT ENR staff, community organizations and many others for collecting salmon, handing out rewards. DFO Nanaimo (T. Beacham) for providing microsatellite information and PCR profiles DFO Nanaimo (S. MacLellan & staff) for aging the salmon and providing training Funding provided by: NSERC, DFO, CCSI, GRDI, ACCASP, CIMP, University of Manitoba.