Abundance and Run Timing of Adult Salmon in the Kateel River

A 3-year study was initiated in 2001 to collect biological information on Chinook Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and summer chum salmon O. keta migrating into the Kateel River to spawn, a tributary of the Koyukuk River, Alaska. A resistance board weir was used to assess passage rates and collect biologica...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: K. Vanhatten, U. S. Fish, Gareth K. Vanhatten
Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
Format: Text
Language:English
Subjects:
Online Access:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.651.1561
http://www.arlis.org/docs/vol1/A/58735057.pdf
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Summary:A 3-year study was initiated in 2001 to collect biological information on Chinook Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and summer chum salmon O. keta migrating into the Kateel River to spawn, a tributary of the Koyukuk River, Alaska. A resistance board weir was used to assess passage rates and collect biological data. Additionally, passage information was recorded for whitefish (Coregoninae), longnose sucker Catostomus catostomus, Arctic grayling Thymallus arcticus, and northern pike Esox lucius. Due to unforeseen delays in transporting the weir material and field supplies to this remote site, the weir was not fully operational in 2001. In 2002, the weir was installed and operated from June 23 to July 27. A total of 73 Chinook and 2,853 summer chum salmon passed through the weir. The most abundant resident species passing through the weir were whitefish (N=13), followed by longnose sucker (N=6), Arctic grayling (N=4), and northern pike (N=3). The median passage date for Chinook salmon was July 12. Females comprised 29 % of the Chinook salmon run, with age class 1.2 dominating (50%). The mean MEL length of female Chinook salmon was 710 mm, ranging from 515