Understanding Chinook Salmon-Ecosystem Interactions at the Limit of Their Inland Range, as Told by Trees and Teslin Tlingit Knowledge Holders
Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) function as major sources of sustenance and nutrients in moving from marine environments inland. This has been demonstrated in coastal systems by positive relationships between Pacific salmon abundance and riparian tree growth and δ15N, likely mediated by predators...
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1880/114605 https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/39725 |
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ftunivcalgary:oai:prism.ucalgary.ca:1880/114605 2023-08-27T04:12:19+02:00 Understanding Chinook Salmon-Ecosystem Interactions at the Limit of Their Inland Range, as Told by Trees and Teslin Tlingit Knowledge Holders Connoy, Jared Vamosi, Steven Rogers, Sean Munkittrick, Kelly 2022-04 application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/1880/114605 https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/39725 eng eng Science University of Calgary Connoy, J. (2022). Understanding Chinook salmon-ecosystem interactions at the limit of their inland range, as told by trees and Teslin Tlingit knowledge holders (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/39725 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/114605 University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Pacific Salmon Indigenous Knowledge Yukon Ecology Environmental Sciences master thesis 2022 ftunivcalgary https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/39725 2023-08-06T06:26:59Z Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) function as major sources of sustenance and nutrients in moving from marine environments inland. This has been demonstrated in coastal systems by positive relationships between Pacific salmon abundance and riparian tree growth and δ15N, likely mediated by predators and scavengers fertilizing the soil through consuming and transporting salmon carcasses. This thesis investigated whether these relationships occur at the limit of Pacific salmon distribution on the Teslin Tlingit Council (TTC) Traditional Territory in Southern Yukon, other ecosystem roles of salmon and population declines in the area, and the interactions of these processes. Tree growth chronologies were created at five riparian sites for 40-50 trees (N = 220) and related to salmon escapement or abundance data from the Yukon and Teslin rivers. Site growth chronologies were significantly and positively related to salmon escapement at three of four salmon-bearing sites and not at the negative (salmon-free) control site. Mean annual growth was higher at all salmon-bearing sites with significant salmon-growth relationships than at the negative control site. Salmon were estimated to increase tree growth by 17-39%. Mean δ15N was significantly higher at salmon-bearing sites compared to the negative control. Interviews were conducted with three Teslin Tlingit knowledge holders to study salmon-ecosystem interactions on the Traditional Territory. Interviews revealed measures of a healthy salmon run and large population declines that have negatively impacted local ecosystems (namely bears) and human wellbeing. Western scientific methods and Indigenous Knowledge included in this study suggest salmon population declines in the area have likely altered their role as nutrient sources. This study demonstrates the ubiquity of salmon as ecological and cultural keystone species, and the importance of considering multiple ways of knowing to improve research in complex ecological (and social-ecological) systems. Master Thesis Teslin tlingit Yukon PRISM - University of Calgary Digital Repository Yukon Pacific Teslin ENVELOPE(-132.724,-132.724,60.166,60.166) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
PRISM - University of Calgary Digital Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftunivcalgary |
language |
English |
topic |
Pacific Salmon Indigenous Knowledge Yukon Ecology Environmental Sciences |
spellingShingle |
Pacific Salmon Indigenous Knowledge Yukon Ecology Environmental Sciences Connoy, Jared Understanding Chinook Salmon-Ecosystem Interactions at the Limit of Their Inland Range, as Told by Trees and Teslin Tlingit Knowledge Holders |
topic_facet |
Pacific Salmon Indigenous Knowledge Yukon Ecology Environmental Sciences |
description |
Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) function as major sources of sustenance and nutrients in moving from marine environments inland. This has been demonstrated in coastal systems by positive relationships between Pacific salmon abundance and riparian tree growth and δ15N, likely mediated by predators and scavengers fertilizing the soil through consuming and transporting salmon carcasses. This thesis investigated whether these relationships occur at the limit of Pacific salmon distribution on the Teslin Tlingit Council (TTC) Traditional Territory in Southern Yukon, other ecosystem roles of salmon and population declines in the area, and the interactions of these processes. Tree growth chronologies were created at five riparian sites for 40-50 trees (N = 220) and related to salmon escapement or abundance data from the Yukon and Teslin rivers. Site growth chronologies were significantly and positively related to salmon escapement at three of four salmon-bearing sites and not at the negative (salmon-free) control site. Mean annual growth was higher at all salmon-bearing sites with significant salmon-growth relationships than at the negative control site. Salmon were estimated to increase tree growth by 17-39%. Mean δ15N was significantly higher at salmon-bearing sites compared to the negative control. Interviews were conducted with three Teslin Tlingit knowledge holders to study salmon-ecosystem interactions on the Traditional Territory. Interviews revealed measures of a healthy salmon run and large population declines that have negatively impacted local ecosystems (namely bears) and human wellbeing. Western scientific methods and Indigenous Knowledge included in this study suggest salmon population declines in the area have likely altered their role as nutrient sources. This study demonstrates the ubiquity of salmon as ecological and cultural keystone species, and the importance of considering multiple ways of knowing to improve research in complex ecological (and social-ecological) systems. |
author2 |
Vamosi, Steven Rogers, Sean Munkittrick, Kelly |
format |
Master Thesis |
author |
Connoy, Jared |
author_facet |
Connoy, Jared |
author_sort |
Connoy, Jared |
title |
Understanding Chinook Salmon-Ecosystem Interactions at the Limit of Their Inland Range, as Told by Trees and Teslin Tlingit Knowledge Holders |
title_short |
Understanding Chinook Salmon-Ecosystem Interactions at the Limit of Their Inland Range, as Told by Trees and Teslin Tlingit Knowledge Holders |
title_full |
Understanding Chinook Salmon-Ecosystem Interactions at the Limit of Their Inland Range, as Told by Trees and Teslin Tlingit Knowledge Holders |
title_fullStr |
Understanding Chinook Salmon-Ecosystem Interactions at the Limit of Their Inland Range, as Told by Trees and Teslin Tlingit Knowledge Holders |
title_full_unstemmed |
Understanding Chinook Salmon-Ecosystem Interactions at the Limit of Their Inland Range, as Told by Trees and Teslin Tlingit Knowledge Holders |
title_sort |
understanding chinook salmon-ecosystem interactions at the limit of their inland range, as told by trees and teslin tlingit knowledge holders |
publisher |
Science |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/1880/114605 https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/39725 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-132.724,-132.724,60.166,60.166) |
geographic |
Yukon Pacific Teslin |
geographic_facet |
Yukon Pacific Teslin |
genre |
Teslin tlingit Yukon |
genre_facet |
Teslin tlingit Yukon |
op_relation |
Connoy, J. (2022). Understanding Chinook salmon-ecosystem interactions at the limit of their inland range, as told by trees and Teslin Tlingit knowledge holders (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/39725 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/114605 |
op_rights |
University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/39725 |
_version_ |
1775356358060670976 |