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Spawning Migration of Lacustrine‐Adfluvial Bull Trout in a Natural Area
Author(s) -
Brenkman Samuel J.,
Larson Gary L.,
Gresswell Robert E.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(2001)130<0981:smolab>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - electrofishing , trout , fishery , geography , national park , fish measurement , fish migration , abundance (ecology) , fontinalis , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , biology , salvelinus
We investigated the spawning migration of lacustrine‐adfluvial bull trout Salvelinus confluentus in the North Fork Skokomish River in Olympic National Park (Washington State) during 1996. Day‐snorkeling and electrofishing were conducted to determine timing and duration of the migration and the distribution and abundance of bull trout. The primary spawning migration began in early October and was waning by December. Bull trout migrated 6 km or less up the river from Lake Cushman. Increased river discharge and decreased water temperature appeared to be the primary environmental variables corresponding to the initiation of the migration. Mean length of migratory bull trout increased from June to December. Comparisons with other lacustrine‐adfluvial bull trout populations in Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and British Columbia suggested that these populations exhibit specific migratory strategies related to local environmental conditions.