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Using Time‐Lapsed Video to Estimate Survey Life for Area‐under‐the‐Curve Methods of Escapement Estimation
Author(s) -
Shardlow Tom
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/m03-182.1
Subject(s) - oncorhynchus , escapement , chinook wind , fishery , biology , estimation , fish <actinopterygii> , engineering , systems engineering
Accurate estimation of spawner populations for Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. is critically important in stock assessment for fisheries management and science. Survey life (SL) is one essential component for area‐under‐the‐curve (AUC) estimation of spawner populations. However, AUC spawner estimates often rely on a constant or borrowed estimate of SL because reliable estimates require extensive and costly annual field programs. Using a constant SL estimate can introduce serious bias when estimating spawner populations for sockeye salmon O. nerka as well as other salmon species. In this study, inexpensive video observations of redd residency time (RRT) of female sockeye salmon were used to approximate SL. Data from past studies indicate that RRT and SL are often close in duration for sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon O. tshawytscha, and coho salmon O. kisutch. In addition, SL estimates for male and female sockeye salmon are not significantly different. As a result, the RRT of female sockeye salmon, as observed by time‐lapsed video recordings, can be used to provide an inexpensive annual estimate of sockeye salmon SL.