Early life history of chum salmon in the Noatak River and Kotzebue Sound
Merritt MF and Raymond JA. 1983. Early life history of chum salmon in the Noatak River and Kotzebue Sound. FRED Report. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Fisheries Rehabilitation, Enhancement, and Development. Juneau, AK
(Adapted from authors' abstract.) Chum salmon spawning grounds investigated from 1979 through 1981 on the Noatak River were characterized by water temperatures 3 to 50C higher than temperatures in the Noatak River main stem. Intragravel temperatures dropped from approximately 90C in September to a minimum of 20C in April. Chum salmon eggs and alevins residing in these gravels would have acquired approximately 1,130 temperature units during the period 15 September to 30 April. Females were found to have an average fecundity of 3,120 eggs, which is larger than fecundities reported for other Alaska chum salmon. The peaks of spawning, eyeing, hatching, and emergence occurred, respectively, in mid- to late September, early November, late December through January, and early May. Diptera and Plecoptera were the most common prey. The peak of outmigration from Noatak River occurred in mid-June. Zooplankton abundance, about 2,000 to 7,000 organisms per cubic meter, was similar to that reported for other nearshore waters of Alaska. Juveniles grew rapidly once they reached the Sound and remained in nearshore waters until early July. Availability of spawning areas appeared to be the factor limiting chum salmon production in the Kotzebue Sound area.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Merritt, Margaret; Raymond, J
- Date of Issue
- 1983
- Publisher
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Fisheries Rehabilitation, Enhancement, and Development
- Units
- BELA , CAKR , NOAT
- Keywords
- Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Chinook Salmon, Chum Salmon, Diet, Fish, Habitat, Kelly River Lake, Kotzebue Sound, Life History, Migration, Noatak National Preserve, Noatak River, Oncorhynchus keta, Oncorhynchus tschawytscha, Physical Properties, Predation, Salinity, Salmon, Spawning, Water Temperature