Abundance, distribution, and size of juvenile sockeye salmon and major competitor species in Iliamna Lake and Lake Clark, 1966 and 1967
Kerns O. 1968. Abundance, distribution, and size of juvenile sockeye salmon and major competitor species in Iliamna Lake and Lake Clark, 1966 and 1967. University of Washington, Fisheries Research Insitute Circular. 68-11. Fisheries Research Institute. College of Fisheries. University of Washington. Seattle
The kvichak River system is the largest producer of sockeye salmon in Alaska, and the runs exhibit a cyclic variability in abundance. The annual escapement and smolt production were estimated by the Fisheries Research Institute from 1955 through 1960 and have been estimated since then by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Smolt studes provide a basis for prediction of future runs and estimation of the survival rate among young fish in lake nursery areas, where the young salmon remain one or two years before migrating to sea. Illiamna Lake and Lake Clark are the principal nersery areas for juvenile sockeye salmon in the Kvichak River. They are 2,622 and 267 sp km (1,012 and 103 sq miles) respectively, in size. The threespine stickleback is the primary competitor for food in Iliamna Lake and the least cisco in Lake Clark. In 1961, extensive nursery area studies were begun, with emphasis on abundance and size of fry (age 0) and fingerling (age 1) sockeye salmon. Financial support has come primarily from the salmon packers of Bristol Bay. The objectives have been (1) to obtain an index of abundance and determine distribution of sockeye fry and fingerlings and major cometitor species and (2) to determine the mean lengths and weights of juvenile sockeye salmon and major competitor species. Progress of the work in 1961 was reportb by Dunn (1962), and in 1962 through 1965 by Kerns (1965, 1966). Studies in 1966 and 1967 are summarized in this paper.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Kerns, OE
- Date of Issue
- 1968
- Publisher
- Fisheries Research Institute. College of Fisheries. University of Washington
- Units
- LACL
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Competition (Species), Distribution, Iliamna Lake AK, Juveniles, Lake Clark Lake Clark National Park and Preserve AK, Population, Size, Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)