Untitled
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
(Fertilized Egg)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
931 Water Motion Optimum 609 -
Details
The usable spawning and embryo incubation velocity range is ~0.20-1.15 m/s
with an optimal range of ~0.30-0.90 m/s: this range depends upon gravel
permeability, average substrate size, and average size of spawning adult.
Chinook stocks spawning in colder, northern latitudes may select slightly
lower velocity water for spawning.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
932 Temperature Lethal 1°C 626 609
Temperature Example
Details
There was no survival among chinook eggs incubated at a constant temper-
ature of 1°C. Eggs incubated at 12.8°C for 3.5 weeks, and thereafter at
1°C suffered only a 3% loss. Eggs incubated at 12.8°C for only two weeks
and then at 1°C suffered a 42% mortality.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
933 Temperature Optimum 609 -
Details
A period of incubation of >2 but £3.5 weeks at temperatures of ³4.5°C but
£12.8°C is necessary for good survival of late-summer-to fall-spawned chinook
embryos.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
935 Temperature Lethal ³15°C 609 -
Details
A water temperature ³15°C may be lethal to chinook embryos.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
936 Oxygen Limit ³2.5mg/l 609 -
at £7°C
Oxygen Optimum ³8 mg/l
at 7°10°C
Oxygen Optimum ³12 mg/l
at >10°C
Details
- The lower limit of oxygen concentration for survival with short-term
exposures is ³2.5 mg/l at water temperatures of £7°C. Optimal levels
are ³8 mg/l at temperatures ³7°C but £10°C and ³12 mg/l at temperatures
>10°C.
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
(Juvenile)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
918 Morice River, Water Level Limit 614 609
British Oxygen Limit -
Columbia Pred/Prey Limit
Details
- Three major factors contribute to overwinter losses of juvenile chinook
salmon, coho salmon,and steelhead in the Morice River: stranding and
freezing, low DO, and predation. All three factors were
correlated with toolow winter flows.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
938 Idaho Streams Water Motion Characteristic 619 609
Phys. Assoc. Characteristic
Details
During freshwater residence, juvenile chinook salmon tended to select
low focal-point-velocity water (0.0 to <40 cm/s) above silt
to-<40 cm-sized substrate.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
939 Phys. Assoc. Optimum 625 609
Details
The greatest densities of juvenile chinook salmon are associated with large,
deep, lowvelocity pools with abundant instream cover, overhanging banks
and vegetation, and rubble substrate.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
940 Phys. Assoc. Optimum 609 -
Details
For juvenile chinook salmon stocks that overwinter in the stream habitat,
it was estimated that ³15% of the stream area should be cover in the form
of relatively siltfree 10 to 40-cm substrate.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
941 Water Motion Characteristic 609 -
Phys. Assoc. Characteristic
Details
YOY chinook salmon tend to select water velocities 0-60 cm/s with an optimal
range of 0 to <40 cm/s at water depths of ³15 cm. Substrate occupied by
juvenile chinook ranges from silt to >40 cm in size, but optimal-size substrate
for escape and winter cover is 10-40 cm in diameter. Sand and silt deposits
in the 10-40 cm size substrate should be £5% for optimal use. Substrate use
becomes increasingly marginal as sand and silt deposits approach and exceed
30%. Stream area of ³20% with an average water-column velocity <60 cm/s
at depths ³15 cm is needed to provide a suitable habitat area for an average-
density juvenile chinook population. In addition, it was estimated that ³15%
of the stream area must have a 10-40 cm-sized, relatively silt-free, gravel
rubble area in order to provide adequate escape and winter cover for juvenile
chinook salmon. Most relatively siltfree chinook streams with a 40%-60%
pool area will provide adequate juvenile habitat area.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
942 Temperature Optimum 15°19°C 612 609
Temperature Lethal 248+0.4°C
Details
Excellent juvenile chinook salmon growth occurred at test
temperatures ranging from 15°19°C. Growth slowed significantly
at temperatures ³19°C and mortality was excessive at 24.8°C ± 0.4°C.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
943 Temperature Optimum 12°18°C 609 -
Details
A temperature range is 0°24°C with an optimal range of 12°18°C for chinook
salmon. Northern stocks may have a lower overall and optimal range.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
944 British Columbia Oxygen Tolerate 37 mg/l 614 609
Oxygen Lethal 23 mg/l
Details
Juvenile chinook salmon winter mortalities occurred when oxygen levels were
23 mg/l, but juveniles survived at oxygen levels ranging from 37 mg/l. There
was growing evidence that natural oxygen depression to levels <5 mg/l in late
winter is widespread in northern environments.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
945 Oxygen Limit 3 mg/l at £5°C 609 -
Oxygen Optimum ³9 mg/l at
£10°C
Oxygen Optimum 13 mg/l at
>10°C
Details
- Chinook salmon juveniles can survive short-term exposures to 3 mg/l oxygen
at temperatures £5°C. Optimal exposure levels are ³9 mg/l at £10°C and
13 mg/l at >10°C.
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
(Larva)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
937 Idaho Streams Depth Example 619 609
Water Motion Example
Competitors Example
Details
Upon emergence from the gravel, the greatest densities of newly emerged
chinook were observed some distance from shore at depths ³15 cm in pools
and eddies at velocities <50 cm/s. Lesser densities were observed in
faster (³60 cm/s) water where fish behaved territorially.
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
(Non-spawning Adult)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
17 Competitors Limit 20 -
Details
Lake trout and chinook salmon have a high degree of dietary and habitat
overlap.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
861 Idaho Streams Movement Example 567 555
Temperature Example
Details
Winter hiding behavior in salmonids is triggered by low (4°-8°C) temperatures.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
916 Washington State Phys. Assoc. Optimum 617 609
Area of Water Example 624
Details
Midday shade (~50%-75%) is optimal for most small salmonid streams.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
917 Phys. Assoc. Optimum 609 -
Details
In low- to moderate-gradient terrain, a buffer strip ~30 m wide on each
side of the stream (80% of which is either well vegetated or has stable,
rocky stream banks) provides adequate erosion control and maintains
undercut stream banks characteristic of good salmonid habitat.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
919 Water Motion Optimum 627 609
611
Details 628
An annual base flow ³50% of the average annual daily flow was considered
excellent for salmonid production. A base flow of 25%-50% was considered
fair to good. A base flow of <25% was considered poor.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
920 Big Qualicum Water Motion Optimum 620 609
River, British
Columbia
Details
A peak flow of ~5x the magnitude of an excellent base flow (or ~2.5x the
average annual daily flow) is considered acceptable for good salmonid
production. Peak flows exceeding these limits were considered progressively
more destructive.
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
(Spawning Adult)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
915 Phys. Assoc. Optimum 621 609
Details
A pooltoriffle ratio of ~1:1 (pool area ~40%-60%) appears to provide
an optimal mix of foodproducing and rearing areas for salmonids.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
921 Phys. Assoc. Characteristic 616 609
Details
Percentages of gravel sizes for chinook salmon redds are ~21% for 0.30-
1.25 cm, 41% for 1.25-6.00 cm, 24% for 6-10 cm, and 14% for 6-15 cm.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
922 Canadian Phys. Assoc. Characteristic 616 609
Details
An average spawning gravel-size range 3-15 cm for Canadian chinook salmon
has been listed.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
923 Phys. Assoc. Optimum 609 -
Details
Suitable spawning gravel for chinook salmon ranges in size from ~0.3-15.0 cm.
The upper size ran is being dependent upon the size of the spawner. The
optimal size range is estimated at ~2.0-10.6 cm.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
924 Depth Example £0.2 m 633 609
Details
Spawning in productive chinook salmon streams has been observed at £0.2 m
deep.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
925 Depth Example <7 m 616 609
Details
Spawning in productive chinook salmon streams has been observed at <7 m.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
926 Chilko River, Depth Example 610 609
British Columbia
Details
After a threeyear study on the Chilko River, it was reported that (beyond a
minimal figure) depth did not appear to exert a major influence on the
selection of spawning sites but velocity did. Shallow gravel beds that go
dry and are exposed to freezing in the winter were never heavily populated,
nor were they the first choice of spawning salmon.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
927 Depth Limit 0.2 m 618 609
Details
When the distribution of salmon spawners over the spawning ground was
optimum there was no spawning in waters <0.2 m.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
929 Depth Example £0.1 m 618 609
Details
At high spawner densities, salmon have been reported to spawn in water
£0.1 m deep.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
930 Depth Example 609 -
Details
Spawning of chinook salmon can successfully take place over a wide range of
depths. However, depth (beyond a minimal level required to protect embryos
from drying or freezing) does not significantly affect the selection of
spawning sites or the survival of embryos. An acceptable minimal spawning
depth for chinook salmon depends upon the amount of flow fluctuation. In
rivers with relatively stable flow regimes (base flow ³50% of the average
annual daily flow), an acceptable minimal spawning depth for chinook salmon
would be ³0.2 m.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
931 Water Motion Optimum 609 -
Details
The usable spawning and embryo incubation velocity range is ~0.20-1.15 m/s
with an optimal range of ~0.30 to 0.90 m/s: this range depends upon gravel
permeability, average substrate size, and average size of spawning adult.
Chinook stocks spawning in colder, northern latitudes may select slightly
lower velocity water for spawning.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
934 Great Lakes Temperature Example 609 -
Details
Any spring spawning stocks in the Great Lakes would spawn in the spring
while water temperatures are increasing.