Biophysical factors associated with the marine growth and survival of Auke Creek, Alaska coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

Abstract

Correlation and stepwise regression analyses were used to investigate relationships between growth in four distinct marine habitats, marine survival, and biophysical indices for Auke Creek coho salmon, a coho salmon population in Southeast Alaska. Early marine growth of males and females were positively correlated, but neither was correlated with early marine growth of jacks. Regional biophysical indices had significant effects on early marine growth of jack, but not on early marine growth of adult coho salmon. Sea surface temperature and number of hatchery pink and churn salmon juveniles released had negative and positive effects on growth in strait habitat, respectively. Hatchery pink and churn salmon abundance and pink salmon catch in Northern Southeast Alaska were negatively related to the growth of Auke Creek coho salmon in the late ocean phase. The average length-at-return of males, but not females, was negatively related to the abundance of hatchery pink and chum salmon. Female and male size-at-return were positively correlated (r = 0.68) but within-year variation was less for females, indicating possible sex-specific differences in adult size requirements associated with reproductive success. Adult survival and jack return rate were significantly related to early marine growth of adults and jacks, respectively, indicating size-selective mortality. Hatchery pink and churn salmon abundance had positive effects on adult survival and jack return rate.