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Context-dependent diel behavior of upstream-migrating anadromous fishes

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Abstract

Variability is a hallmark of animal behavior and the degree of variability may fluctuate in response to environmental or biological gradients. For example, diel activity patterns during reproductive migrations often differ from those in non-breeding habitats, reflecting trade-offs among efficient route selection, reproductive phenology, and risk avoidance. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that diel movements of anadromous fishes differ among freshwater migration habitats. We analyzed diel movement data from ~13 000 radio-, PIT-, and acoustic-tagged adult fishes from five Columbia River species: Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; sockeye salmon, O. nerka; steelhead, O. mykiss; Pacific lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus; and American shad, Alosa sapidissima. All five species were active during most of the diel cycle in low-gradient, less hydraulically complex reservoir and riverine habitats. Movement shifted to predominantly diurnal (salmonids and American shad) or nocturnal (Pacific lamprey) at hydroelectric dam fishways where hydraulic complexity and predator density were high. Results suggest that context-dependent behaviors are common during fish migrations, and that diel activity patterns vary with the degree of effort or predation risk required for movement.

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Acknowledgments

Many people provided time and assistance during the course of the monitoring studies. We thank: T. Bjornn, T. Clabough, C. Boggs, T. Dick, M. Heinrich, B. Ho, E. Johnson, M. Jepson, D. Joosten, S. Lee, B. McIlraith, M. Morasch, G. Naughton, D. Queampts, R. Ringe, K. Tolotti, W. Daigle, and M. Quist (University of Idaho); B. Burke, K. Frick, and L. Stuehrenberg (National Marine Fisheries Service); H. Pennington (Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission); D. Clugston, M. Langeslay, T. Mackey, J. Rerecich, M. Shutters, and S. Tackley (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers); and J. Beeman, T. Castro-Santos and S. Juhnke (U.S. Geological Society).

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Author notes

  1. Christopher A. Peery

    Present address: Idaho Fishery Resource Office, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 4147 Ahsahka Rd, Ahsahka, ID, 83520, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844-1136, USA

    Matthew L. Keefer & Christopher C. Caudill

  2. Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA, 98112, USA

    Mary L. Moser

Authors
  1. Matthew L. Keefer
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  2. Christopher C. Caudill
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Correspondence to Matthew L. Keefer.

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Keefer, M.L., Caudill, C.C., Peery, C.A. et al. Context-dependent diel behavior of upstream-migrating anadromous fishes. Environ Biol Fish 96, 691–700 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-012-0059-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-012-0059-5

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