Prince William Sound System Investigation: Experimental Manipulation. RestorationProject 94320L. EXXON VALDEZ Oil Spill Restoration Project Final Report

摘要

Studies of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) population dynamics and theirrole in the complex marine ecosystem of PWS is a central objective of the Sound Ecosystem Assessment program. The systems investigation component proposes that releases of hatchery-nutured and marked pink salmon fry will test the influence of ocean-entry timing and fry size at ocean entry on losses to predators. The rearing and release strategies included; (1) early fed, (2) direct release, (3) mid-release, (4) late fed. Predetermined numbers, sizes, and times allowed us to measure the influence of ocean-entry timing and fry size at ocean entry due to losses by predation. By utilizing multiple release sites for the ocean entry coordinates, an increase in the spatial differences at ocean entry point allows insight into the subtle effect of geographic influences of the interaction of apical predators.