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Classifying Hatchery Steelhead Trout Stocks Using Otolith Chemistry: Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Adult Steelhead Trout

Boehler, Christopher Thomas
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1282522736

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, Biological Sciences.
The salmonid fishery in Lake Erie is sustained by the stocking of ~2 million steelhead trout smolts (Oncorhynchus mykiss; MI 60,000; NY 250,000; OH 450,000; & PA 1,100,000) annually into tributaries of the four adjoining states. To better understand the mixed stock distribution in the lake and the dynamics of returning adult steelhead to their release tributaries, large scale marking of hatchery smolts is needed. Microchemical signatures of smolt otoliths measured by laser-ablation-inductively-coupled-plasma-mass-spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) were used to identify each hatchery stock. The state-specific hatchery stocks were identified with high confidence using discriminant analysis (included Sr and Ba concentrations in three otolith regions) and jackknifed validation (OH 100.0%, MI 93.1%, NY 96.3%, & PA 93.9% correct assignment). One Lake Erie tributary, Conneaut Creek, provides a unique opportunity to determine the extent of site fidelity of adult steelhead trout because it is equally stocked by both OH and PA each spring. Returning steelhead trout (N = 174) were collected from two different Conneaut Creek sites, Conneaut OH (2 km from Lake Erie) and Albion PA (40 km from Lake Erie), in the spring (April) and fall (November) of 2009. The hatchery stocks from different states were identified using the microchemistry of their otoliths. Classification results of a discriminant analysis (DA) based on elemental concentrations (ppm) of both Sr and Ba from returning adult steelhead are as follows: 32.8% OH, 60.9% PA, 1.7% NY, 0.6% MI, and 4.0% unknown (Total N = 174). Ohio stocked steelhead were collected in both the spring and fall at the Conneaut OH site, but no OH stocked steelhead were collected at the PA site in either the spring or fall. This demonstrates strong within stream stock partitioning between the OH and PA stocked steelhead. Percentages of vagrancy of the total classified adult steelheads collected from hatchery sources not stocked in Conneaut Creek were 2.3% (1.7% NY and 0.6% MI). Because the state-specific hatchery stocks could be accurately distinguished an opportunity is provided for fisheries biologists to gain knowledge of the mixed stock distribution and site fidelity of steelhead trout in Lake Erie.
Jeffrey Miner, PhD (Advisor)
John Farver, PhD (Advisor)
Sheryl Coombs, PhD (Committee Member)
53 p.
Ecology; Freshwater Ecology; Geochemistry
steelhead; trout; otolith chemistry; Lake Erie; Great Lakes; salmonid; stock; site fidelity

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Boehler, C. T. (2010). Classifying Hatchery Steelhead Trout Stocks Using Otolith Chemistry: Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Adult Steelhead Trout [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1282522736

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Boehler, Christopher. Classifying Hatchery Steelhead Trout Stocks Using Otolith Chemistry: Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Adult Steelhead Trout. 2010. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1282522736.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Boehler, Christopher. "Classifying Hatchery Steelhead Trout Stocks Using Otolith Chemistry: Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Adult Steelhead Trout." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1282522736

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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