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Abstract:
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From Oregon to Alaska, Chinook salmon stocks exhibit varying life history patterns. In addition, these salmon spend between 50--90% of their adult life in ocean environments. Recent studies indicate ocean conditions might affect survival. In order to demonstrate this hypothesis on large spatial scales, we analyzed tag recovery data used in management and estimated survival for numerous stocks. As these stocks are distributed from hundreds to thousands of kilometers apart, we studied ocean environmental data that would cover a similar geographical range. A broad-scale ocean signal is detected in ocean and survival anomalies for that time and space using cluster analysis and principal component analysis techniques. To resolve finer-scale resolution on survival, we use environmental data that correlate on stock-specific spatial scales. The implications on management are discussed.
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