Fidelity to Natal Tributary Streams by Kokanee Following Introduction to a Large Oligotrophic Reservoir

The WAC Bennett Dam was completed in 1968 and impounded the Upper Peace River to form the Williston Reservoir in north central British Columbia. In 1990, an enhancement project was initiated to stock Columbia River Kokanee (non-anadromous Sockeye Salmon; Oncorhynchus nerka) from southeastern British Columbia into tributary streams that drained into regions of the reservoir that were accessible by anglers. The current distribution of spawning Columbia-origin Kokanee in the Williston Reservoir watershed, however, does not reflect the locations where these fish were initially stocked and suggests extensive straying. Whether or not Kokanee will develop fidelity to specific spawning locations is not known, but it is important information to effectively manage these introduced fish. We used otolith microchemistry to estimate fidelity to natal streams by Columbia-origin Kokanee in the Williston Reservoir. Otolith elemental signatures for the region of the otolith that formed during the larval period and characterized the natal redd environment showed considerable variation among samples. Natal signatures tended to cluster for each river but not for all spawners, suggesting elemental signatures from other rivers. Homing to one of the four natal streams we examined was classified to be 73% based on linear discriminant analysis, although variation in the elemental signatures within each group suggests that homing by Kokanee to specific natal streams may be as low as 55%. Based on similarity of water elemental signatures for tributaries within large rivers, however, the proportion of fish that returned to their general region was likely higher and estimated to be approximately 83%. The result of regional homing could be reproductive isolation and adaptation to local conditions. It is unclear, however, if the current estimated level of straying will limit genetic differentiation and prevent local adaptation.

Automated summary

This study used otolith microchemistry to estimate the fidelity of Columbia-origin Kokanee to their natal streams in the Williston Reservoir. The results suggest that there is some straying behavior among the fish, with a lower level of fidelity to specific natal streams. However, based on the similarity of water elemental signatures, a proportion of the fish is likely to return to their general region.