Habitat restoration planning and design can be informed by information on spatial patterns in habitat use, which can
be obtained from temporally and spatially extensive monitoring efforts. Using records from long-term monitoring in four
tidal deltas, we modeled how landscape features (channel types, wetland vegetation types, and a channel network connectivity index) influenced juvenile natural-origin (NOr) and hatchery-origin (HOr) Chinook salmon presence/absence and density
when present. Models detected strong effects of landscape characteristics on either presence/absence or density, although the
directionality and relative importance of these features differed between NOr and HOr fish. In addition, while interannual
differences were stronger for NOr juveniles, the seasonal pattern was much stronger for HOr fish and was in fact the strongest
predictor of density. For both types of fish, interactions between landscape features and seasonal pattern existed, indicating
that habitat use changed dynamically from the beginning to the end of the rearing period. These findings help provide general
principles for prioritizing location and designing habitat restoration projects.
Chinook salmon, landscape connectivity, estuary wetlands, river deltas
Beamer, E.M., Greene, C.M., Chamberlin, J.W., Hood, W.G., Ellings, C.S., Hodgson, S. and Zackey, W.T., 2024. Landscape determinants of aquatic estuarine habitat use by juvenile Chinook salmon. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 81(6), pp.747-767. [NOTE: The download link for this document leads offsite]
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