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Published on: June 7, 2024
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Facilitated migration could bolster migrant passage through anthropogenically altered ecosystems
Benjamin P Burford1,2, Jeremy J Notch1,2, William R Poytress3
1Institute of Marine Sciences' Fisheries Collaborative Program, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA.
Summary
Facilitated migration synchronizes natural phenology with suitable conditions, boosting juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) oceanward migration success by up to 479%. This adaptive management strategy aids species persistence in changing ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Conservation Biology
- Ecosystem Management
- Fisheries Science
Background:
- Migratory species face extirpation and extinction risks due to anthropogenic habitat changes disrupting natural migration timing (phenology).
- Dynamic conservation strategies are crucial but require flexible management actions, especially in regulated ecosystems.
- The Sacramento River is a critical bottleneck for juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) recovery in California.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel framework for facilitated migration, actively matching natural migration phenology with suitable conditions for successful passage.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of regulating water releases from storage reservoirs to benefit juvenile Chinook salmon migration in the Sacramento River.
- To identify key management actions for improving the survival rates of imperiled salmon populations.
Main Methods:
- Developed a facilitated migration framework to synchronize environmental conditions with migratory needs.
- Utilized a case study focusing on juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) oceanward migration in the Sacramento River.
- Simulated management actions including thermally shifted preparation, flow pulse-mediated initiation, and passage protection via increased flow, controlled by reservoir releases.
Main Results:
- Regulated water releases could increase successful migration of natural-origin Chinook salmon populations by 43%-479% compared to the status quo.
- Key interventions include thermal shifts for preparation, flow pulses for initiation, and increased flow for passage.
- Expanded acoustic telemetry studies and increased flow variation are recommended for better outcome prediction.
Conclusions:
- Facilitated migration offers a viable strategy for enhancing migratory species' persistence in human-altered environments.
- Prioritizing event quality over quantity in facilitated migration is a prudent implementation approach.
- This framework encourages critical evaluation of how to support and manipulate migrations for conservation success.
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