Thermal diversity of salmon streams in the Matanuska-Susitna Basin, Alaska

JAWRA
By: , and 

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Abstract

We present the first description of summer stream thermal regimes in Alaska using metrics that represent the magnitude, variability, frequency, duration, and timing of temperature events related to salmon life histories. We used cluster analysis to characterize thermal regimes present in the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Basin based on 10 nonredundant temperature metrics and identified the most important drivers of our thermal regimes using random forests. Our results indicated four distinct thermal regimes among the 248 site-years in the Mat-Su Basin. Over 41% of site-years had cold-stable temperatures. An additional 22% of site-years had cold-variable temperatures and the latest timing of maximum stream temperatures. Twenty-eight percent of site-years had warm-variable temperatures that remained above 13°C for approximately two months. The remaining 9% of site-years had the warmest and most variable daily maximum temperatures, exceeding 18°C for almost one month, indicating potential impacts to spawning and rearing salmon. Climate and landscape drivers differentiating thermal regimes included spring and summer air temperatures, spring snowpack, summer precipitation, wetlands, and lakes. Climate change projections for 2050–2069 indicated a future shift toward warm thermal regimes and a reduced portfolio of thermal diversity. These results portend negative impacts to some salmon populations and stress the importance of prioritizing actions that maintain thermal regime diversity.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Thermal diversity of salmon streams in the Matanuska-Susitna Basin, Alaska
Series title JAWRA
DOI 10.1111/1752-1688.12839
Volume 56
Issue 4
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Seattle
Description 17 p.
First page 630
Last page 646
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Matanuska-Susitna Basin
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