| Title: |
Does Method of Field Preparation Affect Survival and Growth of Juvenile Chinook Salmon in Agricultural Floodplains? |
| Authors: |
Tallman, Rachelle L.; Wampler, Alexandra N.; Singer, Gabriel P.; Jeffres, Carson A.; Cocherell, Dennis E.; Colby, Jordan; Fangue, Nann A.; Lusardi, Robert A.; Rypel, Andrew L. |
| Contributors: |
S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and Stephen Bechtel Fund; California Rice Research Board; Almond Board of California; Corteva Agriscience; Natural Resources Conservation Service |
| Source: |
River Research and Applications ; volume 41, issue 4, page 836-848 ; ISSN 1535-1459 1535-1467 |
| Publisher Information: |
Wiley |
| Publication Year: |
2024 |
| Collection: |
Wiley Online Library (Open Access Articles via Crossref) |
| Description: |
There is growing interest to integrate conservation initiatives into agricultural practices using a reconciliation ecology framework. In California's Central Valley, one approach to improving crucial nursery habitat for threatened and endangered fish species is by re‐creating floodplain habitats through the inundation of agricultural fields during the non‐growing season. We conducted a series of field experiments in agricultural floodplains (winter‐flooded rice fields that historically were natural floodplains) to examine whether different field preparation methods enhanced growth and survival of floodplain‐dependent fish species. Approximately 8000 juvenile fall‐run Chinook Salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) were reared for at least 28 days on eight, 0.2 hectares (ha) experimental fields. Each experimental field represented one of four treatments (two replicates per treatment): addition of large wood, addition of in‐field canals, addition of both large wood and in‐field canals, and control. Controls fields received no additional field preparations beyond standard post‐growing practices: that is chopping rice into stubble, baling, and removing excess rice straw, and discing the field with a single pass by plowing rice straw into the ground to promote decomposition. We found no significant difference in water temperature, fish growth or fish survival among habitat treatments. Across treatments, survival ranged from 50.1% to 78.3% and averaged 65.75% ( + /− 7.89% SE). These findings suggest agricultural floodplains require no additional modifications to promote fish growth and survival. Results illustrate the benefits of integrating working landscapes with conservation initiatives, as this approach creates more accessible and beneficial habitat for native fish species. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| DOI: |
10.1002/rra.4399 |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.4399; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/rra.4399 |
| Rights: |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.6E9507C3 |
| Database: |
BASE |