Asynchrony in population dynamics of sockeye salmon in southwest Alaska

摘要: Ecologists have examined the synchronization of population dynamics across space as a means to understand how populations respond climate variation. However, response diversity may reflect important variation among local driven by population-specific responses regional environmental change. We used long-term data on sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka from pristine watersheds southwestern Alaska show that spawning in close proximity (<40 km) one another limited degree synchrony their dynamics, even after accounting for density-dependent processes. In fact, stream-spawning were no more coherent than those stocks at much coarser resolution this region Alaska. four hypotheses explain observed patterns asynchrony populations, and found dissimilar habitats, using different nursery lakes less synchronized productivity. Similarity age structure adults was correlated with These results emphasize importance maintaining diverse rearing habitat conservation Pacific salmon, should guide planning regions where natural been altered loss, hatchery practices, over-fishing.