Differential survival of juvenile sockeye and coho salmon exposed to low dissolved oxygen during winter

Abstract

Juvenile sockeye salmon (43–78 mm) survived 100% for 24 h in cages in ice–covered Black Lake, Alaska at oxygen saturations >65% (9 mg l–1), but only 45% at 24% saturation (3·0–3·3 mg l–1) and none at <17% saturation (2·3 mg l–1). All juvenile coho (50–120 mm) survived 100% for 24 h down to 21% oxygen saturation (3·1 mg l–1), and all 50 coho survived 4–5 days at 23–24% saturation (3·2–3·3 mg l–1).