Fall and Winter Diets of Juvenile Coho Salmon in a Small Stream and an Adjacent Pond in Washington State

Abstract

ABSTRACT The diets of coho fry in Baker Creek, Bellingham, Washington, and an adjacent pond were examined in November through January, 1988–89. Fry in both habitats had the larger numbers of prey in early December after heavy rain, when springtails comprised more than 70% of their food items in both habitats. In January, when rainfall was low, both populations fed more on benthic invertebrates, such as taeniopterygid nymphs and simuliid larvae in the creek, and chironomid larvae in both habitats. High rainfall and flooding played an important role in making available food for juvenile coho salmon in both off-channel and creek habitats in late fall and early winter.