This data set documents the gene transcription levels for a panel of 12 selected genes and the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) protein abundance measured in the muscle tissue of individual wild Chinook salmon captured from locations within the U.S. portion of the Yukon River watershed. Chinook salmon were primarily captured in 2016 and 2017 from existing field efforts (n = 477). A small number of additional samples (n = 22) were collected in 2018 following an experimental temperature experiment conducted in Pilot Station, AK, USA. During this experiment individual fish were held for ~6 hours at either river ambient control water temperatures or a heated treatment temperature of 18 °C or 21 °C. This small experiment data set was used to validate and refine the use of gene transcription and HSP70 protein levels as heat stress biomarkers for Yukon River Chinook salmon. The analysis of this data was published in von Biela et al. 2020 (DOI:10.1139/cjfas-2020-0209).

This data release contains one table with heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) abundance measurements of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) muscle samples, collected from fish occupying freshwater in various Alaskan watersheds. Water temperatures associated with a sampled fish are also included in the dataset, when available. Gene transcription results from fish included in this data release are published in a separate data release; https://doi.org/10.5066/P19M3AYH.

This dataset consists of two tables with the results from two manipulative thermal experiments with juvenile coho salmon (May 2021) and juvenile Chinook salmon (May 2020) and include 1) gene transcription results and heat shock protein 70 abundance in coho salmon and Chinook salmon and 2) water temperatures to which fish were exposed during the experiment.

This dataset consists of two tables with the results from two manipulative thermal experiments with juvenile coho salmon (May 2021) and juvenile Chinook salmon (May 2020) and include 1) gene transcription results and heat shock protein 70 abundance in coho salmon and Chinook salmon and 2) water temperatures to which fish were exposed during the experiment.

Tabular dataset containing age, sex, and length data for Chum, Chinook, and Sockeye salmon. Sex was determined externally using visual clues such as snout shape and size. Length was measured from fork to mid-eye with a measuring board to the closest 5 mm. Strata refers to the potion of the run the fish was sampled during. Strata data is based on the size of the population rather than date since the salmon run does not start on one specific date year by year. Scales were also taken and placed on a gum card for age assessment. One scale was taken for all sampled Chum salmon and three scales were taken for all sampled Chinook salmon.

Tabular dataset containing age, sex, and length data for Chum, Chinook, and Sockeye salmon. Sex was determined externally using visual clues such as snout shape and size. Length was measured from fork to mid-eye with a measuring board to the closest 5 mm. Strata refers to the potion of the run the fish was sampled during. Strata data is based on the size of the population rather than date since the salmon run does not start on one specific date year by year. Scales were also taken and placed on a gum card for age assessment. One scale was taken for all sampled Chum salmon and three scales were taken for all sampled Chinook salmon.

This data set documents the temperature and dissolved oxygen of water during the implementation of a new experimental thermal challenge protocol for migrating adult Pacific salmon in remote settings. This experiment was conducted with migrating adult Chinook salmon near Pilot Station, Alaska, along the Yukon River in a location without access to utilities. The analysis of this data was published in Donnelly et al. 2020 (DOI:10.1093/conphys/coaa074).

This dataset documents the temperature and dissolved oxygen of water during the implementation of a new experimental thermal challenge protocol for migrating adult Pacific salmon in remote settings. This experiment was conducted with migrating adult Chinook salmon near Pilot Station, Alaska, along the Yukon River in a location without access to utilities.

Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) are an important commercial, subsistence, and recreational fishery resource in Alaska, and recent population declines have resulted in closures of some Chinook Salmon fisheries. Research into environmental factors involved in the decline of salmon stocks has exposed information gaps regarding fine-scale freshwater habitat quality known to influence Chinook Salmon productivity. We developed spatially-explicit intrinsic habitat potential models for Chinook Salmon freshwater spawning and rearing life-stages based on geomorphic stream network attributes (e.g., gradient, mean annual flow, valley bottom width). Model predictions were applied to individual stream reaches and summarized across synthetic stream networks derived from high-resolution (5-meter) digital elevation models covering the Yukon River drainage west of the US-Canada border and the entire Kuskokwim River drainage (total stream length ~667,000 km across 1.3 million km2 area). Vector spatial datasets include unique reach contributing area (uRCA) and unique reach contributing area valley bottom (uRCA VB) polygons, and confluence to confluence streamline edges derived from the NetMap synthetic streamlines product. Tabular data includes a collection of stream attributes summarized by uRCA or uRCA VB polygons, and habitat model results derived from these stream attributes. See metadata records for individual data elements for a description of input sources, software environments, data quality, processing steps, and attribute information. Approximately 87,500 and 39,500 stream km were predicted to represent moderate to high (index scores 0.6-1.0) Chinook Salmon rearing and spawning habitat suitability, respectively. Our high-resolution, spatially explicit dataset provides many options for summarizing and visualizing habitat suitability across areal units (e.g., river basins, land management boundaries) and assessing the potential for high suitability habitats outside the known distribution of Chinook Salmon at scales useful for managers and the research community.

This dataset contains length, weight, energy density, and isotope values of fish collected in northwest Alaskan rivers during summer and fall 2015-2019.