Managed Wetlands Can Benefit Juvenile Chinook Salmon in a Tidal Marsh

Abstract Loss of estuarine and coastal habitats worldwide has reduced nursery habitat function for diverse fishes, including juvenile Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ). Underutilized off-channel such as flooded rice fields managed ponds present opportunities improving rearing conditions increasing diversity along migratory corridors. While experiments in have shown enhanced growth rates are less studied. To evaluate the potential these a habitat, (~ 2.8 g, 63 mm FL) were reared cages four contrasting locations within Suisun Marsh, large wetland San Francisco Estuary. The included natural tidal slough, leveed inlet outlet tidally muted pond established waterfowl hunting. Fish differed significantly among locations, with fastest occurring near pond. High zooplankton biomass at was best correlate growth. Water temperatures also cooler variable compared to sloughs, reducing thermal stress. stress low dissolved oxygen concentrations likely mediated by high favorable temperatures. Our findings suggest that Estuary elsewhere could be promote survival other native fishes.