Genetic and Life History Data for Southern Chum and Pink Salmon

Genetic and life history information for chum and pink salmon populations in their southern North American range. The dataset compiles available information on these species, which have experienced significant declines south of the Columbia River. Tissues for DNA extraction were collected from adult spawners and carcasses in Washington and Oregon from 2009 to the present.

Use Cases

• Analyzing genetic variation and population structure based on DNA extraction from tissue samples.
• Studying life history traits and demographic changes in southern salmon populations.
• Modeling historical distribution and abundance patterns based on documented spawning ranges.
• Informing conservation strategies for threatened species based on genetic and historical data.

Strengths

• Focuses on a specific conservation issue: the decline of southern chum and pink salmon populations.
• Includes genetic data from tissue samples collected over a period starting in 2009.
• Provides historical context, referencing abundance data from the 1950s and earlier.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is provided in PDF format, which may complicate automated analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Tissues collected from adult spawners and carcasses for DNA extraction.

Time Range

Collection from 2009 to present; includes historical references.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-14 22:52:53.018422; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Southern range in North America, specifically Washington, Oregon, and historical mentions of California.