Source Sought 

Task 1: Otolith Analyses

Several investigators have documented the feasibility of distinguishing between juvenile salmonid progeny spawned by anadromous or resident maternal parents using strontium levels recorded in their embryonic otoliths (Kalish, 1990; Rieman et al., 1994, Volk et al., 2000). In salmonids, otoliths begin forming in embryos about the time a weak eye is evident, and the chemical composition of the otolith core is largely dependent upon the chemical make up of the yolk material. Since anadromous female salmon deposit yolk material in strontium rich seawater, and strontium easily substitutes for calcium in the otolith aragonite lattice, embryonic core otolith regions also show relatively high strontium levels. In contrast, assuming that the freshwater system does not have an unusually high strontium concentration, core otolith regions of resident female progeny generally have much lower strontium levels.
The object of this study is to determine the proportion of sampled Oncorhynchus mykiss that were spawned by anadromous or resident females by analysis of strontium abundance in their otoliths. The WDF&W Otolith Lab will cast, section and prepare for analysis 220 juvenile rainbow/steelhead otoliths which will be analyzed for Sr/Ca ratios using Laser Ablation Inductively coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). A total of 220 otoliths from parr collected in 2008 will be provided by in September 2008. The otoliths from these parr will be analyzed by the following methods.
Analyses will take place at the Keck Collaboratory for Plasma Spectrometry at Oregon State University. Methodological details can be found in Volk et al., 2000 and unpublished reports. For each specimen transects with be conducted near the primordia and at the otolith edge to represent the maternal and freshwater signals respectively. Elevated primordia Sr/Ca values will be taken as evidence for maternal anadromy, while low values indicate resident parentage. Data will be transformed to Sr/Ca atomic ratios to make classifications of anadromous or resident maternal parentage. Results will be summarized and presented in excel spreadsheets and/or Power Point Slides and Sigmaplot graphics.

Task 2: Scale analyses

Scales collected from O. mykiss sampled from seven Hood Canal streams will be analyzed to determine age. NOAA will provide a total of 1,500 scales collected from O. mykiss parr collected during the summer of 2008 and smolts collected during the spring of 2009. Scales will be provided to be mounted on  scale cards. Scale ages will be reported based on winter annulus formation in both fresh and saltwater. For example an adult spending two winters in freshwater and one full winter (two summers) in seawater would be recorded as 2.1+. The ‘+' refers to rapid spring/summer growth.

Provide NOAA with a report that describes the methods used to generate age and maternity data and those data will be provided in electronic spreadsheets.

All interested parties must respond to this announcement by June 6, 2008. All responses must be in writing and may faxed to 206-526-6025 or email ([email protected]) This is a simplifiued acquisition with an estimated value of less than $100,000