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Geomorphic controls, riffle substrate quality, and spawning site selection in two semi‐alluvial salmon rivers in the Gaspé Peninsula, Canada

The relationships between valley and channel morphology, spawning substrate quality (content of fine sediment < 2 mm) and the selection of spawning sites by Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were investigated along 45 km of two semi‐alluvial, valley‐confined rivers in the Gaspé Peninsula, Canada. Linear and logistic regressions confirm that Atlantic salmon prefer spawning at riffles providing good rather than mediocre or poor spawning substrate, as defined by the percentage sand and the Sand Index of Peterson and Metcalfe. However, exceptionally large concentrations of redds were observed on the few riffles located at island heads, with sub‐optimal substrate quality. This observation suggests that, in addition to content of fine material in the substrate, the morphology of spawning reaches may be a significant factor controlling the intensity of inter‐gravel flow through redds and the consequent selection of spawning sites. In the study systems, the quality of spawning substrate was controlled by ‘large‐scale’ geomorphic attributes at the scale of valley segments (1–5 km here): segments located within a wide valley were actively meandering, had higher sinuosity and bank erosion rates, generally lower shear stresses and presented somewhat higher sand content than segments confined by a narrow valley. Although sand contents were significantly higher, laterally unstable segments in wide valleys still harboured good to excellent spawning substrate overall. The study data do not allow the roles of variations in levels of riffle‐zone shear stress to be distinguished from those of cut bank fines input, to explain the observed inter‐segment association between valley width and riffle fines content. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.