Photo of William Smoker

Contact Information

Fisheries Division
303 Lena Point
17101 Pt. Lena Loop Rd.
UAF Fisheries Division
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 796-5452
Fax: (907) 796-5447
wwsmoker@alaska.edu

William Smoker Professor

Fisheries and Conservation • Fisheries Genetics and Aquaculture

Affiliations

Board of Directors, Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation, Cordova
Board of Directors, Sitka Sound Science Center
Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund Expert Panel

Education

B.A. 1967 Carleton College (Biology)
M.S. 1969 Oregon State University (Oceanography)
Ph.D. 1981 Oregon State University (Fisheries)

Courses

Spring 2009

Introduction to Aquaculture (FISH F336)
Introduction to Aquaculture (FISH F336)
Thesis (FISH F699)
Thesis (FISH F699)
Writing for Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Workshop (FISH F603)

Research Overview

Biology of Pacific salmon, particularly related to the use of hatcheries to enhance salmon fisheries. Conservation of Pacific salmon. Use of quantitative genetic experiments to study empirically the local adaptation of salmon populations.

Current Research Projects

Outbreeding depression in pink salmon: Effects of hybridization between seasonally distinct subpopulations
Genetic changes associated with in-basin supplementation of a population of sockeye salmon
Smolt Age, Growth and Productivity of Seward Peninsula Sockeye Stocks

Links

Independent Scientific Review Panel
he Independent Scientific Review Panel reviews projects proposed to be funded through the portion of the Bonneville Power Administration's annual fish and wildlife budget that implements the Council's Columbia River Basin.
Hatchery Scientific Review Group
The Hatchery Scientific Review Group (HSRG) is the independent scientific panel established and funded by Congress to provide an autonomous and credible evaluation of hatchery reform as part of the Puget Sound and Coastal Washington Hatchery Reform Project. The objective of the HSRG is to assemble, organize, and apply the best available scientific information and to provide guidance to the policymakers and technical staff who are implementing hatchery reform.
Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation
PWSAC is a private non-profit corporation founded in 1974 by a local commercial fishermen's organization. The purpose of the corporation is to optimize the value of the salmon resources produced in Prince William Sound for all user groups. With headquarters in Cordova, Alaska, PWSAC operates four remote salmon hatcheries in Prince William Sound and one on the Copper River system in Paxson.
Sitka Sound Science Center
The Sitka Sound Science Center is dedicated to increasing understanding and awareness of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the Gulf of Alaska through education and research.
Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund
The Southeast Sustainable Salmon Fund is comprised of Alaska’s allocation of funds from the federal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. The SSSF, established in 2000, supports important programs and projects for implementation of the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty agreement, as well as programs and projects to help ensure that the salmon stocks, salmon habitat, and a vibrant salmon-related economy in Alaska are sustained.

Publications

Research Papers
1. Oxman, DS; Smoker, WW; Hagen, P; Gharrett AJ. 2007. Genetic, environmental and outbreeding effects on development rate and otolith formation in pink salmon from Auke Creek, Juneau, Alaska, Aquaculture [Aquaculture]. Vol. 272, S298 p.
2. *Ivan A. Wang, *Sara E. Gilk, William W. Smoker & Anthony J. Gharrett. Outbreeding effect on embryo development in hybrids of allopatric salmon populations, a potential consequence of stock translocation. 2007. Aquaculture 272S1:S152-S160.
3. *Harold J. Geiger, *Ivan Wang, *Pat Malecha, **Kyle Hebert, William W. Smoker, and A.J. Gharrett. 2007. What causes variability in pink salmon family size? Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 136:1688-1698.
4. ** Wessell, M., W.W. Smoker, R. Fagen, J.E. Joyce. 2006. Differences in agonistic behavior between juveniles in a hatchery population of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and juveniles derived from its source population. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 63(2): 438-447,
5. *Wang, I.A., *Erica H. Leder, William W. Smoker & Anthony J. Gharrett. 2006. Timing of development during epiboly in embryos of second-generation crosses and backcrosses between odd- and even-broodyear pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 75(3): 325-332. DOI 10.1007/s10641-006-0015-3.
6. **Wessell, M., W.W. Smoker, J.E. Joyce. 2006. Differences in juvenile morphology between a hatchery population of Chinook salmon and their founding stock. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society;135:333–340.
7. ** Rodgveller, C.J., W.W. Smoker, A.K. Gray, J.E. Joyce, and A.J. Gharrett. 2005. Effects of inbreeding and family origin on size of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) fry. Alaska Fishery Research Bulletin. 11(2):73–81.
8. Smoker, W.W., I.A. Wang, A.J. Gharrett, J.J. Hard. 2004. Embryo survival and smolt to adult survival in second-generation outbred coho salmon. Journal of Fish Biology 65 (Supplement A): 254–262. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2004.00550.
9. Alex C. Wertheimer, William R. Heard, J. M. Maselko and William W. Smoker. 2004. Relationship of size at return with environmental variation, large-scale enhancement, and productivity of pink salmon in Prince William Sound, Alaska: Does size matter? Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 14: 321–334. DOI 10.1007/s11160-004-2942-4
10. **Matsuoka, M., A. J. Gharrett, R. L. Wilmot, and W. W. Smoker. 2004. Genetic linkage mapping of allozyme loci in even- and odd-year pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha). Journal of Heredity: 95(5):421–429
11. *Gilk, S.E., *I.A. Wang, *C.L. Hoover, W.W. Smoker, S.G. Taylor, A.K.Gray, and A.J. Gharrett. 2004. Outbreeding depression between spatially separated pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) populations: Marine survival, homing ability, and variability in family size. Environmental Biology of Fishes 69:287-298.
12. **Granath, Karla L., W.W. Smoker, A.J. Gharrett and Jeffrey J. Hard. 2004. Effects on embryo development time and survival of intercrossing three geographically separate stocks of southeast Alaska coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Environmental Biology of Fishes 69:299-306.
13. Wertheimer, A. C., W.W. Smoker and W. R. Heard. 2004. Effects of hatchery releases and environmental variation on wild-stock productivity: consequences for sea ranching of pink salmon in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Chapter 23, pp 307-326 In K. M. Leber, S. Kitada, T. Svasand & H. L. Blankenship, editors. Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching 2d Edition, Blackwell Science Ltd, Oxford.
14. **Matsuoka, M., A. J. Gharrett, R. L. Wilmot, and W. W. Smoker. 2004. Gene-Centromere Distances of Allozyme Loci in Even- and Odd-Year Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha). Genetica 121:1-11.
15. Gharrett, A.J., *I.A. Wang, W.W. Smoker, *S.E. Gilk, S.G. Taylor. 2002. Preliminary tests of outbreeding depression in hybrids between spatially separated pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) populations. (Abstract, Genetics in Aquaculture VII, J.A.H. Benzie and G. Hulata, eds). Aquaculture 204:206.
16. Wertheimer, A.C., W.W. Smoker, T.L. Joyce, and W.R. Heard. 2001. Comment: a review of the hatchery programs for pink salmon in Prince William Sound and Kodiak Island, Alaska. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 130:712-720.
17. Smoker, W.W., A.J. Gharrett, M.S. Stekoll, and S.G. Taylor. 2000. Genetic variation of fecundity and egg size in anadromous pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Walbaum. Alaska Fishery Research Bulletin 7:44-50.
18. Gharrett, A.J., W.W. Smoker, *H.J. Geiger, *I.A. Wang, **K. P. Hebert, *P.L. Goddard, *A.J. McGregor, *S. Lane, **J.Joyce, and S.G. Taylor. 1999. Genetic structure in Auke Creek pink salmon and its role in productivity. Bull. Natl. Res. Inst. Aquacult., Suppl. 1: 19-26.
19. Phillips, R.B., **M. P. Matsuoka, W.W. Smoker, and A.J. Gharrett. 1999. Inheritance of a chromosomal polymorphism in odd-year pink salmon from southeastern Alaska. Genome 42:816-820.
20. Gharrett, A.J., W.W. Smoker, R.R. Reisenbichler, S.G. Taylor. 1999. Outbreeding depression in hybrids between odd- and even-broodyear pink salmon. Aquaculture 73:117-130.
21. Smoker, W.W., A.J. Gharrett, and M.S. Stekoll. 1998. Genetic variation of return date in a population of pink salmon: a consequence of fluctuating environment and dispersive selection? Alaska Fishery Research Bulletin. 5 (1):46-54.
22. **Hebert, K.P., *P.L. Goddard, W.W. Smoker, A.J. Gharrett. 1998. Quantitative genetic variation and genotype by environment interaction of embryo development rate in pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha). Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences. 55:2048-2057.
23. **Fukushima, M and W.W. Smoker. 1998. Spawning habitat segregation of sympatric sockeye and pink salmon. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 127:253-260.
24. *McGregor, A.J., *S. Lane, M.A. Thomason, L.A. Zhivotovsky, W.W. Smoker, A.J. Gharrett. 1998. Migration timing, a life history trait important in the genetic structure of pink salmon. North Pacfic Anadromous Fish Commission Bulletin No. 1:262-273.
25. **Fukushima, M., T.J. Quinn, II, and W.W. Smoker. 1998. Estimation of egg loss from the spawning ground of pink salmon. Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences 55:618-625.
26. *Geiger, H.J., W.W. Smoker, L.A. Zhivotovsky, A.J. Gharrett. 1997. Variability of family size and marine survival in pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) have implications for conservation biology and human use. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science. 54:2684-2690
27. **Fukushima, M., S.G. Taylor, and W.W. Smoker. 1997. Fry and smolt production of pink and sockeye salmon in the Auke Lake system, southeast Alaska. Acta Hydrobiologica Sinica 21(suppl): 1-21
28. **Fukushima, M. and W.W. Smoker. 1997. Determinants of stream life, spawning efficiency, and spawning habitat in pink salmon in the Auke Lake system, Alaska. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 54:96-104.
29. Crandell, P.A. Smoker, W.W., and **M. Matsuoka. 1995. Effects of female and time of stripping on the viability of normal and gynogenetic pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha). Aquaculture 137:109-120.
30. Smoker, W.W., P.A. Crandell, and **M. Matsuoka. 1995 Second polar body retention and gynogenesis induced by thermal shock in pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Walbaum). Aquaculture Research 26: 213-219.
31. Smoker, W.W. and **F.P. Thrower. 1995. Homing propensity in transplanted and native chum salmon. Pp 575 - 576 in: H.L. Schramm, Jr and R.G. Piper, editors. Effects and Uses of Cultured Fishes in Aquatic Ecosystems. Special Symposium. American Fisheries Society Symposium 15.
32. Smoker, W.W., A.J. Gharrett, and M.S. Stekoll. 1994. Genetic analysis of size in an anadromous population of pink salmon. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 51 (Suppl. 1):9-15.
33. Joyce, J.E., R.A. Heintz, W.W. Smoker, and A.J. Gharrett. 1994. Survival to fry and seawater tolerance of diploid and triploid hybrids between chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), chum (O. keta), and pink salmon (O. gorbuscha). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 51 (Suppl. 1):25-30.
34. Maekawa, K., T. Hino, S. Nakano, and W. W. Smoker. 1993. Mate Preference in anadromous and landlocked Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) females in two Alaskan streams. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 50:2375-2379.
35. Smoker, W.W. 1993. Pacific salmon management and stock enhancement programs in Alaska. Pp 142 - 153 In K.L. Main & E. Reynolds, eds. Selective Breeding of Fishes in Asia and the United States. The Oceanic Institute, Honolulu. viii + 267 p.
36. Munk, K.M., W.W. Smoker, D.R. Beard, R.W. Mattson. 1993 A hatchery water heating system for use in 100% thermal marking of incubating salmon. Progressive Fish-Culturist 55:284-288.
37. Gharrett, A.J. and W.W. Smoker. 1993. Genetic components in life history traits contribute to population structure. Pp 197 - 202 In J.G. Cloud and G.H. Thorgaard, eds., Genetic Conservation of Salmonid Fishes. Plenum Press, NY.
38. Smoker, W.W. 1992. Returns and straying of native, transplanted, and hybrid chum salmon in an Alaskan hatchery. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 38(1):120. (Abstract)
39. Gharrett, A.J. and W.W. Smoker. 1991. Two generations of hybrids between even- and odd-year pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha): A test for outbreeding depression? Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 48:1744-1749.
40. Fagen, R.M. and W.W. Smoker. 1989. How large capacity hatcheries can alter interannual variability of salmon production. Fisheries Research (Elsevier, Holland) 8: 1-11.
41. Pearcy, W.G., R. Brodeur, W.W. Smoker, *Y. Endo. 1988. Food habits of Pacific salmon and steelhead trout, midwater trawl catches, and oceanographic conditions in the Gulf of Alaska 1980 - 1985. Bulletin of the Ocean Research Institute University of Tokyo No. 26 (Part II): 29-78.
42. Smoker, W.W. 1986. Variability of embryo development rate, fry growth, and disease susceptibiltiy in hatchery stocks of chum salmon. Aquaculture (Elsevier, Holland) 57:219-226.
43. **Thrower, F.P. and W.W. Smoker. 1984. First adult returns of coded wire tagged pink salmon fry. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 113:803-804.
44. Smoker, W.W. 1984. Genetic effect on the dynamics of a model of pink and chum salmon. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 41:1446-453.
45. Smoker, W.W. and W.G. Pearcy. 1970. Growth and reproduction of the lanternfish Stenobrachius leucopsarus. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 27:1265-1275.
46. McCauley, J.E. and W.W. Smoker. 1969. Two diclidophoran trematodes (Monogenea) from deep-sea fishes. The Journal of Parasitology 55:742-746.

Book Chapters and Review and Perspective Articles
1. Lyman E. McDonald, R. Bilby, P.A. Bisson, C.C. Coutant, J.M. Epifanio, D. Goodman, S. Hanna, N. Huntly, E. Merrill, B. Riddell, W. Liss, E.J. Loudenslager, D.P. Phillipp, W. Smoker, R. R. Whitney, R.N. Williams. 2007. Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of Fish and Wildlife Restoration Projects in the Columbia River Basin: Lessons Learned and Suggestions for Large-Scale Monitoring Programs.Fisheries Research Feature. Fisheries 32:582-590.
2. Smoker, W.W. and W.R. Heard. 2007. Productivity of Alaska’s salmon hatchery ocean ranching program and management of biological risks to wild Pacific salmon. Chapter 20, Pp 361-381 In T.M. Bert, editor. Ecological and Genetic Implications of Aquaculture Activities. Springer, New York.
3. Hatchery Scientific Review Group (Lars Mobrand, John Barr, Lee Blankenship, Don Campton, Trevor Evelyn, Tom Flagg, Conrad Mahnken, Lisa Seeb, Paul Seidel, William Smoker). 2005. Hatchery Reform in Washington State: Principles and Emerging Issues. Fisheries Management Feature. Fisheries 30:11-23.
4. Smoker, W.W. 2004. Regional non-profit corporations—an institutional model for stock enhancement. Chapter 19 In: Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching 2. (Ed. by K. M. Leber, S. Kitada, T. Svasand & H. L. Blankenship), Blackwell Science Ltd, Oxford.
5. Gharrett, A.J., S. Keller, R.G. Gustafson, P. Johnson, J.L. Nielsen, J.E. Seeb, L.W. Seeb, W.W. Smoker, G.H. Thorgaard, and R.L. Wilmot. 2004. Introduction to genetics of subpolar fish and invertebrates. Environmental Biology of Fishes 69:1-5.
6. Smoker, W.W., B.A. Bachen, G. Freitag, H.J. Geiger, T.J. Linley. 2000. Ocean Ranching Enhancement of Salmon Production in Alaska. Pp 407-420 IN E.E. Knudsen, CS Steward, D.D. MacDonald, J.E. Williams, D.W. Rieser, Editors. Sustainable Fisheries: Management: Pacific Salmon. CRC Press. Boca Raton.
7. Smoker, W.W. and T.J. Linley. 1997. Are Prince William Sound salmon hatcheries a fool's bargain? Alaska Fishery Research Bulletin 4:75-78.
8. Gharrett, A.J. and W.W. Smoker. 1994. Introduction to genetics of subartic fish and shellfish. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 51 (Suppl. 1):1-3.
9. Gharrett, A.J. and W.W. Smoker. 1993. A perspective on the adaptive importance of genetic infrastructure in salmon populations to ocean ranching in Alaska. Fishery Research (Elsevier, Holland) 18:45-58.