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Basic ocean conditions such as current directions and water temperature play a huge role in determining the behavior of young migrating salmon as they move from rivers and hit ocean waters for the first time, according to new research. The findings inform restoration policies and practices focused on boosting endangered salmon species in the Pacific Northwest.
The findings, from ecologists at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, focus on a perilous period in the life of salmon. After their birth in fresh water, salmon migrate to the ocean, where they must quickly adapt to an environment unlike anything they've experienced before – deep water full of new predators, with strong currents and competition from all sides.
How the fish fare during their first few weeks in the ocean has a profound impact on species' ability to survive into adulthood. |
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The results show that young salmon scatter in all directions as they first enter the ocean, which is contrary to previous assumptions that most salmon head north immediately after leaving the Columbia River. "It's becoming clear that the first few weeks after salmon enter the ocean from their freshwater homes is a crucial time," said Geoff McMichael, the PNNL scientist who led the study, which was published recently in Animal Biotelemetry.
"Much of their health and the success of their subsequent runs upstream to start the next generation are dictated by those first few weeks in the ocean. Conditions such as water temperature, food availability and the number of predators are critical. Everything we can learn about salmon behavior during this critical time could help managers restore their stocks more effectively," added McMichael.
The team found that much of the fish's initial behavior and chance of survival were determined by factors beyond anyone's control, such as the movement of ocean currents. Under certain conditions, for instance when the ocean is unusually warm, Pacific hake – a fish that McMichael calls a "voracious predator" – are more likely to come closer to the mouth of the river and feast on salmon. |
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