Atlantic Salmon in a Changing Northwest Atlantic Ecosystem

In the 1990s, Atlantic salmon populations declined dramatically and have since remained at low levels. Declining populations have been observed for Atlantic salmon that spend one portion of their lives in geographically dispersed rivers and another in North Atlantic marine habitats. Based on the timing of the population declines, it's clear that the plight of Atlantic salmon stems from key marine drivers that act on these populations during the ocean phase of their lives. Our past research demonstrated correlations between population declines and large-scale shifts in the Northwest Atlantic marine ecosystem, and we identified links between climate indices, physical conditions, plankton, and prey fish that ultimately lead to the population health of Atlantic salmon.

Our current research seeks to understand mechanisms that explain these linkages, with a focus on evaluating the influence of changing energetics, growth, and survivability. Atlantic salmon population declines aligned with shifts in other species — including declines in abundance of Calanus finmarchicus (a nutritious, lipid-rich zooplankton species) and the reduced availability, size, and energy density of capelin (an important prey species for salmon).

To understand how these changes affect Atlantic salmon, we will analyze seasonal and annual growth patterns derived from incremental measurements of Atlantic salmon scales and develop models to relate growth changes, ecosystem conditions, and population trajectories. We also work closely with collaborators and managers to apply these results to conservation and management efforts that rely on assessments of future population potential and risks due to continued ecosystem and climate change.