Could salmon be considered an invasive species as they expand their habitat in the north?
Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks have confirmed the presence of salmon spawning in an Arctic Ocean watershed, shedding light on the notion that certain salmon species are adapting and expanding into new territories as climate change gives them new opportunities.
The scientists found approximately 100 chum salmon in the Anaktuvuk and Itkillik rivers on Alaska’s North Slope. Both rivers flow into the Colville River, which empties into the Arctic Ocean.
The fish that researchers caught in mid-September were either actively spawning or had finished spawning at sites where groundwater appeared to be flowing to the surface, they observed.
The study, led by UAF researcher Peter Westley, noted that the discovery aligns with the hypothesis that salmon are gradually migrating northward as their traditional habitats undergo significant transformations due to climate change. Across many parts of their traditional range, salmon populations have been dwindling due to the warming temperatures. In the Arctic, climate change might paradoxically be creating a more favorable environment for these resilient fish.
“Throughout most parts of the salmon’s range, things have gotten too warm, and they’re starting to blink off,” said Westley, who is an associate professor at UAF’s College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. “In the Arctic, the water is getting warm enough, and they’re starting to blink on.”
In December 2022, Alaska Sea Grant hosted a workshop that convened scientists, indigenous fishermen, and community members who came together in Anchorage to discuss the more frequent sightings of salmon in the Arctic Ocean and their potential origins. This gathering of experts played a crucial role in shaping the objectives of the subsequent research, paving the way for the groundbreaking discovery.
This newfound phenomenon suggests salmon they may possess an unexpected resilience to a changing climate. As they adapt to the shifting climate conditions, the Arctic may become a new stronghold for these fish.
Read more about this finding at this UAF link.
