Temperatures in the Fraser River in British Columbia reached higher than normal this year, following a trend that predicts warming of another two degrees over the next 60 to 80 years. Many questions are being raised about what this means for the health and survival of migrating sockeye salmon. In collaboration with the University of British Columbia and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, members of the Cooke lab are conducting experiments to learn how Fraser River sockeye salmon deal with temperature-induced stress and whether they will adapt to rivers warmed by climate change. Novel methods such as the implementation of heart rate loggers are being used to assess cardiac recovery physiology.
This research is featured in an article in the Hakai Magazine — a magazine which explores science, society, and the environment in compelling narratives that highlight coastal life and phenomena. To read the full article, click here!
