In an article adapted from the NPR "Two Way" blog, scientists are seeing the largest number of Sockeye Salmon making their run up the Fraser river since 1913. An estimated 34 million salmon are making their way up the river to their spawning grounds, this is exponentially more than the 1.5 million expected for this year.This unusual population surge is not expected by scientists for next year. They believe that the surge this year was due in large part to the eruption of Kasatochi in 2008. This theory suggests that the ash from the eruption deposited large amounts of nutrients. This nutrient deposit would then lead to a diatom population boom, creating abundant food for young salmon.
Long term patterns are expected to stay at the 1.5 million level for 2 big reasons: commercial fish farming and an increase in predators in the sockeyes' migration route. The small numbers of returning salmon in recent years sparked the Canadian to form a panel whose purpose is finding a reason behind the small numbers.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/10/26/130842386/british-columbia-sees-largest-salmon-run-in-a-century
Lora Mathers
This is an interesting phenomenon but I don't see the connection to animal communication or behavior. Also there's no signature on it!
ReplyDelete-Alex Sprague
That is very interesting. Now if they all reproduced, what happens to this crazy surge in population when these nutrients run out? Would the population be able to survive?
ReplyDelete-Vince Tieu
Wow, this really shows how one event can have such a drastic impact on a population. What do they mean by an increase in predators? Are their more predators of the same species, or are there now more species represented? They will probably experience a population surge as well?
ReplyDeletePosted by Katie Kalutkiewicz
I actually had a really hard time reading this and trying to follow what you were saying. How come an eruption 2 years ago would suddenly spark an increase poplation? Does it take a while for the nutrients to settle in? That is a crazy amount of fish especially since the usual populations are around 1.5 million. Very intersting article but I feel it could've used for information and a better writing style.
ReplyDelete-Katie Cyr
I would have never through that an eruption could actually benefit a species. Do you know what kind of nutrients the ashes have that benefit the salmon?
ReplyDeletePosted by: Sara Weaver
Its interesting how one natural disaster can lead to something so good for this species. Strange how the world works like that. What kinds of nutrients could benefit these fish to give them such a swelling of population?
ReplyDeleteDid the large increase in salmon have a domino effect and effect other species related to eat. For example a species that predates on the salmon.
ReplyDeleteCharles Carville
What nutrients in ash would lead to diatom growth?
ReplyDelete-Himanshu Shah