2026-09-30T22:29:41Z https://www.peertechzpublications.org/oai-pmh

oai:www.peertechzpublications.org:10.17352/2455-8400.000104 2026-09-25 PTZ.IJAFS:VOL12

Climate-Driven Alteration of Salmon Migration Habits in Alaska Olcay Akman<p>Climate change is altering the timing, duration, and environmental conditions associated with salmon migration in Alaska. Because salmon move between freshwater and marine environments during different life stages, they are exposed to warming rivers, changing streamflow, reduced snowpack, altered ocean conditions, and shifting food availability. Long-term observations from Southeast Alaska indicate that juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) now migrate to the ocean as much as 19 days earlier than they did in the 1970s, while adult coho salmon (O. kisutch) return to spawning streams approximately 17 days earlier. In the Yukon River, temperature and discharge influence the timing and duration of juvenile Chinook (O. tshawytscha), chum (O. keta), and coho salmon outmigration, although responses vary among species and populations. These changes may produce ecological mismatches between salmon and their prey, predators, and spawning habitats. Although some populations appear capable of adjusting their migration behavior, continued warming and increasing environmental variability may reduce survival when conditions change faster than salmon can adapt. New research suggests that thermal tolerance thresholds may differ significantly among populations, with some showing genetic adaptations to higher temperatures while others remain vulnerable even to moderate warming events.</p> International Journal of Aquaculture and Fishery Sciences - Peertechz Publications 2026-09-25 Review Article https://doi.org/10.17352/2455-8400.000104 en Copyright © Olcay Akman et al.