CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Gregory-Eaves, I.; Finney, B.; Sweetman, J.; Smol, J.P.; and Douglas, M.
Date : 2001.
Title : Hindcasting sockeye salmon dynamics from paleolimnological records: exploring the impact of climate change on salmon over the past 2000 years
Publication : Annual Meeting of the Society of Canadian Limnologists, Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Ontario 4-6 January 2001.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
Both spatial and temporal distributions of Pacific salmon suggest that a relationship exists between climate and salmon production. However, much uncertainty exists as to what the mechanisms are and how they might act to influence salmon production in the future. For example, from the analysis of temperature records from the North Pacific and historical catch data for Pacific Salmon, there appears to be coherent interdecadal variation. However, due to the relatively short length of these records, it has remained unresolved as to whether this interdecadal variation was a periodic phenomenon: one that might continue into the future. By applying a paleolimnological approach, whereby we have analysed the sediments of sockeye nursery lakes, we are able to hindcast past sockeye salmon abundances and extend the historical time series. We have analysed three different proxies from nursery lake sediments: 15N, diatoms and cladocerans, which track sockeye salmon both directly and indirectly through the nutrients released from sockeye salmon carcasses (as they die shortly after spawning in nursery lake systems). Comparisons of our paleolimnological records to independent temperature reconstructions further reveals relationships between climatic shifts and salmon production, which may help to build stronger predictions of future Pacific salmon dynamics.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology