Behavioural physiology and fitness of anadromous migraiting fish

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My research group has pioneered investigations into the role that changing migratory environments have on energy use, maturation and stress in wild salmon, however little research has focused on the fitness consequences of such changes. We will use large mesocosm experiments to examine several specific hypotheses involving the role of energy, disease, physiological stress, water temperature, and swimming behaviours, at the individual level, on maturation, spawning, senescence, egg abundance, hatching success, and offspring survival, growth and performance. There is considerable variability within and among populations in migration success, and in production of juvenile salmon which cannot be explained by simple considerations of number of adults on spawning grounds. Our work should put into context the importance of the adult migration environment, and of adult response to environmental challenges, to the abundance, quality and survivability of their juveniles. A better understanding of such intergenerational effects is also critical for understanding how climate change is and will continue to affect wild anadromous populations, and for the management of salmonids and their habitats.