Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | Links between salmon and their ecosystems, with emphasis on nutrient transfers between freshwater and riparian zones |
|---|---|
| Organization | SFU |
| URL | http://johnreynolds.org/research/salmon-forests/ |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | Salmon are the ultimate ecosystem engineers, with wide-ranging impacts on coastal, freshwater and adjacent terrestrial ecosystems. They are also under serious threat. In the Pacific Northwest, 25% of salmon stocks have disappeared or become severely threatened, leading to the loss of half of B.C.’s commercial salmon fleet in the past decade. Many watersheds face intense pressures from urbanization, deforestation, pollution, and climate change. The Fraser River in British Columbia once hosted some of the largest runs of salmon in the world, but these have been declining for the past 20 years. These pressures mirror those affecting aquatic biodiversity in many parts of the world. Twenty percent of the world’s freshwater fishes are considered at risk of extinction, 20% of the world’s coral reefs have been destroyed with little chance of immediate recovery, and 77% of the world’s fisheries are fully or over-exploited. We have set up one of the world’s largest field studies of salmon and their ecosystems to understand population declines and recovery. We are especially interested in the many species of terrestrial plants and animals that are linked to nutrients and trophic interactions involving salmon. We are using this information to inform more holistic management of salmon and aquatic habitats. |
| Information Type | projects |
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| Project status | ongoing |
| Contact Name | John Reynolds |
| Contact Email | [email protected] |