Climate-Change Effects on Steelhead in North Pacific Marine Ecosystems

Katherine Myers and Nancy Davis, School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington; Masa-aki Fukuwaka, Fisheries Research Agency, Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute; Nathan Mantua, JISAO/School of Marine Affairs Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington

R/F-160

How are climate-induced changes in ocean conditions and food webs affecting growth and survival of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), a species on which millions of state and federal dollars are being spent for protection and restoration, in the North Pacific Ocean? After conducting a retrospective analysis of data extending back to 1955, coupled with additional field studies, researchers will create a suite of maps and models to clarify the relationships between biological and oceanographic variables on steelhead distributions, migration patterns, bioenergetics and growth.