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| Summary |
The long-term viability of the wild
salmon industry in British Columbia,
worth hundreds of millions of dollars,
has been threatened recently by extreme
variability in annual returns and
declines in abundance. Critical to
maintaining and sustaining the salmon
fishing industry under the present
climate change scenario is the need
for scientific information on the
physiological adaptability of salmon
stocks to shifting environmental conditions.
This
project will help fill this need by
characterizing biomarkers to assess
the overall health and condition of
migrating fish stocks.
Salmon are challenged by environmental
changes in salt and fresh water habitats,
with climate change expected to increase
the frequency of environmental extremes.
The phases of salmon growth and development
with the most variability and vulnerability
are the transition from fresh water
to salt water by juvenile salmon (smolts),
and the return of adult salmon to
fresh water to spawn. These
two stages require high levels of
genetic and phenotypic adaptability
that can be assessed using functional
genomics technologies.
The
genomic data sets generated from this
research will be used to:
- Resolve the spatio-temporal patterns
of change that occur in the fresh
to salt water transition of smolts,
- Quantify physiological factors
controlling survivorship during
migration,
- Determine the physiological basis
for genetic adaptability to high
water temperatures, and
- Develop biomarkers to assess the
condition of migrating fish.
Concurrent social sciences research
will seek input on the acceptability
of novel genomic tools for use in
management from fisheries managers,
stakeholders (commercial, sport, and
First Nations fishers), and environmental
non-government groups, which
will be used to guide the development
of management applications.
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| More on the Science |
The 32,000
feature cDNA microarrays developed
through the Genome Canada funded cGRASP
program will be used in large scale
“wild” ecological genomics research.
Experiments based on gene expression
in gill, white muscle, brain, and
liver tissue will be used to identify
biomarkers that can gauge the condition
of fish as they migrate to the ocean
as juveniles and back to the rivers
to spawn as adults. Some biomarkers
will target specific stages in acclimation
and development (e.g. readiness for
FW or SW, metabolic and energetic
shifts, reproductive maturation, navigational
sensory development, etc.).
Biomarkers more directly predictive
of fate will be resolved through experiments
that couple biotelemetry and non-destructive
tissue sampling to identify genes
associated with the migratory fate
of individual fish. Experiments will
also be performed to measure physiological
adaptability of key economic stocks
to elevated water temperatures in
the river. This information will be
used in the development of long-term
management strategies for individual
stocks.
Genomics technology will enable managers
to respond to climate change using
a proactive rather than reactive strategy,
and significantly enhance our stewardship
of wild resources. A greater understanding
of salmon physiology and genomic factors
that influence adaptability will assist
managers in forecasting stock trajectories
and abundance, allowing enhanced precision
in the balance between conservation
goals and economic gain. The salmon
fishery management agencies (DFO and
the Pacific Salmon Commission) are
collaborating with the researchers
to ensure that the genomics data translate
into practical fisheries management
applications. Biomarker data
will be used to parameterize fisheries
management models to enhance forecasts
of returning stock abundances and
escapements (spawning numbers) by
reducing uncertainty associated with
fitness responses to climate variability.
These
will be the first generation models
that integrate physiological and environmental
variables, as well as traditional
stock assessment information.
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