Factors influencing differential migration in Chinook Salmon

The goal of the study is to track Chinook Salmon migrations and determine the factors that influence an individual’s migration decisions. We will catch juvenile Chinook Salmon and release them back into the ocean after placing small electronic devices inside their bodies that will allow us to track their migrations. As a result, we will be able to detect when a tagged fish migrates to the open ocean, or if it remains resident in the Strait of Georgia for its entire marine life. One goal is to determine when migration out of the Strait of Georgia occurs. We will also compare migration decisions to individual body size and prior growth rates to identify factors that influence the decision to migrate out of the Salish Sea or remain resident. Migration decisions may affect survival and reproductive success, so it is important to understand why some fish migrate much further than others.

Faculty Supervisor:

Francis Juanes

Student:

Partner:

Pacific Salmon Foundation

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture; Other services (except public administration); Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Victoria

Program: