Nurturing hotspots for salmon in Alaskan rivers shift annually

Researchers from the University of Washington analyzed stones that form in the ears of Alaskan Sockeye and Chinook salmon and found that these salmon populations depend on hotspots in the Nushagak River watershed to thrive, and these hotspots change from year to year. These ear stones, called otolith, displayed chemical signatures that led researchers to conclude that hotspots within the Nushagak River are responsible for successful salmon population growth. These favorable locations change yearly depending on climate conditions and topography, each of which affects potential salmon …