Salmon - the climate change forecasters
Dr Wheland, the director of the Marine Institute’s aquaculture and catchment management services team, delivered a talk on “Salmon – The Climate Change Forecasters” at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin last week The talk was part of the Academy’s “Threats to the Environment” lecture series.
According to Dr. Whelan, recent research has shown quite clearly that aquatic systems are changing and changing fast. Water is getting warmer, storms are getting stronger and the availability of food resources in and from the ocean is under threat. Changes in the oceans are “forcing” unprecedented shifts in climate patterns.
“Similar patterns are apparent in freshwater,” he said.
The research carried out by Dr Whelan and his colleagues has shown that the Atlantic salmon is an ideal bio-monitor to track and trace climate change from remote mountain streams to distant zones in the Artic seas.
The salmon, which is equally at home in both fresh and saltwater, traverses large areas of the planet in a relatively short space of time but is endowed with an uncanny ability to find its way home. Throughout its odyssey the salmon collects and stores a wide range of physical, chemical and biological information.
“Although the science is complex the take home message is clear,” said Dr. Whelan.
“Adaptation to climate change is in our hands. Combating climate change requires a clear and unambiguous focus on: monitoring change, responding to change, conserving populations of animals and plants and relieving man made stresses on the environment.”
