The abundant Pacific salmon and steelhead of Alaska are powerful symbols of the interconnectedness of ecosystems. In their anadromy, salmon and steelhead unite marine and terrestrial systems, fulfilling the promise of their life history by delivering rich marine nutrients back to the watersheds in which they were born. The people of Alaska are as much a part of this wide ecological web as the fish, or bears, or forest. As these people depend on fish for their livelihoods and subsistence, so do the fish depend on people to protect critical habitat and manage fisheries in a sustainable way.
Here is a quick introduction to my research on Alaskan steelhead, this work is being completed in close collaboration with ADF&G to help inform current steelhead management and investigate how changing ocean conditions may impact anadromous fish.
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