Glacier retreat creating new Pacific salmon habitat in western North America

Kara J. Pitman (), Jonathan W. Moore, Matthias Huss, Matthew R. Sloat, Diane C. Whited, Tim J. Beechie, Rich Brenner, Eran W. Hood, Alexander M. Milner, George R. Pess, Gordan H. Reeves and Daniel E. Schindler
Additional contact information
Kara J. Pitman: Simon Fraser University
Jonathan W. Moore: Simon Fraser University
Matthias Huss: Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich
Matthew R. Sloat: Wild Salmon Center
Diane C. Whited: University of Montana
Tim J. Beechie: Watershed Program, Fish Ecology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries
Rich Brenner: Division of Commercial Fisheries
Eran W. Hood: University of Alaska Southeast
Alexander M. Milner: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston
George R. Pess: National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA Fisheries
Gordan H. Reeves: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station
Daniel E. Schindler: University of Washington

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Glacier retreat poses risks and benefits for species of cultural and economic importance. One example is Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), supporting subsistence harvests, and commercial and recreational fisheries worth billions of dollars annually. Although decreases in summer streamflow and warming freshwater is reducing salmon habitat quality in parts of their range, glacier retreat is creating new streams and lakes that salmon can colonize. However, potential gains in future salmon habitat associated with glacier loss have yet to be quantified across the range of Pacific salmon. Here we project future gains in Pacific salmon freshwater habitat by linking a model of glacier mass change for 315 glaciers, forced by five different Global Climate Models, with a simple model of salmon stream habitat potential throughout the Pacific Mountain ranges of western North America. We project that by the year 2100 glacier retreat will create 6,146 (±1,619) km of new streams accessible for colonization by Pacific salmon, of which 1,930 (±569) km have the potential to be used for spawning and juvenile rearing, representing 0 to 27% gains within the 18 sub-regions we studied. These findings can inform proactive management and conservation of Pacific salmon in this era of rapid climate change.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26897-2

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