Scott Hinch

As climate change warms rivers across B.C., young salmon are facing increasing heat stress at vulnerable stages of their lives.  Researchers from UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Lab found that younger fish cope with heat differently than older fish, and that current methods may be underestimating the risks salmon face in warming waterways. We spoke with Dr. Scott Hinch, professor in the Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences, about what these findings mean for salmon conservation. Hinch told us: We examined how young salmon respond to warming water and whether current methods accurately measure heat tolerance. Most studies assess fish at rest, but juvenile salmon are constantly moving to find food and avoid predators, so we need to mimic real-world conditions. We also considered how age and prior temperature exposures influence responses.