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Not too hot, not too cold, the ocean must be just right

In Science Friday by Nick Chambers

Two weeks ago we were on the Dean. This week we go even further north, to Auke Bay near Juneau, Alaska, for our next Science Friday post.   The greater Juneau are is home to several rivers that host wild steelhead runs. Auke Creek is perhaps the most important of these feeder streams, as scientists at the Auke Bay Marine …

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Science Friday: Turn up the A/C

In Science Friday by Nick Chambers

Summer-time is here. That means hot weather and hot water, two things that don’t mix well with a cold-water fish like steelhead.   As we suffer through the largest heat wave of the summer, we wanted to review a piece of research that looked at how adult steelhead alter their behavior and use micro-habitats to cope with warm weather and …

What is a B-run steelhead?

In Oregon, Science Friday by Nick Chambers

Fisheries managers predict this will be a very bad year for returning B-run steelhead in the Snake River. The Snake, with its headwaters straddling the Teton Range on the Idaho-Wyoming border, is the largest tributary to the Columbia and its intact habitat and steelhead runs are vital to the overall health of Columbia River steelhead populations. Despite the high quality …

Science Friday: The different life histories of adult steelhead

In Science Friday by Nick Chambers

Last week we reviewed the terms used to define different stages of the juvenile steelhead life cycle. This week we break down the life stages of adults and describe their different life histories, which are remarkably diverse.   The adult steelhead life stage may be delineated into two categories: adults and kelts. Adults are fish that are mature or preparing …

Science Friday: The life stages of juvenile steelhead

In Oregon, Science Friday by Nick Chambers

We have spent the last several weeks introducing and defining a variety of terms used in steelhead management. This week, we shift to looking at terms related to steelhead biology, specifically terms used to describe different life stages of juvenile steelhead.   Let’s start with eggs. These are the little round suckers that produce the fish. Seriously, everyone understands the …

Science Friday: What the heck do all those acronyms mean?

In Science Friday by Nick Chambers

Science Friday! Another chance to dive into the weeds and define some of the jargon used when discussing, studying and evaluating hatchery steelhead. This week we focus on acronyms commonly used in hatchery management plans.   Anyone who has read through a Hatchery Scientific Review Group plan or review, or most any resource management plan for that matter, has probably …

Science Friday: What is introgression?

In Science Friday by Nick Chambers

For this edition of Science Friday, we continue to define terms used in studies that evaluate hatchery steelhead (and often other species of salmon and trout). Last week we defined fitness and discussed how it is measured and why it is important to understanding the biology of steelhead. This week we take another step into the deeper end of the …