Sockeye Carcasses Tossed on Shore over Two Decades Spur Tree Growth
Hansen Creek, a small stream in southwest Alaska, is hard to pick out on a map. It’s just over a mile long and about 4 inches deep. Crossing from one…
UW: Past Warm Period Polar Bear Strategy won’t Suffice this Time
Polar bears likely survived past warm periods in the Arctic, when sea ice cover was low, by scavenging on the carcasses of stranded large whales. This food source sustained the…
Largest Chinook Salmon Disappearing from West Coast
The largest and oldest Chinook salmon — fish also known as “kings” and prized for their exceptional size — have mostly disappeared along the West Coast. That’s the main finding…
Beluga Whales Dive Deeper, Longer to Find Food in Arctic
Reductions in sea ice in the Arctic have a clear impact on animals such as polar bears that rely on frozen surfaces for feeding, mating and migrating. But sea ice…
When to Fish: Timing Matters for Fish that Migrate to Reproduce
It’s no secret that human activities affect fish, particularly those that must migrate to reproduce. Years of building dams and polluting rivers in some regions have left fish such as…
Old Fish Few and Far Between under Fishing Pressure
Like old-growth trees in a forest, old fish in the ocean play important roles in the diversity and stability of marine ecosystems. Critically, the longer a fish is allowed to…
Arctic Sea Ice Loss Impacts Beluga Whale Migration
The annual migration of some beluga whales in Alaska is altered by sea ice changes in the Arctic, while other belugas do not appear to be affected. A new…
All Polar Bears Across the Arctic Face Shorter Sea Ice Season
It’s no secret that Arctic sea ice is melting. Polar bears, the poster child for climate change, are among the animals most affected by the seasonal and year-to-year changes…
Lingcod meet rockfish: Catching one improves chances for the other
Along the West Coast, lingcod fish are top predators — voracious eaters that aren’t picky about where their next meal comes from. But lingcod in the Pacific Ocean used to…
