Pacific Salmon Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation

Salmonids, including Pacific salmon and trout, are an important component of ecologic and economic health around the Pacific Rim. Species of the Pacific Coast have continued to evolve in the face of natural disturbances such as floods, fires, volcanoes, wind-throw, and disease. These influences have helped salmon and trout species maintain their resiliency. However, the magnitude of human-caused disturbances—particularly in the southern portions of their native range—has caused irreversible changes to watersheds, resulting in both acute and chronic consequences for salmonids. Moreover, anthropogenic impacts are so widespread that the sustainability and potential recovery of individual ecosystems and their components, including salmonid stocks, has been drastically altered. This course will address the ecology and behavior of salmon and trout following their general life history from spawning to egg incubation, through freshwater and estuarine environments, and into the ocean where most species gain the vast majority of their body weight. Topics will include salmon and trout distribution, migration, reproduction, and the ecological and evolutionary factors affecting them. This course will also address anthropogenic stressors influencing salmon at each life stage including habitat loss, dams, hatcheries, and harvest, and will discuss conservation and recovery efforts and effectiveness.

In addition to lectures, guest speakers, and seminars, the course will include one mandatory field trip (to be determined). The work for the course will involve weekly reading, several short writing assignments, seminar discussions including co-leading one seminar, and writing and presentation of one larger research paper.

In-person Class Format: This course is offered fully in-person. Students should expect to attend in-person for all class periods. We cannot promise to offer remote attendance options due to illness or other absences. Students should strategize methods for getting notes from class when attendance is not possible.  

Class Schedule: Monday nights, 6:00 pm-10:00 pm, PST

Qualified undergraduates may be enrolled in an undergraduate CRN for this course with faculty signature approval.