David Moulton

Pacific salmon have considerable cultural, ecological, and economic impact on the region, and the steady decline of many stocks over the last few decades has been cause for concern among a diverse group of stakeholders. Due to life histories requiring precise navigations through both freshwater and marine environments over extremely large geographical scales, factors impacting their production are complex and interrelated. Pacfic salmon are born in freshwater, then migrate to the ocean to feed for multiple years before initiating a return migration through freshwater to spawn and die at their birthplace. My PhD research focuses on the freshwater migration that adult salmon undertake during the last several weeks of their lives to reach spawning grounds. Specifically, I am studying the effects of stress from rising temperatures, pathogens, and encountering fishing gear. I'm interested in the way these stressors interact and could potentially be mitigated, because adverse cumulative effects often result in en route mortality or failed spawning.