Warm rivers play a critical role in the survival of cold-water fish, such as salmon and trout. This is what a new study developed by the University of Oregon (United States) concludes. In addition, the results of the research have been published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
This research has a great implication in the fish conservation strategy. In fact, one of the fundamental objectives of scientists is to identify the habitat of cold-water fish that are kept at a suitable temperature during the summer months. This, in addition, is especially important due to climate change.
Help the fish survive
One of the biggest conservation challenges is figuring out how to help cold-water fish survive in warmer environments. Normally, efforts are usually focused on saving the coldest places, such as high mountain streams. However, as according to the researchers, places that are hot in summer should not be overlooked, as fish need hot and cold waters to survive.
In the study, the researchers note that warm river habitats provide pulses of potential growth during spring and fall. During these intermediate seasons the rivers do not reach their maximum summer temperatures. So foraging in these warm habitats can provide fish with enough energy to travel to cooler parts of the river during the summer and reproduce.
As the team of researchers argue, the synergy between hot and cold water is truly important. In fact, warm basins are important because it is where fish grow during spring and fall. Therefore, the conservation of this habitat is essential to take advantage of the full potential of rivers and to support fishing.
Investigation Development
Using data from the National Office for Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), scientists were able to predict the temperature of river water over entire landscapes for an entire year.
In this way, scientists were able to observe a variety of watersheds in the Columbia River (North America) and assess the quality of habitat for a great diversity of species. The simulations showed that the habitats would be considered too warm during the summer for fish such as salmon or trout. For this reason, it is not enough to protect cold habitats during the summer, but also fish that use a variety of habitats throughout the year.
