April 10, 2023

The fat of the matter is Orcas need fatty Chinook salmon for survival (No two Chinook are alike)

The fat of the matter is Orcas need fatty Chinook salmon for survival (No two Chinook are alike)

There is no secret that the Southern Resident Orca Population in the Salish Sea is critically endangered and it faces many challenges that could lead this population to extinction. An overwhelming challenge is the population's reliance on Chinook...

There is no secret that the Southern Resident Orca Population in the Salish Sea is critically endangered and it faces many challenges that could lead this population to extinction. An overwhelming challenge is the population's reliance on Chinook salmon as their primary prey as the salmon population is also declining. But there is also a new question that was recently answered that could identify another challenge: Is the energy storage (fats) in Chinook salmon equal among Chinook salmon? Researchers from the University of British Columbia tested the fat content in Chinook salmon in the spring and in the Fall to find out if their lipid content was the same. We are going to talk about the results, which could help decipher management decisions for Chinook salmon and orcas, in the future.
 
Link to article: http://bit.ly/43gUi1E
 
Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey
 
Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career:
 
Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI

Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc