exact spot where they hatched to spawn. Tracking studies have shown this to be
mostly true. A portion of a returning salmon run may stray and spawn in different
freshwater systems; the percent of straying depends on the species of salmon.
Homing behavior has been shown to depend on olfactory memory [38–40]. Salmon
is a precious natural resource that needs to be protected.
5.2 Effect on Ecosystem
When temperatures increase and glaciers retreat, forests are more susceptible to fires
and may be more frequent [33]. And as glaciers recede and ice melts in the Arctic,
polar bears can lose their natural habitats, starve from malnutrition, and drown [30] if
their food source, such as salmon, is depleted. Animals listed as endangered due to
climate change include the Mediterranean monk seal, sea turtles, and more. Another
example of the ecosystem becoming unstable is seen by a visiting manatee found in
the Hudson River, New York, USA. The problem is manatees usually reside in
Florida’s warm waters. Evidently, the water temperatures were comfortable enough
that the manatee continued up to New York without turning back to Florida
[24]. Figure 1.8 shows that fire frequency may increase as glaciers retreat at Glacier
Bay National Park and Reserve. Figure 1.9 shows how bears rely on salmon as their
food source.
Fig. 1.8 Global warming and climate change increase forest fire frequency. (Credit: LK Wang and
MHS Wang)
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L. K. Wang et al.
mostly true. A portion of a returning salmon run may stray and spawn in different
freshwater systems; the percent of straying depends on the species of salmon.
Homing behavior has been shown to depend on olfactory memory [38–40]. Salmon
is a precious natural resource that needs to be protected.
5.2 Effect on Ecosystem
When temperatures increase and glaciers retreat, forests are more susceptible to fires
and may be more frequent [33]. And as glaciers recede and ice melts in the Arctic,
polar bears can lose their natural habitats, starve from malnutrition, and drown [30] if
their food source, such as salmon, is depleted. Animals listed as endangered due to
climate change include the Mediterranean monk seal, sea turtles, and more. Another
example of the ecosystem becoming unstable is seen by a visiting manatee found in
the Hudson River, New York, USA. The problem is manatees usually reside in
Florida’s warm waters. Evidently, the water temperatures were comfortable enough
that the manatee continued up to New York without turning back to Florida
[24]. Figure 1.8 shows that fire frequency may increase as glaciers retreat at Glacier
Bay National Park and Reserve. Figure 1.9 shows how bears rely on salmon as their
food source.
Fig. 1.8 Global warming and climate change increase forest fire frequency. (Credit: LK Wang and
MHS Wang)
18
L. K. Wang et al.