Future Conservation

FURTHER RESEARCH IDEAS

                Salmon populations have been in decline, and some advocate that they will collapse if effective human intervention and restoration does not take place (Moore, 2011). Further research needs to be done in order to assess the most useful methods for salmon restoration on the west coast of North America.  Several questions remain unanswered or under-researched, and debate surrounding the salmon’s ecological niche continues. What are other ecological nutrient cycles that play into the salmon cycle? There is still divergence in thought as to whether all salmon runs can act as net nutrient importers as previous research has shown, or net exporters, as recent research suggests.  The effectiveness of salmon carcass additions to riparian systems needs to be further studied. If carcass additions do not induce primary production and nutrient uptake as they have historically thought to have, we may need another approach to salmon restoration efforts. There is also a dispute about whether stable isotope observations are an effective method of calculating nutrient uptake, or if salmon leave a nutrient legacy whatsoever (Verspoor, et al., 2011). A better understanding of nutrient cycles and interactions at all trophic levels will help us if we are to preserve the salmon on the continent of North America. 
               This is not to say that we should halt all conservation efforts! I believe that taking no action is worse than continuing on our current path. Check the next tab out for ways that you can become involved in conserving salmon.