The recent Exxon Valdez oil spill has come at a critical period in the life history of both cultured and wild populations of the pink salmon in Alaska waters. The fish are at the fry stage in their development when they are coming downstream into the coastal waters naturally, or are about to be released from the coastal hatcheries. Dr. Nevissi, Dr. Quinn and graduate student Roger Peters will investigate the short-term response of salmon fry to the hydrocarbons in the coastal waters, and will establish a controlled experiment of fry tagging in polluted and pristine waters to look at the long term effects of the spill on migration behavior/success. The proposed research will focus on the levels of hydrocarbon exposure by the salmon juveniles; alterations in the migratory routes following the spill; and rates-of-return changes in the salmon that are exposed to hydrocarbons.
