Hydrometeorological Trends in the Miramichi River, Canada: Implications for Atlantic Salmon Growth

Hydrometeorological conditions are important determinants of the distribution and productivity of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in freshwater habitats. Environmental conditions, such as temperature, precipitation, and streamflow, affect an aquatic organism's growth rate, developmental rate, behavior, and ultimate survival. In the Miramichi River, New Brunswick, Canada, climatic and hydrological conditions have been monitored for over 30 years, providing a unique opportunity to examine long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and streamflow and their effects on juvenile Atlantic salmon. Average air temperature in the Miramichi region increased over time, particularly in spring and summer months. Coincident changes in water temperature were not observed, with only summer water temperature increasing in the Southwest Miramichi River. Extreme summer water temperatures in the Southwest Miramichi River regularly exceeded the upper temperature threshold for growth of Atlantic salmon (22.5°C). Few ...