Swimming against the clock: The genetics of salmon migration timing in a changing climate with Dr Samantha Beck

As the climate continues to rapidly change, the seasonal movements of migratory species are in danger of becoming out of sync with their environment, threatening their survival. Atlantic salmon are known for their long migrations across the ocean, eventually returning to the rivers where they were born to spawn. However, salmon numbers are declining worldwide, and one possible reason could be that their migration timing is no longer lining up with the conditions they need to survive. Understanding the genetic basis of migration timing and exploring how climate change might be impacting certain populations’ migration timing more than others, is crucial. By understanding these dynamics, we can better inform conservation efforts and support the resilience of Atlantic salmon in a rapidly changing world.

Sam is currently a Marie-Curie Global Fellow on the SAL-MOVE project at Institute for Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation at UHI Inverness, collaborating with Dr. Victoria Pritchard (IBFC, UHI Inverness) and Dr. Ian Bradbury (Fisheries and Oceans Canada). Her research so far has focussed on the evolution and maintenance of biodiversity, particularly in salmonid species. Sam completed her PhD studying Arctic charr in Iceland and has since shifted her focus to Atlantic salmon. Over the past two years, she worked in Nova Scotia on the SAL-MOVE project before returning to Inverness to continue her research exploring the genetic basis of migration timing in Atlantic salmon and the possible impacts of climate change.

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