Chandler’s study aims to understand how well salmon tolerate low oxygen (hypoxia) and temperature changes in rivers, especially near culverts—structures that let water flow under roads. Poorly designed culverts can harm fish habitats by affecting water quality. The Gespe'gewa'gi Institute of Natural Understanding (GINU) is collecting data onfish and environmental conditions in rivers within the Restigouche watershed.

The goal is to assess how salmon handle lowoxygen levels in rivers above and below culverts, and to explore how salmon smolts (young fish) cope with temperature and oxygen stress during their migration. The research will help identify which rivers are harder on the fish and how their bodies adapt to these challenges.

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Natalie is comparing Smolt-to-Adult Supplementation (captured wild smolts that are raised in captivity for 1-2 years until they reach sexual maturity before being released back to their natal river) vs. wild Atlantic salmon. She is tracking them to observe their behaviour and migration (after SAS salmon are released).

The project objective is to determine if there are any differences in habitat use, movement, and spawning behaviour of wild vs. SAS salmon.

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Hallie's study focuses on the combined impacts of climate change and hybridization from escaped aquaculture fish on wild Atlantic salmon populations in Newfoundland.

She is conducting a comparison of critical thermal maximums between wild, hybrid, and aquaculture populations. ​​

Erin is conducting an assessment of a stable isotope of out-migrating Atlantic salmon smolts across regional populations in Eastern Canada.

This project aims to examine the smolts’ trophic ecology and condition (resource use, habitat, and niche width) across regional populations in Eastern Canada. ​​

Ilias’ project works to calibrate a hydrologic and thermal CEQUEAU model on 34 non-regulated Atlantic salmon rivers located in northeastern Canada and Maine (USA). ​

Renata’s study aims to better understand the effects of heat stress events and thermal refuge availability on juvenile Atlantic salmon growth, condition, and marine survival using historical data.

Field-based research will also be conducted to determine the mitigating effect of thermal refuge availability.

Jean-Michel is building a model to quantify potential changes in the length of juvenile Atlantic salmon (0-2+) using a historical dataset (1970-2021) from the Miramichi and Restigouche Rivers.

The project objective is to relate changes in length to environmental drivers such as temperature, water flow, and fish density.