In the course of spawning, salmon are uplifting sediment and changing the course of watersheds.
A study from Washington State University finds that the act of mating by salmon is having an impact on stream beds and watersheds, creating changes to the natural environment. As described in Lab, the report "Sex that moves mountains: The influence of spawning fish on river profiles over geologic timescales"by researchers Alexander K. Fremier, Brian J. Yanites, and Elowyn M. Yager describes how the fish can alter the landscape after generations (counted in millions of years) of spawning.
Alex Fremier, lead author of the study and associate professor in the WSU School of the Environment, said female salmon "fluff" soil and gravel on a river bottom as they prepare their nests, or redds. The stream gravel is then more easily removed by flooding, which opens the underlying bedrock to erosion.
"The salmon aren't just moving sediment," said Fremier. "They're changing the character of the stream bed, so when there are floods, the soil and gravel is more mobile."
FULL STORY: Salmon Sex Linked to Geological Change
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The End of Single-Family Zoning in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is the latest jurisdiction in the country to effectively end single-family zoning.
The Quiet Housing Crisis in Rural America
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‘Arrested Mobility:’ How Transportation-Related Laws Impact Black Americans
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California Attorney General Wants to Get Serious About Housing
A bill sponsored by the AG’s office would give the state’s top attorney more power to intervene in lawsuits related to the state’s housing laws.
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
