Unraveling multipredator impacts in salmon-bearing rivers using quantitative DNA metabarcoding.

ABSTRACT: Ecological impacts of invasive species are mounting as their numbers and geographic extent continue to increase. Across extensive parts of their range, Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) smolts face an expanding gauntlet of nonnative predators during their seaward migration. Adopting multispecies, spatiotemporal perspectives is essential for understanding direct and indirect predation risks and prioritizing management actions seeking to reduce impacts. Using quantitative DNA metabarcoding, we investigated trophic interactions of commonly co-occurring nonnative and native fish predators of Pacific Northwest, USA, salmon-bearing rivers, addressing challenges for salmon recovery and questions related to single-species management. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were frequently consu

SUBMITTER: Winkowski JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12715301 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature