Project ID:2003ND25B
Title:: Evolution of Fish Growth and its Response to Climate Change
Project Type: Research
Start Date: 03/01/2006
End Date: 02/28/2007
Congressional District: 1
Focus Categories: Climatological Processes, Wetlands
Keywords: Climatic change, Fossil records, global warming, Fish Growth
Principal Investigator: Ashworth, Allan
Federal Funds: $ 3,000
Non-Federal Matching Funds: $ 6,000
Abstract: It is important to consider the implications of climatic change on surface water resources in light of potential consequences of global warming. Fossils can be used to examine the effects of climate change on fish because of the long-term nature of the data. North Dakota boasts some of the best long-term data sets in the form of a fossil record to measure the effects of climatic warming on fish populations. This dissertation research will provide insight for fishery biologists and wetland ecologists concerning the long-term response of contemporary fish growth and population trends in North Dakota given potential climatic changes. This Fellowship research will focus on the comparative growth of several groups of fish. Specifically, we will contrast growth of fish in the fossil record to that of living fish to determine mean annual temperature change in the geologic record. The analyses are important for fishery biologists and ecologists in North Dakota who are interested in the implications of climatic change on surface water resources and fish.
Progress/Completion Report, PDF