Why are trout and salmon particularly vulnerable to climate change?
Trout and salmon are naturally vulnerable to climate change because of their dependence upon cold and clean water. Most species require high quality conditions for spawning, egg survival, and rearing of young. In addition, habitats of many trout and salmon species are degraded by past land and water management and are restricted to small, fragmented habitats. These isolated populations have a harder time bouncing back from disturbances such as droughts, floods and wildfire. Because trout and salmon are sensitive to water quality and much of our landscape is already disturbed by human activity, the increased natural disturbances from climate change are likely to further reduce fish habitat where they can survive.