Warming Waters Intensify Invasive Pike Threat to Alaska's Salmon
Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks have found that rising temperatures in Southcentral Alaska's Deshka River are increasing the predatory behavior of invasive northern pike. The study, published in Biological Invasions, reveals that as water temperatures rise, pike are consuming more fish, posing a threat to native salmon populations. The research, conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, compared current pike feeding habits with data from a decade ago, showing a significant increase in fish consumption, particularly among younger pike. This trend is attributed to the warming climate, which is expected to continue, further exacerbating the threat to salmon. 
