Viral transmission along river systems affecting Pacific salmon

Required Availability

Fall 2016

Preferred Majors

Biology | Geographic Information Systems | Geography | Marine Science

Description

IHNV is a virus that affects Pacific salmon. It is especially of concern in hatcheries where juvenile fish are raised for release in the Columbia River basin. There can be up to 90% mortality of a juvenile hatchery cohort. We are trying to identify the predominant pathways by which IHNV is spread to juvenile salmon in hatcheries. We have IHNV testing records from hundreds of sites in the Columbia River basin and have GIS layers of site locations and river systems. The project is to calculate the river distance between hatchery sites. For example, if sites A, B, and C could have exposed site D to IHNV, how far would water or a fish have to travel between sites A and D, sites B and D, or sites C and D?

Special Directions

Please send a statement of research interests and qualifications.

Special Skills

Experience with GIS

Contact Phone #

N/A

Contact Email

pfferguson@ua.edu

Research Website

http://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/