The Mystery of Coho Salmon Deaths

A concerning trend of coho salmon deaths in urban streams of Puget Sound has been observed, with the fish exhibiting strange symptoms similar to intoxication before succumbing quickly. Researchers, including Zhenyu Tian, have collaborated to unravel this mystery, which poses a significant threat to the salmon population due to their potential extinction in the coming decades. Initial investigations ruled out common environmental issues like temperature and oxygen levels, prompting the need for a deeper analysis of urban runoff from roads. As the research progressed, a critical connection to traffic-related runoff emerged as a key factor in the mortality of these salmon.