Timed Travel: Measuring the Relationship Between Stream Temperatures and the Development of Salmon
Water temperature helps regulate aquatic ecosystems, and, for many aquatic organisms, life-cycle phases are tied to water temperature. Salmon eggs, for example, generally require a certain number of degree days to hatch. Scientists know that water temperature varies both throughout a day and also within and throughout the seasons. In this study, scientists altered water temperatures to explore how water temperature affects Chinook salmon development.
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The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: How do air temperature patterns relate to a yearly natural event, such as the emergence of a particular species of flower,...FACTivity – Timed Travel
The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: How do air temperature patterns relate to a yearly natural event, such as the emergence of a particular species of flower,...
Glossary
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E. Ashley Steel
“I have so many favorite science experiences! One cool science experience was when I was standing right in the middle of the Snoqualmie River. I was thinking about how my...View Profile -
Abby Tillotson
My favorite science experience so far has been participating in salmon surveys on the Yakima River near Cle Elum, Washington. We spent a few days floating the river on rafts,...View Profile -
Donald Larsen
My favorite science experience was rowing a raft down the Yakima River in Washington State. I was collecting data on spring Chinook salmon on a beautiful fall day and thinking,...View Profile -
Aimee Fullerton
It is tough to choose my favorite science experience. I’d have to say that it was watching nonnative fish use different habitats in the dark in a lab experiment. We...View Profile -
Keith Denton
My favorite science experience was capturing 40-pound Chinook salmon in the newly restored Elwha River. The Elwha River is in Olympic National Park in Washington State. I was measuring the...View Profile -
Brian Beckman
I enjoy mentoring young scientists, helping them to develop useful and interesting questions and to form thorough and accurate answers. The curiosity and enthusiasm of these bright young people are...View Profile
Standards addressed in this Article:
Social Studies Standards
- Global Connections
- Individual Development and Identity
- Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
- People, Places, and Environments
- Science, Technology, and Society
- Time, Continuity, and Change
Note To Educators
The Forest Service's Mission
The Forest Service’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. For more than 100 years, our motto has been “caring for the land and serving people.” The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognizes its responsibility to be engaged in efforts to connect youth to nature and to promote the development of science-based conservation education programs and materials nationwide.
What Is the Natural Inquirer?
Natural Inquirer is a science education resource journal to be used by students in grade 6 and up. Natural Inquirer contains articles describing environmental and natural resource research conducted by Forest Service scientists and their cooperators. These scientific journal articles have been reformatted to meet the needs of middle school students. The articles are easy to understand, are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, contain glossaries, and include hands-on activities. The goal of Natural Inquirer is to stimulate critical reading and thinking about scientific inquiry and investigation while teaching about ecology, the natural environment, and natural resources.
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Meet the Scientists
Introduces students to the scientists who did the research. This section may be used in a discussion about careers in science.
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What Kinds of Scientist Did This Research?
Introduces students to the scientific disciplines of the scientists who conducted the research.
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Thinking About Science
Introduces something new about the scientific process, such as a scientific habit of mind or procedures used in scientific studies.
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Thinking About the Environment
Introduces the environmental topic being addressed in the research.
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Introduction
Introduces the problem or question that the research addresses.
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Method
Describes the method the scientists used to collect and analyze their data.
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Findings & Discussion
Describes the results of the analysis. Addresses the findings and places them into the context of the original problem or question.
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Reflection Section
Presents questions aimed at stimulating critical thinking about what has been read or predicting what might be presented in the next section. These questions are placed at the end of each of the main article sections.
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Number Crunches
Presents an easy math problem related to the research.
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Glossary
Defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. The first occurrence of a glossary word is bold in the text.
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Citation
Gives the original article citation with an internet link to the original article.
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FACTivity
Presents a hands-on activity that emphasizes something presented in the article.
Science Education Standards
You will find a listing of education standards which are addressed by each article at the back of each publication and on our website.
We Welcome Feedback
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Contact
Jessica Nickelsen
Director, Natural Inquirer program -
Email
Lessons
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In this lesson, students will create a storyboard to graphically represent the main points from the research article they read. This can be used with any Natural Inquirer article.Lesson Plan – Storyboard (Freshwater)
In this lesson, students will create a storyboard to graphically represent the main points from the research article they read. This can be used with any Natural Inquirer article.
Education Files
Related Resources from the Natural Inquirer
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Mussels are very sensitive to changes in the environment which makes them good indicators of the health of an aquatic ecosystem. Mussel shells, like growth rings from a tree, can...Mussel Mania: How Streamflow Affects Freshwater Mussels Over Long Time Periods
Mussels are very sensitive to changes in the environment which makes them good indicators of the health of an aquatic ecosystem. Mussel shells, like growth rings from a tree, can... -
Learn about soils and the amount of salmon-derived nutrients (SDN) in Southeast Alaska! Salmon-derived nutrients are nutrients in the soils that are from decomposing salmon. The scientists looked at how...Food for the Soil – Vol. 1 No. 6
Learn about soils and the amount of salmon-derived nutrients (SDN) in Southeast Alaska! Salmon-derived nutrients are nutrients in the soils that are from decomposing salmon. The scientists looked at how...
Additional Resources
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National Park Service: Elwha River Restoration
Visit WebsiteLearn more about the Elwha River restoration project from the National Park Service.
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fisheries: Elwha Restoration
Watch VideoGet a closer look at the large-scale restoration efforts and science behind the largest dam removal in U.S. history, which began in 2011 on the Elwha River in Washington State. How do NOAA Fisheries scientists prepare for and measure the changes?
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Project Budburst
Visit WebsiteLearn more about the Budburst program.
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USA National Phenology Network
Visit WebsiteUSA National Phenology Network is a national-scale monitoring and research initiative focused on collecting, organizing and delivering phenological data, information, and forecasts to support natural resource management and decision-making, to advance the scientific field of phenology, and to promote understanding of phenology by a wide range of audiences.