Implications of temporal and spatial scale for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) research

The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is a model species for studying scale iss ues (i.e., the extent, duration, and resolution of a study or natural proce ss) in ecology. Major shifts in behavior and habitat use over ontogeny, alo ng with a relatively long life span and large dispersal and migration dista nces, make scale issues critical for effective conservation, management, an d restoration of this species. The scale over which a process occurs must b e linked to the research design and we illustrate this with a discussion of resource tracking by Atlantic salmon. Identifying scale inconsistencies (e .g., when a process is evident at one scale but not another) is shown to be an effective means by which some scale-dependent processes are understood. We review the literature to assess the temporal and spatial scales used in Atlantic salmon research and find most current studies appear to sacrifice spatial and temporal extent for increased resolution. Finally, we discuss research strategies for expanding the temporal and spatial scales in salmon research, such as conducting multiple scales studies to elucidate scale in consistencies, identifying mechanisms, and using techniques and approaches to generalize across studies and over time and space.