argue against a conventional explanation for the extinction of certain salmon populations and suggest an alternative
correct a common misunderstanding about the behavior of salmon in response to environmental degradation caused by human activity
compare the effects of human activity on salmon populations with the effects of natural disturbances on salmon populations
differentiate the particular effects of various human activities on salmon habitats
describe how environmental degradation can cause changes in salmon populations that extend beyond a numerical reduction
The numerical effect isobvious:there are fewer salmonin degraded regions than in pristine ones; however, habitat lossalso has the potential to reducegeneticdiversity.Indeed, mostanalysts believe that some kindof environmental degradation underlies the demise of many extinct salmon populations.