Seattle, Washington – Canned salmon from decades past have become unlikely heroes in an accidental natural history museum, preserving a slice of Alaskan marine ecology in brine and tin. The presence of parasites in these cans tells a rich story about the ecosystem they originated from, shedding light on the intricate relationships between different species.
Researchers, like Natalie Mastick and Chelsea Wood from the University of Washington, saw an opportunity to delve into the effects of parasites on Pacific Northwestern marine mammals by examining these long-forgotten cans of salmon. When the Seafood Products Association in Seattle offered them boxes of expired cans dating back to the 1970s, the ecologists eagerly accepted the offer as a unique chance to study preserved specimens of worms.
Despite the initial disgust at the thought of worms in canned fish, these small marine parasites, known as anisakids, play a crucial role in indicating the health of the ecosystem. The researchers found that by tracing the life cycle of these worms, from krill to salmon to marine mammals, they could gain valuable insights into the overall ecosystem’s stability and health.
Over 42 years, a total of 178 tin cans containing different salmon species caught in the Gulf of Alaska and Bristol Bay provided a glimpse into the changing worm populations over time. The researchers discovered that the levels of worms increased in certain salmon species, indicating a potential shift in the ecosystem’s dynamics.
Although identifying the specific species of anisakids proved challenging due to the preservation process, the researchers believe that this unique approach of using canned salmon as an ecological archive could lead to further scientific discoveries in the future. By turning what was once considered waste into a valuable resource for ecological research, Mastick, Wood, and their colleagues have opened up a new avenue for studying marine ecosystems and the impact of parasites on various species.