Principal Investigator(s): (Include name, affiliation and email address):

Summary of Proposed Work: The physiological consequence of disease infection in Chinook salmon during marine migration, and ultimately survival to spawning is the focus of this study. In this study we will evaluate the severity of infection with Ichthyophonus, an emerging disease caused by a parasite, and bacterial kidney disease, a bacterial infection – both of which have documented consequences for salmon survival and reproduction in the freshwater phase. Plants and animals produce hundreds of metabolites as byproducts of daily metabolism, growth, and stress responses. To comprehensively evaluate the physiological consequences of infection with these diseases, we will evaluate the metabolic profiles in liver and muscle. Metabolic profiles may reveal biomarkers of responses to stress incurred by disease infection, with ultimate consequences for physiological condition for return migration and spawning. Herein, we will identify the severity of infection in the marine phase, to further understand the physiological consequences of disease infection on Chinook salmon body condition. Moreover, as part of this project, we will continue our ongoing efforts for education and outreach with Native Alaskan communities: 1) by providing a workshop on fish health in Unalaska, and 2) by continuing disease monitoring studies in Native Alaskan subsistence catches. This work is imperative to better understand the disease factors contributing to marine survival in migrating salmonids in the Bering Sea. Community Involvement: We plan to involve Native Alaskan communities in our proposal in two major areas: 1) i