Genomic basis for interactive effects of aquaculture introgression and climate change on local adaptation in Atlantic salmon

Aquaculture escapees can introduce domesticated genes into wild Atlantic salmon, eroding locally adapted genetic diversity and potentially weakening populations’ ability to cope with climate change, with both threats likely acting together to accelerate declines. This project will use temporal genomics to track shifts in climate‑ and domestication‑associated alleles across Northwest Atlantic salmon, comparing historical Saint John River samples, contemporary aquaculture strains, and wild populations with varying introgression levels to identify genomic signatures of domestication, introgression, and climate‑driven selection. By pinpointing loci linked to climate adaptation and modeling future risks, the study aims to inform management strategies that protect the evolutionary resilience of wild salmon.