John Hermus ’19 has a degree in natural resources with an emphasis on fish and wildlife ecology and minors in biology and chemistry from Northland College. He is currently at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, finishing his graduate studies regarding otoliths—the inner ear bones—of young freshwater salmon.
Salmon populations have been decreasing in the last few decades, while freshwater river temperatures have seen new highs. So, what does ear bone science have to do with this?
“Inner ear bones of fish tell their ages—they create rings similar to the way trees and animal horns do,” John says. “Salmon in their first year of life grow a ring a day, and we can use these rings to calculate daily growth!”
Salmon, when exposed to abnormally-warm temperatures, produce a protein called Heat Shock Protein 70, or HSP70 for short. John is observing the levels of this protein in young salmon and is now comparing it with freshwater river temperature data, noting highs that have climbed into the eighties in Alaska in recent years.
His hope?
“Our goal is to understand the effect of heat stress on juvenile salmon growth, furthering our understanding of how salmon in the state of Alaska will respond to continued warming.”
John wants future Northland students to know they can look forward to doing engaging research like the work he has been focusing on, but they have to be willing to reach out and take advantage of the opportunities on campus.
“Talk to your professors after class,” John encourages incoming students. “Get involved. Northland can do so much for you.”
When John is not in the lab or working on his graduate studies, you can find him in the mountains. He spends autumns hunting and enjoys rock climbing, packrafting, backcountry skiing, and playing guitar in his free time.
