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Freshwater fish populations that dwell nearer the poles are outperforming their equatorial counterparts, researchers have found. Large-bodied migratory species such as Atlantic salmon are thriving as warming temperatures opens up new habitats at the poleward edge of their ranges.

Climate change has emerged as a key threat to biodiversity, leading to broad-scale shifts in distributions of marine and terrestrial species as they attempt to track thermally suitable habitat. Despite this, the climate responses of freshwater species are comparatively unexplored. Co-author Professor Martin Genner explained: "A common biological response to climatic warming in marine and terrestrial habitats is that populations are increasing at the poleward side of species ranges, as new environments are generated, and populations are declining at the equatorward side of species ranges, as conditions become too warm."

We hope that shining a light on how climate change can affect freshwater fishes will lead to positive actions to enable their conservation and sustainable use. We need to learn more about how the impacts of climate change can be lessened through conservation strategies, such as habitat restoration.