Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 94 views

    Salmon Life Cycle Worksheet: Anadromous

    Uploaded by

    api-510366840
    The document summarizes the life cycle of Pacific salmon species. Salmon hatch from eggs laid in freshwater gravel nests called redds. They then live as alevin feeding off a yolk sac until becoming fry that swim and feed. They develop into parr with camouflaging bars and later smolt with silver scales as they migrate to the ocean. Adults feed at sea for years before returning to their home rivers to spawn and die, completing the cycle.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Salmon Life Cycle Worksheet: Anadromous

    Uploaded by

    api-510366840
    94 views3 pages
    The document summarizes the life cycle of Pacific salmon species. Salmon hatch from eggs laid in freshwater gravel nests called redds. They then live as alevin feeding off a yolk sac until becoming fry that swim and feed. They develop into parr with camouflaging bars and later smolt with silver scales as they migrate to the ocean. Adults feed at sea for years before returning to their home rivers to spawn and die, completing the cycle.

    Original Title

    salmon worksheet

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document summarizes the life cycle of Pacific salmon species. Salmon hatch from eggs laid in freshwater gravel nests called redds. They then live as alevin feeding off a yolk sac until becoming fry that swim and feed. They develop into parr with camouflaging bars and later smolt with silver scales as they migrate to the ocean. Adults feed at sea for years before returning to their home rivers to spawn and die, completing the cycle.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    94 views3 pages

    Salmon Life Cycle Worksheet: Anadromous

    Uploaded by

    api-510366840
    The document summarizes the life cycle of Pacific salmon species. Salmon hatch from eggs laid in freshwater gravel nests called redds. They then live as alevin feeding off a yolk sac until becoming fry that swim and feed. They develop into parr with camouflaging bars and later smolt with silver scales as they migrate to the ocean. Adults feed at sea for years before returning to their home rivers to spawn and die, completing the cycle.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Salmon Life Cycle Worksheet

    Developed by Connor Paschke, Spring 2020, University of Oregon Environmental Leadership Program 
     
    Wild salmon begin their lives in rivers and streams, then they migrate to the sea, where they 
    spend the next several years until they mature. After this, they return to the same rivers and 
    streams to spawn (reproduce) and die. They end their lives where they began them. Salmon are 
    anadromous​ (derived from the Greek, meaning running upward), migrating up rivers from sea to 
    spawn.  
     
    There are five Pacific Salmon species, of which three are common in Oregon: c​ ​oho, chinook, and 
    chum. 
     
    Salmon Life Cycle Key Terms 

      During the summer or fall, female salmon lay their eggs in freshwater gravel 
    Eggs  nests, also known as redds. They can lay as many as 2,500-7,000 eggs 
    throughout several redds. The eggs hatch during mid to late winter.  

      At this stage, larval salmon are defenseless and receive nutrients from yolk 
    Alevin  sacs attached to their bodies. They live within the gravel as alevin until they 
    grow large enough to swim and feed. 

      When the yolk sac is entirely absorbed, salmon swim to the surface of the 
    Fry  water and fill their swim bladders with oxygen. They need high quality stream 
    habitats. Logs, boulders, and shade are important to their survival.  

      Salmon develop distinct vertical bars during this stage that help them 
    Parr  camouflage into their steam habitats.  

      Seaward migrating salmon lose their parr marks at this stage and are replaced 
    Smolt  with shiny silver scales. This will help camouflage them as they live in the 
    ocean. Their gills and kidneys also undergo changes so that they can survive in 
    saltwater. 

    Adult  As adults, salmon feed in the ocean and remain there for a certain amount of 
    time depending on the species. 

      Upon re-entering the streams they grew within, salmon stop feeding and draw 
    Spawning  energy from their fat, muscle, and organs to focus on reproducing. At this 
    time, they change in both shape and color. Females lay eggs while the males 
     
    milt, or fertilize, the eggs. After spawning, salmon die within a matter of days 
    or weeks, releasing their nutrients into their river habitats.  

     
     
    Directions​: Based off of the descriptions in the table, label each photo with its correct life cycle 
    term. Provide a brief description of each stage.  
     

     
    Answer Sheet 
     

    You might also like