![]() Pink salmon feed on small crustaceans, zooplankton, squid, and small fish. The carcasses are known to be a valuable source of energy and nutrients to the river ecosystem, improving newly hatched salmon growth and survival by contributing nitrogen and phosphorous compounds to the water. All pink salmon die after spawning, but females stay and defend their redds from other females until she dies, usually within two weeks. They can lay between 12 eggs, depositing them into the redds, where the males can then fertilize them. Females construct nests, known as redds, in the riverbed by digging a shallow hole with their body and tail. Mature pink salmon return to their spawning waters about one to two years after feeding and growing in the ocean, usually between August and October. Southern and northern stocks alternate spawning every other year, with an odd-year dominant cycle in the north. ![]() They are amongst the fastest growing of the Pacific salmon species, feeding voraciously and growing rapidly once they reach the ocean. Unlike coho, Chinook, or sockeye salmon, young pink salmon do not spend an extended period in freshwater and migrate soon after they are born. Like other salmon species, pink salmon are anadromous, meaning they hatch in freshwater streams and rivers, then migrate to saltwater environments to feed and grow. ![]() They also develop a hump, giving them the nickname “humpback” or “humpy” salmon. Breeding males become red and dark on the back, with brown-green blotches on their sides. They are distinguishable from other salmon by their general coloring and slender form, and large dark oval spots found on their back. Pink salmon are the smallest of the North American Pacific salmon, growing to between 20 to 25 inches (50 cm to 64 cm) in length and weighing between three to five pounds. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |