Sockeye salmon spawning

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Sockeye salmon spawning

Salmon spawning. Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in their spawning phase in a river. Dead salmon are seen in the foreground. For the first two to three years of their lives these salmon live in the rivers in which they were born. Then they migrate towards the Pacific Ocean where they stay in the sea for about three years. They then start a spawning migration, thousands of kilometres long, which brings them back to the same river in which they began their lives. Sockeye salmon are able to recognise the scent of their home waters. Most of them die exhausted shortly after spawning. Photographed on the Adams River, British Columbia, Canada

Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations

Media ID 6459767

© DAVID NUNUK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Bony Fish Canada Dead Death Mating Pisces Re Production Salmon Spawn Spawning Type Adams River Oncorhynchus Nerka Pacific Salmon Sockeye Sockeye Salmon

EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the awe-inspiring phenomenon of Sockeye salmon spawning in a river. The image showcases the vibrant and determined fish as they embark on their final journey, returning to the very same river where they first hatched. In the foreground lie fallen comrades, a poignant reminder of the arduous journey these resilient creatures undertake. For the initial years of their lives, these Sockeye salmon reside in their birth rivers before venturing into the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean for approximately three years. However, an innate instinct compels them to return home for their ultimate act: reproduction. Their remarkable ability to recognize and follow the scent of their native waters guides them through a grueling migration spanning thousands of kilometers. Tragically, this incredible feat takes its toll on these magnificent creatures. Exhausted from their long odyssey, most Sockeye salmon perish shortly after completing their reproductive mission. Yet even in death, they play a vital role in sustaining ecosystems by providing nutrients that nourish other organisms within this delicate web of life. Photographed along British Columbia's Adams River, Canada's natural beauty serves as an exquisite backdrop for this extraordinary display of nature's cycle. This photograph is not just an artistic masterpiece but also a testament to resilience and sacrifice found within our planet's diverse wildlife population—a reminder that every creature has its part to play in maintaining Earth's delicate balance.

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