The diagram illustrates the various stages in the life cycle of a salmon, highlighting its development from an egg to an adult fish.
The life cycle of a salmon consists of several distinct stages, beginning with spawning in freshwater and concluding with growth and maturation in the ocean. This process involves migration between different environments, namely rivers, estuaries, and the ocean.
Initially, salmon begin their life in the river, where adult fish spawn, laying eggs in a process called incubation. Once the eggs hatch, the young salmon, known as alevins, emerge and enter a period of freshwater rearing. During this phase, they remain in the river, growing and developing until they are ready for the next stage of their life cycle.
As the salmon continue to mature, they migrate downstream to the estuary, where they undergo estuary rearing. Here, the salmon adapt to the brackish water conditions before making their way to the ocean. In the ocean, they undergo significant growth and maturation, eventually returning to their spawning areas in rivers to complete their life cycle.