The Atlantic Salmon
By Dustin
Description:
The Atlantic salmon has a
long body, which averages 60 cm in length.
It has a round forked tail, two dorsal fins including one adipose
fin. The Atlantic salmon’s head is
pointed. It has well-developed teeth on
both jaws. There are many black spots
along its body. When at sea, its sides
and stomach are silvery, while its back is brown, green and blue. A full grown, Atlantic Salmon can weigh 8-10
pounds.
Diet:
In
fresh water Atlantic salmon feed on crustaceans, smelt, alewives, and
invertebrates such as may flies, caddis flies and their larvae. Out at sea they feed on other fish.
Habitat:
Atlantic Salmon are born in
fresh water riverbeds. They require
clean, cool, flowing water, free from chemical or organic pollutants. They like the water temperature between
15-25 degrees Celsius in summer.
Social Life:
Atlantic Salmon are an
anadromous fish, which means going from salt water to fresh water. Adults grow and mature in the ocean, then
they migrate back into a stream to spawn.
After birth, young salmon stay in the stream for 2-6 years. After they smolt, a body change that adapts them for
salt-water survival, they leave the stream for the ocean.
Mating Habits:
The Atlantic salmon migrates
back to the same stream it was born in to mate. They spawn, lay eggs, in the rocky bed of the river or
stream. Sometimes the Atlantic salmon
will repeat this migration more than once in their life span, unlike the
Pacific salmon, which only migrates once.
Life Cycle:
The Atlantic salmon goes
from an egg to an alevin, and then to a Fry.
After that it enters the Parr stage, young salmon actively feeding in
fresh water. Then the Atlantic salmon
goes through the smolting stage, a body change that prepares them for life in
salt water and they assume a silvery color.
The next stage is adult which lasts 1-4 years in the ocean, followed by
the last stage, which is spawning.
How They Became Endangered:
Polluting and damming of
their streams and rivers endangered the Atlantic salmon. Over-fishing also caused this.
What is happening to help them now:
Laws have been passed to cut
down on pollution and damming of their freshwater habitats. Regulations have been established banning
high seas salmon fishing, also helping to increase their population.
How can you help:
You
can help are by trying not to pollute streams and by helping clean up
streams. You should also not fish for
salmon in the ocean. Another way to
help is by donating your time or money to organizations that are trying to save
the Atlantic salmon from
extinction.
Bibliography:
www.asf.ca/overall/atlsalm.html
www.adfg.state.ak.us/special/as/as_home.php
www.ifdn.com/salmon/research/index.htm
www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/salmon/salmon.htm