Coho Salmon fry
Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch) fry (length ~ 3cm) rearing in a shallow stream near the cover provided by wood (background).
ActinopterygiiAlaskaChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonCordovaEccles CreekInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataPrince William SoundRS28mmSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSilver SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebrateanadromousanadromychordatediadromousdiadromyfeedingfeeding aggregationfresh waterfreshwaterfryhabitatjuvenileloticmigratorypaar markssemelparitysemelparousstreamstream ecologysummerunder fresh waterunderwater
Salmon habitat change
Recent change is evident in this upstream view within a major Sockeye and Coho salmon spawning reach in Power Creek near Cordova, Alaska. Former streambead on the partially snow-covered left side is about 1 meter higher than the water level. The stream has migrated to the right enveloping large spruce and hemlock trees. The remains of one tree that was deposited on the elevated former streambed during a rain event is visible in the background.
AlaskaAlaska wild salmonAutumnSouth Central AlaskaUnited Statesclimate changefresh waterfreshwaterhabitatloticsalmon habitatspawning reachstreamtopsidewild
Sockeye on redds
Sockeye salmon paired up on redds in preparation for spawning in an Alaskan stream
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratechordatefresh waterfreshwaterloticnaturestreamtopsideunderwaterphotowild
Sockeye on redds
Sockeye salmon paired up on redds in preparation for spawning in an Alaskan stream
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratechordatefresh waterfreshwaterloticnaturestreamtopsideunderwaterphotowild
Sockeye Salmon excavating her redd
Above water view of a female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) excavating her redd with alpha male just downstream of her. The object in the frame's lower left is a decomposing salmon carcass.
AlaskaAlaska wild salmonSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSummerUnited Statesfresh waterfreshwaterloticpondsalmon habitatstreamtopsidewildwild salmon
After spawning
In January there is little evidence that thousands of salmon have recently spawned here.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherechordatefresh waterfreshwaterhabitatin situloticnaturalworldnaturesalmon habitatstreamtopsideunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmonwinter
Waiting to spawn
Coho salmon undergoing the final stages of maturation.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonAutumnChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoho SalmonInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus kisutchOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSilver SalmonSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherechordatefresh waterfreshwaterhabitatin situloticnaturalworldnaturestreamtopsideunderwaterunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning habitat
Sockeye Salmon spawning habitat in a small Alaskan stream with woody debris.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratechordatefresh waterfreshwaterhabitatloticnaturestreamsummertopsideunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning habitat
Sockeye Salmon spawning habitat in a small Alaskan stream with woody debris.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratechordatefresh waterfreshwaterhabitatloticnaturestreamsummertopsideunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning habitat
Sockeye Salmon spawning habitat in a small Alaskan stream with woody debris.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataClass ActinopterygiiInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus nerkaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataRed SalmonSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSockeye SalmonSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratechordatefresh waterfreshwaterhabitatloticnaturestreamsummertopsideunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
High-density Chum Salmon spawning
High-density Chum Salmon spawning in a small Alaskan stream.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataChum SalmonClass ActinopterygiiDog SalmonFishInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus ketaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherechordatecovering reddfresh waterfreshwaterhabitatin situloticnaturalworldnaturephotographed under waterspawning behaviorstreamtopsideunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Chum Salmon spawning habitat
Chum Salmon spawning habitat in a small Alaskan stream.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataChum SalmonClass ActinopterygiiDog SalmonFishInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus ketaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherechordatecovering reddfresh waterfreshwaterhabitatin situloticnaturalworldnaturephotographed under waterspawning behaviorstreamtopsideunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Deep water
Chum Salmon migrating upstream will stack up and stage in deeper water.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataChum SalmonClass ActinopterygiiDog SalmonFishInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus ketaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherechordatecovering reddfresh waterfreshwaterhabitatin situloticnaturalworldnaturephotographed under waterspawning behaviorstagingstreamtopsideunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Deep water
Chum Salmon migrating upstream will stack up and stage in deeper water.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataChum SalmonClass ActinopterygiiDog SalmonFishInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus ketaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherechordatecovering reddfresh waterfreshwaterhabitatin situloticnaturalworldnaturephotographed under waterspawning behaviorstagingstreamtopsideunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Under cover
Pink and Chum salmon aggregated while staging under the cover provided by overhanging dead trees adjacent to spawning habitat.
ActinopterygiiAlaskaAlaska wild salmonChordataChum SalmonClass ActinopterygiiDog SalmonFishInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus ketaPacific salmonPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSeacam underwater housingSouth Central AlaskaSubclass NeopterygiiSummerTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherechordatecovering reddfresh waterfreshwaterhabitatin situloticnaturalworldnaturephotographed under waterspawning behaviorstagingstreamtopsideunderwaterunderwater photographyunderwaterphotowildwild salmon
Surface ripples in a Snell's window
Surface ripples caused by a fish surfacing in this beaver pond within a stream occupied by Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) and Dolly Varden Charr (Salvelinus malma lordi).
ActinopterygiiAlaskaChordataClass ActinopterygiiCoastal Cutthroat TroutCopper River DeltaDolly VardenDolly Varden CharDolly Varden CharrDolly Varden Charr southern formInfraclass TeleosteiNeopterygiiOncorhynchus clarkiiOncorhynchus clarkii clarkiiPacific troutPhylum ChordataSalmonidaeSalmoniformesSalmoninaeSalvelinus malmaSalvelinus malma lordiSnell's windowSouth Central AlaskaspringSubclass NeopterygiiTeleostTeleosteiUnited StatesVertebratebiospherechordatein situnaturalworldunderwater