Life from death

The mass death of Pacific salmon after spawning subsidizes ecosystems with nutrients and productivity originating in the ocean. The total productivity of ecosystems with anadromous salmon is greater than without them. Conservation of salmon thus has many benfits.

Caddisfly larva scavenger
Caddisfly larva scavenging on the pectoral fin of a Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) carcass.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal arthropod Arthropoda Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate King Salmon Montana Creek Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Arthropoda Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere caddisfly larva carcass chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ insect living lotic migratory naturalworld nature near Talkeetna organism pectoral fin semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
American Dipper with Coho Salmon egg
American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) wading with Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) egg in bill after scavenging it from the bottom of an Alaska USA stream during autumn
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon American Dipper Animal Autumn Biology Bird Chordata Cinclidae Cinclus mexicanus Class Actinopterygii Class Aves Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Passeriformes Phylum Chordata Power Creek Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate Water Ouzel biological biosphere chordate egg egg scavenging in situ living lotic naturalworld nature near Cordova organism ovivore ovivory salmon habitat semelparity songbird stream topside underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Salmon Generations
Juvenile and adult Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and other salmon species gather in a slough in the Palmer Hay Flats near Wasilla, Alaska.
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Biology Ecology Palmer Hay Flats Sate Game Refuge Rabbit Slough Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Summer United States anadromous anadromous fish anadromy biological biosphere diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater wild wild salmon
Glaucous-winged Gull dining on a spawned-out male Sockeye Salmon
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucesens) dining on a spawned-out male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) carcass.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Bird Charadriiformes Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Aves Ecology Glaucouswinged Gull Infraclass Teleostei Laridae Larus glaucescens Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological carcass chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water gull living lotic migratory nature organism semelparity semelparous stream underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Male Coho Salmon skeletal remains
Frost covered skeletal remains of a male Coho Salmon after scavenging by birds. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere carcass chordate diadromous diadromy in situ living migratory naturalworld nature organism salmon habitat semelparity semelparous stream underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Skeletal remains
Frost covered skeletal remains of Coho Salmon after scavenging by birds. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere carcass chordate diadromous diadromy in situ living migratory naturalworld nature organism salmon habitat semelparity semelparous stream underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Peck marks and frost
Peck marks in sand next to frost covered Coho Salmon bones suggest recent foraging. Aspect ratio = 54:5.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere carcass chordate diadromous diadromy frsot in situ living migratory naturalworld nature organism pecking marks salmon habitat semelparity semelparous stream underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Lord of the flies
Carcass of a spawned-out male pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha; a very important species - economically and culturally) that was likely deposited on shore by avian scavengers (eye socket and margin of gill cover have bill marks) being colonized by flies (diptera). These adult flies will be depositing eggs yielding larval offspring which will consume this carcass thus proving an ecological link between the ocean where the salmon has fed with the terrestrial environment of the flies. Photograph was taken on the shore of Hartney Creek, near Cordova, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate WPY2022 anadromous anadromy biological biosphere carcass chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy in situ insect behaviour living migratory naturalworld nature organism photographed under water searun semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream topside underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Lord of the flies: female
Carcass of a spawned out female Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) being colonized by flies (Diptera).
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Arthropoda Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Diptera Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Insect Invertebrate Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Arthropoda Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy arthropod biological biosphere carcass chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy flies in situ living marine life migratory naturalworld nature organism photographed under water searun semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream topside underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Coho Salmon fry feeding on Sockeye Salmon carcass
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) fry feeding on Sockeye Salmon (O. nerka) carcass. Aspect ratio = 4:5.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Arthropoda Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Insect Invertebrate Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Arthropoda Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Trichoptera United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromous fish anadromy arthropod biological biosphere caddisfly larvae carcass chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater fry in situ living lotic marine life migratory naturalworld nature organism salmon carcass searun semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Decomposing salmon carcasses
Decomposing salmon carcasses
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism photographed under water searun semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Spawned-out Pink (humpback) Salmon covered with Saprolegnia
Spawned-out Pink (humpback) Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) covered by the protozoan referred to as cotton mold (Saprolegnia) beginning the decomposition process that will eventually transform the carcass to mineral nutrients. Photo taken under water in Hartney Creek, a tributary of Prince William Sound. Summer, South Central Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Oomycota Ecology Family Saprolegniaceae Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Kingdom Chromalveolata Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Order Saprolegniales Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Phylum Heterokontophyta Pink Salmon Plant Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Saprolegnia Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Superphylum Alveolata Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate cotton mold diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism searun semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon