Staging

During their spawning migration salmon (and other species) may aggregate in certain locations such as near spawning areas to complete sexual maturation. Salmon may also stage while waiting for a better flow regime. Too much flow (e.g., flooding conditions) or too little flow (e.g., a drought) can impede further upstream mirgation. Staging is typically a deep area near the mouth of a stream or a pool within a stream. By staying deep they are out of the reach of some predators. Staging salmon may be organized in schools. As well, staging salmon may swim in slow circles. The beginnings of aggression by dominant males can often be observed. Mature males may attempt to court staging females.

The gathering
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) staging prior to beach spawning near the mouth of a small creek in Eyak Lake, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Cordova Ecology Eyak Lake Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Running Bear Creek Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy beach spawning biological biosphere chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater lake lentic living migratory nature near Cordova organism salmon habitat semelparity semelparous staging under fresh water underwater wild wild salmon
Coho Salmon spawning migration
A male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) begins to asert himself by using the gaping threat while schooled in a deep pool during the last stages of maturation in the Autumn in an Alaska, USA stream.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Power Creek Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate aggression anadromous anadromous fish anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater gaping in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld near Cordova organism schooling semelparity semelparous spawning migration staging stream under fresh water underwater
Coastal Cutthroat Trout
Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) staging in a beaver pond during their spring spawning migration
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Black Hole Creek Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Copper River Delta Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism searun staging stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild
Coho Salmon undergoing final maturation
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) undergoing final maturation in a deep pool near their spawning grounds
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn 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 anadromous fish anadromy biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater glacial sediment in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous staging stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chum Salmon staging near their spawning grounds
Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) staging near their spawning grounds
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer 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 semelparity semelparous spawning behavior staging stream under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Staging Sockeye, Chum, and Coho salmon
Sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka), Chum (O. keta), and Coho (O. kisutch) salmon staging on their spawning migration.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Palmer Hay Flats Sate Game Refuge Phylum Chordata Rabbit Slough Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd in situ living naturalworld nature organism photographed under water spawning behavior staging underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Gaping male Cutthroat Trout
Gaping staging male Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii).
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coastal Cutthroat Trout Cordova Eccles Creek Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus clarkii Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii Pacific trout Phylum Chordata Prince William Sound Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Searun Coastal Cutthroat Trout South Central Alaska Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism searun staging stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon wild trout
Coho Salmon staging near their spawning grounds
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) staging near their spawning grounds
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn 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 biological biosphere chordate in situ living naturalworld nature organism staging underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon emerging from glacial water
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) emerging from glacial water in a staging area. Gaping male signaling his dominance is at the lead. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei 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 biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous staging stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon spawning migration
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) staging during their spawning migration. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Saddlebag Creek Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous staging stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chum and Pink salmon spawning migration
Chum and Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus keta and O. gorbuscha) staging on their spawning migration. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Hartney Creek Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate aggression anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater gaping in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature near Cordova organism photographed under water semelparity semelparous spawning behavior spawning migration staging stream under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Dolly Varden
Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) quivers a female in a staging area. Aspect ratio = 3:4.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate diadromous fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous living lotic migratory naturalworld organism staging stream under fresh water underwater wild wild char wild charr wild salmon wild trout
Pink Salmon staging and spawning
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) on a redd (to the right of center at the bottom of the frame) while others stage during the summer spawning migration in a tributary of Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living naturalworld nature organism staging underwater underwaterphoto wild
Pink Salmon and Dolly Varden
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) staging in a pool. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism salmonography.com semelparity semelparous staging stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Two male Dolly Varden
Two male Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) males staging in a tributary of Eyak Lake, Alaska. Aspect Ratio = 1:2.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship diadromous fresh water freshwater in situ iteroparity iteroparous living lotic migratory naturalworld nuptial coloration organism salmonography.com staging stream under fresh water underwater wild wild char wild charr wild salmon wild trout
Maturing Chum and Pink salmon
Maturing Chum and Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus keta, O. gorbuscha) staging on their spawning migration in a tributary of Prince William Sound, Alaska. Aspect ratio = 1:2.5.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Ecology Fish Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate aggression anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism photographed under water semelparity semelparous spawning behavior spawning migration staging stream threat posture under fresh water underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon