What does sockeye salmon eat?

Sockeye salmon have a fascinating diet that changes throughout their life cycle. Here's a breakdown:

Early Life (Fry and Parr):

* Zooplankton: Tiny crustaceans like copepods and cladocerans are the primary food source for young sockeye salmon.

* Insects: As they grow, they also start consuming aquatic insects like mayflies, midges, and caddisflies.

Ocean Stage (Smolt):

* Zooplankton: They continue to feed on zooplankton, but they also start consuming larger prey.

* Small Fish: This includes herring, sand lance, and other small fish.

* Squid: In some areas, they may feed on squid.

Return to Freshwater (Spawning):

* They basically don't eat: During their journey back to their natal streams to spawn, sockeye salmon stop eating entirely. They rely on the energy reserves they built up while in the ocean to complete their journey and reproduce.

Interesting Facts:

* The "Krill Diet": Sockeye salmon in the Pacific Ocean often feed heavily on krill, a type of zooplankton that forms large schools. This is why they have a characteristic orange flesh—krill are rich in astaxanthin, a pigment that gives them their color.

* Predators Influence Diet: The specific diet of a sockeye salmon can vary depending on the location and the availability of prey. They also have to avoid being eaten by predators like seals, bears, and other fish.

So, you can see that the sockeye salmon's diet is a complex and fascinating aspect of its lifecycle!