Life Cycle of a Salmon
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The diagram below shows the life cycle of a salmon, from egg to adult fish.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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Sample Answer 1
The provided diagram illustrates the life cycle of a salmon, depicting the stages it undergoes from the egg phase to becoming a fully grown adult fish.
Overall, the salmon's life cycle is characterized by six distinct phases, progressing through different environments, namely rivers, estuaries, and oceans. The process begins with egg incubation in rivers and concludes with mature salmons returning to freshwater rivers to spawn, thereby restarting the cycle.
In the early stages, adult salmon fish lay their eggs in rivers, initiating the cycle through incubation. After hatching, the juvenile fish emerge and remain in freshwater areas for further development. This emergence marks the start of their rearing phase, which continues within the river environment. As the young salmon grow in size, they eventually move towards estuaries to proceed with their development.
Upon reaching the estuary, the salmon fish experience another rearing phase, increasing their size further. Once adequately grown, they migrate to the ocean, where they spend the majority of their lives. During this period, they continue to mature, becoming fully developed adult fish. Once maturity is reached, the adult salmon embark on a journey back towards rivers, where they spawn and lay eggs, bringing the life cycle of a salmon to full completion, and initiating the next generation’s life cycle.
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Sample Answer 2
The provided diagram presents the life cycle of a salmon, detailing the series of stages the fish undergoes from the initial egg phase through to becoming an adult and completing the reproductive cycle.
Overall, the life of a salmon fish progresses through six stages, during which it travels through three distinct environments: river, estuary, and ocean. The cycle commences with the deposition of eggs in the river, followed by the growth of young salmon. Eventually, these fish migrate to the ocean, only to return later to the river for spawning, where the cycle begins anew.
In the initial stages, adult salmon lay eggs in freshwater rivers, where the incubation phase occurs. After hatching, the young fish, known as fry, begin their development. During this period, they remain in freshwater to undergo rearing, gaining the necessary strength to continue their journey. Once they reach a suitable size, these juvenile salmon move towards estuaries, where further growth takes place.
Following their time in the estuary, the salmon migrate to the ocean. Here, they undergo significant growth and maturation, reaching adulthood. This phase constitutes the longest part of the life cycle of a salmon, as they develop fully in the ocean environment. Upon reaching maturity, the adult salmon return to rivers to spawn, completing the cycle and giving rise to the next generation.
Sample Answer 3
The diagram provided illustrates the life cycle of a salmon, outlining its transformation from egg to mature fish through several stages and habitats.
Overall, the salmon’s journey is marked by six critical stages, which unfold across three different environments: the river, the estuary, and the ocean. The cycle begins with the spawning of eggs in freshwater rivers and culminates with the adult fish returning to the same environment to reproduce, continuing the life cycle for the next generation.
At the beginning, adult salmon deposit their eggs in the river, where the incubation period takes place. Once the eggs hatch, the young fish emerge and continue to reside in the river for the freshwater rearing phase, developing their strength and size. After a period of growth, the fish migrate to estuaries, transitioning from the river to brackish water, where they undergo further rearing.
Following their development in the estuary, the juvenile salmon advance to the ocean. Here, they experience significant growth, reaching full maturity. This stage represents the longest phase of the life cycle of a salmon, as the fish mature in preparation for reproduction. Once they reach adulthood, these mature fish return to freshwater rivers to spawn, completing the cycle and giving rise to the next generation of salmon.
Sample Answer 4
The diagram demonstrates the life cycle of a salmon, outlining the key stages involved in its development from an egg to an adult fish, covering distinct phases in both freshwater and marine environments.
Overall, the life cycle involves six critical stages, with the fish moving between three different habitats: river, estuary, and ocean. It begins with spawning in rivers and culminates in adult fish returning to the same freshwater environment to reproduce, completing the cycle.
The process starts in the river, where mature salmon lay eggs that undergo an incubation period. Once the eggs hatch, the juvenile fish emerge and stay in the freshwater environment for their initial rearing phase. After growing to a certain size, these young salmon migrate to estuaries, where they continue their development in a brackish water habitat.
Following this stage, the salmon transition to the ocean, where they experience the most significant period of growth. In this phase, they reach full maturity, preparing themselves for reproduction. As they become fully grown adults, the salmon return to the rivers, retracing their journey from the ocean to spawn. This final migration ensures the continuation of the life cycle of a salmon, with the adult fish laying eggs to produce the next generation, restarting the entire process.
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