RE: NANFA-- salmon nutrients

Jay DeLong (thirdwind_at_att.net)
Fri, 18 Feb 2000 14:41:27 -0800

There are, of course, other ecological benefits of salmon besides providing
nutrients. One not considered too often is their cleaning effects on stream
gravels. Chinook salmon are usually the first to spawn in a stream.
They're large salmon who make huge redds up to 3 feet deep. As the female
scours the gravels to make her redd, she works it free of settled sediments
allowing for many animals-- eggs to small fish to invertebrates and more--
to live in the spaces between sediment particles. Stiring up sediments
makes it easier for successive runs of other smaller salmon species to lay
their eggs.

--
Jay DeLong
Olympia, WA

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