Why do salmon die after they spawn?
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Welcome to CoreFacts, where we're always short on time and big on science. I'm Brian Campbell. Today's question is ...
Why do salmon die after they spawn?
Answer:
Salmon use all their energy for returning to their home stream, for making eggs and digging the nest. Most salmon stop eating when they return to freshwater and have no energy left for a return trip to the ocean after spawning. After they die, other animals eat them (but people don't) or they decompose, adding nutrients to the stream.
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