Spawning Behaviors
 
 

Please refer to the "Salmon Spawning Behavior" handout for clarification of any behavioral terms (for additional reading, you can download the "Chum Salmon Spawning Behavior" article from the class web site. As part of this exercise, you and your lab partner will observe and record the spawning behavior for a small group of salmon in a short section of stream.

Locating a spawning pair

Observe areas of the stream where spawning activities are taking place and watch for a female digging (turning on her side and using her tail fin to beat down on the gravel). Observe the salmon in this area for at least one hour and keep track of the behaviors observed using the table below. Please feel free to record additional observations as you feel needed.
 

Female Behavior	Frequency (mark each time you observe a particular behavior)
Searching for nest site
Attacking another female on a nest site
Digging
Weaving over nest site
Digging egg pocket (very little forward progress, concentrated in deepest area)
Probing nest depth with anal fin (slight gaping)
Egg release (prolonged gape and "crouch")
Digging to cover eggs
Guarding redd
Attacking male
Male Behavior
Quivering next to female
"Crossing over" display
Nudging female
Nudging other males (lateral display with gaping)
Biting
Chasing
Open mouth rush
Body blocks ("T-display")
Satellite males changing color
Milt release