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(Solved): Sexually-mature male sockeye salmon have a very large dorsal (back) hump, which develops as they mig ...
- Sexually-mature male sockeye salmon have a very large dorsal (back) hump, which develops as they migrate back into freshwater streams (in some occasions, they can navigate very precisely, within a few meters of where they hatched!). After several years of research, you discover that male sockeye have highest survival with a body depth of 20 cm—fish with bigger humps get eaten by bears, and smaller fish can’t easily navigate the river. However, you consistently find that the mean body depth is 28 cm.
A. What would explain this? Be as specific as you can.
B. What is the name of the hypothesis that describes what you have observed here?
C. How is it that two cloned individuals can have differences in phenotypes? What is the term used to describe this?
Expert Answer
Sockeye salmon, also known as red salmon, is a species of fish that belongs to the salmon family (Salmonidae). They are anadromous, meaning they are born in freshwater streams, migrate to the ocean to mature, and return to their natal streams to spawn. Sockeye salmon are highly valued for their firm, bright-red flesh and are commercially harvested for human consumption.Sockeye salmon have a unique life cycle where they spend most of their lives in the ocean, feeding on small fish and plankton, before migrating back to freshwater streams to spawn. During spawning, males develop a large dorsal hump and their body color changes from silver to bright red. After spawning, both male and female sockeye salmon die, and their bodies decompose, providing essential nutrients to the ecosystem.