A collaborative project by Mr. DeVuono's
Grade 4 & 5 students,
with Mrs. Blair's Grade 3/4 students of Redfish
Elementary
Mr. Milner's Grade 4/5 students of J V Humphreys,
and a surprise from Year 7 students in Glenmore State School in
Queensland, Australia
By Senya and
Charlotte
1. EGG
In
mid- fall Kokanee start out as pea-sized
orange-red eggs that face many dangers. Tumbling rocks and silt can
squish or suffocate the very delicate eggs. At the egg stage, high or
really low water temperature or water flow (needed for oxygen) can
also affect the future lives of these Kokanee. Some other common
dangers are water pollution, land disturbances and various bird and
fish predators.
2. ALEVIN
The next point of life (winter) for these organisms is the alevin
stage. After hatching, the small fish-like body feeds off a yolk sac
which is attached to the underside of its body. The alevin feeds off
the yolk sac for about six weeks while it hides between rocks so as
not to be carried away by the extremely strong current or be eaten by
predators.
3. FRY
Now it's spring. The alevin have turned into two centimetre long fry
and have finished off their yolk sac. With the yolk sac gone it's time
to start finding food for themselves. Trying to find small
crustaceans, plankton and water insects can be a difficult task
especially since it can only happen at night so they don't get eaten.
Fry eventually get swept down the creek to the lake by the current.
When the fry get to the lake they stay close to shore with many other
fry. There's safety staying in a school!
3. FRY
Now it's spring. The alevin have turned into two centimetre long fry
and have finished off their yolk sac. With the yolk sac gone it's time
to start finding food for themselves. Trying to find small
crustaceans, plankton and water insects can be a difficult task
especially since it can only happen at night so they don't get eaten.
Fry eventually get swept down the creek to the lake by the current.
When the fry get to the lake they stay close to shore with many other
fry. There's safety staying in a school!
5. FULL GROWN
SILVERS AND SPAWNERS
Full grown silvers grow to be 30-40 cm long and continue to live in
lakes, rivers and some streams. They feed on freshwater shrimp,
insects and fry. These Kokanee will migrate back to the river where
they were born to lay their eggs. The spawning Kokanee do not eat
while they are in their home creek for the last time. After the eggs
are laid by the female and fertilized by the male the Kokanee die
while trying to protect their soon-to-be Kokanee offspring.
