What dictates the exact proportion of sand eels versus capelin in the ocean diet?
Answer
Which forage fish stocks are most abundant geographically
The specific composition of the ocean diet, such as the ratio of sand eels to capelin, depends entirely on which forage fish stocks are most abundant in the particular geographic areas the salmon traverse while at sea.
Related Questions
What is the primary food source for newly hatched Atlantic salmon fry in freshwater?What two main categories of food constitute the diet of the parr stage?What key food item is added to the diet when parr transition into smolts?Which category of prey forms the staple of the adult Atlantic salmon diet in the North Atlantic?Name one specific type of small schooling fish frequently cited as staple ocean prey?What dictates the exact proportion of sand eels versus capelin in the ocean diet?What typically happens to the feeding habits of salmon during their final approach back to freshwater for spawning?How does the feeding behavior shift when salmon move from freshwater to the open ocean?Why is the quality of the streamside habitat important for the parr stage?What dietary failure represents a major conservation bottleneck for young salmon entering saltwater?