The diagrams below show the life cycle of a species of large fish called salmon

The flow chart illustrates the development of a species of large fish called

salmon

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from an egg throughout its life cycle.

Overall

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, there are three distinct stages in the process, beginning with the production of

eggs

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in the water and culminating in the development of mature

salmon

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. In the first stage, adult

salmon

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lay their

eggs

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on the surface between small stones and under reeds in the upper river (where the water is slow-moving) in order to protect them from fish and birds. After around 5–6 months, the

eggs

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hatch, and fry measuring about 3–8 cm emerge. The fry

then

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moves to the lower river, where the water flows faster so as

to begin

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its journey. They spend four years in

this

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location and gradually develop into smolt which is around 12–15 cm.In the next stage, the smolt migrate to the open sea, where they face challenges to survive and find food. After spending five years in the sea, they mature into adult

salmon

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. Eventually, they return to the upper river for the purpose of laying

eggs

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. Having completed

this

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cycle, the life cycle begins again.