Abstract
The spawning behavior of sockeye salmon in Brooks River, Alaska, was studied in 1957 and 1958. In both years, 3 successive waves of spawners occupied the gravels. Males spent about 5 days on the redd sites and females about 9 days. Both sexes dug redds, but females were considerably more vigorous and effective. Males defended spawning territories vigorously, but almost entirely against other males. Females defended territories against both males and females. When the male of a spawning pair disappeared, the female defended the redd against fish of either sex. Defense of the redd has obvious survival value if successive spawning reduces overall egg survival as a result of excavation of previously deposited eggs. Differences in the life-spans of males and females may cause erroneous estimates of sex ratios if counts are made of only the live or the dead fish during the spawning period.
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