Something people may not realize is that the fish that swim upstream to spawn and then die become food for more than just fat bears.
The carcasses also fertilize the land surrounding the river. The trees take up the fertilizer and are more successful than they would otherwise be[0]
This is a virtuous cycle as the trees provide shade to the salmon eggs and the tree parts that fall into the river provide habitat for insects that the young fish eat[1].
Something people may not realize is that the fish that swim upstream to spawn and then die become food for more than just fat bears.
The carcasses also fertilize the land surrounding the river. The trees take up the fertilizer and are more successful than they would otherwise be[0]
This is a virtuous cycle as the trees provide shade to the salmon eggs and the tree parts that fall into the river provide habitat for insects that the young fish eat[1].
0:https://www.nature.com/articles/news011004-4 1: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view...