The diagrams below show the life cycle of a species of large fish called the salmon.Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The illustrations show the various sequences of life stages undergone by a salmon.

The cycle starts in the upper river where the slow current allows deposition of salmon eggs below the aquatic vegetation called reeds, usually underneath small pebbles. In here, they will spend the first 5 to 6 months until they are ready to hatch into small baby salmons known as “fry.” After which, they travel to the fast flowing area of the lower river where they will stay for the next 4 years.

Small fry measures about 3 to 8cm in length. Once they reach 12-15cm, they enter the next stage of their development. At this point, they are now called “smolt.”

During this stage, they will migrate to the open sea and for the next 5 years, they will gradually transition into the next stage of their maturation, the adult salmon. A fully mature salmon can grow as much as 70-76cm in length.

When it is time to start the next generation, adult salmons return to their place of birth, where they will once again lay their eggs to start the cycle anew.