diadromy

noun
UK /daɪˈædrəmi/
US /daɪˈædrəmi/

Diadromy is when fish travel between fresh water and salty sea water during their lives.

Salmon are famous for diadromy, swimming from the ocean back up rivers to lay their eggs.

SYNONYMS

fish migrationmigrationamphidromyfish movement

RELATED WORDS

anadromycatadromyspawningestuarylife cycle

OTHER MEANINGS

2. In biology, the general term for any life cycle that includes movement between freshwater and marine habitats.

Scientists study diadromy to understand how species adapt to changing salinity.

3. The ecological pattern of migrating between rivers and the sea, used when classifying fish species.

The river's fish show a clear diadromy, moving downstream as juveniles and upstream as adults.

4. A type of fish behavior involving two-way journeys between different water environments.

Eels display diadromy by growing in rivers and then traveling to the sea to breed.