Nick PresentsNick PresentsEEL MIGRATIONEEL MIGRATION Prepared by Nick ShylanPrepared by Nick Shylan

Form 7AForm 7ASchool # 5 School # 5

MigrationMigration Animal migration is the travelling of long Animal migration is the travelling of long

distances in search of a new habitat. The trigger distances in search of a new habitat. The trigger for the migration may be local climate, local for the migration may be local climate, local

availability of food, or the season of the year. To availability of food, or the season of the year. To be counted as a true migration, and not just a be counted as a true migration, and not just a

local dispersal or irruption, the movement of the local dispersal or irruption, the movement of the animals should be an annual or seasonal animals should be an annual or seasonal

occurrence, such as birds migrating south for the occurrence, such as birds migrating south for the winter, or a major habitat change as part of their winter, or a major habitat change as part of their life cycle, such as young Atlantic salmon leaving life cycle, such as young Atlantic salmon leaving the river of their birth when they have reached a the river of their birth when they have reached a

few inches in sizefew inches in size

EELEEL

Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 19 families, 110 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators. The term "eel" is also used for some other similarly shaped fish, such as electric eels and spiny eels, but these are not members of the Anguilliformes order.

Ocean travellerOcean traveller The European eel has a mysterious life cycle. The European eel has a mysterious life cycle.

It spends its early years in our rivers before heading It spends its early years in our rivers before heading out to sea and across the Atlantic to the Sargasso Sea out to sea and across the Atlantic to the Sargasso Sea

in the western Atlantic near the Bahamas. in the western Atlantic near the Bahamas. Here, it is assumed they spawn and lay eggs, however Here, it is assumed they spawn and lay eggs, however

this has never been witnessed. this has never been witnessed. The eggs hatch into transparent larvae called The eggs hatch into transparent larvae called

leptocephalus and make the return journey to Europe leptocephalus and make the return journey to Europe floating on oceanic currents. floating on oceanic currents.

By the time they reach our shores, they have developed By the time they reach our shores, they have developed into tiny glass eels that swim against the current into into tiny glass eels that swim against the current into

Europe's rivers. Europe's rivers. While living in our rivers, the eels can grow up to 1m While living in our rivers, the eels can grow up to 1m

long.long.

MigrationMigration

MigrationMigration

Thank you Thank you for your for your attentionattention