Pacific salmon are anadromous fishes of the genus Oncorhynchus, native primarily to the North Pacific Ocean and its tributaries in Asia and North America. This genus includes multiple ecologically and morphologically distinct species (e.g., O. kisutch, O. tshawytscha, O. nerka, O. keta, O. gorbuscha), characterized by complex life cycles involving freshwater spawning and early development, marine growth, and homing migration to natal streams. They exhibit semelparity, strong local adaptation, and fine-scale population structure, making them model organisms in evolutionary biology, ecological genomics, and fisheries science, as well as key components of North Pacific aquatic ecosystems and nutrient cycles.
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