Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, commonly known as the pink salmon, is the smallest and most abundant of the Pacific salmon species. It is distinguished by its characteristic pinkish hue and the pronounced humpback that males develop during spawning. Found in the cold waters of the North Pacific, it migrates vast distances from ocean feeding grounds to freshwater streams to spawn. Known for its two-year life cycle, the pink salmon plays a crucial role in the aquatic food web, providing sustenance for a variety of predators, including bears and birds.

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, commonly known as the pink salmon, is native to the Pacific Ocean and its surrounding regions. Its geographical distribution includes the northern Pacific Ocean and adjacent river systems, ranging from the Arctic coast of Alaska and Canada, southwards to the western coast of North America down to the Sacramento River in California, and across to the eastern coast of Asia in areas like Russia and Japan. The pink salmon is particularly abundant in the northernmost regions, such as the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska.

Pink salmon generally inhabit cold, clean, and oxygen-rich waters. They are anadromous, meaning they spend a portion of their life cycle in freshwater rivers and streams where they spawn, and the remainder in the open ocean where they grow and mature. In freshwater, they prefer fast-flowing streams and rivers with gravel beds for spawning. In the ocean, they occupy nearshore and offshore waters, often in the upper water column.

As a key species in their ecosystem, pink salmon play a crucial role in nutrient transfer between marine and freshwater systems. Their spawning migrations bring marine-derived nutrients into river systems, which benefit aquatic and terrestrial communities. Pink salmon are also an important food source for a variety of predators including birds, mammals, and larger fish species. They exhibit adaptations to cold water environments, including a streamlined body that aids in swimming efficiency and temperature regulation.