Sockeye salmon natural selection against large bodies. Populations with higher levels of predation tend to evolve smaller body size. Without the threat of predation, salmon that breed early in the season live longer than those that breed late in the season. Other ecological factors like stranding effect select for smaller body size in sockeye salmon when present in a habitat. Stranding is when salmon swim into dry land or shallow water during their migration for spawning and die from suffocation. In fact, studies show that the Sockeye salmon with the largest bodies are most susceptible to stranding mortality. Reproduction is marked by
What It Is to Burn the label. Reines offered the group a chance to perform and subsequently invited his sister, and co-label owner, Stefanie to the performance. The pair were impressed and signed the group. Pre-production and demos were done at DML Studios in Escondido, California in February and April 2001. They began recording "What It Is to Burn" in June at Big Fish Studios in Encinitas, California with producer Mark Trombino. They started tracking guitars in July. Strohmeyer used Fender guitars and Marshall amplifiers. Linares used ESP guitars and Mesa amplifiers. Trombino did guitar effects for the album, earning him a programming credit in