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Spatial and temporal patterns in summer ichthyoplankton assemblages on the eastern Bering Sea shelf 1996-2007
M S Busby1, J T Duffy-Anderson1, K L Mier1
1National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science Center 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115-6349 USA.
Fisheries Oceanography
|April 22, 2020
Summary
Oceanographic conditions like temperature and sea-ice cover significantly impact fish larvae abundance and distribution in the eastern Bering Sea. These ichthyoplankton assemblages serve as key early indicators of environmental change.
Area of Science:
- Marine ecology
- Ichthyology
- Oceanography
Background:
- The eastern Bering Sea (EBS) experienced unusual warm water conditions from 2001-2005, followed by a cold year in 2007.
- Understanding fish larvae dynamics is crucial for assessing ecosystem health and commercial fisheries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine spatial and temporal patterns in fish species assemblage structure and abundance in the EBS shelf.
- To investigate the influence of oceanographic conditions on larval fish populations.
Main Methods:
- Sampling of larval and early juvenile fishes from the EBS shelf between 2001-2005 and in 2007.
- Statistical analysis of abundance data for the five most numerous taxa at 12 common stations.
- Generalized Additive Models (GAM) to determine relationships between environmental factors and larval abundance.
Main Results:
- Fish abundance differed significantly among sampling years, with walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) being the most abundant.
- Bottom depth was the primary factor explaining assemblage structure, with temperature and sea-ice coverage also being important.
- Larval abundance of walleye pollock increased with temperature up to 5°C, Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) with sea-ice cover, and northern rock sole (Lepidopsetta polyxystra) with wind speed.
Conclusions:
- Oceanographic conditions, including water temperature and sea-ice coverage, demonstrably affect the spatial and temporal patterns of larval fish abundances in the EBS.
- Ichthyoplankton species assemblages are valuable early indicators of environmental change in subarctic marine ecosystems.
