www.oilspill.state.ak.us 907/278-8012 This publication was released by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council and produced at a cost of $4.73 per copy. The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council conducts all programs and activities... more
www.oilspill.state.ak.us 907/278-8012 This publication was released by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council and produced at a cost of $4.73 per copy. The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council conducts all programs and activities free from discrimination, consistent with the Americans with Disibilities Act. This publication is available in alternative communication formats upon request. Please contact the Trustee Council Office at 907/278-8012 to make necessary arrangements. Any person who believes she or he has been discriminated against should write to: The EVOS
Publisher Summary Albatross Bank is located in the Gulf of Alaska's outer continental shelf near Kodiak Island. Geologically, it sits in a broad forearc above the Alaska subduction zone, 50–100 km north of the trench and 250 km south... more
Publisher Summary Albatross Bank is located in the Gulf of Alaska's outer continental shelf near Kodiak Island. Geologically, it sits in a broad forearc above the Alaska subduction zone, 50–100 km north of the trench and 250 km south of the Alaska arc volcanoes. Earthquakes and vertical tectonic processes from active plate collision form the general morphology of the region. Bedrock at the outer shelf is composed of Miocene and younger sedimentary strata, mostly flat lying, and hosts seeps that vent methane-bearing fluids. Albatross Bank is influenced by strong ocean currents. The Alaskan Stream flows along the shelf break and continental slope in a generally southwest direction. Assessment of biological communities is based on analysis of submersible observations of fishes and macroinvertebrates. The focus was on the abundance and community composition patterns of fishes relative to substrate types and water depth. Rockfishes were the most abundant group, accounting for 69% of the fishes observed. This study employed statistical methods to study associations between fish communities and benthic habitat, and hence identified habitat types that may be useful as surrogates in a search for potential habitat of these fish communities.
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[Missing plankton, jellyfish, seine, trawl, bird and CTD data sets from this study] Sound Ecosystem Assessment (SEA) aerial surveys, 1995 - 1997: We show that aerial visual surveys are a cost-effective method to assess distribution and... more
[Missing plankton, jellyfish, seine, trawl, bird and CTD data sets from this study] Sound Ecosystem Assessment (SEA) aerial surveys, 1995 - 1997: We show that aerial visual surveys are a cost-effective method to assess distribution and abundance of forage fish and seabirds and produce repeatable results with an acceptable level of error. We fulfilled our main objectives concerning forage fish assessment: 1) develop an appropriate survey design incorporating detection error, surveyor bias, and survey constraints, 2) determine the accuracy of fish species and age class discrimination, 3) determine the repeatability of aerial measurements, and 4) determine the spatial resolution of aerial measurements needed for ecological analyses. We also fulfilled our secondary objective to develop abundance estimates for jellyfish aggregations and seabirds. We developed an adaptive modified line transect methodology and model incorporating a detection curve for Pacific herring (Clupea pallusi), Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes hempems), and black-legged kittiwakes (Rissu triductylu) and a detection correction factor for fish schools. We established survey condition constraints and an optimal survey altitude range of 274 - 366 m based on school size and sightability of seabirds. We developed logging software to obtain flight path and sighting coordinates and incorporated measurements of schools using a sighting tube. The altitude dependent flight swath or transect width for fish schools was estimated from the detection curve at 474 m at an altitude of 305 m. The detection correction factor was estimated at 0.727 resulting in an undercounting rate of approximately 37.5%. Using double counting, individual surveyor bias was estimated at 6.5% for school counts and 7.0% for school surface area estimates; these rates are lower than those reported for wildlife aerial surveys. Error in fish species identification was estimated from validation data at 3.9% for herring, and 20. 2% for sand lance; we were not able to discriminate age classes [...]
These data are part of the ASGARD component of the Arctic Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (IERP), sponsored by the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB), Collaborative Alaskan Arctic Studies Program (formerly the North Slope... more
These data are part of the ASGARD component of the Arctic Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (IERP), sponsored by the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB), Collaborative Alaskan Arctic Studies Program (formerly the North Slope Borough/Shell Baseline Studies Program), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and the Office of Naval Research Marine Mammals and Biology Program. To investigate the dynamics of the spring season in the northeastern Chukchi Sea, we conducted trawl surveys in June 2017 to explore fish abundance and life history parameters. Demersal fishes were targeted with a 3 m plumb-staff beam trawl, while pelagic fishes were targeted using an Isaacs-Kidd midwater trawl. Catches were processed (see methods). Files included in this dataset are as follows: Pelagic: Trawl Deployment Data, File Name: "201x_ASGARD_Chukchi_IKMT_haul_Norcross_MONYEAR.csv" Catch Data, File Name: "201x_ASGARD_Chukchi_IKMT_catch_Norcross_MONYEAR.csv" Fish Lab Specimen Data, ...
The goal of this project was to develop a detailed characterization of nearshore Arctic fish communities and their habitats in order to better understand the ecological function of the coastal habitats fringing the Arctic Large Marine... more
The goal of this project was to develop a detailed characterization of nearshore Arctic fish communities and their habitats in order to better understand the ecological function of the coastal habitats fringing the Arctic Large Marine Ecosystem. Our approach was to characterize Arctic fish communities in nearshore habitats by observing seasonal changes in the communities in a variety of habitats near Pt. Barrow, Alaska and relating those changes in local environmental conditions. Through a series of weekly surveys during the ice free periods in 2013 and 2014, we characterized the nearshore fish community structure and demographic patterns among dominant species, examined the feeding ecology and energetics of nearshore fish species, used stable isotopes to elucidate food web interactions, characterized the shallow water habitats with an autonomous vessel and examined the meteorological and oceanographic forcing between the Elson Lagoon and Beaufort Sea water masses. This dataset incl...
The goal of this project was to develop a detailed characterization of nearshore Arctic fish communities and their habitats in order to better understand the ecological function of the coastal habitats fringing the Arctic Large Marine... more
The goal of this project was to develop a detailed characterization of nearshore Arctic fish communities and their habitats in order to better understand the ecological function of the coastal habitats fringing the Arctic Large Marine Ecosystem. Our approach was to characterize Arctic fish communities in nearshore habitats by observing seasonal changes in the communities in a variety of habitats near Pt. Barrow, Alaska and relating those changes in local environmental conditions. Through a series of weekly surveys during the ice free periods in 2013 and 2014, we characterized the nearshore fish community structure and demographic patterns among dominant species, examined the feeding ecology and energetics of nearshore fish species, used stable isotopes to elucidate food web interactions, characterized the shallow water habitats with an autonomous vessel and examined the meteorological and oceanographic forcing between the Elson Lagoon and Beaufort Sea water masses. This dataset is c...
The goal of this project was to develop a detailed characterization of nearshore Arctic fish communities and their habitats in order to better understand the ecological function of the coastal habitats fringing the Arctic Large Marine... more
The goal of this project was to develop a detailed characterization of nearshore Arctic fish communities and their habitats in order to better understand the ecological function of the coastal habitats fringing the Arctic Large Marine Ecosystem. Our approach was to characterize Arctic fish communities in nearshore habitats by observing seasonal changes in the communities in a variety of habitats near Pt. Barrow, Alaska and relating those changes in local environmental conditions. Through a series of weekly surveys during the ice free periods in 2013 and 2014, we characterized the nearshore fish community structure and demographic patterns among dominant species, examined the feeding ecology and energetics of nearshore fish species, used stable isotopes to elucidate food web interactions, characterized the shallow water habitats with an autonomous vessel and examined the meteorological and oceanographic forcing between the Elson Lagoon and Beaufort Sea water masses. The data files th...
The goal of this project was to develop a detailed characterization of nearshore Arctic fish communities and their habitats in order to better understand the ecological function of the coastal habitats fringing the Arctic Large Marine... more
The goal of this project was to develop a detailed characterization of nearshore Arctic fish communities and their habitats in order to better understand the ecological function of the coastal habitats fringing the Arctic Large Marine Ecosystem. Our approach was to characterize Arctic fish communities in nearshore habitats by observing seasonal changes in the communities in a variety of habitats near Pt. Barrow, Alaska and relating those changes in local environmental conditions. Through a series of weekly surveys during the ice free periods in 2013 and 2014, we characterized the nearshore fish community structure and demographic patterns among dominant species, examined the feeding ecology and energetics of nearshore fish species, used stable isotopes to elucidate food web interactions, characterized the shallow water habitats with an autonomous vessel and examined the meteorological and oceanographic forcing between the Elson Lagoon and Beaufort Sea water masses. The data files th...
The primary authors of the GEM Program Document are Molly McCammon,
Ormseth, O. A., and Norcross, B. L. 2009. Causes and consequences of life-history variation in North American stocks of Pacific cod. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 349–357. Life-history strategies of four Pacific cod (Gadus... more
Ormseth, O. A., and Norcross, B. L. 2009. Causes and consequences of life-history variation in North American stocks of Pacific cod. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 349–357. Life-history strategies of four Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) stocks in the eastern North Pacific Ocean are outlined. Southern stocks grew and matured quicker, but reached smaller maximum size and had shorter lifespans than northern stocks. The trade-offs resulted in similar lifetime reproductive success among all stocks. Growth was highly dependent on latitude, but not on temperature, possibly because of differences in the duration of the growing season. Comparisons with Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) revealed similar latitude/growth relationships among Atlantic cod stocks grouped by geographic region. In Pacific cod, greater size and longevity in the north appeared to be adaptations to overcome environmental constraints on growth and to maintain fitness. An egg production-per-recruit model suggested tha...
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ABSTRACT Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) tags represent a viable approach for long-term tracking of North Pacific giant octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) in Alaska. Over a two year period, 1730 E. dofleini were tagged with individually... more
ABSTRACT Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) tags represent a viable approach for long-term tracking of North Pacific giant octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) in Alaska. Over a two year period, 1730 E. dofleini were tagged with individually identifiable VIE tags and 238 E. dofleini were recaptured in a 25 km2 area. Of the 238 E. dofleini recaptured, 31 were at liberty for 60 days or more with a maximum time at liberty of 374 days. This study shows that long-term retention of VIE tags may prove to be a vital tool in determining important life-history information for octopus species.
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The densities of young-of-the-year and 1-year-old Pacific herring, Clupea pallasi, in Prince William Sound, Alaska, were estimated using acoustic surveys from June 1996 to March 1998. Four bays were surveyed with acoustic transects that... more
The densities of young-of-the-year and 1-year-old Pacific herring, Clupea pallasi, in Prince William Sound, Alaska, were estimated using acoustic surveys from June 1996 to March 1998. Four bays were surveyed with acoustic transects that were repeated three times in 24 h. Species composition and size structure were determined from net collections. Averaging over the 24-h period allowed the best use of all data, as observations between the three replicates were similar but sporadic, possibly resulting from the different seasonal daynight cycle in these northern latitudes. The average instantaneous natural mortality rates for young-of-the-year Pacific herring were 0.009 (standard deviation (SD) = 0.002) and 0.016 (SD = 0.012) for the 1996 and 1997 cohorts, respectively. The average instantaneous natural mortality rates for 1-year-old Pacific herring were 0.003 (SD = 0.007) and 0.008 (SD = 0.005) for the 1995 and 1996 cohorts, respectively. Combining our estimates with those in the pri...
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... JOHN F. PIATT is a research wildlife biologist with theU.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK ... C. Armistead made Figure 1. M. Litzow, F. Mueter, J. Orr, D. Somerton, and 2... more
... JOHN F. PIATT is a research wildlife biologist with theU.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK ... C. Armistead made Figure 1. M. Litzow, F. Mueter, J. Orr, D. Somerton, and 2 anonymous reviewers reviewed manuscript. ...
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These data are part of the ASGARD component of the Arctic Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (IERP), sponsored by the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB), Collaborative Alaskan Arctic Studies Program (formerly the North Slope... more
These data are part of the ASGARD component of the Arctic Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (IERP), sponsored by the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB), Collaborative Alaskan Arctic Studies Program (formerly the North Slope Borough/Shell Baseline Studies Program), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and the Office of Naval Research Marine Mammals and Biology Program. To investigate the dynamics of the spring season in the northeastern Chukchi Sea, we conducted trawl surveys in June 2017 to explore fish abundance and life history parameters. Demersal fishes were targeted with a 3 m plumb-staff beam trawl, while pelagic fishes were targeted using an Isaacs-Kidd midwater trawl. Catches were processed (see methods). Files included in this dataset are as follows: Pelagic: Trawl Deployment Data, File Name: "201x_ASGARD_Chukchi_IKMT_haul_Norcross_MONYEAR.csv" Catch Data, File Name: "201x_ASGARD_Chukchi_IKMT_catch_Norcross_MONYEAR.csv" Fish Lab Specimen Data, ...
Juvenile fish winter mortality, whether through starvation, predation, or disease, depends in part on feeding history. Assessing mortality risk thus requires metrics that can distinguish well-fed from poorly fed individuals. To... more
Juvenile fish winter mortality, whether through starvation, predation, or disease, depends in part on feeding history. Assessing mortality risk thus requires metrics that can distinguish well-fed from poorly fed individuals. To investigate the effects of winter feeding and spring re-feeding after winter fasting on young-of-the-year Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii), captive herring were maintained on different feeding rations for 20 weeks under ambient winter and spring conditions and evaluated for differences in size, gut mass, RNA/DNA ratio, body composition, and swimming performance. Lipid and moisture levels were inversely related indicators of feeding history, differing most between full-ration and fasted herring. Fasted herring that were re-fed in spring had evidence of compensatory growth without impacting swimming performance. Minimal growth and reduced gut mass observed even among fully fed herring suggest limits to winter feeding benefits. Metabolically processing stored f...
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Abstract Abundances of small pelagic fish can change dramatically over time and are difficult to forecast, partially due to variable numbers of fish that annually mature and recruit to the spawning population. Recruitment strength of... more
Abstract Abundances of small pelagic fish can change dramatically over time and are difficult to forecast, partially due to variable numbers of fish that annually mature and recruit to the spawning population. Recruitment strength of age-3 Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasii) in Prince William Sound, Alaska, is estimated in an age-structured model framework as a function of spawning stock biomass via a Ricker stock-recruitment model, and forecasted using the 10-year median recruitment estimates. However, stock size has little influence on subsequent numbers of recruits. This study evaluated the usefulness of herring recruitment models that incorporate oceanographic and biological variables. Results indicated herring recruitment estimates were significantly improved by modifying the standard Ricker model to include an index of young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleye Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) abundance. The positive relationship between herring recruits-per-spawner and YOY pollock abundance has persisted through three decades, including the herring stock crash of the early 1990s. Including sea surface temperature, primary productivity, and additional predator or competitor abundances singly or in combination did not improve model performance. We suggest that synchrony of juvenile herring and pollock survival may be caused by increased abundance of their zooplankton prey, or high juvenile pollock abundance may promote prey switching and satiation of predators. Regardless of the mechanism, the relationship has practical application to herring recruitment forecasting, and serves as an example of incorporating ecosystem components into a stock assessment model.
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Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 113:153-165, 1984 ¸ Copyright by the AmericanFisheries Society 1984 Oceanic and Estuarine Transport of Fish Eggs and Larvae: A Review 1 BRENDA 1.. NORCROSS Virginia Institute of Marine... more
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 113:153-165, 1984 ¸ Copyright by the AmericanFisheries Society 1984 Oceanic and Estuarine Transport of Fish Eggs and Larvae: A Review 1 BRENDA 1.. NORCROSS Virginia Institute of Marine Science School of Marine ...
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... undulatus) in the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Ph.D. D issertation , S choolof X arine S ciences , College of IaJilliam and Xary, Gloucester P t . , Va., 463 pp. Parrish, R. and A. I-IacCall. 1878. Climate variationandexploitat ioninthe... more
... undulatus) in the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Ph.D. D issertation , S choolof X arine S ciences , College of IaJilliam and Xary, Gloucester P t . , Va., 463 pp. Parrish, R. and A. I-IacCall. 1878. Climate variationandexploitat ioninthe Pacific nackerel fishery. State of C alif . Depc. ...
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ABSTRACT Atlantic croakers Micropogonias undulatus undergo a transition from a coastal, pelagic, planktonic stage to an estuarine, demersal stage. Atlantic croaker larvae were collected at five descrete depths (0 m, 1 m, 6 m, and bottom)... more
ABSTRACT Atlantic croakers Micropogonias undulatus undergo a transition from a coastal, pelagic, planktonic stage to an estuarine, demersal stage. Atlantic croaker larvae were collected at five descrete depths (0 m, 1 m, 6 m, and bottom) at stations along three transects north, south, and inside the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in September 1980. Vertical distribution of the larvae was compared with salinity and temperature at the collection sites. Distribution patterns on the larvae were not uniform with depth but were related to hydrography. In vertically homogeneous water, larvae were found throughout the water column. In stratified water, they were found in the inward-flowing, lower layer, though not necessarily on the bottom. The distribution of Atlantic croaker larvae at the mouth of the Chesapeake can be accounted for by both passive and active transport mechanisms.
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ABSTRACT Atlantic croakers Micropogonias undulatus undergo a transition from a coastal, pelagic, planktonic stage to an estuarine, demersal stage. Atlantic croaker larvae were collected at five descrete depths (0 m, 1 m, 6 m, and bottom)... more
ABSTRACT Atlantic croakers Micropogonias undulatus undergo a transition from a coastal, pelagic, planktonic stage to an estuarine, demersal stage. Atlantic croaker larvae were collected at five descrete depths (0 m, 1 m, 6 m, and bottom) at stations along three transects north, south, and inside the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in September 1980. Vertical distribution of the larvae was compared with salinity and temperature at the collection sites. Distribution patterns on the larvae were not uniform with depth but were related to hydrography. In vertically homogeneous water, larvae were found throughout the water column. In stratified water, they were found in the inward-flowing, lower layer, though not necessarily on the bottom. The distribution of Atlantic croaker larvae at the mouth of the Chesapeake can be accounted for by both passive and active transport mechanisms.
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... of Sea Research 32 (3/4): 361-367 (1994) NON-AVOIDANCE OF HYDROCARBON LADEN SEDIMENTS BY JUVENILE FLATFISHES ADAM MOLES1, STANLEY ... juvenile flatfishes are believed to be the inshore coastal areas (Hogue & Carey, 1982; Kry-gier... more
... of Sea Research 32 (3/4): 361-367 (1994) NON-AVOIDANCE OF HYDROCARBON LADEN SEDIMENTS BY JUVENILE FLATFISHES ADAM MOLES1, STANLEY ... juvenile flatfishes are believed to be the inshore coastal areas (Hogue & Carey, 1982; Kry-gier & Pearcy, 1986; De ...
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This study examined the abundance and species composition of forage fishes near sea lion and seabird rookeries in Southeast Alaska, East Aleutians, Pribilofs, Central Aleutians, and West Aleutians (Figure 1). Bottom trawls, midwater... more
This study examined the abundance and species composition of forage fishes near sea lion and seabird rookeries in Southeast Alaska, East Aleutians, Pribilofs, Central Aleutians, and West Aleutians (Figure 1). Bottom trawls, midwater trawls, surveys of large ...
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Predominantly southerly winds over the Middle Atlantic Bight result in offshore flow in surface waters and corresponding onshore flow in a bottom Ekman layer. Seasonal heating results in maximum surface temperatures in August while the... more
Predominantly southerly winds over the Middle Atlantic Bight result in offshore flow in surface waters and corresponding onshore flow in a bottom Ekman layer. Seasonal heating results in maximum surface temperatures in August while the bottom onshore Ekman flow results in cold summer bottom water temperatures. Bottom temperatures do not peak until autumn after the seasonal wind shift resulting in
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ABSTRACT Climate change and sea-ice reduction may lead to modifications of food-web structure in the Arctic, and this may impact foraging of ice-associated predators. We examined the dietary history recorded in cornified claw sheaths of... more
ABSTRACT Climate change and sea-ice reduction may lead to modifications of food-web structure in the Arctic, and this may impact foraging of ice-associated predators. We examined the dietary history recorded in cornified claw sheaths of ringed seals (Pusa hispida (Schreber, 1775)) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus (Erxleben, 1777)) to describe potential seasonal and interannual changes in their foraging. Seasonal layers of cornified cells deposited in claws can document trophic history up to about 10 years; thereafter, the claws start to wear at the distal end. A total of 38 claws were collected during Alaska Native subsistence harvests in 2008–2010 and seasonal growth bands were examined for stable nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios to assess long-term diet patterns. During 2007 (record ice minimum), proportionally more ringed seals fed at a lower trophic level. Bearded seals may have been foraging more pelagically from 2008 to 2010. Interannual variations and high variability between the two ice seal species and among individual diets illustrate the opportunistic nature and flexibility of ice seals to changes in prey.
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Abstract: Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) larvae were collected throughout Prince William Sound in May, June, and July following the Exxon Valdez oil spill of March 1989. Movement of herring larvae is related to current patterns within... more
Abstract: Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) larvae were collected throughout Prince William Sound in May, June, and July following the Exxon Valdez oil spill of March 1989. Movement of herring larvae is related to current patterns within the sound, and deformed larvae were found ...
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Page 1. NORTH PACIFIC RESEARCH BOARD PROJECT FINAL REPORT The North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Observer Program NPRB Project 637 Final Report Kathy J. Kuletz1, Elizabeth A. Labunski1, Martin Renner2, David Irons1 ...