Winter Feeding and Changes in Somatic Energy Content of Age-0 Pacific Herring in Prince William Sound, Alaska

Author(s):  
R. J. Foy ◽  
A. J. Paul
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary A. Bishop ◽  
Jordan W. Bernard

Abstract Background Over the past two decades, various species of forage fish have been successfully implanted with miniaturized acoustic transmitters and subsequently monitored using stationary acoustic receivers. When acoustic receivers are configured in an array, information related to fish direction can potentially be determined, depending upon the number and relative orientation of the acoustic receivers. However, it can be difficult to incorporate directional information into frequentist mark-recapture methods. Here we show how an empirical Bayesian approach can be used to develop a model that incorporates directional movement information into the Arnason-Schwarz modeling framework to describe survival and migration patterns of a Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) population in coastal Alaska, USA. Methods We acoustic-tagged 326 adult Pacific herring during April 2017 and 2018 while on their spawning grounds in Prince William Sound Alaska, USA. To monitor their movements, stationary acoustic receivers were deployed at strategic locations throughout the Sound. Receivers located at the major entrances to the Gulf of Alaska were arranged in parallel arrays to determine the directional movements of the fish. Informative priors were used to incorporate the directional information recorded at the entrance arrays into the model. Results A seasonal migratory pattern was found at one of Prince William Sound’s major entrances to the Gulf of Alaska. At this entrance, fish tended to enter the Gulf of Alaska during spring and summer after spawning and return to Prince William Sound during the fall and winter. Fish mortality was higher during spring and summer than fall and winter in both Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska. Conclusions An empirical Bayesian modeling approach can be used to extend the Arnason-Schwarz modeling framework to incorporate directional information from acoustic arrays to estimate survival and characterize the timing and direction of migratory movements of forage fish.


2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Anne Bishop ◽  
Jordan T. Watson ◽  
Kathy Kuletz ◽  
Tawna Morgan

1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 318-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvan Lambert ◽  
Julian J. Dodson

We tested the hypothesis that the species-specific costs of migration differentially affect reproductive effort and somatic cost of reproduction in sympatric anadromous populations of cisco (Coregonus artedii) and lake whitefish (C. clupeaformis) of James Bay. Reproductive effort, which includes the energy cost of migration, is higher for cisco. Female cisco allocate more energy to reproduction than its total energy gain. The energy invested by lake whitefish in reproduction is approximately equal to its seasonal energy gain. Reproduction results in large differences in the energy content of gonads, viscera, and carcass between reproductive and nonreproductive fish of the same length. Neither cisco nor lake whitefish are able to spawn two years in succession. The somatic energy increase of reproductive female cisco is 121% lower than the somatic energy increase of nonreproductive females; similar comparisons are 89% (female) and 103% (male) for lake whitefish. The energy cost of migration is largely responsible for the higher somatic cost of reproduction observed for cisco. These different somatic costs of migration are related to resource accumulation prior to migration and to differences in the aerobic cost of swimming between the two species in combination with the difficulty of the freshwater migration.


1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 1133-1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher N Rooper ◽  
Lewis J Haldorson ◽  
Terrance J Quinn II

Recruitment for many marine fishes is believed to be determined at an early life history stage. Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) spawn in the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones and have a demersal egg stage that is susceptible to egg removals during incubation. Data were collected by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in four years in Prince William Sound, Alaska, to identify important factors contributing to egg removals. We constructed analysis of variance models based on physical and biological variables to determine which environmental factors control egg loss rates. The habitat variables examined at each study transect were depth, wave exposure, north-south location, substrate, vegetation, mean bird abundance, abundance of loose eggs, and fish predation. Depth of spawn was the primary factor determining egg loss. Cumulative time of air exposure over incubation was substituted into the model for depth. Using the model, the total estimated egg loss from spawning to hatching ranged from 67 to 100% with an average of 75% (SE = 3.3%) in 1995. Eggs were originally deposited from 4 to -6 m depth relative to mean low water. The majority of eggs that remained in the spawning beds to hatching were deposited from 1 to -4 m depth. Egg removals due to avian predation were probably responsible for extreme egg loss rates at shallow depths.


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