Spatial–Temporal Distribution of the Euphausiid Euphausia pacifica and Fish Schools in the Coastal Southwestern East Sea
The spatial and temporal distribution of euphausiid Euphausia pacifica and fish schools were observed along acoustic transects in the coastal southwestern East Sea. Two-frequency (38- and 120-kHz) acoustic backscatter data were examined from April to July 2010. A dB identification window (SV120–38) and school detection algorithm identified E. pacifica and fish schools in the acoustic backscatter, respectively. The E. pacifica was regularly observed in middle of southern waters, where phytoplankton was abundant during spring, and irregularly during summer, when phytoplankton was homogeneously distributed. Using the distorted-wave Born approximation model, the acoustic density of E. pacifica calculated was higher in spring (April: 75.9 mg m−2, May: 85.3 mg m−2) than in summer (June: 71.4 mg m−2, July: 54.1 mg m−2). The fish schools in the acoustic data tended to significantly increase from spring to summer. Although major fish species, such as anchovies and herring, fed on copepods and euphausiids in the survey area, the temporal and spatial distribution of E. pacifica was weakly correlated with the distribution of the fish schools. These findings aid in our understanding of the temporal and spatial distribution dynamics of euphausiids and fish schools in the food web of the coastal southwestern East Sea.