Contact Information
Fisheries Division11120 Glacier Highway
UAF Fisheries Division
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 796-6288
n.hillgruber@uaf.edu
Nicola Hillgruber Assistant Professor
Affiliations
- member, American Fisheries Society
- member, Early Life History Section, American Fisheries Society
- member, Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Meeresforschung
- member, Fisheries Society of the British Isles
Specialties
- ecology of marine fishes
- early life history of marine fishes
- impacts of biotic and abiotic factors on larval and juvenile fish
- trophic interactions
Courses
Spring 2008
- Fish Ecology (FISH F650)
Fall 2008
- Ichthyology (FISH F427)
- Marine Ecosystems (MSL F652)
Research Overview
I am interested in the ecology of marine fishes, primarily in the ecology of their early life stages. High and variable mortality rates during the early life appear to be a major cause for interannual variations in recruitment strength of fish populations. Factors responsible for survival or mortality of early life stages include biotic factors such as prey and predator densities as well as abiotic factors, such as light, temperature, and turbulence. My research interests focus on the impact of these biological and physical factors on condition, growth and, thus, survival of larvae and juveniles of marine fishes.
Current Research Projects
- Survey strategies for assessment of Bering Sea forage species (North Pacific Research Board)
- Ecological interaction between hatchery produced and wild chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in Southeast Alaska (Southeast Sustainable Salmon Fund)
- Embryonic development of Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) in Alaska (North Pacific Research Board)
- Early Life History of Eulachon - Age Validation and Growth in Berners Bay, Alaska (Alaska Sea Grant)
- Early Marine Ecology of Juvenile Chum Salmon in Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska (North Pacific Research Board)
- Chilkat River Sockeye Radio Tagging (ADF&G and Alaska Sea Grant)
Links
Selected Publications
Porter SM, Ciannelli L, Hillgruber N, Bailey KM, Chan KS, Canino MF, Haldorson LJ (2005). Environmental factors influencing larval walleye pollock /Theragra chalcogramma/ feeding in Alaskan waters. Marine Ecology Progress Series 302: 207-217.
Zimmerman CE, Hillgruber N, Burril SE, St Peters MA, Wetzel JD (2005). Offshore marine observation of willow ptarmigan, including water landings, Kuskokwim Bay, Alaska. Wilson Bulletin 117(1): 12-14. Download PDF (83 KB).
Kloppmann M, Hillgruber N, von Westernhagen H (2002) Wind-mixing effects on feeding success and condition of blue whiting larvae in the Porcupine Bank area. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 235:263-277. Download PDF (506 KB).
Hillgruber N, Kloppmann M (2001) Small-scale patterns in distribution and feeding of Altantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.) larvae in the Celtic Sea with special regard to intra-cohort cannibalism. Helogoland Mar Res 55:135-149.
Hillgruber N, Kloppmann M (2000) Vertical distribution and feeding of larval blue whiting in turbulent waters above Porcupine Bank. J Fish Biol 57:1290-1311.
Hillgruber N, Kloppmann M (1999) Distribution and feeding of blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou larvae in relation to different water masses in the Porcupine Bank area, west of Ireland. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 187:213-225.
Hillgruber N, Kloppmann M, Wahl E, von Westernhagen H (1997) Feeding of larval blue whiting and Atlantic mackerel: a comparison of foraging strategies. J Fish Biol 51 (Supplement A):230-249.
Hillgruber N, Haldorson LJ, Paul AJ (1995) Feeding selectivity of larval walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma in the oceanic domain of the Bering Sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 120:1-10.