Pollock Conservation Cooperative Research Center
2001 Awarded Research Projects
Distribution of age-1 and age-2 walleye pollock in the Bering Sea: Sources of variation, implications for higher trophic levels, and climate change
Alan Springer, Kevin Bailey, Taina Honkalehto and Janet Duffy-Anderson
Award: $59,296
Estimated Completion: September 30, 2002
Abstract
The overall objective of our proposed research is to: 1) examine the horizontal and vertical distribution ofage-1 and age-2 walleye pollock in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and eastern Bering Sea (EBS), 2) relate observed patterns to predominant physical (temperature, salinity, latitude, longitude, bathymetry) and biological (prey availability, diet) characteristics, and 3) examine the implications ofthese results on birds and mammals. To this end, we have: 1) collected age-1 and age-2 walleye pollock from the eastern GOA (August, September, 2001), 2) conducted a retrospective analysis ofhistorical (1990-1996) walleye pollock consumption in the EBS, 3) begun a series oflaboratory experiments designed to: a) define and quantify the effects of size and temperature on juvenile pollock food consumption and growth rate, and b) examine the effects ofvertical thermal gradients on vertical distribution of age-1 and age-2 pollock, and 4) continued analyses ofhistorical hydroacoustic data to relate patterns of sub-adult walleye pollock distribution to predominant physical (temperature, salinity, latitude, longitude, bathymetry) in the EBS.
Our original proposal was a two-year project and we have requested support for Year 2. Analyses of all biological samples collected from the GOA (August, September) will take approximately 1 year. Laboratory experiments will continue in Year 2 and additional time is needed to analyze and interpret results. Extrapolations to higher trophic levels will take place upon completion of all other data analyses. We hope that the PCCRC will continue to support this project through Year 2 to ensure the completion of all its components.
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