Article
Environmental Sciences
Teresa Fish, Nathan Wolf, Timothy Scott Smeltz, Bradley P. Harris, Josep V. Planas
Summary: Developing a robust understanding of Pacific halibut reproductive biology is essential for effective management and conservation strategies in the face of environmental changes. This study fills the gaps in knowledge by conducting a detailed histological examination of ovarian development in Pacific halibut, providing a foundation for future studies on maturity estimation and the use of biological indicators.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
K. A. Sorochan, S. Plourde, C. L. Johnson
Summary: In August 2019, variations in depth-integrated abundance and vertical distribution of Calanus spp. were quantified in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. While C. finmarchicus was the most abundant, the larger C. hyperboreus was prominent in the Shediac Valley, contributing a median of 55% estimated depth-integrated biomass of Calanus spp. Near-bottom aggregations of Calanus spp. occurred primarily at depths ranging from 70 to 90 m, likely due to ontogenetic and diel vertical migrations.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jorge Urban R, Esther Jimenez-Lopez, Hector M. Guzman, Lorena Viloria-Gomora
Summary: Based on the tracked whale's data, eastern gray whales followed a migration route from Mexico to the Bering Sea at high speeds, providing comprehensive support for the northbound migration of eastern gray whales.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Megan J. Peterson Williams, Becca Robbins Gisclair, Elizabeth Cerny-Chipman, Michael LeVine, Theresa Peterson
Summary: Rapidly changing ocean conditions pose substantial challenges for coastal communities, fishermen, and managers. In this study, we explore the needs and opportunities for managing fisheries in the context of environmental change, and recommend tools to enhance adaptive capacity in fishery management.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Dana L. Wright, David G. Kimmel, Nancy Roberson, David Strausz
Summary: The eastern North Pacific right whale (NPRW), the most endangered population of whale, has been observed north of its core feeding ground with low sea ice extent. Sea ice and water temperature are important drivers for zooplankton dynamics. The study suggests that the whales and their prey C. glacialis may move northward due to the continued loss of sea ice and warming.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Josiah Blaisdell, Hillary L. Thalmann, Willem Klajbor, Yue Zhang, Jessica A. Miller, Benjamin J. Laurel, Maria T. Kavanaugh
Summary: The study quantifies the impacts of temperature variability and ocean acidification on the growth of juvenile Pacific Cod in the Gulf of Alaska using a novel machine-learning framework called stress-scapes. By analyzing data from 2010 to 2016, it was found that during the marine heatwave period from 2014 to 2016, juvenile Pacific Cod exhibited anomalous growth and environmental conditions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Lauri L. Sadorus, Esther D. Goldstein, Raymond A. Webster, William T. Stockhausen, Josep V. Planas, Janet T. Duffy-Anderson
Summary: This study utilized individual-based biophysical modeling and spatial modeling to reveal larval dispersal and young fish migration pathways of Pacific halibut between the Gulf of Alaska and the eastern Bering Sea. The results showed that the Aleutian Islands act as barriers but larger island passes facilitate connectivity between these ecosystems, with spawning location influencing the degree of connectivity. The patterns of larval dispersal and post-settlement migrations suggest circular, multi-life stage connectivity between these ecosystems regardless of climatic variability.
FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthew D. Lettrich, Michael J. Asaro, Diane L. Borggaard, Dorothy M. Dick, Roger B. Griffis, Jenny A. Litz, Christopher D. Orphanides, Debra L. Palka, Melissa S. Soldevilla, Brian Balmer, Samuel Chavez, Danielle Cholewiak, Diane Claridge, Ruth Y. Ewing, Kristi L. Fazioli, Dagmar Fertl, Erin M. Fougeres, Damon Gannon, Lance Garrison, James Gilbert, Annie Gorgone, Aleta Hohn, Stacey Horstman, Beth Josephson, Robert D. Kenney, Jeremy J. Kiszka, Katherine Maze-Foley, Wayne McFee, Keith D. Mullin, Kimberly Murray, Daniel E. Pendleton, Jooke Robbins, Jason J. Roberts, Grisel Rodriguez-Ferrer, Errol I. Ronje, Patricia E. Rosel, Todd Speakman, Joy E. Stanistreet, Tara Stevens, Megan Stolen, Reny Tyson Moore, Nicole L. Vollmer, Randall Wells, Heidi R. Whitehead, Amy Whitt
Summary: Climate change and variability have significant impacts on marine mammal species, and these impacts are projected to continue in the future. A vulnerability assessment was conducted for 108 marine mammal stocks in the western North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. The results showed that 44% of the stocks had very high vulnerability scores, while 29% had high vulnerability scores. Temperature, ocean pH, and dissolved oxygen were identified as the primary drivers of high climate exposure.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Camille H. Ross, Daniel E. Pendleton, Benjamin Tupper, David Brickman, Monica A. Zani, Charles A. Mayo, Nicholas R. Record
Summary: North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered, and climate change is predicted to decrease their habitat suitability in the Gulf of Maine by 2050, with narrow bands along the Scotian Shelf potentially becoming important habitats for the species.
ELEMENTA-SCIENCE OF THE ANTHROPOCENE
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Szymon Surma, Evgeny A. Pakhomov, Tony J. Pitcher
Summary: This study examines the importance of Pacific herring as a key forage fish in the southeastern Gulf of Alaska using ecosystem models. The results indicate that the energy content of herring plays a critical role in determining its importance in the food chain. The depletion of herring has negative impacts on predators but positive impacts on zooplankton.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART II-TOPICAL STUDIES IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
O. A. Belonovich, S. V. Agafonov, A. A. Matveev, A. A. Kalugin
Summary: The study focused on killer whale depredation in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, specifically in the western Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. Results showed that killer whales primarily targeted Greenland turbot during depredation, impacting the local fisheries economically and posing threats to the killer whale population and associated ecosystems.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Katherine Gavrilchuk, Veronigue Lesage, Sarah M. E. Fortune, Andrew W. Trites, Stephane Plourde
Summary: The study suggests that the North Atlantic right whales have been feeding in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in recent years possibly due to changes in the availability of calanoid copepods in traditional feeding areas. However, the distribution and abundance of copepods in the gulf remain poorly understood, and it is uncertain whether they can provide enough energy for the right whales. Prey densities in the southern gulf were found to be able to support resting, pregnant, and lactating females in most years, but suitable foraging habitat became sparse over time, especially after 2014. Variations in foraging habitat availability in the gulf were observed, with better availability for resting females compared to pregnant and lactating females.
ENDANGERED SPECIES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Christine M. Gabriele, Courtney L. Amundson, Janet L. Neilson, Janice M. Straley, C. Scott Baker, Seth L. Danielson
Summary: Understanding the impact of ocean warming on marine ecosystems is crucial as marine heatwaves become more frequent and severe. A study using long-term monitoring data in Glacier Bay National Park reveals a significant decline in humpback whale reproductive success and survival following a marine heatwave in the Northeast Pacific. The decrease in survival and reproductive success is believed to be caused by changes in prey availability for the whales.
Article
Fisheries
Sarah C. Stienessen, Christopher N. Rooper, Thomas C. Webe, Darin T. Jones, Jodi L. Pirtle, Christopher D. Wilson
Summary: This study used multibeam sonar data and video analysis to verify the effectiveness of seafloor characteristics in predicting habitat trawlability through various models. The results showed that Sb oblique is the most important feature in discriminating between trawlable and untrawlable habitat, which can help improve habitat-specific estimates of biomass of marine fish species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
John F. Piatt, David C. Douglas, Mayumi L. Arimitsu, Michelle L. Kissling, Erica N. Madison, Sarah K. Schoen, Kathy J. Kuletz, Gary S. Drew
Summary: Kittlitz's Murrelets nest in glaciated or recently deglaciated landscapes during summer and forage in adjacent marine waters. Their post-breeding migration patterns indicate a movement towards the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean, with stopovers along the way. Ship-based surveys confirm their migration into the Arctic Ocean in autumn and their wintering in the Bering Sea before returning to breeding grounds.
