PICES-GLOBEC International Program on Climate Change and Carrying Capacity: Report of the 1999 MONITOR and REX Workshops, and the 2000 MODEL Workshop on Lower Trophic Level Modelling

Table of Contents [pdf, 0.11 Mb] Executive Summary [pdf, 0.07 Mb] MODEL Task Team Workshop Report Final Report of the International Workshop to Develop a Prototype Lower Trophic Level Ecosystem Model for Comparison of Different Marine Ecosystems in the North Pacific [pdf, 11.64 Mb] Report of the 1999 MONITOR Task Team Workshop [pdf, 0.32 Mb] Report of the 1999 REX Task Team Workshop Herring and Euphausiid population dynamics Douglas E. Hay and Bruce McCarter Spatial, temporal and life-stage variation in herring diets in British Columbia [pdf, 0.10 Mb] Augustus J. Paul and J. M. Paul Over winter changes in herring from Prince William Sound, Alaska [pdf, 0.08 Mb] N. G. Chupisheva Qualitative texture characteristic of herring (Clupea pallasi pallasi) pre-larvae developed from the natural and artificial spawning-grounds in Severnaya Bay (Peter the Great Bay) [pdf, 0.07 Mb] Gordon A. McFarlane, Richard J. Beamish and Jake SchweigertPacific herring: Common factors have opposite impacts in adjacent ecosystems [pdf, 0.15 Mb] Tokimasa Kobayashi, Keizou Yabuki, Masayoshi Sasaki and Jun-Ichi Kodama Long-term fluctuation of the catch of Pacific herring in Northern Japan [pdf, 0.39 Mb] Jacqueline M. O’Connell Holocene fish remains from Saanich Inlet, British Columbia, Canada [pdf, 0.40 Mb] Elsa R. Ivshina and Irina Y. Bragina On relationship between crustacean zooplankton (Euphausiidae and Copepods) and Sakhalin-Hokkaido herring (Tatar Strait, Sea of Japan) [pdf, 0.14 Mb] Stein Kaartvbeedt Fish predation on krill and krill antipredator behaviour [pdf, 0.08 Mb] Nikolai I. Naumenko Euphausiids and western Bering Sea herring feeding [pdf, 0.07 Mb] David M. Checkley, Jr. Interactions Between Fish and Euphausiids and Potential Relations to Climate and Recruitment [pdf, 0.08 Mb] Vladimir I. Radchenko and Elena P. Dulepova Shall we expect the Korf-Karaginsky herring migrations into the offshore western Bering Sea? [pdf, 0.75 Mb] Young Shil Kang Euphausiids in the Korean waters and its relationship with major fish resources [pdf, 0.29 Mb] William T. Peterson, Leah Feinberg and Julie Keister Ecological Zonation of euphausiids off central Oregon [pdf, 0.11 Mb] Scott M. Rumsey Environmentally forced variability in larval development and stage-structure: Implications for the recruitment of Euphausia pacifica (Hansen) in the Southern California Bight [pdf, 3.26 Mb] Scott M. Rumsey Inverse modelling of developmental parameters in Euphausia pacifica: The relative importance of spawning history and environmental forcing to larval stage-frequency distributions [pdf, 98.79 Mb] Michio J. Kishi, Hitoshi Motono & Kohji Asahi An ecosystem model with zooplankton vertical migration focused on Oyashio region [pdf, 33.32 Mb] PICES-GLOBEC Implementation Panel on Climate Change and Carrying Capacity Program Executive Committee and Task Team List [pdf, 0.05 Mb] (Document pdf contains 142 pages)

A comparison of seafloor habitats and associated benthic fauna in areas open and closed to bottom trawling along the central California Continental Shelf

Executive Summary: A number of studies have shown that mobile, bottom-contact fishing gear (such as otter trawls) can alter seafloor habitats and associated biota. Considerably less is known about the recovery of these resources following such disturbances, though this information is critical for successful management. In part, this paucity of information can be attributed to the lack of access to adequate control sites – areas of the seafloor that are closed to fishing activity. Recent closures along the coast of central California provide an excellent opportunity to track the recovery of historically trawled areas and to compare recovery rates to adjacent areas that continue to be trawled. In June 2006 we initiated a multi-year study of the recovery of seafloor microhabitats and associated benthic fauna inside and outside two new Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) closures within the Cordell Bank and Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries. Study sites inside the EFH closure at Cordell Bank were located in historically active areas of fishing effort, which had not been trawled since 2003. Sites outside the EFH closure in the Gulf of Farallones were located in an area that continues to be actively trawled. All sites were located in unconsolidated sands at equivalent water depths. Video and still photographic data collected via a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) were used to quantify the abundance, richness, and diversity of microhabitats and epifaunal macro-invertebrates at recovering and actively trawled sites, while bottom grabs and conductivity/temperature/depth (CTD) casts were used to quantify infaunal diversity and to characterize local environmental conditions. Analysis of still photos found differences in common seafloor microhabitats between the recovering and actively trawled areas, while analysis of videographic data indicated that biogenic mound and biogenic depression microhabitats were significantly less abundant at trawled sites. Each of these features provides structure with which demersal fishes, across a wide range of size classes, have been observed to associate. Epifaunal macro-invertebrates were sparsely distributed and occurred in low numbers in both treatments. However, their total abundance was significantly different between treatments, which was attributable to lower densities at trawled sites. In addition, the dominant taxa were different between the two sites. Patchily-distributed buried brittle stars dominated the recovering site, and sea whips (Halipteris cf. willemoesi) were most numerous at the trawled site though they occurred in only five of ten transects. Numerical classification (cluster analysis) of the infaunal samples also revealed a clear difference between benthic assemblages in the recovering vs. trawled areas due to differences in the relative abundances of component species. There were no major differences in infaunal species richness, H′ diversity, or J′ evenness between recovering vs. trawled site groups. However, total infaunal abundance showed a significant difference attributable to much lower densities at trawled sites. This pattern was driven largely by the small oweniid polychaete Myriochele gracilis, which was the most abundant species in the overall study region though significantly less abundant at trawled sites. Other taxa that were significantly less abundant at trawled sites included the polychaete M. olgae and the polychaete family Terebellidae. In contrast, the thyasirid bivalve Axinopsida serricata and the polychaetes Spiophanes spp. (mostly S. duplex), Prionospio spp., and Scoloplos armiger all had significantly to near significantly higher abundances at trawled sites. As a result of such contrasting species patterns, there also was a significant difference in the overall dominance structure of infaunal assemblages between the two treatments. It is suggested that the observed biological patterns were the result of trawling impacts and varying levels of recovery due to the difference in trawling status between the two areas. The EFH closure was established in June 2006, within a month of when sampling was conducted for the present study, however, the stations within this closure area are at sites that actually have experienced little trawling since 2003, based on National Marine Fishery Service trawl records. Thus, the three-year period would be sufficient time for some post-trawling changes to have occurred. Other results from this study (e.g., similarly moderate numbers of infaunal species in both areas that are lower than values recorded elsewhere in comparable habitats along the California continental shelf) also indicate that recovery within the closure area is not yet complete. Additional sampling is needed to evaluate subsequent recovery trends and persistence of effects. Furthermore, to date, the study has been limited to unconsolidated substrates. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to characterize the recovery trajectories of a wide spectrum of seafloor habitats and communities and to link that recovery to the dynamics of exploited marine fishes. (PDF has 48 pages.)

Chinook salmon spawner stocks in California's Central Valley, 1989: annual report

This report covers the 37th annual inventory of chinook salman, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, spawner populations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River system.-It is a compilation of reports estimating the fall-, winter-, late-fall-, and spring-run salmon spawner populations for streams which were surveyed. Estimates were made from counts of fish entering hatcheries and migrating past dams, froro surveys of dead and live fish and redds on spawning areas, and from aerial counts. The estimated 1989 total escapement of chinook salmon in the Central Valley was 205,990 fish. This total consisted of 181,864 fall-, 12,171 spring-, 539 winter-, and 11,416 late-fall-run spawners. All of the spring-, late-fall-, and winter-run salmon were estimated to be in the Sacramento River system, while 3,493 fish of the fall run were in the San Joaquin River system. Due to decreases of spawner populations in most Central Valley tributaries, the total 1989 salmon stock was 32% lower than in 1988; however, late-fall salmon in the upper Sacramento River had a run size similar to that of 1988. The winter run in the mainstem Sacramento River was at a record low level. (PDF contains 44 pages.)

Annual report chinook salmon spawner stocks in California's central valley, 1991

This report covers the 39th annual inventory of chinook salman, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, spawner populations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River system." It is a compilation of reports estimating the fall-, winter-, late-fall-, and spring-run salman spawner populatiens fer streams which were surveyed. Estimates were made from counts of fish entering hatcheries and migrating past dams, from surveys of dead and live fish and redds on spawning areas, and from aerial counts. The estimated 1991 total escapement of chinook salmon in the Central Valley was 147,080 fish. This total consisted of 132,571 fall-, 5,921 spring-, 190 winter-, and 8,398 late-fall-run spawners. All of the spring-, late-fall-, and winter-run salmon were estimated to be in the Sacramento River system, while 1,176 fish of the fall run were in the San Joaquin River system. Spawner populations in all individual tributaries (except the American River) and the Sacramento River mainstem were lower than in 1990; but it should be noted that fall run populations in the Feather and Yuba rivers, two of the larger tributaries, were not surveyed that year. The winter run in the mainstem Sacramento River was at a record low level. (PDF contains 42 pages.)

Maturity and growth of female dusky rockfish (Sebastes variabilis) in the central Gulf of Alaska

The dusky rockfish (Sebastes variabilis) has recently been resurrected as a distinct species in the genus Sebastes. Reproductive biology and growth were examined for this redescribed species in the central Gulf of Alaska. Age and length at 50% maturity were 9.2 years and 365 mm fork length, respectively, which are lower than previously reported. Fertilized ova and eyed embryos were observed in April and evidence of postparturition was not observed until May. The gonadosomatic index decreased with the onset of postparturition in May. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters for female dusky rockfish, estimated from the maturity samples, were significantly different from growth parameters derived from Gulf of Alaska fishery-independent survey data.

Length-weight relationships of marine fishes from the central Brazilian coast

Parameters of the length-weight relationship are presented for 85 fish species from the marine and estuarine regions of the central Brazilian coast (latitude 13° to 23° S). Three different methods were used. A non-linear iterative process using the quasi-Newton algorithm yielded a better fit for all data sets analyzed. The length-weight allometry coefficient b estimated from standard length data tended to be lower than from total length data. The difference between these estimates was significant for some species.

Traditional and geometric morphometrics detect morphological variation of lower pharyngeal jaw inCoris julis(Teleostei, Labridae)

In the present study, variation in the morphology of the lower pharyngeal element between two Sicilian populations of the rainbow wrasse Coris julis has been explored by the means of traditional morphometrics for size and geometric morphometrics for shape. Despite close geographical distance and probable high genetic flow between the populations, statistically significant differences have been found both for size and shape. In fact, one population shows a larger lower pharyngeal element that has a larger central tooth. Compared to the other population, this population also has medially enlarged lower pharyngeal jaws with a more pronounced convexity of the medial-posterior margin. The results are discussed in the light of a possible more pronounced durophagy of this population.

Spawning behavior and larval development in Mopalia lignosa and Mopalia muscosa (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) in central California

Spawning behavior and external features of the larval development were studied in the chitons Mopalia muscosa and M. lignosa during the months of April-June, 1974, at Pacific Grove, California. ... The sequence of events in the development of the two species in the same, though some differences in timing exist.

Sequence stratigraphy and sea-level history of Kangan formation in south pars field

Dehram group includes Faraghan, Dalan and Kangan formations. Kangan formation ages lower terias. That is one of the important reservoir rocks of southern Iran and Persian Gulf. In this research Kangan formation is studied in two A and B wells. Based on 75 studies on thin section, four carbonate litho acies association A, B, C, D with 12 subfacies are identified. A lithofacies association includes 4 subfacies: A1, A2, A3 and A4. B lithofacies association consists of 3 subfacies: B1, B2 and B3. C lithofacies association consists of 3 subfacies: C1, C2, C3 and D lithofacies association includes 2 subfacies: D1 and D2. On the base of studies lithofacies association of Kangan formations are formed in 3 environments of: Tidal Flat, Lagoon and Barrier Shore Complex in a Carbonated Platform Ramp type. Diagenetic processes have effected this formation. The most important Diagenetic processes are: Cementation, Anhydritization, Micrization, Neomorphism, Bioturbation, Dissolution, Compaction, Dolomitization and Porosity. Sequence staratigraphy studies were performed base on the vertical and horizontal relationship of lithofacies association and well logging in gamma ray and sonic type that causes the identification of two sedimentary sequences: First sedimentary sequence includes: Transgressive System Tract (TST) and High Stand System Tract (HST). The lower boundary of this sequence is in Sequence Boundary 1 (SB1) which shows unconformities of Dalan and Kangan that are Permian-terias unconformities. The upper boundary is in Sequence Boundary 2 (SB2) type that is identified by carbonate facies associated by anhydrite nodular. Second sedimentary sequence includes: TST and HST. Lower and upper boundaries of these sequences are both in SB2 type. The lower and upper boundary is made of carbonate facies with anhydrite nodular.