Strontium and boron geochemistry of ODP sites at Hydrate Ridge, eastern Pacific Ocean

ODP Leg 204, which drilled at Hydrate Ridge, provides unique insights into the fluid regime of an accretionary complex and delineates specific sub-seafloor pathways for fluid transport. Compaction and dewatering due to smectite-illite transition increase with distance from the toe of the accretionary prism and bring up fluids from deep within the accretionary complex to sampled depths (<= 600 mbsf). These fluids have a distinctly non-radiogenic strontium isotope signature indicating reaction with the oceanic basement. Boron isotopes are also consistent with a deep fluid source that has been modified by desorption of heavy boron as clay minerals change from smectite to illite. One of three major horizons serves as conduit for the transport of mainly fluid. Our results enable us to evaluate fluid migration pathways that play important roles on massive gas hydrate accumulations and seepage of methane-rich fluids on southern Hydrate Ridge.

Geochemistry and sedimentation rates of ODP Leg 199 sites and of surface sediments in the eastern Pacific ocean

We present the first high-resolution organic carbon mass accumulation rate (MAR) data set for the Eocene equatorial Pacific upwelling region, from Sites 1218 and 1219 of the Ocean Drilling Program. A maximum Corg MAR anomaly appears at 41 Ma and corresponds to a high carbonate accumulation event (CAE). Independent evidence suggests that this event (CAE-3) was a time of rapid cooling. Throughout the Eocene, organic carbon burial fluxes were an order of magnitude lower than fluxes recorded for the Holocene. In contrast, the expected organic carbon flux, calculated from the biogenic barium concentrations for these sites, is roughly equal to modern. A sedimentation anomaly appears at 41 Ma, when both the measured and the expected organic carbon MAR increases by a factor of two-three relative to the background Eocene fluxes. The rain of estimated Corg and barium from the euphotic zone to the sediments increased by factors of three and six, respectively. We suggest that the discrepancy between the expected and measured Corg in the sediments is a direct consequence of the increased metabolic rates of all organisms throughout the Eocene oceans and sediments. This hypothesis is supported by recent work in ecology and biochemical kinetics that recognizes the fundamental basis of ecology as following from the laws of thermodynamics. This dependence is now elucidated as the Universal Temperature Dependence (UTD) "law" of metabolism and can be applied to all organisms over their biologically relevant temperature range. The general pattern of organic carbon and barium deposition throughout the Eocene is consistent with the UTD theory. In particular, the anomaly at 41 Ma (CAE-3) is associated with rapid cooling, an event that triggered slower metabolic rates for all organisms, slower recycling of organic carbon in the water and sediment column, and, consequently, higher deposition of organic carbon in the sediments. This "metabolism-based" scenario is consistent with the sedimentation patterns we observe for both Sites 1218 and 1219.

The food of yellowfin and skipjack tunas in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean

ENGLISH: Knowledge of the kinds of organisms eaten by tunas, and the relative importance of different kinds of organisms in different situations, is of importance to our understanding of regional and local aggregations and of the behavior of the tropical tunas. Determination of the relative importance of benthic forms in the stomachs of tunas captured in the vicinity of islands and offshore banks, compared with the forms found in the stomachs of those from oceanic areas, distant from these shoal areas, is useful to the understanding of the mechanisms by which the islands and banks attract tuna. A thorough knowledge of the diet may also reveal more about the seasonal and annual variations in the distribution of these fish along the coasts of Mexico, Central America and elsewhere. A knowledge of the diet of the tunas is basic to quantitative studies of the zooplankton and nekton in the Eastern Pacific Ocean with reference to the production of tunas. Studies of the diet of the tropical tunas by examination of stomach contents was, therefore, commenced in late 1957. SPANISH: El conocimiento de las clases de organismos de que se alimentan los atunes, y la importancia relativa de las diferentes clases de organismos en situaciones diferentes, es de valor para nuestra comprensión de las agrupaciones regionales y locales, y de los hábitos de los atunes tropicales. La determinación de la importancia relativa de las formas bénticas en los estómagos de los atunes capturados en la vecindad de las islas y de los bancos apartados de la costa, comparadas con las formas encontradas en los estómagos de los atunes procedentes de áreas oceánicas, distantes de estas áreas poco profundas, es útil para comprender el mecanismo por el cual las islas y los bancos atraen al atún. Un conocimiento completo de la dieta puede revelar también algo más acerca de las variaciones estacionales y anuales en la distribución de estos peces a lo largo de las costas de México, América Central y otras partes. El conocimiento de la dieta del atún es básico para los estudios cuantitativos del zooplancton y del necton en el Océano Pacífico Oriental, con referencia a la producción de los atunes. El estudio de la dieta de los atunes tropicales mediante el examen del contenido estomacal, fué comenzado, por lo tanto, a fines de 1957.

Monthly charts of surface salinity in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean

ENGLISH: Mean monthly maps of surface salinity of the eastern Pacific Ocean were prepared using all available data. Charts were also made of the distribution by one-degree quadrangles of the number of surface salinity observations for each month. Features of interest in the surface salinity distribution are discussed briefly, especially with reference to temporal changes. SPANISH: Se prepararon mapas mensuales sobre la salinidad media de superficie del Océano Pacifico oriental tropical, usando todos los datos disponibles. También se ejecutaron cartas por cuadrángulos de un grado, según el número de las observaciones mensuales de la distribución de la salinidad superficial. Las caracteristicas de interés de las distribuciones de la salinidad superficial se discuten brevemente, especialmente con referencia a los cambios estacionales. (PDF contains 44 pages.)

Geographical distribution of yellowfin tuna and skipjack catches from the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, by quarters of the year, 1952-1955

ENGLISH: In a previous Commission Bulletin, Shimada (1957) has described the geographical distribution of the yearly catches of yellowfin tuna (Neothunnus macropterus) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) from the Eastern Pacific Ocean for the period 1952 to 1955 inclusive, based on information obtained from logbook records of baitboats and purse-seiners. In view of the seasonal nature of the fishery in different areas, a summary of the catches by smaller time units may be of additional value. Accordingly, statistical data employed earlier by Shimada have been retabulated by quarters of the year and form the basis of the present report. SPANISH: En un Boletín anterior de la Comisión, Shimada (1957) hizo un estudio sobre la distribución geográfica de las pescas anuales de atún aleta amarilla (Neothunnus macropterus) y barrilete (Katsuwonus pelamis) del Océano Pacifico Oriental, en el perlado comprendido por los años 1952 a 1955 inclusive. Dicho estudio fué hecho sobre la base de la información obtenida en los registros de las bitácoras de los barcos carnaderos y rederos. Pero en vista de la naturaleza que imprimen las estaciones a la pesquería en las diferentes áreas se ha considerado que podría tener valor complementario un resumen de las pescas en unidades de tiempo menores. De acuerdo con este criterio, los datos estadísticos empleados antes por Shimada, se han tabulado de nuevo ahora, por trimestres, y constituyen siempre la base del presente informe. (PDF contains 49 pages.)

The El Nino of 1972-1973 in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean

ENGLISH: Beginning in February 1972 the usual seasonal cooling of the surface water of the eastern Pacific Ocean in the region of the Peru Current and along the equator failed to develop. By July tropical coastal and equatorial island stations and ships crossing the equator were recording sea-surface temperatures which were 6° to 8°F (3.3°-4.4°C) above the long-term mean. The anomalies spread over most of the eastern tropical Pacific and westward into the central equatorial Pacific through September. During October surface temperatures at coastal stations along South America were returning to normal, but in November and December 1972 temperatures rose rapidly again, with a near-record temperature anomaly of 8.1°F (4.2°C) above the long-term mean recorded at Puerto Chieama, Peru (7°42'S-79°27'W). After January 1973 sea-surface temperatures began returning to normal over most of the eastern tropical Pacific, and by March 1973 the El Nino had completed its cycle. Monthly sea-surface temperature anomalies over the eastern tropical Pacific are discussed to show the extent and magnitude of warming. Annual temperature profiles at several South American coastal and equatorial island stations are compared with temperature profiles for the 1957-1958 and 1965 EI Nino years. Characteristics of the temperature anomaly profiles at Puerto Chicama during several very warm years for the 1925-1972 period are also compared. Finally, meteorological factors contributing to a relaxation of the southeast trade winds and to the decreased unwilling along the coast of South America in 1972-1973 are examined. SPANISH: A comienzos de febrero de 1972, no se registró el enfriamiento común estacional del agua superficial del Océano Pacífico oriental en la región de la Corriente del Perú y a lo largo del ecuador. En julio las estaciones tropicales, costeras y de las islas ecuatoriales, y los barcos que cruzaban la linea ecuatorial registraron temperaturas superficiales del mar de 6° a 8°F (3.3°-4.4°C) más altas que la media a largo plazo. Las anomalías se esparcieron sobre la mayoría del Pacífico oriental tropical, y al oeste en el Pacífico central ecuatorial. En octubre, las temperaturas superficiales de las estaciones costaneras a lo largo de Sudamérica volvieron a la normalidad, pero en noviembre y diciembre de 1972, las temperaturas de nuevo ascendieron rápidamente con una anomalía de temperatura que alcanzó 8.1°F (4.2°C) sobre la media a largo plazo registrada en Puerto Chicama, Perú (7°42'S-79°27'W). Después de enero 1973 las temperaturas de la superficie del mar volvieron rápidamente a la normalidad en la mayoría del Pacífico oriental tropical y en marzo de 1973 el Niño había completado su ciclo. Se discuten las anomalías mensuales de las temperaturas de la superficie del mar en el Pacífico oriental tropical para indicar la extensión y magnitud del calentamiento. Los perfiles anuales de temperatura en varias estaciones costeras y de las islas ecuatoriales sudamericanas se comparan con los perfiles de temperatura de los años en que ocurrió el Niño en 1957-1958 y 1965. Se comparan también las características de los perfiles de las anomalías de temperatura en Puerto Chicama durante varios años muy cálidos para el período de 1925-1972. Finalmente, se examinan los factores meteorológicos que contribuyen al debilitamiento de los vientos alisios del sudeste y a la reducción del afloramiento a lo largo de la costa sudamericana en 1972-1973. (PDF contains 48 pages.)

A-SCALA: an age-structured statistical catch-at-length analysis for assessing tuna stocks in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean

English: We describe an age-structured statistical catch-at-length analysis (A-SCALA) based on the MULTIFAN-CL model of Fournier et al. (1998). The analysis is applied independently to both the yellowfin and the bigeye tuna populations of the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). We model the populations from 1975 to 1999, based on quarterly time steps. Only a single stock for each species is assumed for each analysis, but multiple fisheries that are spatially separate are modeled to allow for spatial differences in catchability and selectivity. The analysis allows for error in the effort-fishing mortality relationship, temporal trends in catchability, temporal variation in recruitment, relationships between the environment and recruitment and between the environment and catchability, and differences in selectivity and catchability among fisheries. The model is fit to total catch data and proportional catch-at-length data conditioned on effort. The A-SCALA method is a statistical approach, and therefore recognizes that the data collected from the fishery do not perfectly represent the population. Also, there is uncertainty in our knowledge about the dynamics of the system and uncertainty about how the observed data relate to the real population. The use of likelihood functions allow us to model the uncertainty in the data collected from the population, and the inclusion of estimable process error allows us to model the uncertainties in the dynamics of the system. The statistical approach allows for the calculation of confidence intervals and the testing of hypotheses. We use a Bayesian version of the maximum likelihood framework that includes distributional constraints on temporal variation in recruitment, the effort-fishing mortality relationship, and catchability. Curvature penalties for selectivity parameters and penalties on extreme fishing mortality rates are also included in the objective function. The mode of the joint posterior distribution is used as an estimate of the model parameters. Confidence intervals are calculated using the normal approximation method. It should be noted that the estimation method includes constraints and priors and therefore the confidence intervals are different from traditionally calculated confidence intervals. Management reference points are calculated, and forward projections are carried out to provide advice for making management decisions for the yellowfin and bigeye populations. Spanish: Describimos un análisis estadístico de captura a talla estructurado por edad, A-SCALA (del inglés age-structured statistical catch-at-length analysis), basado en el modelo MULTIFAN- CL de Fournier et al. (1998). Se aplica el análisis independientemente a las poblaciones de atunes aleta amarilla y patudo del Océano Pacífico oriental (OPO). Modelamos las poblaciones de 1975 a 1999, en pasos trimestrales. Se supone solamente una sola población para cada especie para cada análisis, pero se modelan pesquerías múltiples espacialmente separadas para tomar en cuenta diferencias espaciales en la capturabilidad y selectividad. El análisis toma en cuenta error en la relación esfuerzo-mortalidad por pesca, tendencias temporales en la capturabilidad, variación temporal en el reclutamiento, relaciones entre el medio ambiente y el reclutamiento y entre el medio ambiente y la capturabilidad, y diferencias en selectividad y capturabilidad entre pesquerías. Se ajusta el modelo a datos de captura total y a datos de captura a talla proporcional condicionados sobre esfuerzo. El método A-SCALA es un enfoque estadístico, y reconoce por lo tanto que los datos obtenidos de la pesca no representan la población perfectamente. Además, hay incertidumbre en nuestros conocimientos de la dinámica del sistema e incertidumbre sobre la relación entre los datos observados y la población real. El uso de funciones de verosimilitud nos permite modelar la incertidumbre en los datos obtenidos de la población, y la inclusión de un error de proceso estimable nos permite modelar las incertidumbres en la dinámica del sistema. El enfoque estadístico permite calcular intervalos de confianza y comprobar hipótesis. Usamos una versión bayesiana del marco de verosimilitud máxima que incluye constreñimientos distribucionales sobre la variación temporal en el reclutamiento, la relación esfuerzo-mortalidad por pesca, y la capturabilidad. Se incluyen también en la función objetivo penalidades por curvatura para los parámetros de selectividad y penalidades por tasas extremas de mortalidad por pesca. Se usa la moda de la distribución posterior conjunta como estimación de los parámetros del modelo. Se calculan los intervalos de confianza usando el método de aproximación normal. Cabe destacar que el método de estimación incluye constreñimientos y distribuciones previas y por lo tanto los intervalos de confianza son diferentes de los intervalos de confianza calculados de forma tradicional. Se calculan puntos de referencia para el ordenamiento, y se realizan proyecciones a futuro para asesorar la toma de decisiones para el ordenamiento de las poblaciones de aleta amarilla y patudo.

An examination of fluctuations in the “concentration index” of purse seiners and baitboats in the fishery for tropical tunas in the Eastern Pacific, 1951-1961

ENGLISH: In the eastern Pacific Ocean nearly all of the commercial catches of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) are taken by two types of vessels, baitboats, which use pole and line in conjunction with live-bait, and purse-seiners. From its inception until very recently (1959), this fishery was dominated by baitboats. This method of fishing has been described by Godsil (1938) and Shimada and Schaefer (1956). From 1951 through 1958 baitboats caught between 66.4 and 90.8 per cent of the yellowfin and between 87.2 and 95.3 per cent of the skipjack landed by the California-based fleet. These vessels fished for tuna throughout the year and covered virtually all of the area from southern California to northern Chile. The purse-seine fishery for tunas developed out of the round-haul net fisheries for California sardines and other species. Scofield (1951) gives a detailed description of the development of gear and fishing methods. Prior to 1959 many of the seiners engaged in other fisheries during the fall and early winter months and consequently most of the fishing effort for tuna occurred in the period February-August. The vessels were quite small, averaging approximately 120 tons carrying capacity (Broadhead and Marshall, 1960), in comparison to the baitboats, of which the most numerous size-class was 201-300 tons. The seiners were naturally more restricted in range than the baitboats and most of their effort was restricted to the northern grounds. During the period 1959-61 most of the large baitboats were converted for purse-seining and the existing seiner fleet was modernized. These developments increased the range of the seiner fleet and resulted in a wider and more nearly even spatial and temporal distribution of effort. By the early part of 1961, the purse-seine fleet approximated the level of the preconversion baitboat fleet in amount of effort applied and area covered. The changes in the purse-seine fishery and the fishing methods employed in the modernized fleet are described by Orange and Broadhead (1959), Broadhead and Marshall (1960), McNeely (1961) and Broadhead (1962). The change in the relative importance of the two gears is illustrated by the decline in the proportion of the total logged tonnage landed by California-based baitboats, in comparison to the proportion landed by seiners. In 1959 baitboats landed 49.5 per cent of the yellowfin and 87.8 per cent of the skipjack. In 1960 these percentages were 22.9 and 74.7 respectively and in 1961 the decline continued to 12.6 per cent of the yellowfin and 30.0 per cent of the skipjack (Schaefer, 1962). In previous Bulletins of this Commission (Griffiths, 1960; Calkins, 1961) the baitboat catch and effort statistics were used to compute two indices of population density and an index of concentration of fishing effort and the fluctuations of these indices were analyzed in some detail. Due to the change in the relative importance of the two gears it is appropriate to extend this investigation to include the purse-seine data. The objectives of this paper are to compute two indices of population density and an index of concentration of fishing effort and to examine the fluctuations in these indices before and after the changes in the fishery. A further objective is to compare the purse-seine indices with those of the baitboats for the same time periods. SPANISH: En el Océano Pacífico Oriental casi todas las capturas comerciales del atún aleta amarilla (Thunnus albacares) y del barrilete (Katsuwonus pelamis) son efectuadas por dos tipos de barcos, los barcos de carnada que emplean la caña y el anzuelo en conjunto con la carnada viva, y los barcos rederos. Desde su comienzo hasta hace poco tiempo (1959), esta pesquería estaba dominada por los barcos de carnada. El método de pesca usado por estos barcos ha sido descrito por Godsil (1938) y por Shimada y Schaefer (1956). De 1951 a 1958, los barcos de carnada pescaron entre el 66.4 y el 90.8 por ciento del atún aleta amarilla y entre el 87.2 y el 95.3 por ciento del barrilete descargados por la flota que tiene su base en California. Estos barcos pescaron atún durante todo el año y cubrieron virtualmente toda el área de California meridional hasta la parte norte de Chile. La pesquería del atún con redes de cerco se originó en las pesquerías de las sardinas de California y otras especies, con redes que se remolcaban circularmente. Scofield (1951) dá una descripción detallada del desarrollo de los métodos y del equipo de pesca. Antes de 1959 muchos de los rederos se dedicaban a otras pesquerías durante los meses del otoño y a principios del invierno y consecuentemente, la mayor parte del esfuerzo depesca para la producción del atún ocurría en el período febrero-agosto. Las embarcaciones eran bastante pequeñas, con un promedio de aproximadamente 120 toneladas de capacidad para el transporte (Broadhead y Marshall, 1960) en comparación con los barcos de carnada, de los cuales la clase de tamaño más numerosa era de 201 a 300 toneladas. Los rederos estaban naturalmente más restringidos en su radio de acción que los barcos de carnada y la mayor parte de su esfuerzo se limitaba a las localidades del norte. Durante el período 1959-61, la mayoría de los grandes barcos de carnada fueron convertidos al sistema de pesca con redes de cerco, y se modernizó la flota existente de los rederos. Estos cambios aumentaron el alcance de la flota de los barcos rederos dando como resultado una distribución más amplia y casi más uniforme del esfuerzo espaciado y temporal. En la primera parte del año 1961, la flota de rederos se aproximó al nivel de la preconversión de la flota de clipers, en la cantidad de esfuerzo aplicado y al área comprendida. Los cambios en la pesquería con red y los métodos de pesca empleados en la flota modernizada, han sido descritos por Orange y Broadhead (1959), Broadl1ead y Marshall (1960), McNeely (1961) y Broadhead (1962). El cambio en la importancia relativa de los dos sistemas de pesca está ilustrado por la declinación en la proporción del tonelaje total registrado, como descargado por los barcos de carnada que tienen su base en California, comparado con la proporción desembarcada por los barcos rederos. En 1959 los clipers descargaron el 49.5 por ciento del atún aleta amarilla y el 87.8 por ciento del barrilete. En 1960 estos porcentajes fueron del 22.9 y 74.7 respectivamente, y en 1961 continuó la reducción hasta el 12.6 por ciento del atún aleta amarilla y el 30.0 por ciento del barrilete (Schaefer, 1962). En Boletines anteriores de la Comisión (Griffiths, 1960; Calkins, 1961) las estadísticas de la pesca y el esfuerzo de los clipers se utilizaron para computar dos índices de la densidad de población y un índice de la concentración del esfuerzo de pesca, y se analizaron algo detalladamente las fluctuaciones de estos índices. Debido al cambio en la importancia relativa de los dos sistemas de pesca, es conveniente extender esta investigación para incluir los datos correspondientes a los barcos rederos. Los objetivos del presente estudio son de computar dos índices de la densidad de población y un índice de la concentración del esfuerzo de pesca, y examinar las fluctuaciones en estos índices, antes y después de los cambios en la pesquería. Otro objetivo es de comparar los índices de los barcos rederos, con aquellos de los clipers en los mismos períodos de tiempo.

A study of the Eastern Pacific fishery for tuna baitfishes, with particular reference to the anchoveta (Cetengraulis mysticetus)

ENGLISH: Most of the catches of yellowfin and skipjack tuna from the Eastern Pacific Ocean are made by vessels fishing with poles and lines and live bait. From 1931 to 1954, these baitboats, on the average, accounted for over three-fourths of the total annual California landings of yellowfin and skipjack (Shimada and Schaefer, 1956). With the substantial increase in recent years in the production of the tropical tunas, there have been greater demands for live bait. This increased need for larger amounts of baitfishes has given rise to important questions relating to the manner in which these populations may be most wisely used. The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission has been concerned with various aspects of this problem since its establishment in 1950. This report presents some of the results obtained from the Commission's studies of the baitfishes important to the fishery for yellowfin and skipjack tuna. It traces briefly the origin and development of the bait fishery, describes its operations, extent, and yield, and discusses some aspects of the effects of exploitation upon the Eastern Pacific baitfish populations, particularly of the anchoveta (Cetengaulis mysticetus). SPANISH: Los barcos que emplean cañas y cuerdas y carnada viva, son los que realizan la mayor parte de la pesca de atún aleta amarilla y barrilete en el Océano Pacifíco Oriental. De 1931 a 1954 estos barcos han desembarcado, en promedio, más de las tres cuartas partes de las pescas anuales de ambas especies (Shimada y Schaefer, 1956). Con el aumento sustancial en dicha producción en los últimos años, ha habido una mayor demanda por carnada viva. Esta creciente necesidad de obtener cantidades mayores de pecescebo, ha originado importantes cuestiones relativas a la mejor forma en que estas poblaciones pueden ser utilizadas. A la Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical le ha tocado ocuparse de varios aspectos de este problema, desde que fué establecida en el año 1950. Este informe ofrece algunos de los resultados obtenidos a través de los estudios de la Comisión sobre los peces-cebo importantes para la pesquería de atún aleta amarilla y barrilete; señala brevemente el origen y desarrollo de la pesquería de carnada; describe sus operaciones, extensión y rendimiento, y trata algunos aspectos de los efectos de la explotación sobre las poblaciones de dichos peces en el Pacifíco Oriental, particularmente de la anchoveta (Cetengraulis mysticetus). (PDF contains 59 pages.)

Growth, movement, and attrition of northern bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, in the Pacific Ocean, as determined by tagging

ENGLISH: The growth of northern bluefin tuna is described by a two-stanza model. For fish between 191 and 564 mm in length the Gompertz curve, with values of 581 mm and 4.32 for Loo and K (annual), respectively, is used. The fish between 564 and 1530 mm grow linearly, at the rate of 0.709 mm per day. Age-O fish tagged and released in the western Pacific Ocean have been recaptured in the western, central, and eastern Pacific. The minimum time between release in the western Pacific and recapture in the eastern Pacific is 215 days. Older fish, mostly Land 2-year olds, tagged and released in the eastern Pacific have been recaptured in the eastern and western Pacific. The minimum time between release in eastern Pacific and recapture in the western Pacific is 674 days. The coefficient of natural mortality is estimated from data on growth and ambient temperature to be 0.276 on an annual basis, with 90-percent confidence limits of 0.161 and 0.47L Spawning of northern bluefin takes place only in the western Pacific. Some of the juveniles migrate to the eastern Pacific, where they reside for several months to several years before returning to the western Pacific. The portion of fish which migrate to the eastern Pacific varies among years, and this appears to be an important cause of the annual variation in the catches in the eastern Pacific Ocean. SPANISH: El crecimiento del atún aleta azul del norte es descrito por un modelo de dos estadios. Para los peces de entre 191 y 564 mm de talla se usa la curva de Gompertz, con valores de 581 mm y 4.32 para Loo y K (anual), respectivamente. Los peces de entre 564 y 1530 mm crecen de forma lineal, a 0.709 mm por día. Peces de edad Omarcados y liberados en el Pacífico occidental han sido recapturados en el Pacífico occidental, central, y oriental. La demora mínima entre la liberación en el Pacífico occidental y la recaptura en el Pacífico oriental es de 215 días. Peces mayores, principalmente de 1 ó 2 años de edad, marcados y liberados en el Pacífico oriental han sido re capturados en el Pacífico occidental y oriental. La demora mínima entre la liberación en el Pacífico oriental y la recaptura en el Pacífico occidental es de 674 días. Se estima el coeficiente de mortalidad natural a partir de los datos de crecimiento y temperatura ambiental en un 0.276 anual, con límites de confianza al 90% de 0.161 y 0.471. El aleta azul del norte desova únicamente en el Pacífico occidental. Algunos de los juveniles migran al Pacífico oriental, donde permanecen entre varios meses y varios años antes de regresar al Pacífico occidental. La porción de los peces que migran al Pacífico oriental varía entre años, y ésto parece ser una causa importante de la variación anual en las capturas en el Océano Pacífico oriental. (PDF contains 94 pages.)

The Ragfish, Icosteus aenigmaticus Lockington, 1880: A Synthesis of Historical and Recent Records From the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea

Knowledge of the distribution and biology of the ragfish, Icosteus aenigmaticus, an aberrant deepwater perciform of the North Pacific Ocean, has increased slowly since the first description of the species in the 1880’s which was based on specimens retrieved from a fish monger’s table in San Francisco, Calif. As a historically rare, and subjectively unattractive appearing noncommercial species, ichthyologists have only studied ragfish from specimens caught and donated by fishermen or by the general public. Since 1958, I have accumulated catch records of >825 ragfish. Specimens were primarily from commercial fishermen and research personnel trawling for bottom and demersal species on the continental shelves of the eastern North Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and the western Pacific Ocean, as well as from gillnet fisheries for Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus spp., in the north central Pacific Ocean. Available records came from four separate sources: 1) historical data based primarily on published and unpublished literature (1876–1990), 2) ragfish delivered fresh to Humboldt State University or records available from the California Department of Fish and Game of ragfish caught in northern California and southern Oregon bottom trawl fisheries (1950–99), 3) incidental catches of ragfish observed and recorded by scientific observers of the commercial fisheries of the eastern Pacific Ocean and catches in National Marine Fisheries Service trawl surveys studying these fisheries from 1976 to 1999, and 4) Japanese government research on nearshore fisheries of the northwestern Pacific Ocean (1950–99). Limited data on individual ragfish allowed mainly qualitative analysis, although some quantitative analysis could be made with ragfish data from northern California and southern Oregon. This paper includes a history of taxonomic and common names of the ragfish, types of fishing gear and other techniques recovering ragfish, a chronology of range extensions into the North Pacific and Bering Sea, reproductive biology of ragfish caught by trawl fisheries off northern California and southern Oregon, and topics dealing with early, juvenile, and adult life history, including age and growth, food habits, and ecology. Recommendations for future study are proposed, especially on the life history of juvenile ragfish (5–30 cm FL) which remains enigmatic.

Chemical composition of volcanic glass of some tephra layers in Northeastern Pacific Ocean

Five widespread upper Cenozoic tephra layers that are found within continental sediments of the western United States have been correlated with tephra layers in marine sediments in the Humboldt and Ventura basins of coastal California by similarities in major-and trace-element abundances; four of these layers have also been identified in deep-ocean sediments at DSDP sites 34, 36, 173, and 470 in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. These layers, erupted from vents in the Yellowstone National Park area of Wyoming and Idaho (Y), the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest (C), and the Long Valley area, California (L), are the Huckleberry Ridge ash bed (2.0 Ma, Y), Rio Dell ash bed (ca. 1.5 Ma, C), Bishop ash bed (0.74 Ma, L), Lava Creek B ash bed (0.62 Ma, Y), and Loleta ash bed (ca. 0.4 Ma, C). The isochronous nature of these beds allows direct comparison of chronologic and climatic data in a variety of depositional environments. For example, the widespread Bishop ash bed is correlated from proximal localities near Bishop in east-central California, where it is interbedded with volcanic and glacial deposits, to lacustrine beds near Tecopa, southeastern California, to deformed on-shore marine strata near Ventura, southwestern California, to deep-ocean sediments at site 470 in the eastern Pacific Ocean west of northern Mexico. The correlations allow us to compare isotopic ages determined for the tephra layers with ages of continental and marine biostratigraphic zones determined by magnetostratigraphy and other numerical age control and also provide iterative checks for available age control. Relative age variations of as much as 0.5 m.y. exist between marine biostratigraphic datums [for example, highest occurrence level of Discoaster brouweri and Calcidiscus tropicus (= C. macintyrei)], as determined from sedimentation rate curves derived from other age control available at each of several sites. These discrepancies may be due to several factors, among which are (1) diachronism of the lowest and highest occurrence levels of marine faunal and floral species with latitude because of ecologic thresholds, (2) upward reworking of older forms in hemipelagic sections adjacent to the tectonically active coast of the western United States and other similar analytical problems in identification of biostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic datums, (3) dissolution of microfossils or selective diagenesis of some taxa, (4) lack of precision in isotopic age calibration of these datums, (5) errors in isotopic ages of tephra beds, and (6) large variations in sedimentation rates or hiatuses in stratigraphic sections that result in age errors of interpolated datums. Correlation of tephra layers between on-land marine and deep-ocean deposits indicates that some biostratigraphic datums (diatom and calcareous nannofossil) may be truly time transgressive because at some sites, they are found above and, at other sites, below the same tephra layers.

Phosphorus dynamics in waters of the Pacific Ocean

Tagged phosphorus was used to measure principal indices of mineral phosphorus variations in the euphotic zone of the East Pacific, i.e. total rate of uptake of phosphate phosphorus by microplankton (A_t), fraction consumed by phytoplankton (A_p/A_t), and turnover time (T). A_t reached its greatest values (150-280 ng/l/hour) in the upwelling zone of the Peru traverse, where development of phytoplankton was induced by upwelling. In other areas of this traverse values were 40-80 ng/l/hour in surface layers. In less productive waters on two other profiles (off Central America and California), values were lower, between 20 and 40 ng/l. On the vertical profile maxima of A_t were found at the upper boundary of the thermocline. Turnover time of PO4 phosphorus (T) in zones of phytoplankton abundance was very short, between 1.5 and 4 days. At most other stations it was 10-40 days, increasing to 100-200 days or longer at the lower boundary of the euphotic zone. In areas of phytoplankton abundance it accounted for 60-80% of total uptake of PO4 phosphorus. But in zones of elevated bacterial abundance, A_p/A_t fell to 20-40%. Data indicating lack of correlation between PO4 phosphorus and productivity are presented. It is emphasized that the above measures of PO4 phosphorus dynamics can be used for obtaining measures of functional condition and successional phase of marine plankton communities.