Ecological Studies of Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida) in Beaufort Sea Coastal Waters, Alaska

1982 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Craig ◽  
W. B. Griffiths ◽  
L. Haldorson ◽  
H. McElderry
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Life History Strategy ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Shallow Waters ◽  
Boreogadus Saida ◽  
Arctic Cod ◽  
Arctic Fish ◽  
Slow Growing

Fish use of Beaufort Sea coastal waters was examined during summer and winter periods 1977–80. Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) were abundant but their occurrence was highly variable. They accounted for 8–78% of all fish caught in Simpson Lagoon during two summers, and 0.4–100% of catches at various coastal sites in winter. Arctic cod increased in abundance in the lagoon during late summer and some association was noted between their numbers and higher salinities but not temperature or turbidity. Some cod remained in shallow waters in early winter but deeper areas were used through the winter, and the highest catch rate was recorded 175 km offshore. Principal foods of the cod in nearshore waters were mysids (Mysis litoralis, M. relicta), amphipods (Onisimus glacialis), and copepods. The cod caught were generally small (60–170 mm) and young (ages 1–3). Most males matured at ages 2–3 and females at age 3. These size, age, and maturity characteristics indicate a life history strategy (r-selection) unlike that typified by many other arctic fish populations, particularly the freshwater and anadromous species which tend to be slow growing, late maturing and long-lived (K-selection).Key words: Arctic cod, Boreogadus saida; Beaufort Sea, distribution, life history strategy

Variability in the Diet of Ringed Seals, Phoca hispida, in Alaska

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 2254-2261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd F. Lowry ◽  
Kathryn J. Frost ◽  
John J. Burns
Keyword(s):  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Boundary Region ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Phoca Hispida ◽  
Arctic Cod ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Saffron Cod ◽  
Crangon Septemspinosa

Analysis of stomach contents of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) collected at eight locations along the Alaskan coast showed significant seasonal and regional differences in diet. During the spring–summer period saffron cod (Eleginus gracilis) was the most important food item in the nearshore zone of the northeastern Bering and southeastern Chukchi Seas. In that period shrimps (Pandalus spp., Eualus spp., Lebbeus polaris, and Crangon septemspinosa) were the major food in the northcentral Bering Sea, hyperiid amphipods (Parathemisto libellula) in the central Beaufort Sea and euphausiids (Thysanoessa spp.) in the boundary region (Barrow area) between the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. During late summer–early autumn hyperiid amphipods were important foods in the central Beaufort and the southeastern Chukchi. The autumn diet of seals in Norton Sound included mainly saffron cod During winter–early spring Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) predominated the diet at all localities. During spring and early summer in the northeastern Bering and southeastern Chukchi seas the amount of saffron cod consumed was directly correlated with age. In the Beaufort Sea during autumn and winter Arctic cod were eaten in similar amounts by all age-classes. An analysis of the energy value and quantities of prey consumed indicates that prey species that occur in concentrations (Arctic and saffron cods, hyperiid amphipods, euphausiids and some shrimps) are of particular importance in the annual nutrition of ringed seals. These seals may be food limited in areas and during times when these kinds of prey are not available.Key words: food habits, Phoca hispida, ringed seals, Arctic cod, saffron cod, crustaceans, Alaska

Distribution and diet of demersal Arctic Cod, Boreogadus saida, in relation to habitat characteristics in the Canadian Beaufort Sea

Polar Biology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1087-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew R. Majewski ◽  
Wojciech Walkusz ◽  
Brittany R. Lynn ◽  
Sheila Atchison ◽  
Jane Eert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Boreogadus Saida ◽  
Arctic Cod

Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida) as Prey: Fish Length-Energetics Relationships in the Beaufort Sea and Hudson Bay

ARCTIC ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Britten Harter ◽  
Kyle H. Elliott ◽  
George J. Divoky ◽  
Gail K. Davoren
Keyword(s):  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Fish Length ◽  
Hudson Bay ◽  
Boreogadus Saida ◽  
Prey Fish ◽  
Arctic Cod

Micro-geographic population genetic structure within Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) in Beaufort Sea of Alaska

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 1713-1721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E Wilson ◽  
George K Sage ◽  
Kate Wedemeyer ◽  
Sarah A Sonsthagen ◽  
Damian M Menning ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Population Genetic Structure ◽  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Boreogadus Saida ◽  
Large Spatial Scale ◽  
Geographic Population ◽  
Arctic Cod

Abstract Many marine organisms show significant levels of genetic heterogeneity on local spatial scales despite exhibiting limited genetic structure at large geographic scales which can be produced through a variety of mechanisms. The Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) is a circumpolar species and is a vital species in Arctic food webs. To examine population genetic structure of Arctic cod at macro- and micro-geographic scales, we characterized variation at mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite loci among Arctic cod located in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas in Alaska. We found two distinct mtDNA haplotype clusters, although there was no underlying geographic pattern (FST = −0.001). Congruent with this finding, microsatellite loci suggested a panmictic population (FST = 0.001) across northern Alaskan marine waters at a large spatial scale. However, we found slight but significant micro-geographic partitioning of genetic variation in the southern shelf of the Beaufort Sea that appeared to be associated with the western reaches of the Mackenzie River plume. This fine-scale spatial pattern was not associated with kin-associated groups, suggesting larvae cohorts are not remaining together throughout development. We hypothesize that this pattern reflects the intermixing of Pacific and Arctic origin lineages of Arctic cod.

Distribution and diet of larval and juvenile Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) in the shallow Canadian Beaufort Sea

2011 ◽  
Vol 84 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 78-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Walkusz ◽  
Joclyn E. Paulic ◽  
William J. Williams ◽  
Slawomir Kwasniewski ◽  
Michael H. Papst
Keyword(s):  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Boreogadus Saida ◽  
Arctic Cod

scholarly journals Movements and Inferred Foraging by Bowhead Whales in the Canadian Beaufort Sea during August and September, 2006–12

ARCTIC ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lois A. Harwood ◽  
Lori T. Quakenbush ◽  
Robert J. Small ◽  
J. Craig George ◽  
James Pokiak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Canadian Arctic ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Bowhead Whale ◽  
Shallow Waters ◽  
Bowhead Whales ◽  
Location Data ◽  
State Switching ◽  
Photographic Evidence ◽  
Density Contour

Each spring, most bowhead whales of the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort (BCB) population migrate to the southeast Beaufort Sea and summer in Canadian waters. In August and September, they form aggregations, which are known to occur mainly in the shallow, shelf waters when oceanographic conditions promote concentration of their zooplankton prey. The movements of individual bowheads while they occupy these late summer habitats are less well known; our knowledge is based on photographic evidence and limited tagging studies conducted from 1982 to 2000. In this study, 85% (17) of the 20 satellite-tagged whales that could have spent some time in the Canadian portion of the Beaufort Sea during late summer 2006 to 2012 spent all or part of August and September there. We analyzed location data for 16 whales, using a two-state switching correlated random walk (CRW) behavioural model, and classified locations in the Canadian waters as associated with lingering behaviour (inferred foraging) or directed travel. We found that these whales spent the greatest proportion of their time lingering (59%), followed by traveling (22%), and transitioning between lingering and traveling (19%). Using only lingering locations for these tagged whales in all study years pooled, we calculated kernel densities and defined five areas within the 75% density contour as aggregation areas. Together, the five aggregation areas we defined comprised 25 341 km2, 14.1% of the total area used by these tagged whales in Canadian waters during August and September of the deployment years. Three aggregation areas were located in shallow waters of the Beaufort Sea Shelf and were used almost exclusively by immature tagged whales in our sample. Two other aggregation areas were observed, one in Darnley Bay and one in Viscount Melville Sound in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Each of these was used by one mature whale. Tagged whales were observed to use one or two aggregation areas in a single season, and rarely more. The proportion of lingering time spent in each aggregation area was highly variable among individuals. The largest aggregation area (10 877 km2), located over the Beaufort Shelf north of the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula (5 – 52 m depth), was used by 13 of the 16 tagged whales, almost exclusively by the immature whales, including three of four that were tracked in two consecutive summers. The Beaufort Shelf overall (and possibly the Tuktoyaktuk Shelf, including the Outer Shelf, in particular) was especially important for immature bowhead whales, while mature whales used habitats beyond the Beaufort Shelf during late summer. Findings may be important to inform both decisions on management and mitigative actions relating to bowhead whale use of the Beaufort Shelf and studies that aim to improve our understanding of the prey base of BCB bowhead whales in the Canadian Beaufort Sea region.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolites in Arctic Cod (Boreogadus saida) from the Beaufort Sea and Associative Fish Health Effects

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (19) ◽  
pp. 11629-11636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregg T. Tomy ◽  
Thor Halldorson ◽  
Greg Chernomas ◽  
Lianna Bestvater ◽  
Kirstin Danegerfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbon ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Beaufort Sea ◽  
Boreogadus Saida ◽  
Fish Health ◽  
Arctic Cod ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic
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