Environmental Controls of Marine Food Webs: Food Habits of Seabirds in the Eastern Chukchi Sea

1984 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1202-1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan M. Springer ◽  
David G. Roseneau ◽  
Edward C. Murphy ◽  
Martha I. Springer
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Food Habits ◽  
Chukchi Sea ◽  
Sand Lance ◽  
Environmental Fluctuation ◽  
Northern Bering Sea ◽  
Environmental Controls ◽  
Common Murres ◽  
Average Size

Food habits of thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia), common murres (U. aalge), and black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) were examined at two breeding colonies in the eastern Chukchi Sea between 1976 and 1980. Cods (Gadidae), sculpins (Cottidae), sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus), and capelin (Mallotus villosus) were the dominant (biomass) prey of thick-billed murres. Cods, sand lance, and capelin were the dominant prey of common murres and kittiwakes. Annual changes in the consumption of fishes by murres and kittiwakes suggest that available fish biomass in the eastern Chukchi Sea was low in 1976 and 1977, but increased each year through 1979 and 1980. The average size of several taxa of fishes eaten by the birds increased also between most years. Invertebrates were less important than fishes in all years, were eaten most frequently by thick-billed murres, and were eaten more frequently in 1976–77 than in 1978–79. A pattern of climatic cooling in the early 1970's followed by warming in the second half of the decade caused annual differences in the extent and duration of sea ice, and apparently in the spacial and temporal development of Alaskan Coastal Water, a major oceanographic feature of the Bering–Chukchi shelf. Fluctuations in the physical environment could have led to changes in fish populations through direct physiological and behavioral effects, or indirectly by altering the abundance of important zooplankton prey populations. Variability in the reproductive success of murres and kittiwakes in the northern Bering Sea and eastern Chukchi Sea corresponded with the apparent changes in fish stocks: reproductive success was very low in 1976 but improved in successive years. Short-term responses of seabirds to environmental fluctuation and its proposed effect on supporting food webs suggest that the stability of regional seabird populations could also be affected by long-term changes in weather and climate.

The paradox of pelagic food webs in the northern Bering Sea—I. Seabird food habits

1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 895-911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan M. Springer ◽  
Edward C. Murphy ◽  
David G. Roseneau ◽  
C. Peter McRoy ◽  
Brian A. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Food Webs ◽  
Bering Sea ◽  
Food Habits ◽  
Northern Bering Sea ◽  
Pelagic Food Webs

scholarly journals Distribution of Arctic and Pacific copepods and their habitat in the northern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 18661-18691 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Sasaki ◽  
K. Matsuno ◽  
A. Fujiwara ◽  
M. Onuka ◽  
A. Yamaguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Water Mass ◽  
High Salinity ◽  
Chukchi Sea ◽  
Bottom Layer ◽  
Sea Ice Extent ◽  
High Salinity Water ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Northern Bering Sea ◽  
Salinity Water

Abstract. The advection of warm Pacific water and the reduction of sea-ice extent in the western Arctic Ocean may influence the abundance and distribution of copepods, i.e., a key component in food webs. To understand the factors affecting abundance of copepods in the northern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea, we constructed habitat models explaining the spatial patterns of the large and small Arctic copepods and the Pacific copepods, separately, using generalized additive models. Copepods were sampled by NORPAC net. Vertical profiles of density, temperature and salinity in the seawater were measured using CTD, and concentration of chlorophyll a in seawater was measured with a fluorometer. The timing of sea-ice retreat was determined using the satellite image. To quantify the structure of water masses, the magnitude of pycnocline and averaged density, temperature and salinity in upper and bottom layers were scored along three axes using principal component analysis (PCA). The structures of water masses indexed by the scores of PCAs were selected as explanatory variables in the best models. Large Arctic copepods were abundant in the water mass with high salinity water in bottom layer or with cold/low salinity water in upper layer and cold/high salinity water in bottom layer, and small Arctic copepods were abundant in the water mass with warm/saline water in upper layer and cold/high salinity water in bottom layers, while Pacific copepods were abundant in the water mass with warm/saline in upper layer and cold/high salinity water in bottom layer. All copepod groups were abundant in areas with deeper depth. Although chlorophyll a in upper and bottom layers were selected as explanatory variables in the best models, apparent trends were not observed. All copepod groups were abundant where the sea-ice retreated at earlier timing. Our study might indicate potential positive effects of the reduction of sea-ice extent on the distribution of all groups of copepods in the Arctic Ocean.

Mercury biomagnification in food webs of the northeastern Chukchi Sea, Alaskan Arctic

2017 ◽  
Vol 144 ◽  
pp. 63-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin L. Fox ◽  
John H. Trefry ◽  
Robert P. Trocine ◽  
Kenneth H. Dunton ◽  
Brenda K. Lasorsa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Webs ◽  
Chukchi Sea ◽  
Alaskan Arctic

Extra-pair copulations in common murres I: a mate attraction strategy?

Behaviour ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 143 (10) ◽  
pp. 1241-1262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen L. Cameron-Macmillan ◽  
Carolyn J. Walsh ◽  
Sabina I. Wilhelm ◽  
Anne E. Storey
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Uria Aalge ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Mate Attraction ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
Common Murres ◽  
Breeding Seasons

AbstractWe investigated the behavioural context of pair (PCs) and extra-pair copulations (EPCs) in individually-marked socially-monogamous, long-lived seabirds, common murres (Uria aalge). Since forced EPCs have been documented for this species, we first examined which sex controls successful (cloacal contact achieved) copulation. The finding that all successful copulations required female cooperation and crouching suggested that benefits of successful EPCs accrue primarily to females. In a group of murres for which paternity analyses indicated no extra-pair paternity, behavioural observations over five breeding seasons showed that individual females engaged in EPCs primarily under two circumstances: (1) before they were reunited with their mates, and (2) when they were in the process of re-pairing. There was no such relationship between EPCs and re-pairing for males. Successful EPCs occurred with familiar neighboring males of apparent high quality, indicated by their high ledge attendance and prior reproductive success rates. Thus, EPCs may be used by females to attract potential high quality mates in situations where females are attempting to re-pair as a result of divorce or mate death.

scholarly journals Impact of a warm anomaly in the Pacific Arctic region derived from time-series export fluxes

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255837
Author(s):  
Catherine Lalande ◽  
Jacqueline M. Grebmeier ◽  
Andrew M. P. McDonnell ◽  
Russell R. Hopcroft ◽  
Stephanie O’Daly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Bering Sea ◽  
Chukchi Sea ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Ice Cover ◽  
Biological Pump ◽  
Northern Bering Sea ◽  
Pacific Waters ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Impact

Unusually warm conditions recently observed in the Pacific Arctic region included a dramatic loss of sea ice cover and an enhanced inflow of warmer Pacific-derived waters. Moored sediment traps deployed at three biological hotspots of the Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO) during this anomalously warm period collected sinking particles nearly continuously from June 2017 to July 2019 in the northern Bering Sea (DBO2) and in the southern Chukchi Sea (DBO3), and from August 2018 to July 2019 in the northern Chukchi Sea (DBO4). Fluxes of living algal cells, chlorophyll a (chl a), total particulate matter (TPM), particulate organic carbon (POC), and zooplankton fecal pellets, along with zooplankton and meroplankton collected in the traps, were used to evaluate spatial and temporal variations in the development and composition of the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in relation to sea ice cover and water temperature. The unprecedented sea ice loss of 2018 in the northern Bering Sea led to the export of a large bloom dominated by the exclusively pelagic diatoms Chaetoceros spp. at DBO2. Despite this intense bloom, early sea ice breakup resulted in shorter periods of enhanced chl a and diatom fluxes at all DBO sites, suggesting a weaker biological pump under reduced ice cover in the Pacific Arctic region, while the coincident increase or decrease in TPM and POC fluxes likely reflected variations in resuspension events. Meanwhile, the highest transport of warm Pacific waters during 2017–2018 led to a dominance of the small copepods Pseudocalanus at all sites. Whereas the export of ice-associated diatoms during 2019 suggested a return to more typical conditions in the northern Bering Sea, the impact on copepods persisted under the continuously enhanced transport of warm Pacific waters. Regardless, the biological pump remained strong on the shallow Pacific Arctic shelves.

scholarly journals Change in coccolith morphology by responding to temperature and salinity in coccolithophore <i>Emiliania huxleyi</i> (Haptophyta) isolated from the Bering and Chukchi Seas

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 17751-17780 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Saruwatari ◽  
M. Satoh ◽  
N. Harada ◽  
I. Suzuki ◽  
Y. Shiraiwa
Keyword(s):  
Cell Size ◽  
Specific Growth ◽  
Chukchi Sea ◽  
Scaling Law ◽  
Central Area ◽  
Emiliania Huxleyi ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Northern Bering Sea ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Specific Growth Rates

Abstract. Strains of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi (Haptophyta) collected from the subarctic North Pacific and Arctic Oceans during the R/V MIRAI cruise in 2010 (MR10-05) were established as clone cultures and have been maintained in the laboratory at 15 °C and 32 ‰ salinity. To study the physiological responses of coccolith formation to changes in temperature and salinity, growth experiments and morphometric investigations were performed on two strains of MR57N isolated from the northern Bering Sea (56°58' N, 167°11' W) and MR70N at the Chukchi Sea (69°99' N, 168° W). This is the first report of a detailed morphometric and morphological investigation of Arctic Ocean coccolithophore strains. The specific growth rates at the logarithmic growth phases in both strains markedly increased as temperature was elevated from 5 to 20 °C, although coccolith productivity (the percentage of calcified cells) was similar at 10–20 % at all temperatures. On the other hand, the specific growth rate of strain MR70N was affected less by changes in salinity in the range 26–35 ‰, but the proportion of calcified cells decreased at high and low salinities. According to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, coccolith morphotypes can be categorized into Type B/C on the basis of their biometrical parameters, such as length of the distal shield (LDS), length of the inner central area (LICA), and the thickness of distal shield elements. The central area elements of coccoliths varied from grilled type to closed type when temperature was increased or salinity was decreased, and coccolith size decreased simultaneously. Coccolithophore cell size also decreased with increasing temperature, although the variation in cell size was slightly greater at the lower salinity level. This indicates that subarctic and arctic coccolithophore strains can survive in a wide range of seawater temperatures and at lower salinities due to their marked morphometric adaptation ability. Because all coccolith biometric parameters followed the scaling law, the decrease in coccolith size was caused simply by the reduced calcification. Taken together, our results suggest that calcification productivity may be used to predict future oceanic environmental conditions in the Polar Regions.

scholarly journals HUBUNGAN PANJANG-BERAT, KEBIASAAN MAKANAN, DAN REPRODUKSI IKAN KAKAP MERAH (Lutjanus gibbus: Famli LUTJANIDAE) DI PERAIRAN SELATAN BANTEN

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prihatiningsih Prihatiningsih ◽  
Mohammad Mukhlis Kamal ◽  
Rahmat Kurnia ◽  
Ali Suman
Keyword(s):  
Food Habits ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Gravimetric Method ◽  
Growth Function ◽  
Red Snapper ◽  
Fishing Ground ◽  
Fish Samples ◽  
The Family ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Partial Spawner

Ikan kakap merah (L. gibbus) adalah jenis ikan demersal dari famili Lutjanidae yang bernilai ekonomis penting dan banyak tertangkap di Indonesia. Informasi tentang kebiasaan makan dan aspek reproduksi ikan kakap merah di Indonesia masih relatif sedikit. Selain itu, telah terjadi penurunan stok ikan kakap merah di Selatan Banten selama 6 tahun terakhir (2008-2013). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji hubungan panjang-berat, kebiasaan makan dan reproduksi ikan kakap merah.. Penelitian dilakukan selama 3 tahun (2013, 2015 dan 2016). Ikan contoh diambil dari hasil penangkapan ikan oleh para nelayan dengan alat tangkap pancing rawai dasar dan pancing ulur dengan mata pancing no 7-10 yang didaratkan di Binuangeun-Banten. Analisis fekunditas dilakukan di Laboratorium dengan metode gravimetrik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ikan kakap merah jantan memiliki ukuran lebih panjang dibandingkan ikan betina, pola pertumbuhannya bersifat isometrik. Kebiasaan makan ikan kakap merah tergolong ikan karnivora dimana makanan utamanya adalah ikan dan kepiting (Portunidae). Nisbah kelamin jantan dan betina tidak seimbang yaitu 1: 1.53. Fekunditas berkisar 14.050–596.243 butir dengan rata-rata 170 869 butir, diameter telur berkisar 0,03–1,02 mm dan pola pemijahannya bersifat salin sebagian (partial spawner).The humpback red snapper (Lutjanus gibbus) is the family of lutjanidae which has important economic value in Indonesian capture fisheries. In addition, there has been a sharp decline on the population of  humpback red snapper in the Southern part of Banten during the last 6 years (2008-2013). This study aims to examine the growth function, food habits and reproductive biology of L. gibbus in the Southern part of  Banten Waters. Fish samples were collected for 3 years (2013, 2015 and 2016) both from fishing ground and landing places in Binuangeun-Banten, caught by handline and bottom longline. The fecundity analysis was performed in Laboratory by gravimetric method. The results showed that the average size of males of humpback red snapper was longer than females with the growth pattern was isometric. The food habits of humpback red snapper was classified as carnivorous fish in which the main food item consist of fish and crab (Portunidae). Sex ratio of males and females were unbalance by 1: 1.53. The fecundity ranges from 14.050-596.243 eggs with an average of 170.869 eggs. The humpback red snapper found as  partial spawner which eggs diameter ranged from 0,03 to 1,02 mm.

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