Community reorganization in the Gulf of Alaska following ocean climate regime shift

Marine Ecology Progress Series
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Abstract

A shift in ocean climate during the late 1970s triggered a reorganization of community structure in the Gulf of Alaska ecosystem, as evidenced in changing catch composition on long-term (1953 to 1997) small-mesh trawl surveys. Forage species such as pandalid shrimp and capelin declined because of recruitment failure and predation, and populations have not yet recovered. Total trawl catch biomass declined >50% and remained low through the 1980s. In contrast, recruitment of high trophic-level groundfish improved during the 1980s, yielding a >250% increase in catch biomass during the 1990s. This trophic reorganization apparently had negative effects on piscivorous sea birds and marine mammals.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Community reorganization in the Gulf of Alaska following ocean climate regime shift
Series title Marine Ecology Progress Series
DOI 10.3354/meps189117
Volume 189
Year Published 1999
Language English
Publisher Inter-Research
Contributing office(s) Alaska Biological Science Center
Description 7 p.
First page 117
Last page 123
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Gulf of Alaska
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