thumbnail

Physical characteristics of dungeness crab and halibut habitats in Whidbey Passage, Alaska

Open-File Report 2000-32
By: , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr0032

Links

Abstract

In Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska there are ongoing studies of Dungeness Crab (Cancer magister) and Pacific Halibut (Hippoglosus stenolepis). Scientists of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are attempting to ascertain life history, distribution, and abundance, and to determine the effects of commercial fishing in the park (Carlson et al., 1998). Statistical sampling studies suggest that seafloor characteristics and bathymetry affect the distribution, abundance and behavior of benthic species. Examples include the distribution of Dungeness crab which varies from 78 to 2012 crabs/ha in nearshore areas to depths of 18 m (O'Clair et al., 1995), and changes in halibut foraging behavior according to bottom type (Chilton et al., 1995). This report discusses geophysical data collected within the park in 1998. The geophysical surveying done in this and previous studies will be combined with existing population and sonic-tracking data sets as well as future sediment sampling, scuba, submersible, and bottom video camera observations to better understand Dungeness crab and Pacific halibut habitat relationships.

Suggested Citation

Cochrane, G.R., Carlson, P.R., Boyle, M.E., Gabel, G.L., Hooge, P.N., 2000, Physical characteristics of dungeness crab and halibut habitats in Whidbey Passage, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2000-32, HTML document, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr0032.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Physical characteristics of dungeness crab and halibut habitats in Whidbey Passage, Alaska
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2000-32
DOI 10.3133/ofr0032
Year Published 2000
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description HTML document
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Glacier Bay;Whidbey Passage
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details