MEPS

Marine Ecology Progress Series

MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

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Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 150:75-85 (1997)

Trophic relations in the subarctic North Pacific ecosystem: possible feeding effect from pink salmon

ABSTRACT: Year-to-year variations in biomass of phytoplankton (surface chlorophyll a concentration) and macrozooplankton (wet weight obtained by NORPAC net operation above 150 m), and abundance of pink salmon (catch per unit effort of pink salmon) from 1985to 1994 in the subarctic North Pacific in summer were studied. After 1989, phytoplankton biomass and pink salmon abundance showed corresponding yearly patterns, whereas the pattern shown by macrozooplankton biomass was always the inverse of that shown byphytoplankton and salmon. We suggest that macrozooplankton biomass remained low when pink salmon was abundant due to the intense feeding impact of pink salmon, which in turn allowed phytoplankton biomass to remain high as a result of the lesser grazingeffect of macrozooplankton. The opposite phenomenon probably occurred when pink salmon was not abundant. Prior to 1989, macrozooplankton biomass was at a rather high level while phytoplankton biomass and pink salmon abundance were low. We suggest thatmacrozooplankton biomass remained high due to a lesser feeding impact of the pink salmon, and phytoplankton biomass remained low due to the intense grazing effect of macrozooplankton. Our study therefore shows the possibility that the feeding effect fromthe pink salmon controls summer macrozoo- and phytoplankton biomass in the subarctic North Pacific.

KEYWORDS

Shiomoto A (Co-author)

Tadokoro K (Co-author)

Nagasawa K (Co-author)

Ishida Y (Co-author)