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

Impact Factor2.1 (JCR 2025 release)

Article Acceptance Rate52.2% (2024)

Average Time in Review216 days (2024)

Total Annual Downloads2.749.993 (2025)

Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 405:29-37 (2010)

Diel vertical migration patterns in juvenile cod from the Skagerrak coast

ABSTRACT: We demonstrated a clear year-round diel vertical migration pattern (DVM) of small (26 to 45 cm) Skagerrak coastal cod Gadus morhua on a small geographic scale. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to make inferences about depth movements from a large data set of repeated depth measurements of cod fitted with acoustical tags. The general pattern in vertical behaviour was closely linked to sunrise and sunset, and the timing varied with the length of the day. The absolute magnitude of vertical movement was seasonally variable and probably influenced by temperature and food availability. Cod constantly selected deeper residence depths during the day than at night, and during winter than in summer. This study uses flexible models to make generalisations of the varying nature of the diel vertical migration patterns in juvenile coastal cod.

KEYWORDS

Sigurd Heiberg Espeland (Co-author)

  • Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway

Adine Guldborg Thoresen (Co-author)

  • Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway

Esben Moland Olsen (Co-author)

  • Institute of Marine Research Flødevigen, 4817 His, Norway

Leif Christian Stige (Co-author)

  • Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway

H. Knutsen (Co-author)

  • Institute of Marine Research Flødevigen, 4817 His, Norway

Jakob Gjøsæter (Co-author)

  • Institute of Marine Research Flødevigen, 4817 His, Norway

Nils Christian Stenseth (Co-author)

  • Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
  • Institute of Marine Research Flødevigen, 4817 His, Norway