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)

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Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 600:239-244 (2018)

Pacific herring response to surface predators in Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA

ABSTRACT: An in situ method was applied to monitor the responses of adult Pacific herring Clupea pallasi to predators. An autonomous, upward-facing echosounder was deployed on the seabed at 40 m just prior to the peak of the herring spawning season in Port Gravina, Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA. Monitoring took place over a continuous 4 d period (9-12 April 2016), during which herring and predators (seabirds and Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus) were tracked. Herring speeds varied (mean = 33.1 cm s-1, range = 0.02-127.1 cm s-1) and were significantly lower than predator speeds (mean = 56.3 cm s-1, range = 13.7-144.6 cm s-1). Swim speeds of herring and predators were positively correlated when regressions were lagged to 2.5 min and indicate a link between activity states of prey and predator. Changes in depth of herring were correlated positively with predator depths over a period of up to 5 min, which corresponds with seabird dive durations. This monitoring method can increase our understanding of sub-lethal effects of predators on Pacific herring and provide a direct method to quantify predation intensity on this critical life history stage.

KEYWORDS

Peter S. Rand (Corresponding Author)
prand@pwssc.org