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 Downloads2.983.379 (2025)

Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 747:117-132 (2024)

Summer and polar night diets of polar cod Boreogadus saida and Atlantic cod Gadus morhua in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norway

ABSTRACT: Rapid Atlantification of marine ecosystems in the Svalbard Archipelago (Norway) is posing a threat to the local polar cod (Boreogadus saida) population. In Kongsfjorden, the decreasing population of polar cod is experiencing a shift in their prey community from Arctic to Atlantic zooplankton and fish. Simultaneously, the abundance of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua is increasing. In this study, we explore seasonal dietary patterns, foraging strategies, and potential competition between these 2 gadids in Kongsfjorden via stomach content analyses. Polar cod diet by proportion biomass (B) was dominated by pricklebacks (family Stichaeidae) and conspecifics during polar night (B = 72.7%) and by Calanus spp. (B = 52.4%) and Themisto spp. during summer (B = 31.2%). Atlantic cod diet was dominated by polar cod in both seasons (polar night: B = 37.4%; summer: B = 93.6%). Despite high dietary overlap (Schoener’s D = 0.67) between similarly sized polar cod and Atlantic cod (9-25 cm) during polar night, competition for food between these species is likely relatively low due to polar cod having high individual specialization in their foraging strategies. However, continued Atlantification, and increased abundance of the now established population of Atlantic cod, is a threat to polar cod because of direct consumption of the smaller species by the larger. The high predation rates by Atlantic cod on polar cod also make it a potential competitor with other top predators in the region, which could have negative consequences for local sea birds and marine mammals.

KEYWORDS

Olof Bengtsson (Co-author)

  • The Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
  • Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway

Christian Lydersen (Co-author)

  • The Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway

Jan Marcin Węsławski (Co-author)

  • Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 81-712 Sopot, Poland

Jørgen Berge (Co-author)

  • Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway

Kit M. Kovacs (Corresponding Author)

  • The Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
kit.kovacs@npolar.no