Geographic Patterns of Fishes and Jellyfish in Puget Sound Surface Waters
Abstract
We explored patterns of small pelagic fish assemblages and biomass of gelatinous zooplankton (jellyfish) in surface waters across four oceanographic subbasins of greater Puget Sound. Our study is the first to collect data documenting biomass of small pelagic fishes and jellyfish throughout Puget Sound; sampling was conducted opportunistically as part of a juvenile salmon survey of daytime monthly surface trawls at 52 sites during May–August 2003. Biomass composition differed spatially and temporally, but spatial differences were more distinct. Fish dominated in the two northern basins of Puget Sound, whereas jellyfish dominated in the two southern basins. Absolute and relative abundance of jellyfish, hatchery Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, and chum salmon O. keta decreased with increasing latitude, whereas the absolute and relative abundance of most fish species and the average fish species richness increased with latitude. The abiotic factors with the strongest relationship to biomass composition were latitude, water clarity, and sampling date. Further study is needed to understand the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the taxonomic composition we observed in Puget Sound surface waters, especially as they relate to natural and anthropogenic influences.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2012
- Source ID
- 10.1080/19425120.2012.680403
Entities
People
- Casimir A. Rice
- Correigh M. Greene
- James R. Karr
- Jeffrey J. Duda
Organizations
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- United States Army Corps of Engineers
- University of Washington