Understanding Apex Predator and Pelagic Fish Habitat Utilization in the California Current System by Integrating Animal Tracking With in Situ Oceanographic Observations
Abstract
This study will develop a dynamic, ecosystem-based approach to map and understand habitat utilization by top predators in the CCS. Specifically, our objectives are: (1) To map critical habitats of predators in the California Current System; (2) To link the movement patterns of these predators to physical and biological ocean features, in order to: 1. determine how ocean dynamics act to aggregate diverse organisms; 2. define the stability and community structure around biological hot spots; 3. define the persistence of hot spots in space and time; 4. examine the relationships among different species in the context of habitat utilization; 5. identify the influence of top down and bottom up processes and their influence on dynamics of hot spots; (3) To map habitat distribution of commercially-viable and threatened fish stocks in the CCS, based on predator distribution and behavior from tracking data; (4) To quantify the seasonal and inter-annual variability of mesoscale ocean features (potential hot spots) in the CCS, from remotely sensed and in situ data; (5) To contribute a significant quantity of high-resolution in situ oceanographic data from animal tags to coastal and global ocean observing programs; (6) To provide critical advice to fisheries managers on the distribution of commercially-viable fish stocks in relation to oceanographic variability; (7) To develop and test models that allow for the prediction of animal abundance and distribution based on the physical environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA480919
Entities
People
- Barbara Block
- Daniel P. Costa
- Franklin B. Schwing
- Steven J Bograd
Organizations
- University of California, Santa Cruz