Changes in species composition of the demersal fish community in nearshore waters of Kodiak Island, Alaska

We examined the species composition of the demersal fish and shrimp community in seven different areas in the nearshore waters of Kodiak Island based on trawl survey data. A major part of the variability in the data set was attributed to trends over time, indicating a significant change in species c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences 2000-06, Vol.57 (6), p.1169-1180
Main Authors: Mueter, Franz J, Norcross, Brenda L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal populations
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Crustaceans
Decapoda
Fish
Fisheries
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Marine
Marine ecosystems
Pisces
Sea water ecosystems
Species composition
Synecology
USA, Alaska
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Summary:We examined the species composition of the demersal fish and shrimp community in seven different areas in the nearshore waters of Kodiak Island based on trawl survey data. A major part of the variability in the data set was attributed to trends over time, indicating a significant change in species composition in the early 1980s. Results agree with work by others and show a shift from a community dominated by shrimp and small forage fishes to one dominated by large piscivorous gadid and flatfish species. The shift occurred rather abruptly in most areas between 1980 and 1982, but the pattern of change differed significantly among areas. Correlations between trends in the two groups of species were weak but were consistent with the hypothesis that the decline in shrimp and forage fishes followed, rather than preceded, the increase in large piscivorous fishes. The results suggest predation as a possible mechanism to explain the observed changes.
ISSN:0706-652X
1205-7533
DOI:10.1139/f00-051