Ecology of age-0 arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) inhabiting the Gulf of Alaska.

Abstract

Age-0 arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) were collected from surface waters, throughout the summer months in the Gulf of Alaska. As the most abundant groundfish species in the Gulf of Alaska, arrowtooth flounder are an important ecological component of this ecosystem. While information is available for juvenile and adult arrowtooth flounder, and to some extent the ichthyoplankton life stage and spawning processes, the late-pelagic, post-larval stage of arrowtooth flounder has been the subject of fewer inquiries. This study examined the effects of environmental parameters on age-0 arrowtooth flounder in the pelagic environment. Based on data collected from 2010 to 2013, this study provided information on the abundance, distribution, pelagic duration, size, growth, diet and energy content of age-0 arrowtooth flounder in the Gulf of Alaska. Mean settlement to the benthos occurred at approximately 41 mm standard length, which corresponded to early August. Average energy density was 20.42 ± 0.07 kJ g−1 dry mass and showed no change with size, although there were some interannual differences that were attributed to changes in temperature and diet composition. This study helps fill critical gaps in the knowledge of the early life history of arrowtooth flounder and how they respond to the biophysical parameters in the Gulf of Alaska.