Presentation Abstract

The Salish Sea displays strong seasonality in water temperature which can impose physiological limits on temperature sensitive species. Puget Sound, in winter, relies on ocean water as a heat source whereas in summer, the gradient is reversed. The dynamic exchange of Puget Sound with coastal water dictates the spatial and temporal patterns of isotherms that are relevant to temperature sensitive species. Recent winters with increased water temperature may expand the range of certain species to be able to survive in Puget Sound over the winter. Northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) are pelagic spawners and survive in between 8 and 25 °C water. We examine near surface isotherms to describe the dynamic of Northern anchovy access to spring plankton blooms using continuous, geo-referenced data from physical and bio-optical sensors from an 80-mile long en route ferry system between Seattle, WA and Victoria, BC. Spatial and temporal patterns reveal which part of the year near-surface temperature conditions may be favorable for anchovy exploitation of the spring plankton blooms. If filter-feeding prey species such as Northern anchovy can reside in Puget Sound during winter, then they can exploit the spring plankton blooms and potentially change the structure of the food web.

Session Title

Posters: Monitoring: Species & Habitats

Keywords

Temperature, Puget Sound, Northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax

Conference Track

SSE18: Posters

Conference Name

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)

Document Type

Event

SSEC Identifier

SSE18-95

Start Date

5-4-2018 11:30 AM

End Date

5-4-2018 1:30 PM

Type of Presentation

Poster

Genre/Form

conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters

Contributing Repository

Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Northern anchovy--Effect of temperatures on--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Temperature--Seasonal variations--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Water tempurature--Physiological effect--Washington (State)--Puget Sound

Geographic Coverage

Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Puget Sound (Wash.)

Rights

This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

Share

COinS
 
Apr 5th, 11:30 AM Apr 5th, 1:30 PM

Using ferry monitoring data to explore the importance of isotherms on the winter survival of Northern anchovy in Puget Sound

The Salish Sea displays strong seasonality in water temperature which can impose physiological limits on temperature sensitive species. Puget Sound, in winter, relies on ocean water as a heat source whereas in summer, the gradient is reversed. The dynamic exchange of Puget Sound with coastal water dictates the spatial and temporal patterns of isotherms that are relevant to temperature sensitive species. Recent winters with increased water temperature may expand the range of certain species to be able to survive in Puget Sound over the winter. Northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) are pelagic spawners and survive in between 8 and 25 °C water. We examine near surface isotherms to describe the dynamic of Northern anchovy access to spring plankton blooms using continuous, geo-referenced data from physical and bio-optical sensors from an 80-mile long en route ferry system between Seattle, WA and Victoria, BC. Spatial and temporal patterns reveal which part of the year near-surface temperature conditions may be favorable for anchovy exploitation of the spring plankton blooms. If filter-feeding prey species such as Northern anchovy can reside in Puget Sound during winter, then they can exploit the spring plankton blooms and potentially change the structure of the food web.