NEP GLOBEC: Mesoscale Euphausiid and Hake Distribution in the CCS and Their Relationship to Environmental Conditioning

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This project addresses the Retrospective aspect of the U.S. GLOBEC Announcement of Opportunity. The researchers will analyze acoustic and supporting hydrological and topographic data collected in summer 1995 and 1998 by the National Marine Fisheries Service with an eye to examining the spatial distribution of euphausiid patches and fish shoals as they relate to bottom topography, upwelling, current velocity, stratification and phytoplankton biomass. Additionally, the researchers will participate in and analyze data collected in 2001 in the same area (Monterey, CA, to Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C., Canada). The researchers will examine a series of hypotheses concerning the possible association of large euphausiid patches near the shelf break north of Cape Blanco, Oregon, with minimum alongshore and onshore-offshore currents, large phytoplankton biomass and upwelling-driven currents directed towards the shelf break. The scientists will also test hypotheses about the proximity of euphausiids with a major predator fish, Pacific whiting, and how it changes south to north of Cape Blanco, the possible enhancement of euphausiid density along the edges of submarine canyons, and the effect of El Nino on both euphausiid and whiting distribution and abundance. The analyzed data will form a baseline data set for use by ongoing and proposed GLOBEC monitoring and process studies.