Sub-Arcrtic Gyre Ecosystems and Its Response to Climate Change -East-West Comparative Study in the North Pacific

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Objectives of this study are (1) to clarify a response of several populations from lower to higher trophic levels to physical and biological environment change, especially we focused on the key spices, walleye pollock in the Bering Sea, and salmon, pomfret and flying squid in the Gulf of Alaska, and (2) to examine difference of primary production systems in both Western Sub-Arctic gyre and Alaskan Gyre in consideration of iron limitation in HNLC regions using in-situ and satellite observations. Moreover, we tried to develop new observation and sampling methods for surveying fish populations and spatial distribution of fish using ROV and underwater remote sensing.In this study period, we carried out three in-situ observation cruises by T/S Oshoro-Maru in summer 2002, 2003 and 2004. In 2003 and 2004, we had two transects survey along 165 East long. and 165 West long. in order to compare east-west gyre systems. In summer 2003, we had a chance to hold the mini-symposium of "Marine Ecological Studies in the Bering Sea and the North Pacific-Commemorative symposium for UH-HU academic exchange agreement and to mark the 2003 cruise of the T/S Oshoro Maru" in University of Hawaii, Honolulu, U.S.A., then presented our preliminary results and had a fruitful discussions.