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Temperature-dependent growth and behavior of juvenile Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) and co-occurring North Pacific gadids

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Abstract

The thermal sensitivity of Arctic fish species is poorly understood, yet such data are a critical component of forecasting and understanding ecosystem impacts of climate change. In this study, we experimentally measured temperature-dependent growth and routine swim activity in the juvenile stage of two Arctic gadids (Arctic cod, Boreogadus saida and saffron cod, Eleginus gracilis) and two North Pacific gadids (walleye pollock, Gadus chalcogrammus and Pacific cod, Gadus macrocephalus) over a 6-week growth period across five temperatures (0, 5, 9, 16 and 20 °C). Arctic cod demonstrated a cold-water, stenothermic response in that there was relatively high growth at 0 °C (0.73 % day−1), near-maximal growth at 5 °C (1.35 % day−1) and negative impacts on activity, growth and survival at 16 °C. In contrast, saffron cod demonstrated a warmer-water, eurythermic response, and temperature had a positive effect on growth and condition beyond 16 °C. However, despite these distinct thermal responses, walleye pollock and Pacific cod grew 2–3 times faster than Arctic gadids across a relatively broad temperature range above 5 °C. These results, coupled with possible northward expansion by both Pacific cod and walleye pollock, suggest Arctic cod are highly vulnerable to continued climate change in the Arctic, especially in coastal areas of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas where temperatures already exceed 14 °C in the summer growth period.

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Acknowledgments

We thank C. Ryer, T. Hurst, and I. Bradbury for reviewing earlier drafts of this manuscript. Thanks also to Bill Kopplin, Robert Fechhelm, Kyle McCain, Bill Streever and the LGL field crew for their assistance in the collection of Arctic and saffron cod in Prudhoe Bay as well as to Scott Haines, Michele Ottmar, and Eric Hanneman for their assistance in the fish transport and animal husbandry. This project was supported with funding from the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) Grant #R1228 and 2014 Essential Fish Habitat funding from NOAA–AFSC. This study is NPRB contribution no. 560. The findings and conclusions in the paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fisheries Behavioral Ecology Program, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR, 97365, USA

    Benjamin J. Laurel, Mara Spencer & Paul Iseri

  2. College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR, 97365, USA

    Louise A. Copeman

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  1. Benjamin J. Laurel
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  2. Mara Spencer
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  3. Paul Iseri
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  4. Louise A. Copeman
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Correspondence to Benjamin J. Laurel.

Additional information

This article belongs to the special issue on the “Ecology of Arctic Gadids”, coordinated by Franz Mueter, Jasmine Nahrgang, John Nelson, and Jørgen Berge.

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Laurel, B.J., Spencer, M., Iseri, P. et al. Temperature-dependent growth and behavior of juvenile Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) and co-occurring North Pacific gadids. Polar Biol 39, 1127–1135 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1761-5

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