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Sedimentology of amphitrite bank, a commercially exploited groundfish habitat—Southwestern continental shelf, British Columbia, Canada

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Environmental Geology and Water Sciences

Abstract

Among trawling grounds for Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) off western Canada, Amphitrite Bank is small (∼220 km2) but important both because it is a major spawning area and because it sustains a relatively high yield At the south and east central part of the 40- to 60-m deep bank, sediments consist mainly of densely packed, poorly sorted, very coarse, immobile gravels Boulders which are commonly 3–5 m wide and 1–2 m high offer the most severe hazards on the bank to trawling gear. On the west central part of the bank, areas containing generally finer, but still poorly sorted gravels alternate with areas having coarse rippling (wavelength=4–5m, height=0.4–0.5m as measured from sonograms) and size-segregated gravels. Along the outer bank, areas having coarse and fine rippling alternate with relatively smooth patches where large boulders are generally absent. Local wave regime is adequate to mobilize the coarsest (mean size=−4ϕ) relatively well-sorted (σ=≤1.9ϕ) sediment and generate the largest observed oscillatory ripples in materials of this size.

Incubating eggs were not observed directly on the bank surface, but Canadian trawl captains have reported catching actively spawning cod exclusively over areas of the bank which we have identified as heavily rippled. This substrate may be suitable for Pacific cod, whose eggs are demersal and temporarily adhesive, possibly because it is moved sufficiently to maintain gravel particle surfaces free of deposits which may inhibit adhesion, but not frequently enough during the spawning and incubation period to damage eggs

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Author notes

  1. R. H. Linden

    Present address: Coastal Marine Science Laboratory, Royal Roads Military College, FMO, V0S 1B0, Victoria, British Columbia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Canada, 8th Floor, 100 W Pender, V6B 1R8, Vancouver, British Columbia

    J. L. Luternauer & R. H. Linden

  2. Pacific Biological Station, V9R 5K6, Nanaimo, British Columbia

    S. J. Westrheim

  3. Institute of Ocean Sciences, PO Box 6000, V8L 4B2, Sidney, British Columbia

    R. E. Thomson

Authors
  1. J. L. Luternauer
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  2. R. H. Linden
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  3. S. J. Westrheim
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  4. R. E. Thomson
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Luternauer, J.L., Linden, R.H., Westrheim, S.J. et al. Sedimentology of amphitrite bank, a commercially exploited groundfish habitat—Southwestern continental shelf, British Columbia, Canada. Environ. Geol. Water Sci 8, 107–121 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02509897

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