Spatially structured interactions between a migratory pelagic predator, the Norwegian spring-spawning herring Clupea harengus L., and its zooplankton prey

E. M. Olsen*, W. Melle, S. Kaartvedt, J. C. Holst, K. A. Mork

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Spring-spawning herring Clupea harengus was patchily distributed over large parts of the Norwegian Sea in May 1995-2005, during the early phase of the annual feeding migration. Overall, herring tended to be found in areas with intermediate biomasses of zooplankton prey, intermediate water temperatures and relatively high salinities. Herring had more food in their stomachs in areas of relatively low water temperature and high herring abundance. Hydrographical conditions revealed that herring was feeding mainly within Atlantic water masses, and more intensely in western and northern regions of the Norwegian Sea. Zooplankton biomass was patchily distributed, and was generally higher towards the western parts of the Norwegian Sea. Here, zooplankton biomass in year i+1 was also negatively associated with herring spawning stock biomass in yeari, while there was no evidence for such an association in the eastern region; indicating that herring may have a geographically structured 'top-down' effect on the recruitment of its zooplankton prey. The fact that herring was not typically associated with the areas containing the greatest zooplankton biomasses may reflect that the fish had not yet reached the most profitable feeding grounds or alternatively that herring was depleting zooplankton biomass.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)799-815
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of fish biology
Volume70
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Feeding migration
  • Herring
  • Norwegian Sea
  • Spatial structure
  • Zooplankton

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Aquatic Science

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