Project Information

Title: HRM Program: A high temporal and spatial resolution study to validate the separate herring condition monitoring program. 12120111-M

Project Year and Number: 2012: 12120111-M

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2013: 13120111-M

Principal Investigator (PI): Tom Kline

Managing Agency: NOAA

Assisting Personnel: Ron Heintz

Project Website: https://pwssc.org/exploring-changes-in-herring-energetics-over-winter-months/

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Pacific Herring

Abstract:

Described here is a single process study project that is a part of an integrative program that will enhance the current monitoring efforts, and examine aspects of particular life stages to allow better modeling of Prince William Sound herring populations. The long-term goal of the program is to improve predictive models of herring stocks through observations and research. The herring monitoring program is necessarily of coarse temporal and spatial resolution with just two observations per year at narrowly defined sampling sites spread around the large area comprising Prince William Sound. Data interpretation requires a greater context to impart greater meaning. In the case of temporal variation of herring condition it would be useful to know (1) how sensitive the herring overwinter mortality model is to starting time, and (2) the timing of recovery from winter starvation. In the case of spatial variation of herring condition it would be useful to know how sensitive the herring overwinter mortality model is to immigration and emigration from areas immediately adjacent to where herring are sampled at the time of our November and March surveys. Fine-scale temporal and spatial variability at designated herring monitoring sites has never been characterized and therefore remains a data gap with potential ramifications for interpreting observed variation of herring condition that is part of the herring monitoring program as well as the aforementioned modeling. This will be addressed by sampling at Simpson Bay, which has been a key monitoring site for juvenile herring since the 1990’s. Energy content and RNA/DNA will be measured monthly from September 2011 until June 2012 to assess fine-scale temporal variability. Fine-scale spatial variability will be assessed by sampling in November and March five separate sub-areas of a more extensive Simpson Bay than what is typically done during surveys. The results of the analysis will be contributed to the herring synthesis effort that will take place in FY14.


Proposal: View (422 KB)

Reports:
Annual Report FY12: View (1,112 KB)
Final Report: See Project 13120111-M

Publications from this Project: None Available