Project Information

Title: PWS Herring Survey: Value of Growth and Energy Storage as Predictors of Winter Performance in YOY Herring from PWS 10100132-D

Project Year and Number: 2010: 10100132-D

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2010: 10100132-A, 2010: 10100132, 2010: 10100132-B, 2010: 10100132-C, 2010: 10100132-E, 2010: 10100132-F, 2010: 10100132-G, 2010: 10100132-H, 2010: 10100132-I

Principal Investigator (PI): Ron Heintz (NOAA/NMFS Auke Bay Laboratory)

Managing Agency: NOAA

Assisting Personnel: JJ Vollenweider

Research Location: Eaglek, Simpson, Whale and Zaikof and other bays

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Pacific Herring

Abstract: This proposal examines the reliability of fall growth rates as an indicator of over-winter performance among YOY herring in Prince William Sound. The Trustee Integrated Herring Restoration Program cites the need for identifying parameters that reliably indicate condition. Parameters such as size or energy density can provide misleading results. While size is a good predictor of over-winter survival in a given year, there is no critical size that predicts survival across years. Similarly, changes in energy density may not reflect the severity of winter. We propose that fall growth rate predicts performance because herring acquire the bulk of their lipid in fall. Individuals experiencing high growth in fall are likely to obtain disproportionately large energy reserves. We propose using models relating RNA/DNA ratios to growth obtained under another Trustee study to estimate growth in field specimens collected during the survey period. In addition we will examine how energy is partitioned between structural and storage compartments. Combining these data with those of other projects being proposed under the PWS Herring Survey will allow us to test the hypothesis that growth in fall is the most consistent indicator of over winter survival because fall growth provides for the greatest provisions of stored energy.


Proposal: View (227 KB)

Reports:
Annual Report FY10: View (263 KB)
Annual Report FY11: View (208 KB)
Final Report: Final Report Not available. For current status, please contact us.

Publications from this Project: None Available