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Groundfish<\/h1>\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”5px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”PAGE TITLE ROW” _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”H1 Page Title – Groundfish” module_class=”page-title” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#4d4d4d” header_line_height=”1.1em” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_orientation_tablet=”center” text_orientation_phone=”center” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-direction: column;||justify-content: flex-end;” border_color_bottom=”#4d4d4d” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Groundfish<\/h1>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-direction: column;||justify-content: flex-end;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_menu menu_id=”13″ menu_style=”centered” admin_label=”Menu – Species Response” _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” menu_font=”|||on|||||” menu_font_size=”16px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-direction: column;||justify-content: flex-end;” border_color_bottom=”#000000″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_menu][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#4d4d4d” _builder_version=”4.17.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”20.8px” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aoan.aoos.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/hero-groundfish-northern-rock-sole-NOAA.jpg” alt=”Northern Rock Sole Groundfish” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Caption – Northern rock sole. Photo by NOAA” module_class=”image-caption” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”13px” text_line_height=”1.5em” hover_enabled=”0″ border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#4d4d4d” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Northern rock sole. Photo by NOAA<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.17.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”3px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.17.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – What We Know ” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Walleye Pollock<\/strong> Pacific Cod<\/strong> Northern Rock Sole<\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.17.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text Box – Meet the Groundfish” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”20px” background_color=”#e6e6e6″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”20px|24px|20px|24px|true|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Groundfish<\/em> is a term that refers to more than 90 different types of roundfish, flatfish, rockfish, skates, and sharks that live on or near the bottom of the ocean. Researchers have focused their efforts on three commercially important species of groundfish found in Alaskan waters: walleye pollock, Pacific cod, and northern rock sole. These are ray-finned fishes that are widely distributed in the northern Pacific Ocean. Walleye pollock support the largest single-species fishery in the world and are critical forage fish in north Pacific ecosystems.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Photo Gallery” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#233f6f” text_font_size=”18px” header_2_font_size=”20px” header_4_line_height=”0em” background_color=”#e6e6e6″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”2%||||false|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text – Click to enlarge” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”20px” background_color=”#e6e6e6″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”||1%||false|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n ↓Click to enlarge↓<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Code – Remove Hover Text From All Images” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ _module_preset=”default” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Several experiments suggest that the growth and survival of larvae do not appear negatively affected by CO2<\/sub> levels expected in Alaska waters in the coming decades. However, there are indications of non-lethal, but potentially long-lasting effects of acidic ocean conditions on pollock larvae. Larval walleye pollock exposed to high CO2<\/sub> had lower rates of swim bladder inflation which may affect orientation, feeding, and increase the energetic cost of swimming. In addition, there were indications that high CO2<\/sub> exposure impacted the ability of larvae to assimilate and store lipids from their diet, although the consequences of this effect on older fish is not yet clear. Researchers are also currently examining potential behavioral impacts of ocean acidification in juvenile pollock and how pollock may be impacted by OA-induced changes to their prey.<\/p>\n
Experimental evidence shows Pacific cod may be sensitive to the effects of ocean acidification at certain life stages. In a laboratory experiment, elevated CO2<\/sub> levels reduced growth of Pacific cod larvae during the first few weeks after hatching. However, the same conditions resulted in increased growth rates in older larvae. Lipid storage levels exhibited similar patterns as overall body size, being depressed after 2 weeks under high CO2<\/sub>, but recovering by 5 weeks of age. These growth rate changes may be linked to a behavioral change that the researchers observed in larvae exposed to high CO2<\/sub>. The implications of these findings to the recruitment of Pacific cod are being explored by modeling growth, dispersion, and survival of individuals.<\/p>\n
Experiments with northern rock sole suggested that growth rates during the egg phase and early larval phases were not significantly affected by exposure to elevated CO2<\/sub> levels, but resulted in lower condition factors (degree of well-being) in some experimental trials. In addition, although survival was variable across experiments, there was a trend toward higher mortality rates among fish reared at high CO2<\/sub> levels. A separate study found that variation in prey availability had a bigger effect on growth than the direct effects of CO2<\/sub> level. This result shows the importance of considering both the direct effects of OA on the fish as well as impacts on the lower trophic levels in the ecosystem. A fishery dynamics model for northern rock sole in the Bering Sea incorporated these OA effects along with thermal effects on growth and settlement areas pointing to a key areas of uncertainty around how climate conditions will affect the growth dynamics of rock sole.<\/p>\nMeet the Groundfish<\/h4>\n
Photo Gallery<\/strong><\/h4>\n