Elementary trophic ecology of pacific salmons in the Bering Sea. Species and regional differences. Provision with food in different environments

Abstract

The final issue in the series of studies on trophic ecology of pacific salmons in the Bering Sea conducted by planktonologists of Pacific Fish. Res. Center (TINRO) for NPAFC. Salmons dwell in the upper epipelagic layer and feed mainly in the daytime by large-sized zooplankton that is more abundant in the upper pelagic layer as compared with the lower pelagic layer in summer-fall season. The zooplankton and nekton species dominant in the salmon diet are determined on the base of 8,000 plankton samples and 45,000 samples of salmon stomachs. Two periods with different environments are revealed in the Bering Sea in the early 21 century: the relatively warm period of 2000-2006 and the relatively cold period of 2007-2012. The regime shift between them affected the plankton community and trophic ecology of salmon, though not by means of water cooling directly but presumably because of the water circulation change. Food composition is determined for each size group of salmons in both periods, by biostatistical areas and bathymetric ranges. Zooplankton grazing by salmons increased significantly in all areas during the cold period, whereas the nekton grazing decreased, but their total consumption did not change much. Transition to the next warm period since 2013 does not affect negatively to the salmon food base; their diet changes significantly but within the list of preferable species. Feeding intensity of pink, chum, and sockeye salmons was similar in any period, as well as in the 2014-2015, food deficit was never observed. The salmons show a great plasticity in feeding: in general, their diet corresponds to the structure of plankton community, though the portion of nekton increases with the age. Large-sized salmons consume a large-sized prey and need more time for its complete digestion, so there is necessary to apply reduction coefficients in calculation of their daily food rations. N​utritional needs of all salmon stocks are estimated for summer-fall season and offered as a guideline for evaluation their load on the food base and their food security for certain spatial and temporal circumstances.