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Anomalous pelagic nekton abundance, distribution, and apparent recruitment in the northern California Current in 2004 and 2005
Author(s) -
Brodeur Richard D.,
Ralston Stephen,
Emmett Robert L.,
Trudel Marc,
Auth Toby D.,
Phillips A. Jason
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2006gl026614
Subject(s) - nekton , pelagic zone , upwelling , productivity , oceanography , abundance (ecology) , range (aeronautics) , population , environmental science , juvenile , ecology , geology , biology , materials science , demography , sociology , estuary , economics , composite material , macroeconomics
Although the California Current has undergone substantial environmental shifts in the past few decades, the summer of 2005 exhibited highly anomalous conditions relative to all previous recorded summers in terms of late initiation of upwelling and the resulting elevated surface temperatures and depressed productivity through July. The response of pelagic nekton to these anomalous conditions was widespread and included onshore and poleward displacement of taxa to new geographic areas, population changes within the normal range, and reduced productivity of early life stages based on larval and juvenile surveys. Some nekton exhibited anomalous distributions in 2004. Many ecologically important species were affected. The response of the nektonic community off California was greater than during El Niño conditions.