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Use of sand wave habitats by silver hake
Author(s) -
Auster P. J.,
Lindholm J.,
Schaub S.,
Funnell G.,
Kaufman L. S.,
Valentine P. C.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1046/j.1095-8649.2003.00016.x
Subject(s) - diel vertical migration , crepuscular , habitat , foraging , predation , biology , fishery , hake , merluccius , ecology , nocturnal , range (aeronautics) , fish <actinopterygii> , materials science , composite material
Silver hake Merluccius bilinearis are common members of fish communities in sand wave habitats on Georges Bank and on Stellwagen Bank in the Gulf of Maine. Observations of fish size v . sand wave period showed that silver hake are not randomly distributed within sand wave landscapes. Regression analyses showed a significant positive relationship between sand wave period and fish length. Correlation coefficients, however, were low, suggesting other interactions with sand wave morphology, the range of current velocities, and available prey may also influence their distribution. Direct contact with sand wave habitats varied over diel periods, with more fish resting on the seafloor during daytime than at night. Social foraging, in the form of polarized groups of fish swimming in linear formations during crepuscular and daytime periods, was also observed. Sand wave habitats may provide shelter from current flows and mediate fish–prey interactions.