Fisheries Behavioral Ecology

Biology and ecology of Alaskan fishery species

In collaboration with scientists at NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center, CIMERS staff research the habitat, environmental, and climate factors that influence commercially important fishes and crabs in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. Specifically, experiments examining the physiological, ecological, and energetic effects of parameters such as feeding rates, temperature, and CO² levels. Target species for research include Pacific cod, walleye pollock, Arctic cod, yellowfin sole and snow crab.

The extensive experimental seawater facilities and chilling capacity at the Hatfield Marine Science Center are critical to the execution of this long term research initiative. The work involves monitoring and maintaining experimental conditions, culture of fish, and general fish husbandry. During experiments, sampling, measuring and making detailed observations of fish is a priority. Traits being explored include factors such as rates of growth and survival, metabolic rates, physiological and energetic assays, and behavioral patterns. General fish husbandry includes care and feeding of spawning adults, eggs, larvae, and juvenile through adult stages. Each species and life stage has different tank requirements such as size, shape, temperature, flow, and feed.