| Summary: | Walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) is the predominant groundfish species in the North Pacific Ocean, and it is a focal point in the ecology of the region. However, there is only a limited knowledge of the distribution of the juveniles of this species (age-1 and age-2 individuals). We examine the horizontal and vertical distribution of age-1 and age-2 walleye pollock in the eastern Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska and relate observed patterns to key physical (temperature, latitude, longitude, bathymetry) and biological (diet, physiology) characteristics. We used data collected from three sources: a field survey conducted in the Gulf of Alaska (2001), field data collected from echo integration trawl surveys in the eastern Bering Sea (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999), and laboratory experiments investigating the behavior and physiology of age-1 and age-2 individuals under various thermal conditions. Results indicate there is the potential for differences in the ecology of
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