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web of nearshore communities along the southcentral Alaska coastline. The rich abundance of benthic invertebrates residing within the sediments of intertidal flats and the large network of subtidal channels that bisect these flats provide a significant prey resource for numerous species of fish, cra...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.369.6596 http://www.pws-osri.org/programs/projects/annual_reports/2003/03-10-19.pdf |
| Summary: | web of nearshore communities along the southcentral Alaska coastline. The rich abundance of benthic invertebrates residing within the sediments of intertidal flats and the large network of subtidal channels that bisect these flats provide a significant prey resource for numerous species of fish, crabs, birds, and marine mammals. One of the largest expanses of intertidal mud/sand flats occurs in the Copper River Delta and southeastern Prince William Sound (Orca Inlet). From April 2002 through October 2003, we performed the first study of the demersal fish and mobile invertebrate community of the estuarine/marine waters of the Copper River Delta and adjacent Orca Inlet (southeastern Prince William Sound). At seven stations located throughout Orca Inlet and the Western Copper River Delta monthly otter trawl surveys were performed from April through October of 2002 and 2003. A diverse fish assemblage dominated by flatfish, sculpins, snake prickleback and Crangon shrimp is present on the Copper River Delta. Several of the demersal fish species and one crab species that occur within the Copper River Delta are of significant value to recreational and commercial fisheries. Pacific halibut, lingcod, English sole, and Dungeness crab appear to use the extensive |
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