Ampelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 (Ampeliscidae) of the Sakhalin Shelf in the Okhotsk Sea starve in summer and feast in winter

Background Ampelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 of the Sakhalin Shelf of the Okhotsk Sea, Far Eastern Russia, comprise the highest known biomass concentration of any amphipod population in the world and are a critically important prey source for western gray whales. Growth and reproduction in this pop...

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Main Authors: Valentina B. Durkina, John W. Chapman, Natalia L. Demchenko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2018-06-01
Series:PeerJ
Subjects:
Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/4841.pdf
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author Valentina B. Durkina
John W. Chapman
Natalia L. Demchenko
author_facet Valentina B. Durkina
John W. Chapman
Natalia L. Demchenko
author_sort Valentina B. Durkina
collection DOAJ
description Background Ampelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 of the Sakhalin Shelf of the Okhotsk Sea, Far Eastern Russia, comprise the highest known biomass concentration of any amphipod population in the world and are a critically important prey source for western gray whales. Growth and reproduction in this population has not been apparent in summer. However, they are not accessible for sampling in winter to test a previous default conclusion that they grow and reproduce in winter. Methods We tested the default winter growth and reproduction hypothesis by detailed comparisons of the brood and gonad development among 40 females and 14 males and brood sizes among females observed since 2002. Our test included six predictions of reproductive synchrony that would be apparent from gonad and brood morphology if active reproduction occurs in summer. Results We found high prevalences of undersized and damaged oocytes, undersized broods, a lack of females brooding fully formed juveniles, atrophied ovaries, and males with mature sperm but lacking fully developed secondary sex morphologies required for pelagic mating. All of these conditions are consistent with trophic stress and starvation. Discussion These A. eschrichtii populations therefore appear to starve in summer and to grow and reproduce in winter. The Offshore A. eschrichtii populations occur in summer below water strata bearing high phytoplankton biomasses. These populations are more likely to feed successfully in winter when storms mix phytoplankton to their depths.
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spelling doaj.art-5c92e83d48f543038f29169d7847b2072023-12-03T10:25:15ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592018-06-016e484110.7717/peerj.4841Ampelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 (Ampeliscidae) of the Sakhalin Shelf in the Okhotsk Sea starve in summer and feast in winterValentina B. Durkina0John W. Chapman1Natalia L. Demchenko2Laboratory of Physiology, National Scientific Center of Marine Biology FEB RAS, Vladivostok, RussiaDepartment of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, United States of AmericaLaboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, National Scientific Center of Marine Biology FEB RAS, Vladivostok, RussiaBackground Ampelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 of the Sakhalin Shelf of the Okhotsk Sea, Far Eastern Russia, comprise the highest known biomass concentration of any amphipod population in the world and are a critically important prey source for western gray whales. Growth and reproduction in this population has not been apparent in summer. However, they are not accessible for sampling in winter to test a previous default conclusion that they grow and reproduce in winter. Methods We tested the default winter growth and reproduction hypothesis by detailed comparisons of the brood and gonad development among 40 females and 14 males and brood sizes among females observed since 2002. Our test included six predictions of reproductive synchrony that would be apparent from gonad and brood morphology if active reproduction occurs in summer. Results We found high prevalences of undersized and damaged oocytes, undersized broods, a lack of females brooding fully formed juveniles, atrophied ovaries, and males with mature sperm but lacking fully developed secondary sex morphologies required for pelagic mating. All of these conditions are consistent with trophic stress and starvation. Discussion These A. eschrichtii populations therefore appear to starve in summer and to grow and reproduce in winter. The Offshore A. eschrichtii populations occur in summer below water strata bearing high phytoplankton biomasses. These populations are more likely to feed successfully in winter when storms mix phytoplankton to their depths.https://peerj.com/articles/4841.pdfGray whaleAmpeliscaTrophic dynamicsAdaptationSakhalin IslandReproduction
spellingShingle Valentina B. Durkina
John W. Chapman
Natalia L. Demchenko
Ampelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 (Ampeliscidae) of the Sakhalin Shelf in the Okhotsk Sea starve in summer and feast in winter
PeerJ
Gray whale
Ampelisca
Trophic dynamics
Adaptation
Sakhalin Island
Reproduction
title Ampelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 (Ampeliscidae) of the Sakhalin Shelf in the Okhotsk Sea starve in summer and feast in winter
title_full Ampelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 (Ampeliscidae) of the Sakhalin Shelf in the Okhotsk Sea starve in summer and feast in winter
title_fullStr Ampelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 (Ampeliscidae) of the Sakhalin Shelf in the Okhotsk Sea starve in summer and feast in winter
title_full_unstemmed Ampelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 (Ampeliscidae) of the Sakhalin Shelf in the Okhotsk Sea starve in summer and feast in winter
title_short Ampelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 (Ampeliscidae) of the Sakhalin Shelf in the Okhotsk Sea starve in summer and feast in winter
title_sort ampelisca eschrichtii kroyer 1842 ampeliscidae of the sakhalin shelf in the okhotsk sea starve in summer and feast in winter
topic Gray whale
Ampelisca
Trophic dynamics
Adaptation
Sakhalin Island
Reproduction
url https://peerj.com/articles/4841.pdf
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