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Ichthyoplankton 2008
May 12-21

cruise related materials

About NOAA Oscar Dyson

<em>Oscar Dyson</em> research vessel

Oscar Dyson is designed for a wide range of fisheries research, with capabilities for midwater and bottom trawling, hydroacoustic surveys, and oceanographic and hydrographic operations.

She can also handle specialized gear such as Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sampling System (MOCNESS) frames, floating and moored buoys, towed vehicles, dredges, and bottom corers. The ship features marine mammal and bird observation stations for tracking and identification.

Oscar Dyson can trawl in water up to 1,000 fathoms deep. In addition to her large trawling nets, smaller sampling nets and towed fishing gear can be deployed over the stern, over the side of the working deck, or from the starboard side-sampling station. Longlining and other types of fishing are also possible. Find out more about Oscar Dyson

What happens to very young fish in the Bering Sea?

fish eggIchthyoplankton -- the eggs and larvae of fish -- are found throughout the water column, from very shallow waters (<50m) to abyssal depths.

Studies of ichthyoplankton ecology help us determine how and when larvae are recruited to juvenile nursery grounds, which is important for understanding overall population connectivity in the Bering Sea.

Cruise objectives

drifter deploymentWe examined the interactions among climate, weather, and the recruitment of fishes in the eastern Bering Sea. We conducted ichthyoplankton and zooplankton surveys in the waters along the eastern Aleutian Island chain and the Alaska Peninsula.

This work was needed to describe larval fish assemblages and to determine how physical and biological factors affected the transport and survival of fish larvae. Above: Deploying a satellite-tracked drifter. (Ingrid Spies)

genetics setupFish species of particular interest during this cruise were arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias), Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) and walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma). We determined the horizontal and vertical distribution of these species as well as the abundance and distribution of their plankton prey. Near real time discrimination of Atheresthes spp. larvae was performed at sea using molecular techniques.

Above: The array for the at-sea DNA-based assay that was successfully used to genetically distinguish larval Kamchatka flounder from arrowtooth flounder. (Ingrid Spies)

thanks to the Oscar Dyson

The scientific party would like to acknowledge the hard work and support of the officers and crew of the FRV Oscar Dyson. This was our first cruise aboard the Dyson, and we were very pleased and impressed with the cooperation of the ship’s officers and crew. Their hard work on our behalf helped make this cruise a big success.