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MEPS 737:89-99 (2024)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14257

Reduction in overwinter body condition and size of Pacific sand lance has implications for piscivorous predators during marine heatwaves

Clifford L. K. Robinson1,*, Douglas F. Bertram2,3, Hayleigh Shannon4, Vanessa R. von Biela5, Wesley Greentree6, William Duguid6, Mayumi L. Arimitsu7

1Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9T 6N7, Canada
2Environment and Climate Change Canada, Institute of Ocean Sciences, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 4B2, Canada
3Center for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
4Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Institute of Ocean Sciences, Sidney, British Columbia V8L 4B2, Canada
5US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska 99508, USA
6Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
7US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Juneau, Alaska 99801, USA
*Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT: Acute anomalous ocean warming events, including marine heatwaves (MHWs), have significant effects on reproduction and survival of piscivorous seabirds. Additionally, MHWs have negative effects on seabird fish prey, exacerbating these consequences and resulting in population implications for seabirds. We evaluated the relative body condition of Pacific sand lance Ammodytes personatus, an important seabird forage species, in Haro Strait, a highly productive region of southern British Columbia, Canada. We compared body condition and length of fish cohorts that experienced the 2016 MHW year (MHW cohorts) with fish hatched during 3 subsequent post MHW years (2017-2019). Age-0 MHW cohorts had a seasonal decline in body condition in age-0 fish from 100% in the summer to 81% in the winter, while age-1 fish showed a decline from summer-fall highs of 93.5% to wintertime low of 79.5%. In comparison, post MHW cohorts had a winter body condition that was 2-4 times higher than their MHW cohorts. Similar to previous studies in Alaska during the MHW, age-1 fish failed to grow and reach the typical size that distinguishes them from age-0 fish. Poor sand lance condition and growth in winter may explain the ramifications of a warming ocean for top predators, including seabirds and Pacific salmon, which depend on these prey fish in Haro Strait. Our results support the idea that Haro Strait, which is influenced by estuarine circulation resulting in cooler temperatures than surrounding areas, serves as a climate refugium for sand lance populations in summer and provides buffering capacity to ocean climate warming events.


KEY WORDS: Ammodytes personatus · Ocean warming · Haro Strait · Marine birds · Forage fish · Otoliths


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Cite this article as: Robinson CLK, Bertram DF, Shannon H, von Biela VR, Greentree W, Duguid W, Arimitsu ML (2024) Reduction in overwinter body condition and size of Pacific sand lance has implications for piscivorous predators during marine heatwaves. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 737:89-99. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14257

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