~,..'T OF 

'If' ':;t

;;; ., (\

. e ; NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC- 111

, ()

$l'.qTES Of 

Annual, Seasonal, and Diel Composition

of Larval and Juvenile Fishes Collected

by Dip-net in Clam Bay, Puget Sound,

Washington, from 1985 to 1995

S. Busby, A. C. Matarese, and K. L. Mier

s. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Alaska Fisheries Science Center

February 2000
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS

The National Marine Fisheries Service s Alaska Fisheries Science Center

uses the NOAA Technical Memorandum series to issue informal scientific and

technical publications when complete formal review and editorial processing

are not appropriate or feasible. Documents within this series reflect sound

professional work and may be referenced in the formal scientific and technical

literature.

The NMFS-AFSC Technical Memorandum series of the Alaska Fisheries

Science Center continues the NMFS-F/NWC series established in 1970 by the

Northwest Fisheries Center. The new NMFS-NWFSC series will be used by

the Northwest Fisheries Science Center.

This document should be cited as follows:

Busby, M. S. , A. C. Matarese, and K. L. Meir. 2000. Annual, seasonal

and diel composition of larval and juvenile fishes collected by dip-net 

Clam Bay, Puget Sound, Washington , from 1985 to 1995. U.S. Dep.

Commer. , NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC- 111 , 36 p.

Reference in this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by

the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA.
Annual, Seasonal, and Diel Composition

of Larval and Juvenile Fishes Collected

by Dip-net in Clam Bay, Puget Sound

Washington, from 1985 to 1995

S. Busby, A. C. Matarese, and K. L. Mier

Alaska Fisheries Science Center

7600 Sand Point Way N. , BIN C- 15700

Seattle, WA 98115-0070

s. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

William M. Daley, Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

D. James Baker, Under Secretary and Administrator

National Marine Fisheries Service

Penelope D. Dalton, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

Febr~ary 2000
This document is available to the public through:

National Technical Information Service

S. Department of Commerce

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

www. ntis.gov
Notice to Users of this Document 

In the process of scanning the original printed document into Adobe Acrobat .PDF format, slight

differences in formatting can occur; page numbers in the .PDF may not match the original printed

document, and some characters or symbols may not translate. 

This document is being made available in .PDF format for the convenience of users; however, the

accuracy and correctness of the document can only be certified as was presented in the original hard

copy format.
ABSTRACT

Larval and juvenile fishes were collected in dip-nets on an irregular basis, typically from

late winter through early summer (1985-95), from a pier in Clam Bay, Puget Sound, Washington.

The sampling site is located at an interface of rocky intertidal, mud flat, and deeper (20- 100 m)

subtidal marine habitats. Sampling was conducted during daylight or at night with the aid of

floodlights. A total of 2 505 larval and juvenile fishes, consisting of at least 65 species

representing 24 families, was collected. The family Cottidae was represented by the greatest

number of taxa (14) followed by Stichaeidae (8) and Pleuronectidae (8). Overall, annual

seasonal, monthly, and die I species compositions of the ichthyoplankton assemblage were

determined using presence/absence data by compiling lists of unique species, frequently

occurring taxa, and recurrent group analysis. The number of taxa included in an assemblage

differed among the analyses but similarities in species composition were found. The number of

taxa present and composition of the ichthyoplankton assemblage changed seasonally, annually,

and over diel periods. Taxonomic diversity was greatest during spring months and distinct

daytime and nighttime assemblages were identified. The greatest number of taxa was collected

in 1988 and 1995 and the least in 1991.

111

CONTENTS

ABSTRACT.......................................

..........................

iii

INTRODUCTION.............................................................

METHODS.................................................................. StudySite.............................................................

DataCollection..........................................................

AnalyticaIMethods......................................................

RESULTS...................................................................

CombinedIchthyoplanktonAssemblage......................................

SeasonaIIchthyoplanktonAssemblages......................................

InterannuaIComparisons..................................................

DieIComparisons.......................................................

SpawningTimesandGrowthTrends.. 

....... .... 

OtherBiologicaIObservations.............................................

Sea Surface Temperature .................................................

DISCUSSION............

................ ;...................................

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......................................................

CITATIONS................................................................

TABLES

Table 1. Summary of early life history (ELH) studies and ichthyoplankton surveys

conducted in Puget Sound, Washington, 1966- 1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Table 2. Distribution of sampling dates at Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay,

Washington, 1985-95 by month and year. Shaded and outlined areas indicate data sets

used in analyses: A. Winter, Spring, and combined (Winter and Spring); B. Day;

C. Night. Numbers in cells are the numbers of sampling dates in each year/month combination.................................................................

Table 3. List of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected by dip-net at Manchester Field

Station Pier, Clam Bay, W A 1985-95 and primary times of occurrence. W- Winter

Spring;D-day, N-night.......................................................
Table 4. Lists of frequently occurring larval and juvenile fish taxa from winter and

spring dip-net samples collected at Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay,

Washington, 1987-95. Numbers in cells are numbers of sampling dates on which

the taxon was collected. A. Winter, based on four or more occurrences; B. Spring,

based on ten or more occurrences. - indicates samples not used in study. . . . 

. . . . . . . . . . . .. 

Table 5. Lists of frequently occurring larval and juvenile fish taxa from day and night

dip-net samples collected at Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington

1992-95. Numbers in cells are numbers of sampling dates on which the taxon was

collected. A. Day, based on three or more occurrences; B. Night, based on three or

more occurrences........................................ .....................

Table 6. List of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected in other studies that were absent

in dip-net collections at Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington

1985-95. A. Bollenseta1.(1992); B. RoniandWeitkamp(1996) ....................

FIGURES

Figure 1. Northwest region of Washington State, U. , showing Puget Sound and

adjacent inland marine waters. Square in center encloses the Clam Bay Area

(47O 34' 15" 122O32' 30" W).................................................

Figure 2. Clam Bay, Washington, showing location of the Manchester Field Station

Pier and marine habitat types.............................. ......................

Figure 3. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected

by dip-net at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: winter and

springI993-95...............................................................

Figure 4. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected

by dip-net at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: winter

1991-95....................................................................

Figure 5. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected

by dip-net at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: spring

1987- , 1993-95.............................................................

Figure 6. Number of taxa collected monthly by dip-net at the Manchester Field

Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington for the entire study period 1985-95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Figure 7. Number of taxa collected yearly from1987-95 by dip-net at the Manchester

Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington. Darkly shaded area indicates number 

taxa collected on 10 percent or more of the sampling dates in that year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Figure 8. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected

by dip-net at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, W A: A. winter 1991;

B. winter 1992; C. winter 1993; D. winter 1994; E. winter 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 

Figure 9. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected

by dip-net at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: A. spring

1987; B. spring 1988; C. spring 1989; D. spring 1990; E. spring 1993; F. spring 1994; springI995...............................................................

Figure 10. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected

by dip-net at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: daytime

1992-95....................................................................

Figure 11. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval and juvenile fish taxa

collected by dip-net at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington:

.nighttimeI992-95....................................................

........

Figure 12. Monthly pooled length ranges for the 13 most frequently collected taxa

collected by dip-net at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington:

All sampling dates 1985-95. A; Clinocottus acuticeps B; Leptocottus armatus

C; Apodichthys flavidus D; Liparis spp. E; Anopl~rchus spp. F; Ammodytes

hexapterus G; Hexagrammos stelleri H; Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

I; Microgadus proximus J; Sebastes spp. K; Parophrys vetulus L; Platichthys

stellatus M;Psettichthysmelanostictus...........................

................

Figure 13. Annual least square mean sea surface temperatures measured at the

Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: January through-June

1987-95....................................................................

Figure 14. Monthly least square mean sea surface temperatures measured at the

Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: January through-June

1987-95....................................................................

V11

INTR 0 D U CTI 0 N

Puget Sound is a large, temperate fjord located in northwestern Washington State (Fig.

1). Clam Bay is located on the western shore of central Puget Sound in Kitsap County, 

Washington (470 34' 15" N, 122 032' 30" W), 5. 5 km east of the city of Bremerton. Over 225

fish species from 68 families of fishes are known to occur in Puget Sound (Palsson 1993).

Despite the ecological and economic importance of the Puget Sound ecosystem, few published

reports on the distribution, ecology, species composition, or taxonomy of larval fishes exist for

the area. Most of the limited information available resides in environmental impact and contract

reports, masters theses, and doctoral dissertations (Table 1). Of these studies, only Waldron

(1972) is based on an ichthyoplankton survey that occupied stations located throughout Puget

Sound. At the station closest to Clam Bay, Merluccius productus and larval fishes in the

families Pleuronectidae, Gadidae, Scorpaenidae, Cottidae, and Liparidae were collected. Other

studies including those of Kendall (1966), Blackburn (1973), Bollens et a1. (1992), and Roni and

Weitkamp (1996) incorporated collections ofichthyoplankton or juvenile and adult fishes at

specific monitoring sites within Puget Sound. Several studies have targeted specific fishes of

economic value such as Clupea pallasi and Gadus macrocephalus (Trumble et al. 1977, Karp

and Miller 1977, Miller et a1. 1977). In some studies, not all larval fishes collected were

routinely identified (Dan Penttila, WDFW pers. commun. Oct. 1995).

Our sampling in Clam Bay was originally intended to collect undescribed early life

history stages of Puget Sound fishes. After several years of sampling, we realized that we had a

valuable record of the species composition, annual, seasonal, and diel structure of the Clam Bay

ichthyoplankton community. In this study, we describe the species composition of the Clam Bay

ichthyoplankton assemblage during an 11- year period and report on annual, seasonal, and die!

changes in its components. Trends in sea surface temperature are examined and evaluated.

METHODS

Study Site

Clam Bay occupies a relatively small, tidally influenced basin of approximately 750 m

(Fig. 2). Water depths range from 0.3 to13.0 m at mean high water. Several different types of

substrate are present within or immediately adjacent to Clam Bay that provide diverse habitats for

marine life. The area near the mouth of Beaver Creek, extending north to the pier and east to

several floating fish pens, is a mudflat that is often exposed at low tides in shallow areas near the

beach (Fig. 2). North of the pier, the substrate composition grades rapidly from gravel to cobble

and boulders off the rocky headland, Middle Point, where tidepool habitat is also present.

Additional rocky intertidal and subtidal habitat is present along the beach adjacent to the floating

fish pens continuing farther east to Orchard Point. Immediately offshore from Middle Point and

Clam Bay, water depths increase rapidly to 30 m in the adjacent deep channel, Rich Passage.

Much of the shoreline surrounding Clam Bay is forested consisting mostly of Pseudotsuga

menziesii (Douglas fir), Thuja plicata (western red cedar), and Tsuga heterophylla (western

hemlock).
The pier, which served as our sampling platform, is approximately 180 m long and depth

at the end is about 15 m at extreme high water. Located near Beaver Creek, the pier and attached

floating fish pens are used for research by the Northwest Fisheries Science Center s (NWFSC),

Manchester Field Station. Commercially operated floating net pen facilities used for salmon

culture are also present in the bay. Most of the land and shoreline north of the pier is within the

boundaries of Manchester State Park. Rich Passage is a major shipping and transportation lane

serving the Port of Bremerton. A large refueling pier, operated by the U.S. Navy, is located

immediately south of Clam Bay near the town of Manchester.

Data Collection

Sampling was conducted using dip-nets during the months of January-July, 1985-95 (Table

2). Sampling was accomplished on an opportunistic basis. During 1995, sampling was conducted

on at least one day and night for each month from January through June. Sampling effort was not

standardized (e. , duration of sampling, number of collectors, number of collections per month or

year) but an attempt was made to collect representatives of all species present on each sampling

date. Most sampling was conducted on incoming tides.

Fish larvae were collected with dip-nets constructed from a 25. 5 by 17.0 em rectangularshaped, plastic coated wire frame with a 10 em deep bag of 333 /l mesh suspended from it. The

frame was connected toa handle of 1.5 m length made of 2.5 em outside diameter PVC pipe.

Most juvenile fish were collected with a dip-net consisting of a 21.0 by 15.0 em rectangularshaped, plastic-coated wire frame with a 18.0 em deep bag of 1.0 mm mesh connected to a 90 em

handle. Occasionally, juvenile fish were captured with the dip nets constructed for fish larvae.

On night collections from 1989 to 1993, a 100 W spotlight was attached to the pier to illuminate

the surface waters adjacent to the floating dock below. In 1994 and 1995, a 500 W halogen

outdoor lamp was attached to the pier and a 250 W model was attached to the floating dock. The

sampling platform was a floating dock with several attached net pens that were elevated

approximately 50 em above the surface of the water.

Larval and juvenile fishes were first spotted and then actively pursued and captured with

the dip-nets. Upon capture, larval and juvenile fish were placed in a jar containing 1.0 g/l solution

ofMS-222 in seawater until anesthetized and then transferred to a 3.5% buffered formalin

solution for preservation. All fish collected were then taken to the Alaska Fisheries Science

Center (AFSC) ichthyoplankton laboratory for identification, enumeration, and measurement

(standard length: mm SL). Taxonomic information from Matarese et a1. (1989), Busby (1998),

and Orr and Matarese, AFSC (in press) were used to make identifications.

Analytical Methods

Data Sources

Only presence-absence data were used in this study. A list of taxa collected during all

sampling dates was compiled. To study annual, seasonal, and diel differences in species

composition, this data set was divided into four subsets: combined (winter and spring) for the

years 1993- , winter (January-March) for the years 1991- , spring (April-June) for the years
1987-90 and 1993- , and diel for the years 1992-95 (Table 2). Dividing the data in this manner

gave us the most complete and comparable data sets for analysis.

Sea surface temperature data was collected on most sampling dates in 1989 and all

sampling dates from 1990 to 1995. Data for other dates were collected and provided by NWFSC

staff of the Manchester Field Station. Tide direction, heights, and geographic correction factors

were found in the annual tide tables for Puget Sound (NOAA, 1985-95).

Data Analysis

Not all analytical methods were performed on each data set but methods were selected for

their appropriateness in each case. Descriptions of each analysis used are presented below:

Lists of unique taxa - - The overall list of taxa was sorted to identify taxa that occurred only in

winter, spring, daytime, or nighttime collections. These lists of "unique taxa" were used to

determine the absolute components in these respective assemblages.

Lists of frequently occurring taxa - - The most frequently occurring taxa were compiled in lists

for winter, spring, daytime, and nighttime collections. These taxa represent the common or

consistent members of the Clam Bay ichthyoplankton assemblage.

Monthly and yearly species richness - - The number of species collected during each month

(species richness) was determined from the overall data set (all years combined) to examine

seasonal differences. This was also done for each individual year to examine interannual

differences.

Recurrent group analysis - - Recurrent group analysis (Fager 1957, Moser et al. 1987) was used to

group species using affinity indices based on presence/absence data. The affinity index used was

as follows:

ab 2jN;,

whereN is the number of joint occurrences is the number of occurrences of taxon a, the less

common taxon, and is the number of occurrences of taxon b, the more common taxon. The

second term in the equation is simply a correction factor which adjusts for sample size. This

analysis groups data according to a specified minimum affinity level. The computer program

REGROUP was used to perform the analyses (Moser et a1. 1987). An analysis was done for the

combined data set as well as for each individual year and the winter, spring, day, and night data

sets using an affinity level ofOA. Other taxa were considered "affiliate" if they met or exceeded

the affinity level with one or more but not all members of the recurrent group.

Spawning periods and growth trends - - Length range (minimum and maximum) of each taxon

collected was measured on each sampling date. The length range data for the 13 most frequently
occurring taxa over the entire study period were pooled and plotted by month to estimate

approximate spawning periods and observe generalized growth trends.

Sea surface temperature - - Winter and spring (January-June) sea surface temperatures measured

at the pier over the entire study were pooled. Analysis of variance (ANOY A) was used to test for

differences between months and years.

RESUL TS

A total of 2 505 larval and juvenile fishes consisting of at least 65 species representing 24

families, including one unidentified, was collected (Table 3). The actual number of species was

probably greater because taxonomic knowledge of larval stages of the family Osmeridae and the

genera Sebastes, Liparis and Pholis is incomplete, and these taxa were probably represented by

more than one species. The family Cottidae was represented by the greatest number of taxa (14),

followed by the families Stichaeidae and Pleuronectidae (8 each).

Combined Ichthyoplankton Assemblage

Recurrent Groups

Analysis of the combined winter and spring 1993-95 data identified eight recurrent groups

(Table 2 and Fig. 3). One or more taxa within four of the groups had affinity with one or more

taxa outside the group. The largest group (10 taxa) is dominated by fishes in the family Cottidae

(Leptocottus armatus, Clinocottus acuticeps, Oligocottus maculosus, Artedius harringtoni and

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus). Two additional scorpaeniform taxa; Sebastes spp. (family

Scorpaenidae) and Podothecus acipenserinus (family Agonidae) are also members of this

recurrent group. The remainder of the group is comprised of one taxon each in the families

Bathymasteridae (Ronquilis jordani), Stichaeidae (Anoplarchus spp.), and Pleuronectidae

(Psettichthys melanostictus). The next two largest recurrent groups are comprised of four taxa

each. Two gadids (Gadus macrocephalus and Theragra chalcogramma) and two pleuronectids

(Lepidopsetta cr. bilineata and Lyopsetta exilis) comprise the first group and the second is

comprised entirely ofpleuronectids (Isopsetta isolepis, Platichthys stellatus, Parophrys vetulus

and Lepidopsetta bilineata). The remaining groups are comprised of two or three taxa and are

represented by one taxon each in the families Osmeridae, Gadidae, Hexagrammidae, Cottidae

Hemitripteridae, Liparidae, Stichaeidae, Pholidae, Anarhichadidae, Ptilichthyidae, and

Ammodytidae.

Seasonal Ichthyoplankton Assemblages

Some seasonal components of the ichthyoplankton community were identified in the

recurrent group analysis of the combined winter and spring data (Fig. 3). The group comprised

of Chirolophis decoratus and Anarrhichthys ocellatus represents a winter assemblage. Two

groups comprised the late winter - early spring transitional assemblage (Ammodytes hexapterus
and Liparis spp. Apodichthysflavidus, Hexagrammos stelleri and decagrammus). The taxa in

the remaining three groups were uniquely spring members of the assemblage, with the exception

of Leptocottus armatus, Scorpaenichthys marmoratus and Artedius fenestral is which occurred in

both winter and spring but were only affiliates with spring taxa in this analysis.

Unique Taxa

Only three taxa (Anarrhichthys ocellatus, Chirolophis decoratus and Chirolophis spp.

were unique to winter samples while 31 taxa were unique to spring, the majority of which

belonged to the families Cottidae and Pleuronectidae (Table 3). There were 31 other taxa that

occurred in both winter and spring samples.

Frequently Occurring Taxa

Examination of the 1991-95 winter data revealed a group of eight frequently occurring

taxa (~4 occurrences) with Hexagrammos stelleri having occurred on the greatest number of

sampling dates and being the only taxon present in all sampling years (Tables 2 and 4A).

Apodichthys flavidus, Ammodytes hexapterus, Liparis spp. , and Ophiodon elongatus were absent

in one year and Hexagrammos decagrammus and Psychrolutes sigalutes were absent in three

years. Of the taxa considered to have occurred frequently in winter collections Apodichthys

flavidus, Ammodytes hexapterus, Chirolophis nugator and Liparis spp. also occurred frequently

in early spring and are all part of the late winter-early spring transitional assemblage.

Twenty taxa were considered to have occurred frequently (~ 10 occurrences) upon

examination of the 1987- 1993-95 spring data with Liparis spp. being present on the greatest

number of sampling dates (Tables 2 and 4B). Liparis spp. Psettichthys melanostictus

Clinocottus acuticeps and Platichthys stellatus were the only taxa present in all years of

sampling. Nine taxa were absent in one year and seven were absent in more than one year.

Recurrent Groups

Recurrent group analysis of the winter data identified four groups (Fig. 4). There were

two or more taxa within two of the groups that had affinities with one or more affiliate taxa

outside the recurrent group. Although each taxon had several occurrences in the spring, the group

comprised of Liparis spp. Ammodytes hexapterus and Chirolophis nugator represented a winter

assemblage because none of these taxa appeared in any spring recurrent groups (Fig. 5).

Apodichthys flavidus was also absent from spring recurrent groups. The affiliate taxon

Anarrhichthys ocellatus occurred exclusively in the winter. All but one occurrence of

Psychrolutes sigalutes was during winter. Although Hexagrammos stelleri occurred mostly in the

winter, it and the remaining taxa were components of a late winter-early spring transitional

assemblage or belonged to both the winter and spring ichthyoplankton communities.

There were eight recurrent groups identified in the analysis of the spring data (Fig. 5).

One or more taxa within four of the recurrent groups had affinity with at least one or more taxa

outside of the group. Unique spring components of the assemblage were identified in four of the

recurrent groups. The other four contain taxa that were also determined to be members of

recurrent groups in the winter analysis (Leptocottus armatus, Hexagrammos decagrammus, H

stelleri, Ophiodon elongatus, and S. marmoratus). The group containing Osmeridae Ronquilis
jordani, Ptilichthys goodei, Artedius fenestralis and Microgadus proximus represented a late

spring assemblage by having nearly all occurrences in late Mayor June.

Monthly Species Richness

This analysis showed seasonal trends in species richness during the months sampling was

conducted over all years in the study combined. The greatest number of taxa were collected in

May and the least in August (Fig. 6).

Interannual Comparisons

Annual Species Richness

The greatest number of species was collected in 1988 and 1995 and the fewest in 1991

(Fig. 7). A period of reduced species richness occurred from 1990 to 1994. Several taxa were

absent or became notably less common in samples collected after 1988-90 including Theragra

chalcogramma, Hexagrammos decagrammus, Nautichthys oculofasciatus, Artedius lateralis and

Clinocottus embryum. The year with the fewest number of species to occur on 10% or more of

the sampling dates was 1991 and the greatest was 1988 (Fig. 7). The greatest number of cottid

species occurred in 1987 and the greatest numbers ofpleuronectids in 1987, 1988, and 1995. The

species of pleuronectids present, however, were not identical in each year.

Recurrent Groups

Recurrent group analysis of winter data from each individual year 1991-95 revealed from

one to three groups comprised of two to six taxa (Figs. 8A-E). The fewest recurrent groups and

taxa within groups were present in 1991 and the most in 1992. Hexagrammos stelleri was present

in a group every year. Ammodytes hexapterus was a member of a group in all years with the

exception of 1991 and Apodichthysflavidus was in all groups except 1993. Taxa that occurred in

winter recurrent groups in three of the five years include Chirolophis nugator (1992-94) and

Ophiodon elongatus (1991 , 1992 , and 1995). Apodichthys flavidus and stelleri were members

of the same group in three years (1991 , 1992 , and 1995). Xiphister spp. was present in a winter

group in 1992 and 1994. Oncorhynchus gorbuscha was a member of a winter recurrent group in

1994 and was an affiliate taxon in 1995. Since O. gorbuscha is not present in any spring recurrent

groups, it is clearly a member of the winter ichthyoplankton assemblage, as is Xiphister spp.

There were 1- 10 groups comprised of 2- 15 taxa identified in each recurrent group analysis

of spring data from individual years 1987-90 and 1993-95 (Figs. 9A-G). The fewest recurrent

groups were present in 1993 and the most in 1988. Ammodytes hexapterus was present in a

recurrent group in all years with the exceptions of 1987 and 1995. In 1988 and 1989 Ammodytes

hexapterus and Apodichthys flavidus were in the same groups. Sebastes spp. was a component of

a recurrent group in all years with the exception of 1993 and 1994. Pleuronectids (e. Lyopsetta

exilis, Hippoglossoides elassodon, Parophrys vetulus, Lepidopsetta bilineata, Isopsetta isolepis

Platichthys stellatus and Psettichthys melanostictus) were present in recurrent groups in four out

of seven years (1987-89 and 1995). In several cases, three or more pleuronectids occurred in the

same recurrent group (Figs. 9A, B, G).

Three members of the family Gadidae (Gadus macrocephalus, Microgadus proximus and

Theragra chalcogramma) were found in recurrent groups from 1987 to1989 and 1995. Gadus
macrocephalus was a member of a recurrent group and an affiliate of two other taxa in another

group in 1988. Microgadus proximus and T. chalcogramma were in the same recurrent group in

1987 and 1988 and in different groups in 1989. Microgadus proximus was the only gadid present

in recurrent groups in 1995.

Diel Comparisons

Unique taxa

Of the 65 taxa identified in this study, only three (Psychrolutes sigalutes, Anarrhichthys

ocellatus and Xiphister spp.) were unique to night samples while 35 were collected only during

daylight (Table 3).

Frequently Occurring Taxa

Examination of data from day collections revealed a group of 13 frequently occurring taxa

(~3 occurrences) with Hexagrammos stelleri having occurred on the greatest number of sampling

dates (Tables 2 and 5A). Psettichthys melanostictus, Liparis spp. Clinocottus acuticeps and

Platichthys stellatus occurred in all sampling years. Hexagrammos stelleri and Ammodytes

hexapterus were absent in one year and Microgadus proximus, Sebastes spp. Parophrys vetulus

Pholis spp. Leptocottus armatus, Anoplarchus spp. , and Apodichthys flavidus were absent in

more than one year. Hexagrammos stelleri, Liparis spp. , Ammodytes hexapterus and

Apodichthys flavidus also occurred frequently at night.

group of seven frequently occurring taxa (~3 occurrences) was identified upon

examination of data from night collections (Tables 2 and 5B). Ammodytes hexapterus 0ccurred on

the greatest number of sampling dates. Ammodytes hexapterus, Liparis spp. Chirolophis

nugator and stelleri were present in all years. The remaining three taxa were absent in one or

more years. Although A. hexapterus was also collected during the daytime, it was collected more

frequently at night (binomial test of proportions P=0.017).

Recurrent Groups

Recurrent group analysis of daytime data revealed six groups (Fig. 10). One of these

groups is comprised of the same ten taxa as the largest group in the combined winter-spring

assemblage from 1993 to 1995 (Fig. 3). Half of the members of this assemblage were members of

the family Cottidae. The affiliate taxa were also identical with the exception of stelleri in the

daytime assemblage. There were five additional groups ranging in size from two to five taxa.

One group of four taxa (Gadus macrocephalus, Theragra chalcogramma, Lepidopsetta cr.

bilineata and Lyopsetta exilis) and one of three taxa (Osmeridae Microgadus proximus and

Ptilichthys goodei) were also present in the combined winter and spring assemblage. The group

containing four pleuronectids (Isopsetta isolepis, Lepidopsetta bilineata, Parophrys vetulus and

Platichthys stellatus) was nearly identical to another group in the combined winter and spring

analysis with the exception of Liparis spp.

In contrast, the nighttime recurrent groups showed little resemblance to any of those from

the combined winter and spring 1993-95 analysis (Fig. 11). One species Leptocottus armatus

was included in the assemblages of both analyses. Psychrolutes sigalutes was the only member of

the nighttime recurrent group that was also collected exclusively at night. Anarrhichthys
ocellatus was also only collected at night but is not present in any of these recurrent groups. The

group containing Anarrhichthys ocellatus and Chirolophis decoratus that was found in the

combined winter and spring recurrent group analysis (Fig. 3) is the only definite night component

of the assemblage.

Spawning Times and Growth Trends

Although analysis of spawning times and growth trends were not objectives of this study,

the length range (minimum and maximum) of each taxon was measured on each collection date.

The length range data for the 13 most frequently occurring taxa over the entire study period were

pooled and plotted to estimate approximate spawning periods and observe generalized growth

trends (Fig. 12). Clinocottus acuticeps, Leptocottus armatus, Apodichthys flavidus and Liparis

spp. were winter spawners whose larvae increased in size progressively throughout the spring.

Liparis spp., however, appeared to continue spawning into the spring as the minimum size

declined and maximum size increased from March to April. Anoplarchus spp. and Ammodytes

hexapterus spawned in the late winter and early spring. Hexagrammos stelleri and

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus spawned throughout the winter and spring. Microgadus proximus

Sebastes spp. Parophrys vetulus, Platichthys stellatus and Psettichthys melanostictus spawned in

the spring and their larvae steadily increased in size.

Other Biological Observations

During the 11- year period, numerous other aquatic organisms were observed or collected

from the pier. An advanced stage encrusting community of organisms is present on the pier

pilings. The intertidal zone is characterized by an abundance of Balanus spp. (barnacles), Mytilus

edulis (blue mussels), Polychaeta (family Sabellidae , featherduster worms), and Pugettia gracilis

(graceful kelp crabs). The subtidal zone is dominated by large Metridium senile (plumose

anemones). Some larger crabs, mostly Pugettia producta (northern kelp crabs) and Oregonia

gracilis (graceful decorator crabs), are also present. Schools of Loligo opalescens (opalescent

inshore squid) and Gonatus fabricii (boreoatlantic armhook squid) were sometimes observed in

late winter. Adult fish observed or collected by hook and line include Osmeridae Clupea pallasi

Oncorhynchus spp. Aulorhynchus flavidus, Gasterosteus aculeatus Embiotocidae Sebastes spp.

Ophiodon elongatus, Scorpaenichthys marmoratus, Liparis spp. Pholis laeta, P. ornata and

Platichthys stellatus. Aquatic mammals including Phoca vitulina (harbor seal), Zalophus

californianus (California sea lion), and Lutra canadensis (river otter) were observed in Clam Bay

during our study.

Sea Surface Temperature

Sea surface temperature measured at the pier ranged from 7.00 to 13. 5 oC over the entire

study. Analysis of pooled winter and spring (January-June) sea surface temperature data revealed

that temperatures were significantly higher in 1992 than in all other years from 1987 to 1995
(ANOY A P$;O.OOI) (Fig. 13). Significantly higher temperatures were recorded in the individual

months of February (ANOY A P$;O.OOI) and March (ANOY A P$;O.OOI) 1992 (Fig. 14).

DISCUSSION

Although this study was not quantitative in nature, it provides a detailed description of the

taxonomic composition of the ichthyoplankton community in Clam Bay during the winter and

spring months. Because our sampling site on a pier was located in close proximity to several

varieties of marine habitats, the larval fishes collected there closely represent the diversity of

ichthyoplankton fauna of the Puget Sound ecosystem. More taxa of larval and juvenile fishes

were collected in this study than in any other previously conducted in Puget Sound (Kendall 1966

Waldron 1972, Blackburn 1973 , Bollens et a1. 1992, Roni and Wheitkamp 1996). We collected at

least 65 taxa in Clam Bay, while the second largest number of taxa reported was 49 collected in

Dabob Bay (Bollens et at 1992).

Clam Bay has an ichthyoplankton community with distinct assemblages for winter, spring

and day and night. In general terms, the Clam Bay ichthyoplankton fauna is dominated by a

diverse assemblage of cottids and their relatives (Rhamphocottidae, Psychrolutidae, and

Hemitripteridae) that displays changing taxonomic composition on annual, seasonal, and ctiel time

scales. Larval fishes in the families Gadidae, Scorpaenidae, Liparidae, Ammodytidae

Stichaeidae, and Pleuronectidae are other common members of the Clam Bay ichthyoplankton

community. Taxa such as Hexagrammos decagrammus, H stelleri, Ophiodon elongatus,

Leptocottus armatus, Scorpaenichthys marmoratus, Liparis spp., Apodichthys flavidus and

Ammodytes hexapterus are nearly always present throughout the winter, spring and day, night.

Some notable trends in the occurrence of particular species were found after compiling

lists of unique taxa. Anarrhichthys ocellatus was collected only at night in the winter. Late larval

and early juvenile Psychrolutes sigalutes also occurred only at night, mostly in the winter (only

one early spring occurrence). Sebastes spp. Podothecus acipenserinus and six species of

pleuronectids were collected only in spring during the day. It is also interesting to note that

cottids, gadids, and pleuronectids usually shared recurrent groups with taxa of their own families.

Recurrent group analysis provided the best opportunity to examine annual variations in

species composition of the ichthyoplankton community using presence-absence data and could be

applied to all temporal scales considered in this study. It is also the most ecologically meaningful

since it evaluates the co-occurrence of species and thus can potentially indicate biological and

ecological interactions. The daytime assemblage was well defined by recurrent group analysis as

three groups matched the combined winter and spring assemblage exactly and another group with

four species of pleuronectids matched with all but one taxon (Figs. 3 and 10). This, however, is

not entirely unexpected because daytime is a large component within the combined winter and

spring data.

The taxa of larval fish collected in this study are representative of the adult ichthyofauna

inhabiting the diverse marine habitats of Clam Bay surrounding the pier. Species such as 

hexapterus nearshore pleuronectids (e. Isopsetta isolepis, Parophrys vetulus and Platichthys

stellatus), and Trichodon trichodon inhabit the tidal mudflat and areas with sand/mud substrate
located immediately south of the pier. Many species of cottids and their relatives

(Rhamphocottidae and Hemitripteridae), scorpaenids, and some stichaeids are characteristic of the

intertidal and subtidal zones of rocky headlands such as Middle Point immediately north of the

pier. Adults of several taxa including hexagrammids (Ophiodon elongatus and Hexagrammos

spp. ), a cottid (8. marmoratus), liparids (Liparis spp. ), and pholids (A. flavidus, Pholis laeta and

P. ornata) were observed or collected near the pier, its support pilings, or attached vegetation

during the study.

All of the taxa collected in 1967 by Waldron (1972) at Station 2, his closest station to our

study site, were collected during our study in Clam Bay with the exception of Merluccius

productus. It should be noted that 14 species representing 11 families reported in the study of

Bollens et a1. (1992) in Dabob Bay were not present in collections from Clam Bay (Table 6A).

The sampling procedures and gear used (1 m2 Tucker Trawl with 500J.1m mesh net) by Bollens et

al. (1992) facilitated collection of larvae of deep-water fishes including Stenobrachius

leucopsaurus (Myctophidae), productus (Merlucciidae), Brosmophysis marginata

(Bythitidae), and Nectoliparis pelagicus (Liparidae). Other taxa collected by Bollens et a1.

(1992), that were not present in Clam Bay, may have been present because of temporal differences

in sampling between our studies. These include Engraulis mordax (Engraulidae); primarily

collected in early summer and Mallotus villosus (Osmeridae); collected in fall. It is not clear why

planktonic larvae of some nearshore fishes of the families Stichaeidae, Gobiidae, Bothidae, and

Pleuronectidae were collected in Dabob Bay but not in Clam Bay.

Roni and Weitkamp (1996) reported the presence of 14 taxa representing 8 families of

juvenile and adult fishes in collections at the nearby U.S. Navy fuel pier that were not collected in

our study (Table 6B). Since the focus of their study was juvenile Oncorhynchus spp., most of

these taxa are members of the family Salmonidae. Adults of other taxa reported by Roni and

Weitkamp (1996) including Aulorhynchus flavidus, Syngnathus griseolineatus and embiotocids

were observed regularly near the pier in Clam Bay but larvae or juveniles were not collected. One

similarity between the two studies is that both collected Microgadus proximus frequently.

It is unclear how much exogenous ichthyoplankton is transported into Clam Bay by

currents from the deeper waters of Rich Passage. The presence of very few deep-water taxa in our

collections suggests that very little influx of ichthyoplankton occurs despite the presence of

sometimes vigorous tidal circulation (Collias and Benttinnen 1967). Larvae and juveniles of

some deep-water taxa are known to undergo vertical migrations toward the surface in darkness

(Nielson and Perry 1990) and may have been collected at night if a significant amount of water

from Rich Passage was moving into Clam Bay. In general, water in Clam Bay and Rich Passage

flows in the same direction (to the northeast or southeast), but during tidal changes, a back eddy

causes a reversal of flow in the bay (Collias and Benttinnen 1967). Some deeper water species

that were probably transported into Clam Bay from Rich Passage include gadids (Gadus

macrocephalus and Theragra chalcogramma), psychrolutids (Dasycottus seliger and

Malacocottus kincadii), and a pleuronectid (Hippoglossoides elassodon). Even though larvae of a

few deep-water species were collected, they occurred rarely or infrequently in our samples. This

indicates low-level or infrequent plankton transport from Rich Passage into Clam Bay and

suggests that most of the ichthyoplankton was present as a result of adults spawning within the

bay.
There was a reduction in the overall number of taxa present in Clam Bay from 1990 to

1994 (Fig. 7). This may be partially a result of above-normal ocean temperatures that occurred in

the north Pacific during the moderate EI Nino of 1991-93 (Bailey et a1. 1995, Lynn et al. 1995

Murphree and Reynolds 1995). However, it must also be noted that sampling effort was lower in

these years and may have resulted in the observed reduction in species richness. In addition to a

notable decline in the diversity of cottids and related taxa, larvae of a former recreationally

important gadid in Puget Sound (T chalcogramma) were notably absent throughout most of this

period. It is also worth noting that the adult populations of all economically important gadoid

fishes in Puget Sound (G. macrocephlalus, T chalcogramma and M productus) have declined

dramatically in abundance over the last decade (Palsson et al. 1997). The diversity of

pleuronectid larvae was also reduced during these years. In addition to variations in ocean

temperature, the taxonomic composition and diversity of the ichthyoplankton assemblage in Clam

Bay is probably influenced by changes in salinity caused by freshwater input from Beaver Creek.

During our study, salinity, dissolved oxygen concentration, and water clarity (Secchi depth)

measurements were periodically recorded but not frequently enough to establish statistical

correlations with observed changes in the taxonomic composition of the ichthyoplankton

community. Salinity ranged from 24.0 to 37.7 ppt, dissolved oxygen from 6.3 to 9.9 ppm, and

water clarity ranged from 3.2 to 8. 7 m (NWFSC, Conservation Biology Division, unpubl. data).

Since the length data collected for each taxon were ranges, we could not calculate means

medians, standard errors, or use statistical inference to determine anything about growth rates.

However, it is apparent that some taxa did increase in size throughout the spring and others had

young larvae present from January through June (Fig. 12). These data are interesting because

they do show seasonal trends, but they should be used with caution since each range is based on

different numbers of larvae that were not collected randomly or with equal sampling effort, and in

some cases, they may be based on only one or two fish. Also, since data from all years were

pooled, any year effect is lost.

The aquatic ecosystem of Puget Sound, and its biological resources, including the

ichthyoplankton community, are suffering damaging effects resulting from human activities (West

1997, PSWQAT 1998). Water pollution and habitat modification are the primary anthropogenic

factors negatively influencing health and survival of larval and juvenile fishes (West 1997

PSWQA T 1998). Fishing, EI Ninos, and increases in marine mammal populations are among the

many factors potentially contributing to the decline of numerous Puget Sound fish populations

(West 1997). Despite some of these major problems facing the Puget Sound ecosystem, there is

very little environmental research or long-term monitoring being conducted, especially

ichthyoplankton sampling. The Washington Department ofFish and Wildlife (WDFW)

conducted bottom trawl surveys in 1987 1989 1991 , and 1995 to estimate the abundance of adult

groundfishes (Palsson et al. 1997). Since very little baseline data exist on the taxonomic

composition and abundance of the ichthyoplankton fauna of Puget Sound, a full scale

oceanographic and biological monitoring program that includes ichthyoplankton surveys should

be initiated. The establishment of several monitoring stations throughout Puget Sound that would

. be occupied one or more times per year would be useful for detecting changes in the physical and

biological features of Puget Sound and assessing ecosystem health.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The following people assisted in field collections: Kevin Bailey, Deborah Blood, Michael

Brogan, Richard and Linda Brodeur, Annette Brown, Peggy Busby, Greg Bryant, Jay Clark

Cheryl Ells, Zohreh Hadji-Agha, Arthur Kendall Jr., Lee Kendall, Nazila Merati, Helen Mulligan

Bill Rugen, Stella Spring, Mark Taylor, Brian Urbain, Beverly Vinter, Michael Ward, Tiffany

Vance, and Greg Williamson. Beverly Vinter assisted with identifications and measurements.

Bill Waknitz and Tim Newcomb (NMFS) provided historical information and environmental data.

Ron Sailor (NMFS) provided technical and logistic support. Richard Brodeur (NMFS), Miriam

Doyle (NMFS), Arthur Kendall Jr. (NMFS), Bruce Miller (University of Washington), Susan

Picquelle (NMFS), and Wayne Palsson (WDFW) reviewed the manuscript and made many

helpful comments and suggestions. Wendy Carlson (NMFS) produced the figures.
CITATIONS

Bailey, K. M., S. A. Macklin, R. K. Reid, R. D. Brodeur, W. J. Ingraham, 1. F. Piatt, M. Shima

R. C. Francis, P. J. Anderson, T. C. Royer, A. B. Hollowed, D. A. Somerton, and W.

Wooster. 1995. ENSO events in the northern Gulf of Alaska, and effects on selected

marine fisheries. CalCOFI Rep. 36:78-96.

Blackburn, J. E. 1973. A survey of the abundance, distribution, and factors affecting distribution

of ichthyoplankton in Skagit Bay. M.S. thesis, Univ. Washington, Seattle, W A., 136 p.

Bollens, S. M., B. W. Frost, H. R. Schwaninger, C. S. Davis, K. 1. Way, and M. C. Landsteiner.

1992. Seasonal plankton cycles in a temperature fjord and comments on the matchmismatch hypothesis. J. Plankton Res. 14:1279- 1305.

Busby, M. S. 1998. Guide to the identification of larval and early juvenile poachers

(Scorpaeniformes: Agonidae) from the northeastern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. U.

Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS 137, 88 p.

Collias E. E. , and T. H. Benttinen. 1967. A study of water circulation in Clam Bay, W A. U.

Public Health Service, Division of Buildings and Facilities, Design and Construction

Branch. 202 Willste Bldg. Silver Spring, MD. No. D-874043-7. 13 p.

English, T. 1961. An inquiry into distributions of planktonic fish eggs in a restricted area of

Puget Sound. Ph.D. diss., Univ. Washington, Seattle, W A, 227 p.

Fager, E. W. 1957. Determination and analysis of recurrent groups. Ecology 38: 586-595.

Garrison, K. J., and B. S. Miller. 1982. Review of the early life history ofPuget Sound fishes.

FRI-UW-8216, Fish. Res. Inst., Univ. Washington, Seattle, W A, 729 p.

Giorgi, A. E. 1981. The environmental biology of the embryos, egg masses, and nesting sites of

the lingcod Ophiodon elongatus. Proc. Rep. 81- , Northwest and Alaska Fish. Cent.

Nat1. Mar. Fish. Serv. , NOAA, Seattle, WA 98115-0070, 107 p.

Hickman, C. P., Jr. 1959. The larval development of the sand sole (Psettichthys melanostictus).

Wash. Dept. Fish. Fish. Res. Pap. 2:38-47.

Karp, W. A., and B. S. Miller. 1977. Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) studies in Port

Townsend Bay, Washington. FRI-UW- 7723, Fish. Res. Inst., Univ. Washington, Seattle

WA 98195, 42 p.

Kendall, A. W., Jr. 1966. Sampling juvenile fishes on some sandy beaches ofPuget Sound

Washington. M.S. thesis, Univ. Washington, Seattle, 77 p.
Lynn, R. J., F. B. Schwing, and T. L. Hayward. 1995. The effect of the 1991- 1993 ENSO on the

California Current System. CalCOFI Rep. 36:57-71.

Matarese, A. C., A. W. Kendall Jr., D. M. Blood, and B. M. Vinter. 1989. Laboratory guide to

early life history stages of Northeast Pacific fishes. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech.

Rep. NMFS 80, 652 p.

Miller, B. S. 1969. Life history observations on normal and tumor-bearing flathead sole in East

Sound, Ore as Island (Washington). Ph.D. diss., Univ. Washington, Seattle, W A, 131 p.

Miller, B. S, W. A. Karp, and G. E. Walters. 1978. Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) studies

in Port Townsend Bay, Washington. Two-year Prog. Rep. FRI-UW-8608, Fish. Res. Inst.

Univ. Wash., Seattle, W A 98195, 69 p.

Moser, H. , P.E. Smith, and L.E. Eber. 1987. Larval fish assemblages in the California Current

region, 1954- 1960, a period of dynamic environmental change. CalCOFI Rep. 28:97- 127.

Murphree, T., and C. Reynolds. 1995. EI Nifio and La Nifia effects on the northeast Pacific: The

1991- 1993 and 1988- 1989 events. CalCOFI Rep. 36:45-56.

Nielsen, J. D., and R. I. Perry. 1990. Diel vertical migration of marine fishes: an obligate or

facultive process? Adv. Mar. BioI. 26:115- 168.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1985- 1995. Tide tables: High and low water

predictions, west coast of North and South America including the Hawaiian Islands. U.

Dep. Commer., NOAA, NatL Ocean Service.

Orr 1. W., and A. C. Matarese. (In press). Revision of the genus Lepidopsetta Gill, 1862

(Teleostei: Pleuronectidae) based on adult and larval morphology, with a description of a

new species.

Palsson, W. A. 1993. Fishes found in the marine waters of Washington State. Wash. Dept. Fish.

and Wild1., Mar. Fish. Prog. Progress Rep. 26 p. Available from the author at Washington

Deptartment of Fisheries and Wildlife 16018 Mill Creek Blvd. Mill Creek, WA 98012-

1296.

Palsson, W. A. , J. C. Hoeman, G. G. Bargmann, and D. E. Day. 1997. 1995 Status ofPuget

Sound bottom fish stocks (revised). Wash. Dept. Fish Wildi. Fish Manag. Prog., Mar.

Res. Div. Rep. No. MRD97-03. 98 p.

Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team (PSWQAT). 1998. 1998 Puget Sound Update: Report

of the Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program. Puget Sound Water Quality Action

Team. Olympia, Washington. 96 p.
Roni, P., and L. A. Weitkamp. 1996. Environmental monitoring of the Manchester Naval Pier

replacement, Puget Sound, Washington, 1991- 1994. Contract Rep. N62474-91-MP00758. Coastal Zone and Estuarine Studies Div., Northwest Fish. Sci. Cent., 2725

Montlake Blvd. E, Seattle, WA 98112, 76 p.

Sommani, P. 1969. Growth and development of sand sole postlarvae (Psettichthys

melanostictus). M. S. thesis, Univ. Washington, Seattle, 60 p.

Stahl-Johnson, K. L. 1985. Descriptive characteristics of reared Sebastes caurinus and S.

auriculatus larvae. In A. W. Kendall, Jr., and J. B. Marliave (editors), Description of early

life history stages of selected fishes: From the 3rd international symposium on early life

history of fishes and 8th annual larval fish conference. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

1359:65- 76.

Trumble, R., D. Penttila, D. Day, P. McAllister, 1. Boettner, R. Adair, and P. Wares. 1977.

Results of herring spawning grounds surveys in Puget Sound, 1975 and 1976. Wash.

Dept. Fish. Prog. Rep. 21 , 28 p.

Waldron, K. D. 1972. Fish larvae collected from the northeastern Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound

during April and May 1967. U. S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Rep., NMFS SSRF-663.

16 p.

West, J. E. 1997. Protection and restoration of marine life in the inland waters of Washington

state. Puget Sound/Georgia Basin Environmental Report Series: Number 6. Puget Sound

Water Quality Action Team. Olympia, Washington. 144 p.
Table 1. Summary of early life history (ELH) studies and ichthyoplankton surveys conducted in Puget Sound, Washington, 1966- 1996.

Investigator(s) Year English 1966 Kendall 1966 Miller 1969 Sommani 1969 Waldron 1972 Blackburn 1973

Trumble et al. 1977

Karp and Miller 1977Miller et al. 1978 WDF&W* 1970s Giorgi 1981 Garrison and Miller 1982

Stahl-Johnson 1985

Bollens et al. 1992Roni and Weitkamp 1996

* Washington Department ofFish and Wildlife

Research Focus

pleuronectid eggs/circulation patterns

juvenile fish/gear performance

Hippoglossoides elassodon

Psettichthys melanostictus

1967 survey (15 stations)

Skagit Bay survey

Clupea pallasi

Gadus macrocephalusGadus macrocephalus

C. pallasi Osmeridae, Ammodytes hexapterus

Ophiodon elongatus

ELH of Puget Sound fishes

Sebastes auriculatus S. caurinus

Dabob Bay seasonal plankton cycles

juvenile fish monitoring

Results

distribution of three pleuronectids

species composition and abundance

data on early life history

data on growth and development

14 families collected

43+ taxa in 14 families

locations of spawning grounds

spawning, life history, and ecology

spawning, life history, and ecology

distribution and abundance of select species

biology of spawning sites, embryos

general taxonomic information on 175 spp.

descriptions of reared larvae

49 taxa in 19 families collected

40 species in 13 families collected

........
Table 2. Distribution of sampling dates at Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington

1985-95 by month and year. Shaded and outlined areas indicate data sets used in analyses:

A. Winter, Spring, and combined (Winter and Spring); B. Day; C. Night. Numbers in

cells are the numbers of sampling. dates in each year/month combination.

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Total

Jan

Feb

March

April

May

June

July

Aug

Total

B. Day

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Total

Jan

Feb

March

April

May

June

July

Aug

Total

C. Night

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Total

Ian

Feb

March

April

May

June

July

Aug

Total

* No larvae collected on one sampling date.
Table 3. List of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected by dip-net at Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington, 1985-95 and primary times of occurrence.

Winter, S-Spring; D-day, N-night.

Scientific name ICommon name Season I Day/Night Scientific name ICommon name Season I Day/Night

unidentified Agonidae

Clupeidae Agonopsis vu/sa northem speamose poacher

C/upea pallasi Pacific herring Odontopyx.is trispinosa pygmy poacher

Osmeridae smelts Podothecus acipenserinus sturgeon poacher

Salmonldae Cyclopteridae

Oncorhynchus gorDuscha pink salmon Eumicrotremus orbis Pacific spiny lumpsucker

Gadidae Liparidae

Gadus macrocephalus Pacific cod Uparis spp. unidentified snailfish

Microgadus proximus Pacific tomcod Uparis pu/chellus showy snailfish

Theragra cha/cogramma walleye pollock Bathymasteridae

Gasterosteidae Ronqui/us jordani northern ronquil

Gasterosteus acu/eatus threespine stickleback Stichaeldae

Scorpaenldae Anop/archus spp. unidentified cockscomb

Sebastes spp. rockfishes Anop/archus purpurescens high cockscomb

Hexagrammidae Chir%phis spp. unidentified warbonnet

Hexagrammos decagrammus kelp greenling Chir%phis decoratus decorated warbonnetHexagrammos stelleri whitespotted greenling Chir%phis nugator mosshead warbonnet

Ophiodon e/ongatus lingcod Lumpenus sagitta snake prickle back 

Rhamphocottidae Phytichthys chirus ribbon prickle back 

Rhamphocottus richardsoni grunt sculpin Xiphister spp. unidentified prickle back 

Cottidae Cryptacanthodidae

Artedius fenestra/is padded sculpin Cryptacanthodes a/eutensis dwarf wrymouthA. harringtoni scaly head sculpin C. gigantea giant wrymouthA. latera/is smoothhead sculpin Pholidae

Chitonotus pugetensis roughback sculpin Apodichthys flavidus pen point gunnel

C/inocottus acuticeps sharpnose sculpin Pho/is spp. unidentified gunnel

C. embryum calico sculpin Pho/is ornata saddleback gunnel

Enophrys bison buffalo sculpin Anarhichadidae

Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus red Irish lord Anarrhichthys ocellatus wolf-eel

Leptocottus armatus Pacific staghorn sculpin Trichodontidae

Myoxocepha/us po/yacanthacepha/us great sculpin Trichodon trichodon Pacific sandfish

O/igocottus macu/osus tidepool sculpin Ptillchthyldae

Ruscarius meanyi Puget Sound sculpin Pti/ichthys goodei quillfish

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus cabezon Ammodytldae

Synchirus gilli manacled sculpin Ammodytes hexapterus Pacific sandlance

Psychrolutidae Pleuronectldae

Dasycottus seliger spiny head sculpin Hippog/ossoides e/assodon flathead sole

Ma/acocottus kincadi blackfin sculpin /sopsetta iso/epis butter sole

Psychro/utes paradoxus tadpole sculpin Lepidopsetta bi/ineata southern rocksolePsychro/utes siga/utes soft sculpin Lepidopsetta ct. bi/ineata northern rocksole

Hemitrlpteridae Lyopsetta exi/is slender sole

B/epsias cirrhosus silverspotted sculpin Parophrys vatu/us English sole

Nautichthys ocu/ofasciatus sailfin sculpin P/atichthys stellatus starry flounder

Psettichthys me/anost;ctus sand sole
Table 4. Lists of frequently occuning larval and juvenile fish taxa from winter and spring dip-net samples collected at Manchester Field Station Pier

Clam Bay, Washington, 1987-95. Numbers in cells are numbers of sampling dates on which the taxon was collected. A. Winter, based on four or

more occurrences; B. Spring, based on ten or more occurrences. -indicates samples not used in study.

Year

Taxon Total

A. Winter

Hexagrammos stelleri

Apodichthys flavidus

Ophiodon elongatus

Ammodytes hexapterus

Liparis spp.

decagrammus

Psychrolutes sigalutes

Chirolophis nugator

B. Spring

Liparis spp.

Anoplarchus spp.

Parophrys vetulus

Microgadus proximusPsettichthys melanostictus

Ammodytes hexapterus

Clinocottus acuticeps

Leptocottus armatusSebastes spp.

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

Pholis spp.

Artedius harringtoni

Oligocottus maculosus

Platichthys stellatus

Apodichthys flavidusArtedius ftnestralis

Chirolophis nugator

Nautichthys oculofasciatus

Ronquilis jordani

Isopsetta isolepis
Table 5. Lists of frequently occurring larval and juvenile fish taxa from day and night dip-net

samples collected at Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington, 1992-95.

Numbers in cells are numbers of sampling dates on which the taxon was collected.

A. Day, based on three or more occurrences; B. Night, based on three or more

occurrences.

Year

Taxon Total

A. Day

Hexagrammos stelleri

Psettichthys melanostictus

Liparis spp.

Clinocottus acuticeps

Anoplarchus spp.

Apodichthys flavidus

Leptocottus armatus

Microgadus proximus

Platichthys stellatus

Parophrys vetulus

Pho/is spp.

Sebastes spp.

Ammodytes hexapterus

B. Night

Ammodytes hexapterus

Liparis spp.

Hexagrammos stelleri

Apodichthys flavidus

Ophiodon elongatus

Psychrolutes sigalutes

Chirolophis nugator
Table 6. List of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected in other studies that were absent in dip-net collections

at Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington, 1985-95. A. Bollens et al. (1992);

B. Roni and Weitkamp (1996).

Engraulidae

Engrau/is mordax

Osmeridae

Mallotus vil/osus

Myctophidae

Stenobrachius leucopsaurus

Merlucciidae

Merluccius productus

Bythitidae

Brosmophysis marginata

Hexagrammidae

Oxylebius pictus

Cottidae

Radu/inus asperellus

Liparidae

N ectal ;paris pelagicus

Stichaeidae

Plectobranchus evides

Poroc/inus rothrocki

Gobiidae

Clevelandia iDS

Coryphopterus nicholsi

Lepidogobius lepidus

Bothidae

Citharichthys spp.

Pleuronectidae

P leuronichthys coenosus

Rajidae

Raja binoculata

Salmonidae

Onchorhynchus clark;;

0. Ireta

0. kisutch

0. mykiss

0. tshawytscha

Gasterosteidae

Aulorhynchus flavidus

Merlucciidae

Merluccius productus

Syngnathidae

Syngnathus griseo/ineatus

Em biotocidae

Cymatogaster aggregata

Embiotoca latera/is

Rhacochilus vacca

Bothidae

Citharichthys stigmaeus

Pleuronectidae

P leuronichthys coenosus
Figure 1. Northwest region of Washington State, U. A., showing Puget Sound and adjacent inland marine waters. Square in center

encloses the Clam Bay Area (470 34' 15" N , 1220 32' 30" W).
,()

d\. Rocky

Intertidal

Transition Zone

(Cobble-Gravel)

Clam Bay

FishPens

Roc~

Intertidal

Subtidal

(20-100 m)

Figure 2. Clam Bay, Washington, showing location of the Manchester Field Station Pier and marine habitat types.
Microgadus proximus

Osmeridae

Lepidopsetta bilineata

Liparis spp.

Platichthys stellatus

Winter & Spring

Jan - June 93-95/ n=32

,...

r- Leptocottus armatus

;.;.;.;.

CHnocottus acuffceps

I'"" Psettichthys melanostictus

Sebastes spp.

Anoplarchus spp.

OHgocottus maculosus

Artedius haffingtoni

Podothecus acipenserinus

Ronquilus jordani

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

Gadus macrocephalus

Theragra chalcogramma

Lepidopsetta cf. biHneata

Lyopsetta exilis

Isopsetta isolepis

Plaffchthys stellatus

Parophrys vetulus

Lepidopsetta bilineata

Osmeridae

Microgadus proximus

Ptilichthys goodei

Artedius fenestraHs

B/epsias cirrhosus

Chirolophis decoratus

Anarrichthys ocellatus

Ammodytes hexapterus

Liparis spp.

Apodichthys flavidus

Hexagrammos decagrammus

Parophrys vatu/us

Isopsetta iso/epis

Hippoglossoides elassodon

Ptilichthys goodei

Liparis spp.

Pholis spp.

Ptilichthys goodei

Microgadus proximus

Osmeridae

Liparis spp.

Hexagrammos stellen

Figure 3. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected by dip-net

at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: winter and spring 1993-95.
Psyehro/utes Bigs/utes

Hexagrammos deeagrammus

RECURRENT GROUPS

Winter 91-

n=20

Leptoeottus armatus

Seorpaeniehthys marmoratus

Clinoeottus aeutieeps

Liparis spp.

Ammodytes hexapterus

Chir% phis nugator

Hexagrammos stelleri

Ophiodon e/ongatus

Anarriehthys oeellatus

Ophiodon e/ongatus

Hexagrammos stelleri

Psyehro/utes Bigs/utes

Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus

Figure 4. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected by dip-net

at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: winter 1991-95.

Apodiehthys f/avidus

Hexagrammos deeagrammus

Hemi/epidotus hemilepidotus
Hexagrammos stelleri

Podothecus acipenserinus

Artedius harringtoni

Oligocottus maculosus

Anoplarchus spp.

Platichthys stellatus

Podothecus acipenserinus

Leptocotus armatus

Psettichthys melanostictus

Clinocottus acuticeps

Eopsetta exilis

Podothecus acipenserinus

RECURRENT GROUPS

Spring

1 987-90 / 1993-95/ n=82

Ronquilus jordani

Ptilichthys goodei

Artedius fenestralis

,...

Microgadus proximus

Osmeridae

Artedius harringtoni

Oligocottus maculosus

Anoplarchus spp.

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

Eumicrotremus orbis

Platichthys stellatus

Liparis spp.

Lumpenus sagitta

Pholis spp.

Hexagrammos stelleri

Clinocottus acuticeps

Synchirus gilli

Parophrys vetulus

Liparis spp.

Psettichthys melanostictus

Clinocottus acuticeps

Psettichthys melanostictus

Figure 5. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected by dip-net

at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: spring 1987- , 1993-95.

Sebastes spp.

Leptocottus armatus

Platichthys stellatus

Isopsetta isolepis

yopsetta exilis

Parophrys vetulus

Gasterosteus aculeatus

Psychrolutes sigalutes

Dasycottus setiger

Chitonotus pugetensis

Hexagrammos decagrammus

Ophiodon elongatus

Hexagrammos stelleri

Podothecus acipenserinus
II-

"" 30

::s

Mar Apr

Month

May Jun Jan Feb Jul Aug

Figure 6. Number of taxa collected monthly by dip-net at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington for the entire

study period 1985-95.
ftS

... 25

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995

Year

Figure 7. Number of taxa collected yearly from 1987-95 by dip-net at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington.

Darkly shaded area indicates number of taxa collected on 10 percent or more of the sampling dates in that year.
RECURRENT GROUPS

I.iJ Winter 91/n=2

r:I RECURRENT GROUPS

L:I Winter 921n=4

.:t RECURRENT GROUPS

L!I Winter 93/n=3

Hexagrammos stelleri

Ophiodon elongatus

Enophrys bison

Hexagrammos stelleri

Ophiodon elongatus

Ammodytes hexapterus

Psychrolutes sigalutes

Hexagrammos stelleri

Chiro/ophis decoratus

Anarrichthys ocellatus

Uparis spp.

Apodichthys flavidus Uparis spp.

Apodichthys flavidus

Eumicrotremus orbis

Ammodytes hexapterus

Chirolophis nugator

Hexagrammos decagrammus

Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus

Leptocottus armatus

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

Clinocottus acuticeps

Anarrichthys ocellatus

Chiro/ophis nugator

Xiphister spp.

1-:. RECURRENT GROUPS

Winter 94/n=3

r::I RECURRENT GROUPS

Winter 95/n=8

Uparis pulchellus

Ammodytes hexapterus

Chiro/ophis nugator

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

Hexagrammos stelleri

Hexagrammos decagrammus

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

Gasterosteus aculeatus

Apodichthys flavidus

Apodichthys flavidus

Xiphister spp.

Ophiodon elongatus

Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus

Hexagrammos stelleri

Chiro/ophis spp.

Ammodytes hexapterus

Psychrolutes sigalutes

Figure 8. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected by dip-net

at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: A. winter 1991; B. winter 1992; C.

winter 1993; D. winter 1994; E. winter 1995.
II:tI 

RECURRENT GROUPS

I8J Spring 87/n=9

Artedius harringtoni

Artedius fenestralis

Artedius lateralis

Scorpaenichthys mannoratus

Clinocottus embtyum

Leptocottus annatus

Oligocottus maculosus

Eumicrotremus orbis

Uparis spp.

Anoplarchus spp.

Ptilichthys goodei

Lyopsetta exilis

Isopsetta isolepsis

Platichthys stellatus

Psenichthys melanostictus

Sebastes spp.

Synchirus gilli

Parophtys vetulus

Microgadus proximus

Theragra chalcogramma

r:I RECURRENT GROUPS

L:I Spring 93/n=3

Eumicrotremus orbis

Ammodytes hexapterus

Chirolophis nugator

Liparis spp.

I'E1 RECURRENT GROUPS

L:I Spring 88/n=14

Odontopyxis trispinosa

Uparis spp.

Uparis pulchellus

Psettichthys melanostictus

Platichthys stellatus

Sebastes spp.

Ammodytes hexapterus

Gadus macrocephalus

Artedius fenestralis

Pholis spp.

Medius fenestra/is

Liparis pulchellus

Leptocottus annatus

Anoplarchus spp.

Microgadus proximus

Parophys vetulus

Theragra cha/cogramma

Phytichthys chirus

Artedius harringtoni

Ronquilus jordani

Chirolophis nugator

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

Malacocottus zonurus

MyoxQCephalus spp.

Psychrolutes paradoxus

Podothecus acipenserinus

Lyopsetta exilis

Hexagrammos decagrammus

Ophiodon elongatus

Ammodytes hexapterus

Apodichthys navidus

Odontopyxis trispinosa

Isopsetta isolepsis

Lepidopsetta bilineata

Psettichthys melanostictus

Gadus macrodephalus

Blepsias cintJosus

Pholis spp.

Artedius lateralis

Lumpenus sagitta

Hippoqlossoides elassodon

Artedius fenestralis

Ophiodon elongatus

Apolichthys navidus

Hexagrammos decagrammus

Blepsias cintJosus

Pholisspp.

Clinocottus acuticeps

Lepidopsetta petraborealis

Isopsetta isolepsis

Gadus macrocephalus

Blepsias cintJosus

Nautichthys oculofasciatus

Sebastes spp. Blepsias cintJosus

Liparis spp.

Platichthys stellatus

Clinocottus acuticeps

Uparis pulchellus

Clinocottus embtyum

Hexagrammos stelleri

Oligocottus maculosus

Cryptacanthodes aleutiensis

r:I RECURRENT GROUPS

1.11 Spring 94/n=6

Ophiodon elongatus

Psychrolutes paradoxus

Eumicrotremus orbis

Uparisspp.

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

Liparis pulchellus

Ammodytes hexapterus

Chirolophis nugator

Xiphisterspp.

Apodichthys navidus

Liparis pulchellus

Ammodytes hexapterus
r:I RECURRENT GROUPS

1:.:1 Spring 

89/n=33

Apodichthys "avidus

Chiroiophfs nugator

Phoiis spp.

Hemilep/dolus hemilep/dotus

Micrqgadus proximus

Ollgocot/us maculosus

Anop/archus spp.

Parophrys vetuius

RECURRENT GROUPS

Spring 90/n= 

Psychrolutes paradoxus

Uparfs spp.

Platlchthys stellatus

Sebastes spp.

Lep/dopsetta bi/ineata

Artedius fenestra/is

Ammodytes hexapterus

Chlrolophfs nugator

Anop/srchus spp.

Hexagrammos decagrsmmus

Ophiodon elongstus

Hexagrammos ste/leri

Cryptacanthodes a/eutensis

Anop/archus purpurescens

Odontopyxfs trfspinosa

lEumicrotremus otbfs

Uparfs pulchellus

Hemilepidotus hem/lep/dotus

ChirokJphis nugstor

Pholis spp.

Myoxocephalus spp.

Bleps/as clrrflosus

Thersgrs chalcogramma

Artectius harrington/

Psettichthys melanostlctus

CIinocottus embryum

Microgadus proxfmus

Artedfus harrlngtoni

Ammodytes hexapterus

Apodichthys "avidus

Artedfus fenestralls

Leptocottus armatus

r:! RECURRENT GROUPS

Spring 95/n=10

sJbastes spp.

C/inocottus acutfceps

Leptocottus armatus

O//gocottus maculosus

Uparfs spp.

Ptflichthys goodei

Anoplarchus spp.

Hippoglossoides e/assodon

Lepidopsetta bi/ineata

Parophrys vatu/us

P/atichthys stellatus

Osmeridae

Microgadus proximus

/sopsetta iso/epsis

PsetUchthys melanostlctus

rted/us hsrrlngton/

Crypacanthodes aleutensis

Sebastes spp.

Scorpaenichthys matmOratus

Artedfus lateralis

Synchirus gilli

OdontopyxJs trfspinosa

Apodichthys "avidus

Artedius fenestra/is

Ammodytes hexspterus

Oligocottus macuiosus

Figure 9. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of

larval and juvenile fish taxa collected by dip-net

at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay,

Washington: A. spring 1987; B. spring 1988;

C. spring 1989; D. spring 1990; E. spring 1993;

F. spring 1994; G. spring 1995.
P/atichthys stellatus

Parophrys vatu/us

Microgadus proximus

Osmeridae

Ptilichthys goodei

RECURRENT GROUPS

Daytime

1992 - 1995/ n=16

Leptocottus armatus

Clinocottus acuticeps

Psettichthys me/anostictus

Sebastes spp.

Anop/archus spp.

Oligocottus macu/osus

Artedius harringtoni

Podothecus acipenserinus

Ronquilus jordani

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

Liparis spp.

Isopsetta isolepis

Lepidopsetta bilineata

Parophrys vatu/us

Platichthys stellatus

Gadus macrocephalus

Theragra cha/cogramma

Lyopsetta exilis

Lepidopsetta cf. bilineata

Artedius fenestralis

Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus

B/epsias cirrhosus

Ammodytes hexapterus

Osmeridae

Microgadus proximus

Ptilichthys goodei

Hexagrammos decagrammus

Nautichthys ocu/ofasciatus

Liparis spp.

Lepidopsetta bi/ineata

/sopsetta iso/epis

Hippoglossoides e/assodon

Hexagrammos stelleri

Figure 10. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval land juvenile fish taxa collected by dipnet at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: daYtime 1992-95.
Gasterosteus acu/eatus

Pho/is spp.

Lumpenus sagitta

Artedius fenestra/is

Hexagrammos stelleri

C/upea pallasi

Ammodytes hexapterus

RECURRENT GROUPS

Nighttime

1992 - 1995/ n=16

Psychro/utes Bigs/utes

Liparis spp.

Hexagrammos decagrammus

Hemi/epidotus hemilepidotus

Leptocottus armatus

Ophiodon elongatus

Apodichthys f/avidus

C/inocottus acuticeps

Psychro/utes paradoxus

Anop/archus spp.

Scorpaenichthys marrmoratus

Ammodytes hexapterus

Osmeridae

Microgadus proximus

Rhamphocottus richardsoni

Ruscarius meanyi

Ronquilis jordani

C/upea pallsi

Artedius fenestra/is

Pho/is spp.

Anoplarchus spp;

Myoxocepha/us spp.

Cryptacanthodes a/eutensis

Chir% phis nugator

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

Pti/ichthys goodei

Lumpenus sagitta

C/inocottus acuticeps

Eumicrotremus orbis

Liparis pu/chellus

Hexagrammos stelleri

Ammodytes hexapterus

Figure 11. Recurrent groups and affiliate taxa of larval and juvenile fish taxa collected by dipnet at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: nighttime 1992-95.
C/lnocottus acut;ceps Leptocottus armatus

.- 8

0) 6

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jon

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Liparis Spp. Anoplarchus Spp.

c: 10

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Jan

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Fib Mar Apr May Jun

Month

Figure 12. Monthly pooled length ranges for the 13 most

frequently collected taxa collected by dip-net at the

Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: All

sampling dates 1985-95. A; Clinocottus acuticeps

B; Leptocottus armatus C; Apodichthys flavidus D; Liparis spp.

E; Anoplarchus spp. F; Ammodytes hexapterus

G; Hexagrammos stelleri H; Scorpaenichthys marmoratus

, I; Microgadus proximus J; Sebastes spp. K; Parophrys vetulus

L; Platichthys stellatus M; Psettichthys melanostictus.

Hexagrammos steller;

E 30

E 25

~20 

tn15

.3 10

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

...I 4

Sebastes Spp.

Jan

Psett;chthys me/anost;ctus

:c 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Month

Scorpaenlchthys marmoratus

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Parophyrs vetu/us

Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Month

Apodichthys fIav;dus

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Ammodytes hexapterus

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Microgadus prox;mus

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Jan

Plat;chthys stellatus
13 

a::

::)

a..

87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95

YEAR

Figure 13. Annual least square mean sea surface temperatures measured at the Manchester Field

Station Pier, Clam Bay, Washington: January through-June 1987-95.
JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH

a::

c.. c.. 9 c..

87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95

YEAR YEAR YEAR

APRIL MAY JUNE 0'\

13 

~ 1 ~ 11

c.. c.. c..

87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95

YEAR YEAR YEAR

Figure 14. Monthly least square mean sea surface temperatures measured at the Manchester Field Station Pier, Clam Bay,

Washington: January thrOUgh-JWlC 1987--95.
RECENT TECHNICAL MEMORANDUMS

Copies of this and other NOAA Technical Memorandums are available from the

National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22167

(web site: www. ntis. gov). Paper and microfiche copies vary in price.

AFSC110

109

108

107

106

105

104

103

102

101

100

Hill, P. S. , and D. P. DEMASTER. 1999. Alaska marine mammal stock assessments, 1999, 166 p.

NTIS PB2000-102844.

FOWLER, C. W. , and M. A. PEREZ. 1999. Constructing species frequency distributions - a step toward

systemic management, 59 p. NTIS No. PB2000-102552.

Hill, P. S. , J. L. LAAKE, and E. MITCHELL. 1999. Results of a pilot program to document interactions

between sperm whales and longline vessels in Alaska waters, 42 p. NTIS No. PB2000-101118.

MOORE, S. E. , M. E. DAHlHEIM, K. M. STAFFORD, C. G. FOX, H. W. BRAHAM, M. A. MCDONALD

and J. THOMASON. 1999. Acoustic and visual detection of large whales in the eastem north Pacific

Ocean, 27 p. NTIS No. PB2000-101119.

SINCLAIR, E. , and B. W. ROBSON. (editors). 1999. Fur seal investigations, 1997 111 p. NTIS No.

PB2000-100223.

MURPHY, J. M. , A. L.J. BRASE, andJ. A. ORS!. 1999. Survey of juvenile Pacific salmon in the northem

region of southeastern Alaska, May-October 1997, 40 p. NTIS No. PB99-175630.

SMITH , K. R. , and R. A. MCCONNAUGHEY. 1999. Surficial sediments of the eastern Bering Sea

continental shelf: EBSSED database documentation, 41 p. NTIS No. PB2000-100938.

RUGH , D. J. , M. M. MUTO, S. E. MOORE, and D. P. DEMASTER. 1999. Status review of the eastem

north Pacific stock of gray whales, 93 p. NTIS No. PB99-172678.

BUCKLEY, T. W. , G. E. TYLER, D. M. SMITH , and P. A. LIVINGSTON. 1999. Food habits of some

commercially important groundfish off the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, and British

Columbia, 173 p. NTIS No. PB99-166563.

MCELDERRY, H. , W. A. KARP, J. TWOMEY, M. MERKlEIN , V. CORNISH , and M. SAUNDERS. 1999.

Proceedings of the first biennial Canada/U.S. observer program workshop, 113 p. NTIS No. PB99-

146482.

SEASE, J. L. , and T. R. lOUGHLIN. 1999. Aerial and land-based surveys of Steller sea lions

(Eumetopias iubatus) in Alaska, June and July 1997 and 1998 61 p. NTIS No. PB99-140618.

SEASE, J. L. , J. M. STRICK, R. L. MERRICK, and J. P. LEWIS. 1999. Aerial and land-based surveys

of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias iubatus) in Alaska, June and July 1996 43 p. NTIS No. PB99-134462.

LAUTH , R. R. 1999. The 1997 Pacific West Coast upper continental slope trawl survey of groundfish

resources off Washington , Oregon, and California: Estimates of distribution, abundance, and length

composition, 284 p. NTIS No. PB99-133043.

Hill, P. S. , and D. P. DEMASTER. 1998. Alaska marine mammal stock assessments, 1998, 166p. NTIS

No. PB99-130791.

WING , B. L. , M. M. MASUDA, C. M. GUTHRIE III , and J. H. HEllE. 1998. Some size relationships and

genetic variability of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) escapees captured in Alaska fisheries, 1990- , 32 p.

NTIS No. PB99-118697.