Accurately model coastal circulation in the Gulf of Alaska and its effects on commercially important fish and their prey. Arrows indicate typical paths of pre-spawning adults, larvae, and early juvenile starges. Inset map shows regional circulation.
Hatched area indicates region of spawning.
These years span a broad range of wind, runoff and recruitment conditions. Measured interannual differences in pollock larval density are captured by the individual-based model. Weaker advection in 1989 led to a higher concentration of larvae near the exit of Shelikof Strait in mid-May, relative to 1987. Current meter locations are indicated at the top. One hypothesis is that this population evolved to optimize physical transport to the juvenile nursery area near the Shumagin Islands 375 km to the southwest.