RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ANADROMOUS LAMPREYS AND THEIR HOST FISHES IN THE EASTERN BERING SEA
Dates
Publication Date
2014-08
Summary
Arctic Lamprey Lethenteron camtschaticum and Pacific Lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus are ecologically and culturally important anadromous, parasitic species experiencing recent population declines in the North Pacific Ocean. However, a paucity of basic information on lampreys feeding in the ocean precludes an incorporation of the adult trophic phase into our understanding of lamprey population dynamics. The goal of this research was to provide insight into the marine life-history stage of Arctic and Pacific lampreys through lamprey-host interactions in the eastern Bering Sea. An analysis of two fishery-independent surveys conducted between 2002 and 2012 in the eastern Bering Sea revealed that Arctic Lampreys were captured in epipelagic [...]
Summary
Arctic Lamprey Lethenteron camtschaticum and Pacific Lamprey Entosphenus
tridentatus are ecologically and culturally important anadromous, parasitic species
experiencing recent population declines in the North Pacific Ocean. However, a paucity
of basic information on lampreys feeding in the ocean precludes an incorporation of the
adult trophic phase into our understanding of lamprey population dynamics. The goal of
this research was to provide insight into the marine life-history stage of Arctic and Pacific
lampreys through lamprey-host interactions in the eastern Bering Sea. An analysis of two
fishery-independent surveys conducted between 2002 and 2012 in the eastern Bering Sea
revealed that Arctic Lampreys were captured in epipelagic waters of the inner and middle
continental shelf and were associated with Pacific Herring Clupea pallasii and juvenile
salmonids Oncorhynchus spp. In contrast, Pacific Lampreys were captured in benthic
waters along the continental slope associated with bottom-oriented groundfish. Consistent
with this analysis of fish assemblages, morphology of recently inflicted lamprey wounds
observed on Pacific Cod Gadus macrocephalus was similar to morphology of Pacific
Lamprey oral discs, but not that of Arctic Lamprey oral discs. Examination of 8,746
Pacific Cod, of which 4.9% had lamprey wounds, showed recent wounding rates
positively increased with fish length up to 78 cm, and penetrating lamprey wounds were
less likely to heal compared with superficial lamprey wounds, suggesting lamprey-related
mortality. This study elucidates differences in the oceanic ecology between Arctic and
Pacific lampreys and suggests a native lamprey can negatively impact hosts, which
increases our understanding of lamprey ecology beyond traditional freshwater studies.
