Early Life History of Pacific Herring: 1989 Prince William Sound Herring Larvae Survey

摘要

The study measured growth, mortality and dispersal of wild Pacific herring, Clupea harengus, larvae from two oiled sites and two non-oiled sites in Prince William Sound in order to determine the impact of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on larval population dynamics. Water temperatures and degree of stratification were highest in the two shallow control sites in the north of the Sound and lowest in the two oiled sites nearest Hinchinbrook Entrance. Concentration of prey of herring larvae increased over the May-June period and was not significantly different between sites. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that oil reduced growth rates or increased mortality rates of the larvae.