Beaufort Sea Fish and Their Trophic Linkages: Literature Search and Synthesis

摘要

This review has the following tasks: (1) synthesize existing literature linking fish as prey to a variety of predators in the USBS; (2) develop and present an overarching view of the many higher tropic linkages involving fish and their prey; (3) show the relative importance of a particular prey species among the diverse groups of predators and competitors, including marine mammals, birds, and fish; (4) construct and illustrate the tropic food web for the USBS, including specific fish species preyed upon by higher trophic level predators, the prey of the fish, and their potential competitors. The final product, a synthesis report and literature citations, will support BOEMRE analysts currently conducting Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Alaskan Arctic region.