Abstract
The demand for information on mid-trophic level (MTL) organisms in open-ocean marine ecosystems has led to initiatives to collect acoustic data opportunistically in different regions around the world. Although, bulk acoustic data can provide information on the distribution patterns and dynamics of MTL organisms, it is necessary to convert acoustic-derived indices into biologically relevant quantities for parameterising and validating ecosystem and trophic models. A 7-year time series of acoustic data collected by ships of opportunity (SOOP) in the New Zealand sector of the Southern Ocean, information on species’ distribution derived from trawl samples collected in research voyages, and target strength (TS) estimates obtained using a resonance-scattering model and literature TS–length relationships, were used to obtain the first estimates of density of mesopelagic fish in this region. Estimates of mesopelagic fish density decreased from north to south reflecting changes in species composition and scattering properties across three latitudinal regions (Northern, Central and Southern). Density estimates ranged from 16.4–40.1 in the north to 4.4–13.4 g m−2 in the south. Catches revealed that the Northern region was dominated by Lampanyctodes hectoris and Protomyctophum sp. (Myctophidae) and Maurolicus australis (Sternoptychidae); the Central and Southern regions were dominated by the myctophids Electrona antarctica and Protomyctophum sp. and the Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Information on species composition was the main source of uncertainty in the density estimates, highlighting the need for more biological sampling. This study demonstrates that it is possible to integrate acoustic data collected opportunistically with auxiliary information from research voyages and literature to provide estimates of mesopelagic fish biomass in remote areas.
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Acknowledgements
Funding for this study was provided by the Advanced Human Capital Programme, National Commission of Scientific and Technological Research (CONICYT, CHILE), through a Becas-Chile Doctorate scholarship, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA—New Zealand), through a NIWA Science Award Grant, and the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) through the Endeavour Fund Programme Ross-RAMP. Thanks to NIWA for providing the data and the facilities for undertaking this research, and to Dr Martin Cox for providing krill target strength estimates.
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All fish used in this research were collected by a mid-water research trawl under special permit for the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries. Special permits were granted under Section 97 of the Fisheries Act 1996 to authorize taking aquatic life for the purpose of investigative research. No fish were CITES listed.
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Escobar-Flores, P.C., O’Driscoll, R.L., Montgomery, J.C. et al. Estimates of density of mesopelagic fish in the Southern Ocean derived from bulk acoustic data collected by ships of opportunity. Polar Biol 43, 43–61 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-019-02611-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-019-02611-3