The Alaska Forage Fish Database (AFFD) is a consolidation of survey data from multiple agencies that were sampled via fishing gear and predator diets. The spatial coverage includes the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, Chukchi Sea, and Beaufort Sea. Fish species within the database include Pacific sand lance, Pacific capelin, Pacific herring, juvenile walleye pollock and Pacific cod, myctophid, squid, and euphausiid. The data package is comprised of six tables: (1) catch_table includes counts, weight, and individual morphological characteristics (length, sex, age) of the sampled species; (2) event_table includes sampling time, location, and methods; (3) gear_table includes specifics about of the gear used for sampling when applicable; (4-5) two tables with taxonomic designations for forage species or predator species; and (6) a reference table that provides summary information about each contributed dataset.

This dataset consists of two tables: 1) forage fish catch and size data from hydroacoustic trawl transects, and 2) taxonomic details of fish species collected around two seabird nesting colonies on Gull and Chisik Islands in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska.

This dataset consists of two tables: 1) forage fish catch and size data from hydroacoustic trawl transects, and 2) taxonomic details of fish species collected around two seabird nesting colonies on Gull and Chisik Islands in lower Cook Inlet, Alaska.

This collection of GIS layers was prepared for the report Alaska Arctic Marine Fish Ecology Catalog (U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5038). The layers display geographic distribution and sampling locations for Arctic marine fish species in the region of United States sectors of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Certain diadromous species (for example, Pacific salmon, char, and whitefishes) are treated as marine fishes (McDowall, 1987) because much of their life cycle is in marine and brackish environments. This synthesis of information is meant to provide current information and understanding of this fauna and its relative vulnerability to changing Arctic conditions. There are 104 species in the collection - some species have both polygon and point data layers. The report (SIR 2016-5038) also describes for each species its names - species, common, and colloquial; ecological role; physical description/attributes; range (geographic); relative abundance; depth range; habitats and life history; behavior; populations or stocks, reproduction, food and feeding, biological interactions, resilience, traditional and cultural importance, commercial fisheries, potential effects of climate change, areas for future research, cited references, and bibliography. The published report has one map for each species showing the polygon and point data as well as land and relevant administrative boundaries. Although some of the species also have an inland water presence, this report was concerned only with their marine conditions; therefore, the land component (from the original sources) has been clipped and removed. The distribution areas may be greater in extent than that shown in the report map bounding box limits. Distributions of marine fishes are shown in adjacent Arctic seas where reliable data are available. The report can be accessed at: https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20165038 This metadata document describes the collection of species data layers. Each species layer file will have its own metadata with details specific to that layer.

This collection of GIS layers was prepared for the report Alaska Arctic Marine Fish Ecology Catalog (U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5038). The layers display geographic distribution and sampling locations for Arctic marine fish species in the region of United States sectors of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Certain diadromous species (for example, Pacific salmon, char, and whitefishes) are treated as marine fishes (McDowall, 1987) because much of their life cycle is in marine and brackish environments. This synthesis of information is meant to provide current information and understanding of this fauna and its relative vulnerability to changing Arctic conditions. There are 104 species in the collection - some species have both polygon and point data layers. The report (SIR 2016-5038) also describes for each species its names - species, common, and colloquial; ecological role; physical description/attributes; range (geographic); relative abundance; depth range; habitats and life history; behavior; populations or stocks, reproduction, food and feeding, biological interactions, resilience, traditional and cultural importance, commercial fisheries, potential effects of climate change, areas for future research, cited references, and bibliography. The published report has one map for each species showing the polygon and point data as well as land and relevant administrative boundaries. Although some of the species also have an inland water presence, this report was concerned only with their marine conditions; therefore, the land component (from the original sources) has been clipped and removed. The distribution areas may be greater in extent than that shown in the report map bounding box limits. Distributions of marine fishes are shown in adjacent Arctic seas where reliable data are available. The report can be accessed at: https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20165038 This metadata document describes the collection of species data layers. Each species layer file will have its own metadata with details specific to that layer.

A comprehensive species list of marine invertebrates of Alaska has been lacking. The checklist of Austin (1985) treated the marine invertebrates of the southern coast of Alaska to California and since then many new species have been described, many range extensions have been discovered, and considerable changes in higher-level systematics have been made. The checklist we compiled lists over 3,500 species and includes the currently accepted scientific name and its significant synonyms, common names, type localities, geographic and depth distributions, a general statement of abundance in Alaska when known (e.g., rare, uncommon, common, abundant), and general remarks. This checklist will serve as a foundation for future species-specific research. Updated species lists are necessary to reflect the current state of biodiversity knowledge and are thus essential for conservation planning and management. To monitor and predict future changes to marine life, the distribution and abundance of marine species need to be better understood, and this can only be achieved with reliable identifications based on a sound taxonomy. The current status and future directions of Alaskan marine invertebrate biodiversity are briefly discussed.

The dataset contains trawl and seine catches from Southeast Alaskan estuaries sampled from 1995 to 2008. The data also include physical variables (temp, salinity, turbidity), and shorezone shoreline classifications.

Groundfish diet data collected during the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (NOAA/NMFS) groundfish surveys in the eastern Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska regions from 1981 to the present. Groundfish diet data are also collected by fishery observers aboard commercial fishing vessels. Diet data is associated with corresponding haul location data. Diet data is described to the lowest practical taxon with the exception of fish and crab prey which a generally described to the species level. These data are in an Oracle 11g.

One table with age, total length, weight, dry mass energy density, and dry mass of forage fish (Pacific sand lance and capelin) captured in July in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

These data are part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long term monitoring program, pelagic monitoring component. This dataset consists of one table, providing: age, length, weight, dry mass energy density, and dry mass of forage fish (Pacific sand lance and capelin) captured in July in Prince William Sound, Alaska.