Critical Research Needs for Forage Fish within Inner Shelf Marine Ecosystems
Corresponding Author
James W. Rivers
Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, & Management, Oregon State University, 216 Peavy Forest Science Complex, Corvallis, OR, 97331-5704 USA
Search for more papers by this authorJennifer Bailey Guerrero
Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, & Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorRichard D. Brodeur
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Newport, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorGregory K. Krutzikowsky
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Newport, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorLindsay J. Adrean
Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, & Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorScott A. Heppell
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKym C. Jacobson
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Newport, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKristen Milligan
Marine Studies Initiative, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorS. Kim Nelson
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorDaniel D. Roby
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorLeigh G. Torres
Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorJohn A. Barth
Marine Studies Initiative, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
James W. Rivers
Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, & Management, Oregon State University, 216 Peavy Forest Science Complex, Corvallis, OR, 97331-5704 USA
Search for more papers by this authorJennifer Bailey Guerrero
Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, & Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorRichard D. Brodeur
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Newport, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorGregory K. Krutzikowsky
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Newport, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorLindsay J. Adrean
Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, & Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorScott A. Heppell
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKym C. Jacobson
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Newport, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKristen Milligan
Marine Studies Initiative, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorS. Kim Nelson
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorDaniel D. Roby
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorLeigh G. Torres
Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorJohn A. Barth
Marine Studies Initiative, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Forage fish are a critical component of marine ecosystems because they integrate energy across trophic levels within marine food webs. Many studies have highlighted the importance of this group, and past research efforts have focused largely on studying forage fish within offshore and estuarine areas. In contrast, limited information is available for forage fish on the inner continental shelf (<50 m water depth), where they encounter a range of anthropogenic stressors and support critical apex predator populations, including species of conservation concern. We highlight the importance of forage fish within inner shelf marine ecosystems using examples from the Northern California Current and describe outstanding research needs for forage fish within this topical area. Addressing these research needs is a critical step for maintaining productive forage fish populations within inner shelf ecosystems considering the social-, management-, and climate-driven changes that are expected to impact coastal regions in the coming decades.
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