Occurrence of demersal fishes in relation to near‐bottom oxygen levels within the California Current large marine ecosystem

• DOI: 10.1111/fog.12100
• Publication Date: 2015-02-27T08:51:54Z
• Authors: Aimee A. Keller; Lorenzo Ciannelli; W. Waldo Wakefield; Victor Simon; John A. Barth; Stephen D. Pierce
• Keywords: Demersal zone; Groundfish; Oxygen minimum zone; Rockfish; Demersal fish; Hypoxia

Abstract Various ocean‐climate models driven by increased greenhouse gases and higher temperatures predict a decline in oceanic dissolved oxygen ( DO ) as result of greater stratification, reduced ventilation below the thermocline, decreased solubility at temperatures. Since spreading low waters is underway predicted to increase, understanding impacts on trophic levels essential. Within California Current System, shoaling minimum zone OMZ expected produce complex changes. Onshore movement could lead habitat compression for species with requirements while allowing expansion tolerant bottom . As part annual groundfish surveys, we sampled catch across range conditions from upper lower limit shoreward continental shelf US west coast. ranged 0.02 4.25 mL L −1 642 stations (of 1020 sampled) experiencing hypoxic 2008–2010. Catch richness exhibited significant positive relationships near‐bottom concentration. The probability occurrence was estimated four (spotted ratfish, petrale sole, greenstriped rockfish Dover sole) using binomial Generalized Additive Model. each included terms position, day year, salinity, temperature interaction term between depth Spotted ratfish sole were sensitive changes oxygen, show no relation