Physical and biological factors affecting Pacific herring egg loss in Prince William Sound, Alaska

Abstract

The biomass of Prince William Sound herring (Clupea pallasi) is estimated from egg deposition surveys. Because surveys occur after spawning, a correction for egg loss is required. I constructed ANOVA models based on environmental factors to estimate the egg loss correction in 1990-1991 and 1994-1995. The models explained 52% to 85% of the data variation. Depth of spawn was the primary factor determining egg loss, and air exposure could be substituted for depth. The correction factor was estimated at 33%. The total loss of eggs from spawning to hatching ranged from 67.40% to 100% averaging 76.06%, Two processes affecting egg loss, wave action and fish predation, were also examined. Typical wave energies were not found to contribute significantly to egg loss, but a threshold wave energy may exist beyond which egg loss is high. Consumption of eggs by greenling (Hexagrammidae) was estimated at 2.2% to 8.5% of the total spawn.