Myctophid (Myctophidae) Abundance and Ecology in the Gulf of Alaska in Winter

The distribution and abundance of four common myctophid fish species in the upper epipelagic layer of the northeastern North Pacific in winter were analyzed based on results of the research surveys in the Gulf of Alaska in 2019 and 2020. The myctophid community in the considered layer was dominated in number by blue lanternfish, Tarletonbeania crenularis . The blue lanternfish-driven myctophid community likely occupies the whole eastern part of the Subarctic Front from the longitude 150° W to the Canadian exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The abundance and biomass estimates for four common myctophid species in the northeastern and northwestern North Pacific Ocean were generally comparable. The largest percentage of northern lampfish ( Stenobrachius leucopsarus ) in winter catches was represented by small juveniles. It is likely that these small juveniles are intensively transported by the Subarctic Current and then concentrate in the Bering Sea. The pattern of daily vertical migrations of common myctophid species is discussed. The new observations confirm general understandings on the functional role of common myctophid species in marine communities.