title: Depth and temperature associations of haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus off southern Newfoundland.
abstract: Using data collected as part of offshore surveys conducted during 1972-2013, haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus association patterns with depth and temperature in southern Newfoundland waters, the northern extremity of the species' range in the western Atlantic Ocean, were quantified. They were typically concentrated in the deep warm waters along the narrow shelf slope in North-west Atlantic Fisheries Organization Divisions 3O and 3P with individuals moving seasonally into the shallow waters of the banks as they warmed. While M. aeglefinus were found over a range of depths and temperatures, they were primarily located at depths deeper and temperatures warmer than the median sampled. Analyses demonstrated that of the two hydrographic variables assessed, temperature was most influential in structuring distribution, with individuals appearing to change depth in order to maintain similar temperature throughout the year. Melanogrammus aeglefinus were found predominantly in temperatures of c. 4-8° C which often represented some of the warmest waters available. Differences in fish-habitat association patterns in relation to sex or maturity status were not readily apparent from the analyses. Warming conditions off Newfoundland and Labrador in recent years might be predicted to improve local M. aeglefinus productivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada. robert.rogers.1@ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada.|Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, Fisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland, P. O. Box 4920, St John's, NL, A1C 5R3, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.affiliation: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, P. O. Box 5667, St John's, NL, A1C 5X1, Canada.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D048388:Gadiformes; D008297:Male; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador; D017747:Seafood; D013696:Temperature
keywords: depth-stratified survey; empirical cumulative distribution function; habitat; thermal preference