Length–weight relationships of 12 fish species (Actinopterygii) from nearshore and coastal Alaskan waters of the eastern Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas

Changing ocean conditions in higher latitude ecosystems and the potential impact on marine fish underscores the need for baseline information on their biology and growth. Here we present length weight regression (LWR) results of 12 species of fish from coastal, estuarine and lagoon waters of the eastern Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas: Myoxocephalus scorpioides (Fabricius, 1780); Myoxocephalus quadricornis (Linnaeus, 1758); Myoxocephalus scorpius (Linnaeus, 1758); Gymnocanthus tricuspis (Reinhardt, 1830); Lumpenus fabricii Reinhardt, 1836; Lumpenus sagitta Wilimovsky, 1956; Osmerus dentex Steindachner et Kner, 1870; Hypomesus olidus (Pallas, 1814); Mallotus villosus (Müller, 1776); Liopsetta glacialis (Pallas, 1776); Pungitius pungitius (Linnaeus, 1758); Diaphus theta Eigenmann et Eigenmann, 1890. Of the species examined, four were in the family Cottidae, three in Osmeridae, two in Stichaeidae, and one each in Gasterosteidae, Myctophidae, and Pleuronectidae. Results showed the LWR coefficient b was significantly >3 for all cottids (sculpins) and osmerids (smelts), indicating positive allometric growth. One species ( L. fabricii ) in Stichaeidae had a b significantly >3, with the other species ( L. sagitta ) being significantly <3. The one species in Gasterosteidae (stickleback, P. pungitius ) and Myctophidae (lanternfish, D. theta ) also showed significantly <3, indicating negative allometric growth. Of the species examined, this is the first reporting of LWR results for Arctic sculpin ( M. scorpioides ).