First evidence of genetically distinct winter- and spring-spawning components of Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska

Size and hatch date variation among 0-group Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) has increased following a series of marine heatwaves (2014–2016, nicknamed “The Blob”, and 2019) that negatively impacted the fishery. In this study, we used daily otolith increments, whole genome sequencing, and fatty acid analyses (FA) to compare two size groups of age-0 cod co-occurring in sites near Kodiak Island in 2021. Size groups reflected genetically differentiated winter and spring spawning groups within the currently defined “Western GOA/Eastern Bering Sea” complex. Winter-spawned juveniles were larger and in higher energetic condition (FA density) than younger, spring-spawned juveniles. Our results raise several immediate questions, including whether these genotypes have unique environmental adaptations (e.g., “ecotypes”), and whether spawning phenology underlies genetic subpopulation structure more broadly. Importantly, our findings demonstrate that phenotypic and genotypic alignment could mediate how environmental conditions differentially select for early- and late-spawning strategies, shaping population resilience under future climate variability.

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Publication Details

Journal
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Published
2025-11-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2025-0168
Primary Topic
Marine and fisheries research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

First evidence of genetically distinct winter- and spring-spawning components of Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska

Ingrid Spies, Lauren A. Rogers, Alisa A. Abookire, Sara M. Schaal et al.
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Marine and fisheries research
article

First evidence of genetically distinct winter- and spring-spawning components of Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska

Ingrid Spies, Lauren A. Rogers, Alisa A. Abookire, Sara M. Schaal, Louise A. Copeman, Laura H. Spencer, Benjamin J. Laurel, Jessica Adele Miller, Nicholas S. Strait, Mary Beth Rew Hicks
article en

Abstract

Size and hatch date variation among 0-group Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) has increased following a series of marine heatwaves (2014–2016, nicknamed “The Blob”, and 2019) that negatively impacted the fishery. In this study, we used daily otolith increments, whole genome sequencing, and fatty acid analyses (FA) to compare two size groups of age-0 cod co-occurring in sites near Kodiak Island in 2021. Size groups reflected genetically differentiated winter and spring spawning groups within the currently defined “Western GOA/Eastern Bering Sea” complex. Winter-spawned juveniles were larger and in higher energetic condition (FA density) than younger, spring-spawned juveniles. Our results raise several immediate questions, including whether these genotypes have unique environmental adaptations (e.g., “ecotypes”), and whether spawning phenology underlies genetic subpopulation structure more broadly. Importantly, our findings demonstrate that phenotypic and genotypic alignment could mediate how environmental conditions differentially select for early- and late-spawning strategies, shaping population resilience under future climate variability.

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic SciencesVol. 83
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (US), Natural Resources Conservation Service (US), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (US), Oregon State University (US), University of Washington (US), Oregon State Hospital (US), NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (US), NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science Center (US), The Alaska Sea Otter and Steller Sea Lion Commission (US), Alaska Volcano Observatory (US), NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Fisheries Science Center (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 68%
Marine and fisheries research
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