Productivity of arctic amphipods relative to gray whale energy requirements

Amphipod crustaceans domlnate the b e n t h ~c community in vast areas of the northern Benng Sea, they are the major prey of the California gray whale Eschncht~us robustus The protected whale population is growing steadily and may be approaching the carrying capacity of the arnphipod community, one of the most productive benthic communities in the world The abundance and biomass of the amphipod community decreased dunng the 3 yr penod 1986 to 1988, resulting in a 30 % decline in production High-latitude amphipod populations are characterized by low fecundity and long generation t ~m e s Large long-lived individuals are responsible for the malonty of amphipod secondary production A substantial reduction in the density of large individuals in the population wlll result in a significant, long-term decrease in production O Inter-Research 1992