Habitat, age, and diet of a forage fish in southeastern Alaska: Pacific sandfish

Forage fish are an important part of Alaska's marine ecosystems and coastal areas. Forage fish are a critical food source for numerous groundfish, marine mammals, and seabirds (Wespestad; Allen and Smith, 1988; Paul et al., 1997; Yang and Nelson, 2000; Mecklenburg et al., 2002). Little is known, however, about the life history characteristics or habitat of many forage fish species in Alaska, including Pacific sandfish (Trichodon trichodon; Fig. 1). Only two articles have been published on the life history characteristics of Pacific sandfish in Alaska. Paul et al. (1997) investigated size-weight-age profiles, size at maturity, and fecundity of Pacific sandfish in the northern Gulf of Alaska, and Bailey et al. (1983) examined size and diet of juvenile (