IDENTIFYING LIFE HISTORY CHARACTERISTICS OF SQUID

All information to date on life history characteristics for Berryteuthis
magister comes from the Western Bering Sea (WBS), Japan Sea and Okhotsk Sea. In the
Eastern Bering Sea (EBS), squid were collected in 2004 (n=121) during a bottom trawl
survey and in 2006 (n=143) in the walleye pollock fishery. Statoliths were used to
age individuals, which did not exceed 178 days. Hatching occurred in January through
April in 2004 and March through May in 2006. Unlike in the WBS, EBS B. magister
exhibited a one year life cycle with an earlier onset of maturation, seen in the
increase of the statolith dark zone width, in 2004 April-hatched squid and in all
2006 squid. Isotopic chemical analysis of the statolith edge representing capture
location, as measured by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass
spectrometer, was significantly different between juvenile and adult squid captured
in the same location. This suggested spatial separation of the squid life stages in
the water column. Chemistry of the hatch check on the statolith identified at least
three hatching locations that were different from capture locations. This is the
first study to identify life history characteristics for B. magister in the EBS.
Berryteuthis anonychus, Boreoteuthis borealis and Gonatus kamtschaticus were
collected in the Bering Sea in 2002. All three species exhibited one year life
cycles. Statolith chemistry of these species was preliminary and no spatial or
temporal trends were observed. These datasets were archived as part of the North Pacific Research Board legacy project recovery effort undertaken by Axiom Data Science and NPRB in 2025. The goal of the recovery effort was to assess the NPRB-funded data projects from 2002 to 2014 and archive final data packages that were ready for publication to increase long-term accessibility and discoverability. Data packages were archived as is given limited funding and resources.