Associations between flatfish abundance and surficial sediments in the eastern Bering Sea

Spatially explicit relationships between pleuronectid flatfish abundance an d surficial sediments in the eastern Bering Sea were investigated using pub lished sediment descriptions and trawl survey data (1982-1994). Flatfish fo od habits were also examined because sediment properties are known to affec t the distribution and abundance of benthic prey. For six species, we compa red sediment textures in areas of highest and lowest abundance (kilograms p er hectare). Sand predominated in areas of high yellowfin sole (Pleuronecte s asper) (YFS) (p < < 0.001) and rock sole (Lepidopsetta spp.) (RS) (p < < 0.001) abundance, while mixed sand and mud was most common in areas of lowe st abundance. In contrast, mixed sand and mud predominated in areas preferr ed by flathead sole (Hippoglossoides elassodon) (FHS) (p < < 0.001), Alaska plaice (Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus) (AP) (p = 0.002), and arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) (ATF) (p = 0.004), with more diverse substra tes in low-density areas. Areas of high and low Greenland turbot (Reinhardt ius hippoglossoides) (GT) (p = 0.845) abundance had similar sediment textur es (primarily mixed sand and mud). Species with highly restricted diets (AP ) or piscivores with weak sediment associations (GT, ATF) had relatively in flexible food habits, whereas YFS, RS, and FHS food habits varied considera bly with sediment type. Our findings suggest that benthic-feeding pleuronec tids prefer certain sediment textures because of adaptive differences in pr ey availability.