von Biela, Vanessa R. (ORCID: 0000-0002-7139-5981) Arimitsu, Mayumi L. (ORCID: 0000-0001-6982-2238) Piatt, John F. (ORCID: 0000-0002-4417-5748) Heflin, Brielle H. (ORCID: 0000-0002-4836-9187) Schoen, Sarah K. (ORCID: 0000-0002-5685-5185) Trowbridge, Jannelle L. Clawson, Chelsea M. 20190321 tabular digital data Anchorage, Alaska U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Suggested Citation: von Biela, V.R., Arimitsu, M.L., Piatt, J.F., Heflin B.H., Schoen, S.K., Trowbridge, J.L., Clawson, C.M., 2019, Pacific sand lance energy density, length, and age, Prince William Sound, Alaska, 2012-2016: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P96N5PVE https://doi.org/10.5066/P96N5PVE This data set documents the age, length, dry mass energy density, and dry mass of age-0 and age-1 Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) captured in Prince William Sound Alaska each July from 2012 to 2016. The data were obtained to assess the body condition of a key forage fish prior to and during a dramatic ocean warming event, the Pacific Ocean heatwave of 2013–2016. 20120723 20160706 observed Complete None planned Prince William Sound -147.937 -146.351 60.86709 60.21973 USGS Metadata Identifier USGS:ASC203 ISO 19115 Topic Category Biota Environment NASA GCMD Earth Science Keyword Thesaurus Animals/vertebrates Fish Indicator species Fisheries Species life history USGS CSA Biocomplexity Thesaurus Age composition Calorimetry Bioenergetics Trophic relationships USGS Thesaurus Marine ecosystems None Forage fish USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Alaska Prince William Sound None Fishes ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System Unknown online database online ITIS-North America Taxonomic details retrieved April 1, 2025 from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System online database https://www.itis.gov https://doi.org/10.5066/F7KH0KBK Mecklenburg, C.W. Mecklenburg, T.A. Thorsteinson, L.K. 2002 book chapter Bethesda, Maryland American Fisheries Society Pacific sand lance were identified by skilled observers in the field based on the appearance of the needle-like body shape, projecting lower jaw, very long dorsal fin, and forked caudal fin. Kingdom Animalia Subkingdom Bilateria Infrakingdom Deuterostomia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Infraphylum Gnathostomata Superclass Actinopterygii Class Teleostei Superorder Acanthopterygii Order Perciformes Suborder Trachinoidei Family Ammodytidae Genus Ammodytes Species Ammodytes hexapterus TSN: 171672 No access constraints. No use constraints. These data are marked with a Creative Common CC0 1.0 Universal License and are in the public domain. It is requested that this USGS data release be cited for any subsequent publications that reference or utilize these data. Users are advised to read the dataset's metadata thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Mailing and Physical

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Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA 907-786-7000 gs-ak_asc_datamanagers@usgs.gov Funding was provided by the Exxon Valdez oil spill trustee council and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Alaska Science Center. Chelsea Clawson was supported through an Alaska Sea Grant Fellowship hosted by USGS. We thank Greg Snedgen, the captain of the USGS R/V Alaskan Gyre, as well as Jonathan Felis, Jamie King, Mike Larson, and Erica Madison for their help in the field and Jordan Watson for extracting and making available the sea surface temperature data. The findings and conclusions presented here do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. Any use of trade names or products is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement of the U.S. Government. von Biela, V.R. Arimitsu, M.L. Piatt, J.F. Heflin, B. Schoen, S.K. Trowbridge, J.L. Clawson, C.M. 2019 journal article Marine Ecology Progress Series (MEPS) 613:171–182 online Inter-Research Science Publisher von Biela, V.R., Arimitsu, M.L., Piatt, J.F., Heflin, B., Schoen, S.K., Trowbridge, J.L., Clawson, C.M., 2019. Extreme reduction in nutritional value of a key forage fish during the Pacific marine heatwave of 2014-2016. Marine Ecology Progress Series 613:171–182. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12891 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12891 Arimitsu, M.L. Piatt, J.F. Hatch, S. Suryan, R.M. Batten, S. Bishop, M.A. Campbell, R.W. Coletti, H. Cushing, D. Gorman, K. Hopcroft, R.R. Kuletz, K.J. Marsteller, C. McKinstry, C. McGowan, D. Moran, J. Pegau, S. Schaefer, A. Schoen, S. Straley, J. von Biela, V.R. 2021 journal article Global Change Biology 27(9):1859-1878 online Inter-Research Science Publisher Arimitsu, M.L., Piatt, J.F., Hatch, S., Suryan, R.M., Batten, S., Bishop, M.A., Campbell, R.W., Coletti, H., Cushing, D., Gorman, K., Hopcroft, R.R., Kuletz, K.J., Marsteller, C., McKinstry, C., McGowan, D., Moran, J., Pegau, S., Schaefer, A., Schoen, S., Straley, J., von Biela, V.R., 2021. Heatwave-induced synchrony within forage fish portfolio disrupts energy flow to top pelagic predators. Global Change Biology 27(9):1859-1878. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15556 https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15556 Attributes were spot checked and values were sorted to identify possible errors. All data was plotted for visual comparisons and outliers were confirmed against paper datasheets. Attribute values fall within expected ranges. Length and weight information was often acquired in only the lab or field and resulted in many omissions in the dataset, however, each individual was measured for length and weight in at least one setting. The length and weight of a subset of individuals was measured in the lab and field to develop a correction factor between methods. All positions were recorded using a GPS. The accuracy is dependent on the conditions when recorded, but are typically within plus/minus 15 meters. Exact locations are not a critical component of this data. METHODS - FIELD: All Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) were captured in July near the annual peak of body condition and lipid accumulation for sand lance in southcentral Alaska. The timing of peak body condition is determined by a life history that includes fall spawning and winter hatch, and coincides with the peak abundance of their primary prey, zooplankton. Our assumption of minimal (< 1 mo) interannual variation in the peak timing of sand lance body condition is supported by the consistent seasonality in the timing of peaks for chlorophyll-a concentrations and zooplankton abundances. Differences between sexes should be minimal during July. We collected sand lance for age composition and body conditionnutritional value using purse seine, beach seine, herring jig, cast net, dip net, and gill net. The purse seine was deployed from a skiff, and was 46.9 m long and 6.1 m deep, with a mesh size of 32 mm and 3.2 mm. The beach seine was set parallel to shore from a skiff and retrieved from the beach and was 37 m long with diminishing mesh size from 28 mm at the wings to 5 mm at the center. Herring jigs (hook size 4, 6, 8 and 10), cast nets (mesh size 6.4 mm and 19.1 mm), long-handled dip nets (mesh size 5 mm) and gill nets (18.2 m x 4.9 m with variable mesh panels of 6.4 mm, 7.9 mm, and 9.5 mm square mesh) were used infrequently to sample small, shallow schools. Unknown METHODS - LAB: Fish total length was measured to the nearest mm from either freshly captured individuals at sea (TLField_mm) or thawed individuals in the laboratory (TLLab_mm). Length was measured for thawed fish in the laboratory for all years except 2015, when lengths were only measured in the field. In 2016, lengths were measured in the field and laboratory for each fish and the data were used to develop a linear regression equation to convert measurements between freshly captured and thawed sand lance (TLfield_mm = 1.03 x TLLab_mm + 1.58; r2= 0.97, P <0.0001). Age was assigned by counting translucent annular rings on sagittal otoliths of sand lance by two independent, blind readers. In the event of disagreement in age assignment, readers re-examined an otolith jointly and assigned a consensus age for analysis. Otoliths were extracted, dried, and examined under reflected light using a Leica M60 dissection microscope. Under reflected light, translucent zones appear dark and opaque zones appear white. Translucent bands forming on the otolith edge were considered incomplete, assuming a January 1 birth date for sand lance (Robards et al. 2002). We assumed a consistent spawn and hatch timing among cohorts such that little variation (~1 month) in mean age exists within each age class across years that resulted in consistent ages within age class assignments. Digital images of each otolith were captured using a Leica DFC425 digital camera. To quantify the difference in otolith appearance among capture years, the "plus" growth was measured for the same subset of age-1 sand lance randomly selected for energy density analyses (n = 50, see below). The plus growth represents the growth that occurred within the spring-summer of collection and was measured from the outside edge of the translucent zone to the outside edge of the otolith along the longest axis from the nucleus to the edge. Otolith growth is strongly correlated to somatic size within fish species (Campana and Thorrold 2001). Energy density and whole body energy were estimated using bomb calorimetry on a subset of samples following otolith removal and age assignment. Ten individuals were randomly selected within each primary age class (age-0, age-1) and collection year for energy density analysis (n = 100). Whole fish were freeze-dried until weight stabilized and no moisture was apparent (approximately 48 hours). Dry mass was recorded to the nearest 0.0001 g. Dried fish were homogenized using a mortar and pestle and a pellet was pressed from a subsample and weighed immediately. A semimicro Parr 6725 calorimeter was used to measure energy density. Benzoic acid standards and duplicate tissue samples were used to evaluate precision. Energy density was reported per unit dry mass (kJ g-1 dry mass) as wet mass measurements likely introduce a desiccation bias that can mask the true biological relationships (Montevecchi & Piatt 1987, Hislop et al. 1991, Van Pelt et al. 1997, Ball et al. 2007). Whole body energy (kJ fish -1) was estimated by multiplying energy density (kJ g-1 dry mass) by dry mass (g). Whole body energy combines changes in energy density (e.g., energy storage) and size (e.g., somatic growth) and provides a metric of energy allocated to storage and growth. Moreover, whole body energy is an important index of nutritional value for sand lance predators, particular those who capture fish one at a time, as many seabirds do (Wanless et al. 2018). Unknown LITERATURE CITED: Campana, S.E., Thorrold, S.R., 2001. Otoliths, increments, and elements: keys to a comprehensive understanding of fish populations? Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 58(1):30-38. https://doi.org/10.1139/f00-177 Hislop, J.R.G., Harris, M.P., Smith, J.G.M., 1991. Variation in the calorific value and total energy content of the lesser sandeel (Ammodytes marinus) and other fish preyed on by seabirds. Journal of Zoology 224(3):501-517. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1991.tb06039.x Montevecchi, W.A., Piatt, J.F., 1987. Dehydration of seabird prey during transport to the colony: effects on wet weight energy densities. Canadian Journal of Zoology 65(11):2822-2824. https://doi.org/10.1139/z87-427 Robards, M.D., Rose, G.A., Piatt, J.F., 2002. Growth and abundance of Pacific sand lance, Ammodytes hexapterus, under differing oceanographic regimes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 64:429–441. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016151224357 Van Pelt, T.I., Piatt, J.F., Lance, B.K., Roby, D.D., 1997. Proximate composition and energy density of some north pacific forage fishes. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology 118(4):1393-1398. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0300-9629(97)00240-5 Wanless, S., Harris, M.P., Newell, M.A., Speakman, J.R., Daunt, F., 2018. Community-wide decline in the occurrence of lesser sandeels Ammodytes marinus in seabird chick diets at a North Sea colony. Marine Ecology Progress Series 600:193-206. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12679 Unknown Point 0.00001 0.00001 Decimal degrees World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84) World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84) 6378137 298.257223563 sandLance_morphology_PWS_2012-2016.csv Table with the weight, length, and age of individual fish along with time and place of collection. Author defined FishID A unique identifier assigned to each fish. Author defined A unique identifier assigned to each fish. Collection_Date The calendar date of field capture. Author defined 7/24/2012 7/6/2016 Date (mm/dd/yyyy) Latitude Latitude of sampling location reported in decimal degrees using the WGS84 datum. Author defined 60.21973 60.86709 Decimal degrees (WGS84) Longitude Longitude of sampling location reported in decimal degrees using the WGS84 datum. Author defined -147.93739 -146.35051 Decimal degrees (WGS84) TLField_mm Fish total length measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the longer lobe of the caudal fin on freshly captured individuals at sea to the nearest millimeter. Blank cells indicate that total length was only measured in the lab. Author defined 59 167 millimeters (mm) WeightField_g Fish mass measured from freshly captured individuals at sea to the nearest 0.01 gram. Blank cells indicate that weight was only measured in the lab. Author defined 0.5 14.5 grams (g) TLLab_mm Fish total length measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the longer lobe of the caudal fin on previously frozen fish in the lab after thawing to the nearest millimeter. Blank cells indicate that total length was only measured in the field. Author defined 45 158 millimeters (mm) WeightLab_g Fish mass measured from previously frozen fish in the lab after thawing to the nearest 0.01 gram. Blank cells indicate that total length was only measured in the field. Author defined 0.17 16.96 grams (g) Age_yr Age class in years based on the counting translucent zones in the fish otolith. Author defined 0 3 Years sandLance_energy_PWS_2012-2016.csv Table with energy density of individual fish. Author defined FishID A unique identifier assigned to each fish. Author defined A unique identifier assigned to each fish. Age Age class in years based on the counting translucent zones in the fish otolith. Author defined 0 1 Years Energy_Density_calGram Energy density in terms of calories per unit dry weight in grams as measured by a calorimeter on a subsample of tissue from each fish following freeze drying, grinding, and homogenizing whole fish after otolith removal. Author defined 2639.08 6528.5 calories per gram dry weight Dryweight_wholefish_g The weight of each fish following freeze drying reported in grams. Author defined 0.038 3.8437 grams dry weight Year The calendar year when the fish was collected formatted as four digit year. Author defined 2012 2016 Year (YYYY) U.S. Geological Survey USGS ScienceBase Team Mailing and Physical

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Denver Colorado 80225 USA 1-888-275-8747 sciencebase@usgs.gov The U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center is the authoritative source of these data, distributed by ScienceBase (a USGS Trusted Digital Repository). Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes or on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. CSV Tabular data in CSV format; FGDC metadata in XML and HTML formats. https://doi.org/10.5066/P96N5PVE None 20250427 U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Mailing and Physical

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Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA 907-786-7000 gs-ak_asc_datamanagers@usgs.gov FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) FGDC-STD-001.1-1999