Fauna of the Beaufort Sea

A marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean that washes the northern coasts of Canada and Alaska. The sea has an area of about 476,000 km². The average depth is 1,004 m and the maximum depth is 15,360 ft. The climate is arctic, with harsh winters and relatively warm, short summers. The average air temperature in the sea area ranges from -28 °C to -30 °C in January and from 6 °C to 8 °C in August. The entire sea surface is covered with ice throughout the year, except for the southern coastal part, where the ice breaks up in August-September at a distance of 50-100 km from the coast.

The inhabitants of the Beaufort Sea

The Beaufort Sea is part of the Beaufort Sea Marine Ecosystem (along with Amundsen Bay). There are more than 70 species of phytoplankton in the Beaufort Sea, although their total biomass is small. About 80 species of zooplankton and about 700 species of benthic crustaceans and mollusks have also been found. Some crustaceans (including amphipods) live permanently on the underside of ice floes, hiding from predators in cracks and crevices. The total number of inhabitants of this sea is relatively small due to the cold climate.

Fish of the Beaufort Sea

The main fish species found in this sea include Polar cod (Boreogadus saida), Arctic cod (Arctogadus glacialis), Saffron cod (Eleginus gracilis), Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), Broad whitefish (Coregonus nasus), Fourhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus quadricornis), Inconnuу (Stenodus leucichthys), Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), and Capelin (Mallotus villosus). Bottom fishes living here include Arctic flounder (Liopsetta glacialis), Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), Сommon seasnail (Liparis liparis), Alligatorfish (Aspidophoroides monopterygius), Atlantic poacher (Leptagonus decagonus), Arctic alligatorfish (Aspidophoroides olrikii. 21 species of fish (some anadromous) are commercially harvested, including Arctic cisco (Coregonus autumnalis), Least cisco (Coregonus sardinella) и Dolly Varden trout (Salvelinus malma). Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) occupies a notable place in the ichthyofauna. Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) and stray salmonids enter the Beaufort Sea from the Bering Sea. There is currently no extensive commercial fishing in these waters.

Mammals of the Beaufort Sea

Because part of the Arctic Ocean is still relatively unexplored by commercial shipping, this sea is an important habitat for whales, particularly Bowhead, Narwhal, Rorqual, and Beluga whales. Genetic analysis has confirmed that Beluga whales in the Beaufort Sea are distinct from Beluga whales in other Canadian and Alaskan waters, although they often winter in a common habitat. Bearded and Ringed seals predominate here and feed on benthic invertebrates.