We examined the effects of environmental factors (water temperature, the North Atlantic Oscillation winter index – NAOw, and cod biomass) on the abundance (population number), biomass and mean individual weight of juvenile red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) at a typical coastal site of the Barents Sea, Dalnezelenetskaya Bay, a place of red king crab introduction. Current-year abundance and stock data for 3–5-year-old crabs were positively related to water temperature in September and October. The biomass of crabs at age 0–2 year was positively correlated with lag 1 water temperature in August, while the abundance of age 0–5 year was positively correlated to the NAOw indicating more favorable habitat conditions in warmer periods. The abundance of crabs at age 3–5 year was negatively correlated to December temperature and mean water temperature and temperature anomaly with a 1-year lag. These temperature relationships, together with negative correlations between stock indices of crabs and cod (Gadus morhua) and positive relationships between mean crab weight and cod biomass, suggests that the fish predation, which is higher in warmer years, has a more important role in mortality of 3–5 year crabs than 0–2 year crabs. Our findings may be useful for modeling recruitment processes and management of red king crab in the Barents Sea.

中文翻译：

---

环境因素对巴伦支海红帝王蟹幼体丰度、生物量和个体重量的影响

我们研究了环境因素（水温、北大西洋涛动冬季指数 - NAOw 和鳕鱼生物量）对典型沿海地区红帝王蟹（Paralithodes camtschaticus）的丰度（种群数量）、生物量和平均个体重量的影响。巴伦支海的所在地，Dalnezelenetskaya湾，红帝王蟹的引进地。9 月和 10 月，3-5 岁螃蟹的当年丰度和种群数据与水温呈正相关。0-2岁蟹的生物量与8月份滞后1水温呈正相关，而0-5岁蟹的丰度与NAOw呈正相关，表明较温暖时期更有利的生境条件。3~5岁螃蟹丰度与12月气温、平均水温和气温异常呈负相关，滞后1年。这些温度关系，连同螃蟹和鳕鱼 (Gadus morhua) 种群指数之间的负相关以及平均螃蟹重量和鳕鱼生物量之间的正相关，表明在温暖年份较高的鱼类捕食对死亡率具有更重要的作用3-5 年的螃蟹比 0-2 年的螃蟹多。我们的发现可能有助于模拟巴伦支海红帝王蟹的招募过程和管理。表明在温暖年份较高的鱼类捕食对 3-5 年蟹的死亡率比 0-2 年蟹具有更重要的作用。我们的发现可能有助于模拟巴伦支海红帝王蟹的招募过程和管理。表明在温暖年份较高的鱼类捕食对 3-5 年蟹的死亡率比 0-2 年蟹具有更重要的作用。我们的发现可能有助于模拟巴伦支海红帝王蟹的招募过程和管理。