AnimalTracks.wiki

What the sources say

Atlantic CodGadus morhua

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Atlantic Cod profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 38 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

Sobel 1996

Sobel (1996). Gadus morhua. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996: e.T8784A12931575.

The page saysVulnerable
The source saysVulnerable (VU)Note: stats.conservationStatus. Assessed 1996 (Red List category read through GBIF's copy, taxon 8784, checked by the verifier)

Source
02

Star et al. 2011

Star et al. (2011). The genome sequence of Atlantic cod reveals a unique immune system. Nature.

The page saysA big bottom predator that lost an immune pathway jawed vertebrates normally keep.
The source saysAtlantic cod has lost the genes for MHC II, CD4 and invariant chain (Ii) that are essential for the function of this pathwayNote: tagline; 'big' rests on the 200 cm max length claim below
The page saysHas lost the genes for MHC II, a standard part of the jawed-vertebrate immune system, but carries a highly expanded set of MHC I genes
The source saysThe major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II is a conserved feature of the adaptive immune system of jawed vertebrates, but we show that Atlantic cod has lost the genes for MHC IINote: stats.superpower
The page saysa highly expanded number of MHC I genes
The source saysWe find a highly expanded number of MHC I genes
The page saysan unusual mix of Toll-like receptor families
The source saysa unique composition of its Toll-like receptor (TLR) families
The page saysIn 2011, researchers sequenced the cod's genome
The source saysHere we present the genome sequence of Atlantic codNote: year from the reference (Nature 2011)
The page saysThe genes for MHC II, CD4 and invariant chain were simply missing.
The source saysAtlantic cod has lost the genes for MHC II, CD4 and invariant chain (Ii) that are essential for the function of this pathway
The page saysthat pathway is a standard feature across jawed vertebrates
The source saysThe major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II is a conserved feature of the adaptive immune system of jawed vertebrates
The page saysyet in natural conditions it is not especially prone to disease
The source saysNevertheless, Atlantic cod is not exceptionally susceptible to disease under natural conditions.
The page sayssigns that the cod evolved compensating mechanisms in both adaptive and innate immunity
The source saysThis indicates how the Atlantic cod immune system has evolved compensatory mechanisms in both adaptive and innate immunity
The page saysYes. Its genome has lost MHC II, a conserved part of adaptive immunity in jawed vertebrates, along with CD4 and invariant chain, which that pathway needs. The authors still found it not exceptionally prone to disease in natural conditions.
The source saysNevertheless, Atlantic cod is not exceptionally susceptible to disease under natural conditions.Note: FAQ 3; MHC II conserved quote above
The page saysThe cod has no genes for MHC II, CD4 or invariant chain
The source saysAtlantic cod has lost the genes for MHC II, CD4 and invariant chain (Ii)Note: blockquote

Source
03

Olsen et al. 2004

Olsen et al. (2004). Maturation trends indicative of rapid evolution preceded the collapse of northern cod. Nature.

The page saysOff southern Labrador and eastern Newfoundland, the populations known as northern cod crashed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, one of the worst collapses fisheries have seen.
The source saysNorthern cod, comprising populations of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) off southern Labrador and eastern Newfoundland, supported major fisheries for hundreds of years. But in the late 1980s and early 1990s, northern cod underwent one of the worst collapses in the history of fisheries.
The page saysCanada closed directed fishing for northern cod in July 1992, and in 2004 the authors reported the populations still historically low after a decade-long offshore moratorium.
The source saysThe Canadian government closed the directed fishing for northern cod in July 1992, but even after a decade-long offshore moratorium, population sizes remain historically low.Note: dated 2004
The page saysUp to the moratorium, the fish had been maturing at earlier ages and smaller sizes, a shift the authors suggest is fisheries-induced evolution.
The source saysup until the moratorium, the life history of northern cod continually shifted towards maturation at earlier ages and smaller sizes. Because confounding effects of mortality changes and growth-mediated phenotypic plasticity are accounted for in our analyses, this finding strongly suggests fisheries-induced evolution of maturation patterns

Source
04

FishBase

Gadus morhua, Atlantic cod. FishBase.

The page saysbig
The source saysMax length : 200 cm TL male/unsexedNote: tagline
The page saysCold North Atlantic and Arctic seas, from Greenland and Iceland to the Bay of Biscay and, on the American side, south to Cape Hatteras
The source saysNorth Atlantic and Arctic: Ungava Bay, Canada south to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. East and west coast of Greenland; around Iceland; from Barents Sea including the region around Bear Island along the European coast to Bay of Biscay, and Kara Sea.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysInvertebrates and fish, including young cod
The source saysOmnivorous; feed at dawn or dusk on invertebrates and fish, including young cod.Note: stats.diet
The page saysa maximum length of 200 cm, a common length of 100 cm and a maximum published weight of 96 kg
The source saysMax length : 200 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1371 ); common length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1371 ); max. published weight: 96.0 kgNote: size and weight
The page saysThe oldest cod on its record was 25 years old.
The source saysmax. reported age: 25 yearsNote: lifespan
The page saysThe longest on record reached 200 cm and the heaviest published weight is 96 kg, but 100 cm is a more common length.
The source saysMax length : 200 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1371 ); common length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1371 ); max. published weight: 96.0 kgNote: FAQ 1
The page saysThe oldest age reported for the species is 25 years.
The source saysmax. reported age: 25 yearsNote: FAQ 2
The page saysfrom Ungava Bay in Canada south to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, around Greenland and Iceland, and across to the Barents Sea and the Bay of Biscay
The source saysNorth Atlantic and Arctic: Ungava Bay, Canada south to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. East and west coast of Greenland; around Iceland; from Barents Sea including the region around Bear Island along the European coast to Bay of Biscay, and Kara Sea.
The page saysfound from the shoreline to 600 m, usually at 150 to 200 m, in water from 0 to 15 degrees C
The source saysdepth range 0 - 600 m (Ref. 1371 ), usually 150 - 200 m (Ref. 54441 ). Temperate; 0°C - 15°C
The page saysYoung cod prefer shallow water with seagrass, gravel or boulders to shelter in.
The source saysJuveniles prefer shallow (less than 10-30 m depth) sublittoral waters with complex habitats, such as seagrass beds, areas with gravel, rocks, or boulder, which provide protection from predators
The page saysAdults are usually found in deeper, colder water.
The source saysAdults are usually found in deeper, colder waters.
The page saysBy day they school about 30 to 80 m above the bottom, then spread out at night to feed
The source saysDuring the day, form schools and swim about 30-80 m above the bottom, dispersing at night to feed
The page saysfeed on invertebrates and fish, including young cod
The source saysOmnivorous; feed at dawn or dusk on invertebrates and fish, including young cod.
The page saysCod mostly stay within the area of their own stock, and trips over 200 km are rare.
The source saysMigrate between spawning, feeding and overwintering areas, mostly within the boundaries of the respective stocks. Migrations >200 km are rare occurrences
The page saysCod spawn in winter and early spring.
The source saysSpawning occurs in winter and beginning of spring
The page says2.5 million eggs for a 5 kg female and a record of 9 million for a 34 kg female
The source saysFecundity ranges from 2.5 million eggs in a 5 kg female to a record of 9 million eggs in a 34 kg female.
The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the species Vulnerable, in an assessment made in 1996, which FishBase still lists as the Red List status.
The source saysVulnerable (VU) (A1bd); Date assessed: 01 August 1996
The page saysa single whisker, called a barbel
The source saysa conspicuous barbel on the lower jaw
The page saysMillions of eggs, then a crash
The source saysFecundity ranges from 2.5 million eggs in a 5 kg female to a record of 9 million eggs in a 34 kg female.Note: heading

Source
05

NOAA Fisheries

Atlantic Cod. NOAA Fisheries.

The page saysbottom predator
The source saysThey are top predators in the bottom ocean community, feeding on a variety of invertebrates and fish.Note: tagline
The page saysThe cod is a thick, heavy fish with a big head, a blunt nose and a single whisker, called a barbel, hanging from its chin like a catfish's.
The source saysAtlantic cod are heavy-bodied with a large head, blunt snout, and a distinct barbel (a whisker-like organ, like on a catfish) under the lower jaw.
The page saysColour runs from yellowish-green to red and olive, and an individual can change colour readily.
The source saysTheir coloring varies, ranging from light yellowish-green to red and olive, usually with darker speckles on the head, fins, tail, and body.
The page saysan individual can change colour readily
The source saysIndividuals can change color readily.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.