Multispecies functional responses reveal reduced predation at high prey densities and varied responses among and within trophic groups

Understanding predator–prey interactions is critical for marine fisheries and ecosystem management as they shape community structure, regulate prey populations and present energy demands critical for community sustainability. We examined multispecies functional responses of 17 fishes (48 predator‐size combinations) spanning piscivores, planktivores and benthivores for the northeast US continental shelf. Similar to previous work, linear relationships between predation and prey density (Holling type I response) were not supported, since model estimates of handling time were greater than zero for the prey considered. Instead, a clear majority of the predators sampled were Holling type III feeders (sigmoidal; prey switching or learning). For piscivores, nearly all responses were Holling type III with the exception of one being Holling type II (hyperbolic; satiation). Planktivores and benthivores exhibited a combination of type IV (feeding confusion at high prey density) and Holling type III responses. The relationships were predator‐ and prey‐dependent, which is counter to assumptions that are often made of trophic groups. Decreased predation at high prey densities (type IV response) present among planktivores and benthivores suggests an overestimation of predation can occur if ignored. This contrasts with fish and squid prey which primarily invoked a Holling type III response. Functional responses are key to modelling trophic interactions for multispecies and ecosystem models. By refining these inputs in a multispecies context with empirical data, we can advance our understanding of whole‐shelf ecology and improve decision‐making tools for resource management.     

An individual based model of fish school reactions: predicting antipredator behaviour as observed in nature

An object-orientated, two-dimensional, cellular automata (CA) model is developed to describe and predict the schooling behaviour of fish in general, with Norwegian spring-spawning herring, Clupea harengus L., being used as a case study. The CA model is applied to visualize internal school dynamics based on individual decision rules. Several antipredator strategies, such as split , join and vacuole, performed by schools during predator attack, are visualized in the model. The primary driving force of individual fish is based on simple attraction rules. The model includes stochastic elements which assume that individual herring do not have perfect information about their surroundings. Isolation of individual fish from a school during predator attack is also predicted by the model. The disruption of highly organized fish schools, followed by an attack on solitary herring individuals, may be an important tactic for predators feeding on schooling prey. The conceptual CA model identifies patterns and mechanisms both within and between schools that may be important in all schooling fish. Model simulations are compared with observed predator–prey interactions between killer whales, Orcinus orca L., and herring in northern Norway.     

Vertical ambush corridors: Intriguing multi-mechanism ecological structures embedded in the kinetic fluid architectures of ocean living resource production systems

The concept of a ‘vertical ambush corridor’ is herein introduced to marine ecosystem science. In the open ocean, adequate physical cover from which to launch an unanticipated ambush attack is generally lacking. An available alternative is for a predator to channel its attack vertically upward from below, rendering an unlighted approaching predator extremely difficult for a downward viewing potential prey to visually identify against the profound blackness of the deep ocean background. Moreover, within sub-mesoscale structures wherein the ambient water is sinking, slightly warmer water temperatures within the core of the downward motion results in outward refraction of both sound and light waves, producing sound and light shadow patterns that may reduce the capacity of prey organisms to recognize the approach of an upwardly attacking predator. This suggests that presence of such submarine ‘vambush’ structures may enhance trophic transfer efficiency within marine ecosystems, as well as provide perhaps the best available explanation for such predator behaviours as the evident strong attraction to drifting flotsam and floating fish aggregation devices (FADs), as well as the repeated large amplitude ‘bounce dives’ undertaken by a large number of dominant oceanic predatory fish species. The oxygen constraints faced by water-breathing organisms are posed as controlling factors in the potential ecological operation of these vambush structures, that in turn may have potential vulnerability to the growing global problem of ocean deoxygenation. Increased identifiable habitat granularity represented by such sub-mesoscale features may have important utility in supporting empirical studies and applications of the comparative scientific method.     

Morphological traits correlated with resource partitioning among small characin fish species coexisting in a Neotropical river

Body shape variation should play a central role in determining the feeding ability of a fish species. We tested whether variations in feeding resource use of sympatric and closely related fish species could be explained by differences in ecologically relevant metrics, such as body morphology, trophic apparatus or combinations thereof. Fish were sampled at 14 sampling sites from Pelotas River and tributaries, Upper Uruguay, Brazil. The stomach contents of five species of Characidae (Astyanax and Bryconamericus) were analysed by the volumetric method. A geometric morphometric approach was used together with internal morphological traits to predict their patterns of prey use. Significant differences in body depth, snout and caudal peduncle lengths were found. Concomitant pronounced variations were verified to occur among species in structures related to digestion and absorption. Increased numbers of cusps, more pyloric caeca and higher intestinal coefficient values were observed in species that consumed greater proportions of plants. The opposite trends occurred in species that consumed greater proportions of insects. Mixed linear models indicated that the characin species differed significantly in the use of algae, aquatic insects, terrestrial insects, plant remains/seeds and detritus. Dietary differences reflected in low trophic niche overlap. Partial least squares regression results indicated strong correlations between morphological divergences and the corresponding variations in species diet. These outcomes combined confirm that the morphological traits that best enables the exploration of certain resource were an important factor in the resource-related divergence and were the underlying reasons for these species' respective feeding modes.     

Food habits of fishes in the mangrove estuary of Urauchi River,Iriomote Island,southern Japan

The food habits of 67 fish species collected from the mangrove estuary of the Urauchi River, Iriomote Island, southern Japan were investigated using gut content analysis. Ontogenetic changes in food preference were recognized in nine species, including mugilids, gerreids, mullids, gobiids and tetraodontids. In most cases, juveniles of these species fed mostly on small crustaceans (e.g. calanoid and cyclopoid copepods and gammaridean amphipods) or detritus. With their subsequent growth, larger prey items (e.g. crabs and polychaetes) became dominant. A cluster analysis based on dietary overlaps showed that the mangrove fish assemblage comprised eight trophic groups (zooplankton, small benthic crustacean, large benthic crustacean, polychaete, fish, detritus, plant and insect feeders). Of these, large and small benthic crustacean feeders, which consumed mainly crabs and gammaridean amphipods, respectively, were the most abundantly represented in terms of species, whereas polychaete and insect feeders were each represented by only two species.     

Variation in the trophic position of common stream fishes and its relationship to the presence of a rare fish,northern leatherside chub (Lepidomeda copei)

Variation in trophic position can be caused by structural changes in food webs that may affect the presence of, or be affected by the presence of, individual species. We examined variation in the trophic position of fishes across 14 stream sites in the Bear River drainage, WY, USA. This drainage is the focus of ongoing conservation of northern leatherside chub (Lepidomeda copei). Our goals were (i) to describe variation in trophic position of individual species and (ii) to determine whether these measures differed between sites with and without northern leatherside chub. Mean trophic position of individual fish species varied between 0 and 3 trophic positions across sites. For two of these species, trophic position declined at sites without northern leatherside chub. Importantly, habitat surveys from a previous study at 10 of these sites revealed no differences in habitat suitability for northern leatherside chub. This suggests that trophic position revealed systematic differences among sites that were not apparent based on traditional species‐habitat modelling. We outline possible mechanisms behind these patterns and argue that monitoring variation in trophic position can complement traditional, habitat‐based methods for understanding species distributions.     

Ecosystem effects of invertebrate fisheries

Since the 1950s, invertebrate fisheries catches have rapidly expanded globally to more than 10 million tonnes annually, with twice as many target species, and are now significant contributors to global seafood provision, export, trade and local livelihoods. Invertebrates play important and diverse functional roles in marine ecosystems, yet the ecosystem effects of their exploitation are poorly understood. Using 12 ecosystem models distributed worldwide, we analysed the trade‐offs of various invertebrate fisheries and their ecosystem effects as well as ecological indicators. Although less recognized for their contributions to marine food webs, our results show that the magnitude of trophic impacts of invertebrates on other species of commercial and conservation interest is comparable with those of forage fish. Generally, cephalopods showed the strongest ecosystem effects and were characterized by a strong top‐down predatory role. Lobster, and to a lesser extent, crabs, shrimp and prawns, also showed strong ecosystem effects, but at lower trophic levels. Benthic invertebrates, including epifauna and infauna, also showed considerable ecosystem effects, but with strong bottom‐up characteristics. In contrast, urchins, bivalves, and gastropods showed generally lower ecosystem effects in our simulations. Invertebrates also strongly contributed to benthic–pelagic coupling, with exploitation of benthic invertebrates impacting pelagic fishes and vice versa. Finally, on average, invertebrates produced maximum sustainable yield at lower levels of depletion (~45%) than forage fish (~65%), highlighting the need for management targets that avoid negative consequences for target species and marine ecosystems as a whole.     

渔获物平均营养级在渔业可持续性评价中的应用研究进展

高强度的捕捞努力量和渔业管理不力等因素导致全球范围内传统渔业资源的衰退,近年来渔获物平均营养级(MTL,mean trophic level)作为以生态系统为基础的渔业管理评价指标被普遍应用。本文在广泛收集国内外相关文献资料基础上,系统地介绍了MTL在渔业资源评价中的研究进展。已有研究显示,MTL能够利用已知渔获数据来分析,且参数化较为简便,在评价渔业可持续性中优势明显。受以渔获量作为生态系统指标、营养级(TL,trophic level)随体长的变化、渔获统计数据质量、低TL种类的过多捕捞和海域环境富营养化等因素的影响,在评估渔业资源利用状况时,需将MTL与剔除TL小于3.25物种下的3.25MTL、渔业均衡指数(FIB)等营养指标综合分析。此外,综合运用多指标,将营养指标与渔获组成、中上层鱼类与底层鱼类产量的比值、市场价格等指标结合分析,有助于掌握引起MTL变动的因素,更加全面地掌握捕捞活动下鱼类群落结构的实际变化状况。     

Non‐native rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) occupy a different trophic niche to native Breede River redfin (Pseudobarbus burchelli) which they replace in South African headwater streams

Recent research has revealed that non‐native rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss have largely replaced a native cyprinid, the Breede River redfin Pseudobarbus burchelli, as the dominant species of fish in many headwater streams in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) of South Africa. Moreover, differences in the composition of benthic communities in CFR headwater streams with and without trout suggest that trout do not functionally compensate for the native redfin which they have replaced in these food webs. In this study, we used gut content and stable isotope analyses to characterise and compare the trophic niches and diet compositions of allopatric populations of trout and redfin in six CFR headwater streams (three containing trout, three containing redfin). Results indicate that native redfin exploit a broader trophic niche, and a more omnivorous diet, than do trout. Gut content analyses showed terrestrial invertebrates to be an important prey source for trout, which could potentially offset predation pressure on aquatic invertebrates and explain why benthic invertebrate density in streams with trout is higher than that in streams with no trout. Contrastingly, redfin diet appeared to be dominated by aquatic invertebrates, with terrestrial prey a less important food item in the guts of redfin. That redfin and trout exploit nonequivalent trophic niches may have consequences for benthic community composition in CFR headwater streams, and this study highlights the importance of quantifying how the functional role of predators changes following a predator replacement for understanding and managing the consequences of non‐native predator invasions.     

Dynamic and spatial models of kelp forest of Macrocystis integrifolia and Lessonia trabeculata (SE Pacific) for assessment harvest scenarios: short‐term responses

1. Dynamic and spatial models of the kelp forest off northern Chile (SE Pacific coast) were constructed using the Ecosim and Ecospace theoretical frameworks based on a previously mass‐balanced trophic model using Ecopath II software. 2. The biomass of Macrocystis integrifolia and Lessonia trabeculata blades constituted the most relevant compartments or variables of the ecosystem studied. 3. The relative ascendency (A/C) of 35.5% suggests that this ecosystem is immature, but resistant to disturbances (e.g. fisheries). 4. The results obtained using mixed trophic impacts (MTI) show that both brown macroalgae produced relatively similar quantitative and qualitative effects, however, the predictions based on Ecosim clearly show that L. trabeculata experienced the most relevant direct and indirect effects. 5. The highest values of system recovery time obtained by Pinguipes chilensis and the other seastar group suggest that both compartments could be considered to be top predator species with strong top‐down control. 6. The exploitation of kelp blades as a new harvest strategy appears to be ecologically sustainable. 7. The Ecospace trophic‐spatially explicit model shows that exploitation exerted separately by habitat generates a similar pattern of direct and indirect effects. These results suggest that a habitat rotation of fisheries would not be justified.Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.