Assessing the structure and functioning of the southern North Sea ecosystem with a food-web model

Stäbler, Moritz; Kempf, Alexander; Temming, Axel

doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2018.08.017

Cited by 12 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The negative trophic effect of low nutrient loads on the productivity of sole and plaice [27, 28] primarily arises from a lower benthic production under non-eutrophication [43–45]. Total benthos production can, even alongside a change of species composition, be fuelled through phytoplankton both edible and non-edible by intermediate trophic levels, given that the latter would end up as detritus and feed into the benthos compartment that way [46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…cod pretty much undamped. The response of flatfish is less severe, which probably relates to their more flexible diet [2, 46]. The plausibility of these modelled results could be underpinned by studying the past correlations of stocks’ productivities and nutrient loads.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considering the predicted consequences of marine mammal upsurge, even the strongest assumptions (including an almost six-fold increase of seal biomass) lead to disproportionately lower responses of biomasses and yields, in contrast to the amplified, overproportioned effect of the 30% reduced primary production. Should this appear unexpected at first, that expectation gets entirely reversed when looking at absolute changes in biomass or production in tonnes per annum: The standing stock of phytoplankton alone is 300 times higher than that of all marine mammals combined, whereas the annual total primary production (P/B*B = P) is six orders of magnitude higher than that of marine mammals in the Ecopath 1991 base model [46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sensitivity of multispecies maximum sustainable yields to trends in the top (marine mammals) and bottom (primary production) compartments of the southern North Sea food-web

et al. 2019

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In marine ecosystems, maximum sustainable yield considerations are affected by any substantial changes that occur in the top and bottom compartments of the food-web. This study explores how the southern North Sea’s fisheries may need to adjust their fishing efforts to maintain optimum yields of sole, plaice, cod and brown shrimps under increased marine mammal populations and a reduced primary productivity. We constructed plausible scenarios of ongoing food-web changes using the results of Bayesian age-structured population models to estimate carrying capacities of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). Losses in primary productivity were predicted by lower trophic level ecosystem models. These scenarios were implemented in a food-web model of the southern North Sea. For each scenario, we sought mixed-fleet fishing efforts that would deliver maximum yields of sole, plaice, cod and brown shrimp combined. We also did so for a baseline run with unaltered mammal and primary production, and compared the differences in optimal fishing strategies, predicted yields, and states of the stocks between the scenarios. We found stocks and yields to be far more sensitive to changes in primary productivity than to increased marine mammal predation. The latter predominantly impacted cod, and even benefitted brown shrimps compared to the baseline run. Under 30% reduced primary productivity, fishing efforts had to be reduced by 50% to still provide maximum yields, whereas the marine mammal scenario induced no need to adjust the fishing regime. This draws attention to the potential gains of incorporating bottom-up processes into long-term management considerations, while marine mammal predation may be less of a concern, in particular for flatfish fisheries in the North Sea, and may even benefit shrimp trawlers because of reduced predation on shrimp from fish predators.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sensitivity of multispecies maximum sustainable yields to trends in the top (marine mammals) and bottom (primary production) compartments of the southern North Sea food-web

et al. 2019

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“…Recent work in this field shows that the index is strongly related to system maturity; in fact, diversity of flow and recycling (path length) are expected to increase with maturity. In order to diagnose the status of marine ranching ecosystems in the PRE, we selected coastal ecosystems of similar magnitude or the same latitude, such as other periods in the PRE, Beibu Gulf and Daya Bay (Chen et al, 2011 , 2015 ; Duan, Li, Liu, Jiang, et al, 2009 ; Duan, Li, Liu, Moreau, et al, 2009 ; Rahman et al, 2019 ; Staebler et al, 2018 ; Wang et al, 2015 ), and the Bohai coastal ecosystem in northern China to compare food web properties which can evaluate the effects of AR construction and fishing moratorium in the marine pasture.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, only focusing on commercial species, they were unable to address the dynamics of low‐trophic organisms (phytoplankton, zooplankton, and benthos) affecting commercial species. These aspects need to be considered in an in‐depth discussion of the structure and function of the marine food web in order to develop rational management options (Staebler et al, 2018 ). Measurements of biomass transfer and trophic efficiency between functional groups (FGs) provide needed information for evaluating the impact of changes on some groups and their interrelations within the ecosystem via trophic interactions (Christensen & Pauly, 1993 ; Christian et al, 1996 ; Ulanowicz, 2012 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal and spatial comparison of food web structure in marine pastures in the Pearl River Estuary: Implications for sustainable fisheries management

Zhou

Xie

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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The biological and ecological integrity of marine ecosystems in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) has been compromised due to overfishing and water pollution. Fishing moratorium and artificial reef construction have been implemented in Wanshan and Miaowan for resource protection and restoration. Therefore, food web structure and trophic pathways of Wanshan, Miaowan, and Wailingding in different temporal and spatial situation will be determined using the Ecopath model, as well as the keystone species affecting these ecosystems, which can provide a basis for fishery management. The results showed that the energy transfer efficiency of IV and V trophic levels (TL) was higher than that of II and III‐TL before and after fishing moratorium, and the energy transfer efficiency of artificial reefs II and III‐TL was only slightly higher than that of nonartificial reefs in Wanshan. In addition, the mean values of ecosystem property indicators (consumption, respiration flow, total system throughput, and total biomass) after the fishing moratorium were significantly higher than those before the fishing moratorium. The average value of the ecosystem attribute indicators (consumption, respiration flow, total system throughput, and total biomass) of artificial reefs is lower than those of nonartificial reef areas, which may be related to the differences in community composition between artificial reefs and non‐artificial reefs. Finally, Nemipterus japonicus and Gastrophysus spadiceus are keystone species that distinguish the Wanshan and Miaowan artificial reefs from other areas. Overall, the fishing moratorium has a positive effect on the short‐term restoration of fishery resources, mainly restoring short‐life cycle organisms. However, the construction of artificial reefs will be more conducive to the persistence of ecosystem restoration. In addition, reasonable proliferation, release and fishing of N. japonicus and G. spadiceus will be beneficial to the sustainable utilization of fishery resources.

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Evaluating the ecological state of Chinese Lake Baiyangdian (BYD) based on Ecological Network Analysis

Zeng

Zhao

2021

Ecological Indicators

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Assessing the structure and functioning of the southern North Sea ecosystem with a food-web model

Cited by 12 publications

References 38 publications

Sensitivity of multispecies maximum sustainable yields to trends in the top (marine mammals) and bottom (primary production) compartments of the southern North Sea food-web

Sensitivity of multispecies maximum sustainable yields to trends in the top (marine mammals) and bottom (primary production) compartments of the southern North Sea food-web

Temporal and spatial comparison of food web structure in marine pastures in the Pearl River Estuary: Implications for sustainable fisheries management

Evaluating the ecological state of Chinese Lake Baiyangdian (BYD) based on Ecological Network Analysis

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