Investigating the coupling between small pelagic fish and marine top predators using data collected from ecosystem-based surveys

Certain, Grégoire; Massé, Jacques; Canneyt, Olivier Van; Petitgas, Pierre; Dorémus, Ghislain; Santos, M.B.; Ridoux, Vincent

doi:10.3354/meps08932

Cited by 44 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…These results either reflect temporal and spatial mismatches in fish surveys and penguin foraging areas (Fauchald ; Certain et al . ), or highlight anomalies within mixing models (Parnell et al . ; Cummings et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking dietary shifts and reproductive failure in seabirds: a stable isotope approach

et al. 2013

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Summary1. Diet-related breeding failure in seabirds has been attributed to declines in key prey abundance, the quality of prey and overall prey availability. However, identifying which aspect of diet is responsible for reproductive failure is challenging due to the practicalities of measuring prey utilization and the actual availability and abundance of those resources. 2. In this study, stable isotope-based Bayesian models, in combination with indices of resource availability, were used to assess the links between prey availability, seabird diet and reproductive success in a generalist, inshore top predator, the little penguin, Eudyptula minor. 3. The most probable causes for the sharp decrease in little penguin reproductive performance were diminished localized populations of anchovies, Engraulis australis, in combination with the scarcity of alternative prey. Low dietary diversity and the consumption of low trophic value prey were observed in this period. In the contrasting following year, penguins consumed increased levels of anchovy as well as a high diversity of prey. High dietary diversity and the consumption of high trophic value prey were observed in birds' pre-breeding and breeding diet and likely led to early breeding and high reproductive success. 4. Our results highlight that resource abundance and the availability of a variety of prey taxa are critical factors in enabling this inshore seabird to adjust to changes in environmental conditions and fluctuations in prey.5. An understanding of seabird diet is integral to their conservation and management. Monitoring seabird trophic niche dimensions and reproductive parameters can elucidate causes for population declines and can provide information about particular prey species and foraging locations that require protection.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking dietary shifts and reproductive failure in seabirds: a stable isotope approach

et al. 2013

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“…, Certain et al . ), and underpins the successful management of threats (Hastie et al . , Slooten , de Castro et al .…”

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confidence: 99%

Fine scale distribution for a population of New Zealand's only endemic dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) shows long‐term stability of coastal hotspots

Brough

Rayment

Slooten

et al. 2018

Marine Mammal Science

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Marine mammal populations often have “hotspots” of distribution. Understanding what drives these is important for understanding relationships with habitat and evaluating exposure to threats. Few studies investigate the stability of hotspots, yet this information is vital in assessing their importance. In this study, over 9,000 sightings made during systematic surveys over 29 yr are used to establish the existence, locations, and temporal dynamics of hotspots for Hector's dolphins at Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. Sightings were divided into four seasons and three time periods to assess temporal trends in habitat use. Kernel density analysis was performed on sightings, weighted by survey effort. Density values at hotspots and reference areas were modeled according to season and time period using linear mixed models. Fifty percent of weighted sightings (n = 4,513) occurred within 21% of the study area. Hotspots had significantly higher densities during summer and these high‐density areas have remained consistent over time. Such consistency implies importance of these areas to the dolphins' ecology. This information adds to our knowledge of how this endangered species uses its habitat, suggests candidate areas for protection from threats, and provides a baseline for assessing habitat related impacts on Hector's dolphins at Banks Peninsula.© 2018 Society for Marine Mammalogy

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“…The pattern of schooling has a strong influence on the horizontal and vertical distribution of their predators. Birds, mammals and large predatory fish often aggregate in regions where dense schools are predictable and sustained, and changes in predator foraging behaviour often occur in response to variations in prey schooling patterns (Certain et al, 2011;Fréon and Misund, 1999;Matley et al, 2012;Ritz et al, 2011). Therefore, understanding the nature of schooling behaviour in the prey field is an essential step to interpreting foraging behaviour and success in myctophid predators.…”

Section: Myctophid Fish Form An Important Dietary Component Of Many Hmentioning

confidence: 99%

School characteristics of mesopelagic fish at South Georgia

Saunders

Fielding

Thorpe

et al. 2013

Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers

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In this paper, we describe the variation in myctophid schools characteristics at South Georgia using multi-frequency acoustic data collected annually between November 2007 and January 2012. We studied the relationship between the proximity of land and the distribution and schooling characteristics of myctophid fish. We also examined patterns in schooling behaviour in relation to oceanographic data. Fish schools were identified using a dualfrequency dB identification method (S v120-38 kHz ), where negative S v120-38 kHz is indicative of gas-bearing organisms, such as swimbladdered fish. Available net data were used to provide information on the meosopelagic fish community in the region. School morphometrics (e.g. length, thickness, area) data were extracted and pooled according to their distance from the shore (0-30 km, 30-60 km, 60-90 km, 90-120 km). A total of 578 schools were detected in the survey region and there was high variation in school backscattering strength (NASC), length, height, perimeter, depth and horizontal distribution between surveys, including distinct inter-annual variation in these parameters when surveys were conducted in the same season (2009)(2010)(2011)(2012). Schools were distributed predominantly on-shelf (0-500 m isobaths) during some summer surveys (2007 and 2012) and predominantly off-shelf on others (>500 2 m isobaths; 2009, 2010 and 2011). There was also evidence of bathymetric separation in the horizontal distribution of schools. Schools observed in the late-season in 2008 had the greatest NASC, largest height and the deepest depth distribution. Most schools occurred at depths between ~60-300 m, but they did not occupy the same water masses during each survey. Schools became progressively thinner, shallower and acoustically weaker with increasing distance to land, whilst school length and perimeter increased correspondingly.The change in fish schooling behaviour between environments could be a response to a combination of local predatory threats over short spatial/temporal scales and differences in oceanographic conditions, such as current velocity. The trend could also be evidence of spatial habitat partitioning of myctophids, with different schooling species, or different lifestages, orientating along a bathymetric gradient at South Georgia.

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Investigating the coupling between small pelagic fish and marine top predators using data collected from ecosystem-based surveys

Cited by 44 publications

References 75 publications

Linking dietary shifts and reproductive failure in seabirds: a stable isotope approach

Linking dietary shifts and reproductive failure in seabirds: a stable isotope approach

Fine scale distribution for a population of New Zealand's only endemic dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) shows long‐term stability of coastal hotspots

School characteristics of mesopelagic fish at South Georgia

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