Reproductive rate of a top predator, the grey seal, as an indicator of the changes in the Baltic food web

Kauhala, Kaarina; Korpinen, Samuli; Lehtiniemi, Maiju; Raitaniemi, Jari

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.03.022

Cited by 13 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…One reason may be small and inaccurate data for body weight. It is also likely that weight (and blubber thickness) is affected by food quality the present or the previous year, as found in earlier studies (Kauhala et al 2016(Kauhala et al , 2017(Kauhala et al , 2019. In a capital breeder, such as the grey seal, body reserves the present year are thus also important for reproductive rate (Boyd 2000;Bowen et al 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Winter temperatures at the birth year of grey seal females had some influence on the birth rate later in their lives, although the connection between fish quality the present or previous year and the birth rate may be stronger (Kauhala et al 2016(Kauhala et al , 2019. Blubber thickness of especially female pups correlated negatively with winter temperatures, and birth rate of females born in warm winters was lower than that of females born in cold winters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…It is a generalist predator preying on several fish species (Lundström et al 2007(Lundström et al , 2010Kauhala et al 2011;Scharff-Olsen et al 2018;Tverin et al 2019). In the Finnish sea area, Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras) is the most common prey fish for grey seals, and herring quality is related with body condition and reproductive rate of seals (Kauhala et al 2016(Kauhala et al , 2017(Kauhala et al , 2019. Another common prey fish for grey seals is the sprat (Sprattus sprattus), especially in the southern part of the Finnish sea area (Kauhala et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another common prey fish for grey seals is the sprat (Sprattus sprattus), especially in the southern part of the Finnish sea area (Kauhala et al 2011). Changes in the Baltic food web which influence the populations of the prey fish species of seals (Casini et al 2006(Casini et al , 2008(Casini et al , 2010 also have demonstrable effects on seal populations (Kauhala et al 2016(Kauhala et al , 2019.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Delayed effects of prey fish quality and winter temperature during the birth year on adult size and reproductive rate of Baltic grey seals

Kauhala

Kurkilahti

2019

Mamm Res

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Environmental conditions of mammalian juveniles may have delayed effects on their life histories and fitness, such as body size or reproductive rate later in their lives. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis on Baltic grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and examined (1) the possible effects of prey fish quality and winter temperature on body condition of grey seal pups of both sexes and (2) the possible delayed impacts of pup environment on the body size and birth rate of adult grey seals. Body condition (blubber thickness) of especially female pups in April–May correlated negatively with winter temperatures, and body condition of male pups correlated positively with prey fish quality (herring Clupea harengus and sprat Sprattus sprattus weight). Males reached the asymptotic length at the age of 10.3 years, and body length of adult males (≥ 10 years old) was positively related to herring and sprat weight in their birth year. Females reached the asymptotic length at the age of 5.9 years. Birth rate of females (age 7–24 years) was negatively related to winter temperature in their birth year. We conclude that both changes in prey fish quality and climate may affect body condition of pups and thus also cause delayed effects on adult fitness: body size and reproductive rate of Baltic grey seals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Delayed effects of prey fish quality and winter temperature during the birth year on adult size and reproductive rate of Baltic grey seals

Kauhala

Kurkilahti

2019

Mamm Res

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“…not considering food web interactions). Moreover, there is very little evidence that the GES is defined in coherence among the food web indicators (however, see Kauhala et al 2019 ). Altogether, this means that despite the recent interest to advance and conduct food web assessments in the Baltic Sea, a feasible, widely applicable, holistic and ecologically relevant approach to design and carry out food web assessments in the region is still lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food web assessments in the Baltic Sea: Models bridging the gap between indicators and policy needs

Korpinen

Uusitalo

Nordström

et al. 2022

Ambio

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Ecosystem-based management requires understanding of food webs. Consequently, assessment of food web status is mandatory according to the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) for EU Member States. However, how to best monitor and assess food webs in practise has proven a challenging question. Here, we review and assess the current status of food web indicators and food web models, and discuss whether the models can help addressing current shortcomings of indicator-based food web assessments, using the Baltic Sea as an example region. We show that although the MSFD food web assessment was designed to use food web indicators alone, they are currently poorly fit for the purpose, because they lack interconnectivity of trophic guilds. We then argue that the multiple food web models published for this region have a high potential to provide additional coherence to the definition of good environmental status, the evaluation of uncertainties, and estimates for unsampled indicator values, but we also identify current limitations that stand in the way of more formal implementation of this approach. We close with a discussion of which current models have the best capacity for this purpose in the Baltic Sea, and of the way forward towards the combination of measurable indicators and modelling approaches in food web assessments.

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Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius, 1791)

Kunnasranta,

Olsen,

Kauhala

2024

Handbook of the Mammals of Europe

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Reproductive rate of a top predator, the grey seal, as an indicator of the changes in the Baltic food web

Cited by 13 publications

References 39 publications

Delayed effects of prey fish quality and winter temperature during the birth year on adult size and reproductive rate of Baltic grey seals

Delayed effects of prey fish quality and winter temperature during the birth year on adult size and reproductive rate of Baltic grey seals

Food web assessments in the Baltic Sea: Models bridging the gap between indicators and policy needs

Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius, 1791)

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