Small pelagics in upwelling systems: patterns of interaction and structural changes in “wasp-waist” ecosystems

Abrupt environmental shift associated with changes in the distribution of Cape anchovyEngraulis encrasicolusspawners in the southern Benguela

“…Anchovy is also ecologically important because it is a significant predator of plankton and is important prey for many piscivorous fish, bird and marine mammal species (Cury et al 2000). On account of its importance, a substantial amount of research effort in the region has been directed at elucidating the life-history strategy of Cape anchovy and understanding environmental factors that impact its recruitment variability , Moloney et al 2004.…”

The freshwater grass shrimpPalaemonetes antennariusin the diet of fish in Lake Bracciano (Central Italy)

“…Taking the double role of prey for fish and possible predator of benthic invertebrates into account (Cibinetto et al, 2005), the freshwater grass shrimp position in the food web brought to mind that it is of crucial importance as intermediate trophic species in 'wasp-waist' ecosystems The latter are typical for pelagic upwelling areas (Cury et al, 2000) where a large number of taxa are linked by a single or only very few species collocated in the middle of the trophic levels (Smith Jr et al, 2007). This 'centrality' makes P. antennarius a more imperiled taxon if we also consider the introduction and spreading of both alien invertebrates and fish species as potential competitors and/or predators This may be the case for very stressed areas such as in central Italy where diverse invasive crayfish (Chiesa et al, 2006;Nonnis et al, 2009;Scalici et al, 2010Scalici et al, , 2009bScalici et al, , 2009cDörr and Scalici, 2013;Bissattini et al, accepted) and their unsafe parasites (Dörr et al, 2011(Dörr et al, , 2012a(Dörr et al, , 2012bChiesa et al, 2015) were recorded and described.…”

The Distribution and Abundance of Decapod and Fish Communities in Cleveland Bay, Australia

“…Small pelagic fish are essential elements of marine ecosystems (30% of global fisheries) due to their significant biomass at intermediate levels of the food web that play important role in connecting the lower and upper trophic levels (Cury et al, 2000;Smith et al, 2011). Moreover, the decapod species are also found in high diversity in the aquatic environments (90% of total species) that mostly live in the sea or in adjacent brackish waters (Anger, 2001).…”