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Global patterns in marine predatory fish

Global patterns in marine predatory fish

Authors :
Reg Watson
Ken Haste Andersen
Brian R. MacKenzie
P. Daniël van Denderen
Martin Lindegren
Source :
van Denderen, P D, Lindegren, M, MacKenzie, B, Watson, R & Andersen, K H 2018, ' Global patterns in marine predatory fish ', Nature Ecology & Evolution, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 65-70 . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0388-z
Publication Year :
2017
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2017.

Abstract

Large teleost (bony) fish are a dominant group of predators in the oceans and constitute a major source of food and livelihood for humans. These species differ markedly in morphology and feeding habits across oceanic regions; large pelagic species such as tunas and billfish typically occur in the tropics, whereas demersal species of gadoids and flatfish dominate boreal and temperate regions. Despite their importance for fisheries and the structuring of marine ecosystems, the underlying factors determining the global distribution and productivity of these two groups of teleost predators are poorly known. Here, we show how latitudinal differences in predatory fish can essentially be explained by the inflow of energy at the base of the pelagic and benthic food chain. A low productive benthic energy pathway favours large pelagic species, whereas equal productivities support large demersal generalists that outcompete the pelagic specialists. Our findings demonstrate the vulnerability of large teleost predators to ecosystem-wide changes in energy flows and hence provide key insight to predict the responses of these important marine resources under global change.

Details

ISSN :
2397334X
Volume :
2
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Nature Ecology & Evolution
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....0cfd0857fe3b5305a2724fb94038b5c5
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0388-z