Back to Search Start Over

Trophodynamics of the eastern Great Australian Bight ecosystem: ecological change associated with the growth of Australia's largest fishery

Authors :
Charlie Huveneers
Lachlan J. McLeay
Michelle Braley
Brad Page
Tim M. Ward
Andrew D. Lowther
Keryn Daly
C Bulman
Alastair M. M. Baylis
Annelise Wiebkin
Paul J. Rogers
Luke D. Einoder
Robin Caines
Simon D. Goldsworthy
Kristian J. Peters
Goldsworthy, Simon D
Page, Brad
Rogers, Paul J
Bulman, Cathy
Wiebkin, Annelise
McLeay, Lachlan J
Einoder, Luke
Baylis, Alastair MM
Braley, Michelle
Daly, Keryn
Huveneers, Charlie
Peters, Kristian
Lowther, Andrew D
Ward, Tim M
Publication Year :
2013
Publisher :
Netherlands : Elsevier BV, 2013.

Abstract

We used the Ecopath with Ecosim software to develop a trophic mass-balance model of the eastern Great Australian Bight ecosystem, off southern Australia. Results provide an ecosystem perspective of Australia's largest fishery, the South Australian sardine fishery, by placing its establishment and growth in the context of other dynamic changes in the ecosystem, including: the development of other fisheries; changing abundances of apex predator populations and oceanographic change. We investigated the potential impacts of the sardine fishery on high tropic level predators, particularly land-breeding seals and seabirds which may be suitable ecological performance indicators of ecosystem health. Results indicate that despite the rapid growth of the sardine fishery since 1991, there has likely been a negligible fishery impact on other modelled groups, suggesting that current levels of fishing effort are not impacting negatively on the broader ecosystem structure and function in the eastern Great Australian Bight. Results highlight the importance of small pelagic fish to higher trophic levels, the trophic changes that have resulted from loss and recovery of apex predator populations, and the potential pivotal role of cephalopod biomass in regulating 'bottom-up' trophic processes. The ability to resolve and attribute potential impacts from multiple fisheries, other human impacts and ecological change in this poorly understood region is highlighted by the study, and will be critical to ensure future ecologically sustainable development within the region. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Details

Language :
English
Database :
OpenAIRE
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....ed17d738ebc2d67a78c35936f27bb8ef