Trophic structure and community stability in an overfished ecosystem.
Since the collapse of the pelagic fisheries off southwest Africa in the late 1960s, jellyfish biomass has increased and the structure of the Benguelan fish community has shifted, making the bearded goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus) the new predominant prey species. Despite increased predation pressure and a harsh environment, the gobies are thriving. Here we show that physiological adaptations and antipredator and foraging behaviors underpin the success of these fish. In particular, body-tissue isotope signatures reveal that gobies consume jellyfish and sulphidic diatomaceous mud, transferring "dead-end" resources back into the food chain.
Utne-Palm
Anne C
AC
Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. anne.palm@bio.uib.no
Salvanes
Anne G V
AG
Currie
Bronwen
B
Kaartvedt
Stein
S
Nilsson
Göran E
GE
Braithwaite
Victoria A
VA
Stecyk
Jonathan A W
JA
Hundt
Matthias
M
van der Bank
Megan
M
Flynn
Bradley
B
Sandvik
Guro K
GK
Klevjer
Thor A
TA
Sweetman
Andrew K
AK
Brüchert
Volker
V
Pittman
Karin
K
Peard
Kathleen R
KR
Lunde
Ida G
IG
Strandabø
Rønnaug A U
RA
Gibbons
Mark J
MJ
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D018533:Biomass; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D004063:Digestion; D017753:Ecosystem; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005398:Fisheries; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology; D020387:Food Chain; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000032:analysis; D009276:Namibia; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010473:Perciformes / Q000502:physiology*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D037401:Scyphozoa; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry
D010100:Oxygen; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide