Damped trophic cascades driven by fishing in model marine ecosystems

K. H. Andersen, Martin Hartvig

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The largest perturbation on upper trophic levels of many marine ecosystems stems from fishing. The reaction of the ecosystem goes beyond the trophic levels directly targeted by the fishery. This reaction has been described either as a change in slope of the overall size spectrum or as a trophic cascade triggered by the removal of top predators. Here we use a novel size- and trait-based model to explore how marine ecosystems might react to perturbations from different types of fishing pressure. The model explicitly resolves the whole life history of fish, from larvae to adults. The results show that fishing does not change the overall slope of the size spectrum, but depletes the largest individuals and induces trophic cascades. A trophic cascade can propagate both up and down in trophic levels driven by a combination of changes in predation mortality and food limitation. The cascade is damped as it comes further away from the perturbed trophic level. Fishing on several trophic levels leads to a disappearance of the signature of the trophic cascade. Differences in fishing patterns among ecosystems might influence whether a trophic cascade is observed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)795-802
JournalRoyal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences
Volume277
Issue number1682
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Bibliographical note

The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Theoretical ecology (Closed 2011) (011006011), Evolutionary Ecology (432112238)

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Biological Sciences
  • Ecology

Free keywords

  • community model
  • ecosystem approach to fisheries
  • size spectrum
  • management

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