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Spatial and temporal structure of predator–prey relationships in the Celtic Sea fish community
Citation
Trenkel, VM and Pinnegar, JK and Dawson, WA and du Buit, MH and Tidd, AN, Spatial and temporal structure of predator-prey relationships in the Celtic Sea fish community, Marine Ecology - Progress Series, 299 pp. 257-268. ISSN 0171-8630 (2005) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2005 Inter-Research
Abstract
The spatial and temporal structure of predator–prey relationships in the Celtic Sea was investigated for 4 commercially important predator species (cod Gadus morhua, hake Merluccius merluccius, megrim Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis, and whiting Merlangius merlangus) using stomach-content and bottom-trawl survey data for the period 1982 to 1995. Blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou were consumed more often during the summer months, whereas mackerel Scomber scombrus and Trisopterus spp. (poor cod T. minutus, Norway pout T. esmarkii, and bib T. luscus) were found more often in predator stomachs during the winter half-year. On a spatial scale, blue whiting was consumed over the shelf edge, in accordance with their higher densities in the environment, while mackerel, horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus and Trisopterus spp. were eaten more often on the continental shelf, again in agreement with their depth-related density-distribution patterns. The spatial distribution of whiting closely matched that of a key prey, Trisopterus spp. This might indicate an ‘aggregative response’ by the predator. The results of this study suggest spatial and seasonal prey-switching behaviour by cod, hake and whiting. Overall, the Celtic Sea fish community is characterised by opportunistic predators and general independence between predator and prey distributions. Interspecific predator interactions are reduced by size-, space- and time-dependent feeding behaviours.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | diet, stomach contents, preference, Celtic Sea, season, spatial distribution |
| Research Division: | Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences |
| Research Group: | Forestry sciences |
| Research Field: | Forestry fire management |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
| Objective Field: | Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems |
| UTAS Author: | Tidd, AN (Dr Alexander Tidd) |
| ID Code: | 116257 |
| Year Published: | 2005 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 40 |
| Deposited By: | Fisheries and Aquaculture |
| Deposited On: | 2017-05-04 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-09-13 |
| Downloads: | 119 View Download Statistics |
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