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Ecosystem models are useful tools for making informed management decisions regarding the potential effects of environmental change and fishing activity on Southern Ocean ecosystems. Recent work has successfully updated an existing Ecopath model for the Kerguelen exclusive economic zone from an unbalanced to a balanced model state (where energy inputs equal outputs). This balanced model details food-web dynamics in the Kerguelen Island region using species biomass and diet information. In this paper we present this balanced model as well as an evaluation of food-web structure and function using tools found in Ecopath. Energy flows in the model suggest that the Kerguelen Island food web is smaller and more mature than other sub-Antarctic food webs and the impacts of direct and indirect interactions on functional groups highlighted the importance of cephalopods in the food web. This model is currently undergoing an expansion to include the entire northern region of the Kerguelen Plateau.

Item Type:	Refereed Conference Paper
Keywords:	Kerguelen Plateau, Ecopath, ecosystem model, food web, fishing
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Ecology
Research Field:	Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Coastal and estuarine systems and management
Objective Field:	Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems
UTAS Author:	Subramaniam, RC (Miss Roshni Subramaniam)
UTAS Author:	Melbourne-Thomas, J (Dr Jessica Melbourne-Thomas)
UTAS Author:	Corney, SP (Dr Stuart Corney)
UTAS Author:	Swadling, KM (Associate Professor Kerrie Swadling)
ID Code:	134699
Year Published:	2019
Deposited By:	Oceans and Cryosphere
Deposited On:	2019-08-29
Last Modified:	2020-08-24
Downloads:	9 View Download Statistics