TY - JOUR
T1 - Trophic Structure and Community Stability in an Overfished Ecosystem
AU - Utne-Palm, Anne Cristine
AU - Salvanes, Anne G. V.
AU - Currie, Bronwen
AU - Kaartvedt, Stein
AU - Nilsson, Göran E.
AU - Braithwaite, Victoria A.
AU - Stecyk, Jonathan A. W.
AU - Hundt, Matthias
AU - van der Bank, Megan
AU - Flynn, Bradley
AU - Sandvik, Guro K.
AU - Klevjer, Thor A.
AU - Sweetman, Andrew K.
AU - Brüchert, Volker
AU - Pittman, Karin
AU - Peard, Kathleen R.
AU - Lunde, Ida G.
AU - Strandabø, Rønnaug A. U.
AU - Gibbons, Mark J.
PY - 2010/7/16
Y1 - 2010/7/16
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/77954777861
U2 - 10.1126/science.1190708
DO - 10.1126/science.1190708
M3 - Article
C2 - 20647468
SN - 0036-8075
VL - 329
SP - 333
EP - 336
JO - Science
JF - Science
IS - 5989
ER -