PaperYear: | 2017 |
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Author(s): | Hilmar Hinz, Joan Moranta, Stephen Balestrini, Marija Sciberras, Julia R. Pantin, James Monnington, Alex Zalewski, Michel J. Kaiser, Mattias Sköld, Patrik Jonsson, Francois Bastardie, Jan Geert Hiddink |
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Title: | Stable isotopes reveal the effect of trawl fisheries on the diet of commercially exploited species |
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Journal: | Scientific Reports |
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ISSN: | 2045-2322 |
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JCR Impact Factor: | 4.122 |
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Volume: | 7 |
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Issue No.: | 6334 |
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Pages: | 1-12 |
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D.O.I.: | 10.1038/s41598-017-06379-6 |
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Web: | https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06379-6 |
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Abstract: | © 2017 The Author(s). Bottom trawling can change food availability for
benthivorous demersal species by (i) changing benthic prey composition
through physical seabed impacts and (ii) by removing overall benthic
consumer biomass increasing the net availability of benthic prey for
remaining individuals. Thus trawling may both negatively and positively
influence the quantity and quality of food available. Using δ 13C and δ
15N we investigated potential diet changes of three commercially
exploited species across trawling gradients in the Kattegat (plaice, dab
and Norway lobster (Nephrops)) and the Irish Sea (Nephrops). In the
Kattegat, trawling affected primarily the biomass of benthic consumers,
lowering competition. Nephrops showed significant positive relationships
for δ 13C and a domed relationship for δ 15N with trawling. In the
Irish Sea, intense trawling had a negative effect on benthic prey. δ 13C
and δ 15N thus showed the inverse relationships to those observed in
the Kattegat. Plaice from the Kattegat, showed a significant
relationship with trawling intensity for δ 13C, but not for δ 15N. No
relationship was found for dab. Changes of δ 13C and δ 15N correlated
with changes in condition of species. The results show that the removal
of demersal competitors and benthos by trawling can change the diets of
commercial species, ultimately affecting their body condition. |
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Related staffHilmar Hinz
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