Publication details.

Paper

Year:2017
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
Title:Stable isotopes reveal the effect of trawl fisheries on the diet of commercially exploited species
Journal:Scientific Reports
ISSN:2045-2322
JCR Impact Factor:4.122
Volume:7
Issue No.:6334
Pages:1-12
D.O.I.:10.1038/s41598-017-06379-6
Web:https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06379-6
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.

Related staff

  • Hilmar Hinz

    • Related research groups

  • Marine Ecosystems Dynamics
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