The ecological role of overwintering fish in the food web of the Culbin Sands lagoon ecosystem, NE Scotland: Identifying major trophic links and testing effects of the fish Pomatoschistus microps (Pallas) on benthic invertebrates

Vanda Mariyam Mendonca; David Raffaelli; Peter Boyle; Chas Emes

The ecological role of overwintering fish in the food web of the Culbin Sands lagoon ecosystem, NE Scotland: Identifying major trophic links and testing effects of the fish Pomatoschistus microps (Pallas) on benthic invertebrates

Vanda Mariyam Mendonca, David Raffaelli, Peter Boyle, Chas Emes

Environment and Geography

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The Culbin Sands lagoon ecosystem in NE Scotland was studied during a three-year period (1994-1996) to identify the major trophic links from benthic invertebrates to epibenthic predators, and to assess impacts of overwintering fish on their prey communities. Every 2-4 weeks, samples of mobile fauna were collected to study their diets. The major trophic links identified between benthic invertebrates and epibenthic predators were from benthic invertebrates to the shrimp Crangon crangon, and to the common goby Pomatoschistus microps and the plaice Pleuronectes platessa. The energy flow from benthic invertebrates to overwintering fish was estimated at 133 kJ m(-2)yr(-1). A flow of 10 kJ m(-2)yr(-1) was also observed from eggs and larval stages of the overwintering shrimp Crangon crangon to the overwintering fish. Nevertheless, manipulative field experiments showed no significant impacts of the most abundant overwintering fish Pomatoschistus microps on prey community densities, despite an overall individual ingestion rate of 89 J day(-1).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	649-660
Number of pages	12
Journal	Scientia marina
Volume	71
Issue number	4
Publication status	Published - Dec 2007

Keywords

Pomatoschistus microps
Pleuronectes platessa
energy flow
predator impacts
Culbin Sands lagoon
SHRIMP CRANGON-CRANGON
PLAICE PLEURONECTES-PLATESSA
JUVENILE PLAICE
YTHAN ESTUARY
BROWN SHRIMP
COMMON GOBY
WADDEN SEA
POPULATION
PREDATION
MEIOFAUNA

Cite this

@article{f8806b301edc40b38edfe79f09e2120e,

title = "The ecological role of overwintering fish in the food web of the Culbin Sands lagoon ecosystem, NE Scotland: Identifying major trophic links and testing effects of the fish Pomatoschistus microps (Pallas) on benthic invertebrates",

abstract = "The Culbin Sands lagoon ecosystem in NE Scotland was studied during a three-year period (1994-1996) to identify the major trophic links from benthic invertebrates to epibenthic predators, and to assess impacts of overwintering fish on their prey communities. Every 2-4 weeks, samples of mobile fauna were collected to study their diets. The major trophic links identified between benthic invertebrates and epibenthic predators were from benthic invertebrates to the shrimp Crangon crangon, and to the common goby Pomatoschistus microps and the plaice Pleuronectes platessa. The energy flow from benthic invertebrates to overwintering fish was estimated at 133 kJ m(-2)yr(-1). A flow of 10 kJ m(-2)yr(-1) was also observed from eggs and larval stages of the overwintering shrimp Crangon crangon to the overwintering fish. Nevertheless, manipulative field experiments showed no significant impacts of the most abundant overwintering fish Pomatoschistus microps on prey community densities, despite an overall individual ingestion rate of 89 J day(-1).",

keywords = "Pomatoschistus microps, Pleuronectes platessa, energy flow, predator impacts, Culbin Sands lagoon, SHRIMP CRANGON-CRANGON, PLAICE PLEURONECTES-PLATESSA, JUVENILE PLAICE, YTHAN ESTUARY, BROWN SHRIMP, COMMON GOBY, WADDEN SEA, POPULATION, PREDATION, MEIOFAUNA",

author = "Mendonca, {Vanda Mariyam} and David Raffaelli and Peter Boyle and Chas Emes",

year = "2007",

month = dec,

language = "English",

volume = "71",

pages = "649--660",

journal = "Scientia marina",

issn = "0214-8358",

publisher = "CSIC Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas",

number = "4",

}

The ecological role of overwintering fish in the food web of the Culbin Sands lagoon ecosystem, NE Scotland: Identifying major trophic links and testing effects of the fish Pomatoschistus microps (Pallas) on benthic invertebrates. / Mendonca, Vanda Mariyam; Raffaelli, David; Boyle, Peter et al.
In: Scientia marina, Vol. 71, No. 4, 12.2007, p. 649-660.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The ecological role of overwintering fish in the food web of the Culbin Sands lagoon ecosystem, NE Scotland: Identifying major trophic links and testing effects of the fish Pomatoschistus microps (Pallas) on benthic invertebrates

AU - Mendonca, Vanda Mariyam

AU - Raffaelli, David

AU - Boyle, Peter

AU - Emes, Chas

PY - 2007/12

Y1 - 2007/12

N2 - The Culbin Sands lagoon ecosystem in NE Scotland was studied during a three-year period (1994-1996) to identify the major trophic links from benthic invertebrates to epibenthic predators, and to assess impacts of overwintering fish on their prey communities. Every 2-4 weeks, samples of mobile fauna were collected to study their diets. The major trophic links identified between benthic invertebrates and epibenthic predators were from benthic invertebrates to the shrimp Crangon crangon, and to the common goby Pomatoschistus microps and the plaice Pleuronectes platessa. The energy flow from benthic invertebrates to overwintering fish was estimated at 133 kJ m(-2)yr(-1). A flow of 10 kJ m(-2)yr(-1) was also observed from eggs and larval stages of the overwintering shrimp Crangon crangon to the overwintering fish. Nevertheless, manipulative field experiments showed no significant impacts of the most abundant overwintering fish Pomatoschistus microps on prey community densities, despite an overall individual ingestion rate of 89 J day(-1).

AB - The Culbin Sands lagoon ecosystem in NE Scotland was studied during a three-year period (1994-1996) to identify the major trophic links from benthic invertebrates to epibenthic predators, and to assess impacts of overwintering fish on their prey communities. Every 2-4 weeks, samples of mobile fauna were collected to study their diets. The major trophic links identified between benthic invertebrates and epibenthic predators were from benthic invertebrates to the shrimp Crangon crangon, and to the common goby Pomatoschistus microps and the plaice Pleuronectes platessa. The energy flow from benthic invertebrates to overwintering fish was estimated at 133 kJ m(-2)yr(-1). A flow of 10 kJ m(-2)yr(-1) was also observed from eggs and larval stages of the overwintering shrimp Crangon crangon to the overwintering fish. Nevertheless, manipulative field experiments showed no significant impacts of the most abundant overwintering fish Pomatoschistus microps on prey community densities, despite an overall individual ingestion rate of 89 J day(-1).

KW - Pomatoschistus microps

KW - Pleuronectes platessa

KW - energy flow

KW - predator impacts

KW - Culbin Sands lagoon

KW - SHRIMP CRANGON-CRANGON

KW - PLAICE PLEURONECTES-PLATESSA

KW - JUVENILE PLAICE

KW - YTHAN ESTUARY

KW - BROWN SHRIMP

KW - COMMON GOBY

KW - WADDEN SEA

KW - POPULATION

KW - PREDATION

KW - MEIOFAUNA

M3 - Article

SN - 0214-8358

VL - 71

SP - 649

EP - 660

JO - Scientia marina

JF - Scientia marina

IS - 4

ER -