Changes in fisheries discard rates and seabird communities

被引:208
作者
Votier, SC [1 ]
Furness, RW
Bearhop, S
Crane, JE
Caldow, RWG
Catry, P
Ensor, K
Hamer, KC
Hudson, AV
Kalmbach, E
Klomp, NI
Pfeiffer, S
Phillips, RA
Prieto, I
Thompson, DR
机构
[1] Univ Glasgow, Inst Biomed & Life Sci, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Lanark, Scotland
[2] Queens Univ Belfast, Sch Biol & Biochem, Ctr Med Biol, Belfast BT9 7BL, Antrim, North Ireland
[3] Winfrith Newburgh, Winfrith Technol Ctr, Ctr Ecol & Hydrol, Dorchester DT2 8ZD, Dorset, England
[4] ISPA, Unidade Invest Ecoetol, Lisbon, Portugal
[5] Univ Leeds, Fac Biol Sci, Leeds LS2 9JT, W Yorkshire, England
[6] Univ Groningen, Dept Anim Ecol, NL-9751 NN Haren, Netherlands
[7] Charles Sturt Univ, Johnstone Ctr, Sch Environm & Informat Sci, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia
[8] Univ Jena, Inst Ecol, D-07743 Jena, Germany
[9] British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge CB3 0ET, England
[10] Natl Inst Water & Atmospher Res Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand
基金
英国自然环境研究理事会;
关键词
D O I
10.1038/nature02315
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
It is clear that discards from commercial fisheries are a key food resource for many seabird species around the world(1-8). But predicting the response of seabird communities to changes in discard rates is problematic and requires historical data to elucidate the confounding effects of other, more 'natural' ecological processes. In the North Sea, declining stocks, changes in technical measures, changes in population structure(9) and the establishment of a recovery programme for cod (Gadus morhua(10)) will alter the amount of fish discarded. This region also supports internationally important populations of seabirds(11), some of which feed extensively, but facultatively, on discards, in particular on undersized haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus)(1-3). Here we use long-term data sets from the northern North Sea to show that there is a direct link between discard availability and discard use by a generalist predator and scavenger-the great skua (Stercorarius skua). Reduced rates of discarding, particularly when coupled with reduced availability of small shoaling pelagic fish such as sandeel (Ammodytes marinus), result in an increase in predation by great skuas on other birds. This switching of prey by a facultative scavenger presents a potentially serious threat to some seabird communities.
引用
收藏
页码:727 / 730
页数:4
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