Human-driven spatial and temporal shift in trophodynamics in the Gulf of Maine,USA |
| |
Authors: | John J Meyer James E Byers |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA;(2) Present address: Puget Sound Partnership, Tacoma, WA 98421, USA;(3) Present address: Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA |
| |
Abstract: | Utilizing marine protected areas (MPAs) to isolate the ecological effects of human influence can help us understand our effect
on systems and foster ecosystem-based approaches to management. Specifically, examining invertebrate prey community dynamics
inside and outside an MPA may provide a measure of how altering human influence (i.e., certain fishing pressures) affects
ecosystem interactions. We measured trophic interactions inside and outside a deep-water temperate MPA over 2 years. Predation
rates on tethered, preferred groundfish prey (crabs) were initially identical inside and outside the MPA, but decreased outside
the MPA after the commercial groundfish fishing season commenced. Predation trials using a ubiquitous prey species (brittle
stars) and a less preferred prey species (urchins) served as controls, showing no MPA effect. Our experiments quantify differential
predatory activity resulting from differences in human activity driven by an MPA, demonstrating important effects of fishing
and regulations on the strength of trophic interactions. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|