Food, habitat and time niches in a coastal fish species assemblage in a brackish water bay in the Bothnian Sea, Sweden

Thorman, Staffan; Wiederholm, Anne-Marie

doi:10.1016/0022-0981(86)90088-2

Cited by 44 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…It is widely known that such a recurring, pulsed mass availability of prey triggers the evolution of specialization in predators by simultaneously increasing the dependence on particular prey (Willson and Womble 2006). Although the transitional waters of the Baltic Sea have not been considered food limited between May and September (Thorman and Wiederholm 1986), the nutritional situation might be different during the early herring spawning period in spring (March and April) when previous to spring plankton blooms alternative prey for sticklebacks might be rare. In situ stomach contents of sticklebacks sampled in 2011 (Table 1) showed indeed a very high presence of herring eggs at certain sampling dates (e.g., 100% in cw 17; n 5 29), indicating a directed predation on eggs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) on the eggs of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in a Baltic Sea lagoon

Kotterba¹,

Kühn²,

Hammer³

et al. 2014

Limnology & Oceanography

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We analyzed the predation of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) on the spawn of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in a mesohaline lagoon of the Baltic Sea, hypothesizing a significant predation effect of a resident estuarine fish on the recruitment of an anadromous oceanic species. A predator exclusion field experiment using artificially spawned experimental units was combined with tank feeding experiments to estimate the effects of temperature and prey density on the herring egg consumption by estuarine G. aculeatus. The predator exclusion experiment showed a significant mortality of herring eggs caused by estuarine predatory fish species. A strong increase in the consumption of herring eggs by sticklebacks was observed between 11uC and 15uC (Q 10 5 3.15). Additionally, we found a significant positive correlation between egg concentration per area and predation intensity. Nearly all eggs were consumed at concentrations $ 25 eggs cm 22 , but predation was less intense at egg concentrations below that threshold. Field data on herring egg concentrations, stickleback abundances, and stomach contents were combined with the findings of the experiments to estimate the percentage of spawned herring eggs that is consumed by the local stickleback (M PS ). The highest M PS (11.4%) was estimated for a week in April in the second half of the spawning season. We conclude that stickleback predation on herring eggs potentially affects the local herring year class strength.Transitional waters connecting temperate river tributaries with the coastal ocean worldwide represent nutrient-rich, mesohaline, and seasonally highly variable environments. These characteristics pose unique challenges for euryhaline faunal communities populating those ecosystems and also for scientists investigating the ecology of these waters (Elliott and Whitfield 2011). Fish communities of temperate estuaries and coastal lagoons are often subject to significant changes during the course of a year (Thiel et al. 1995). This variability is caused by seasonal changes in environmental conditions, the specific migration behaviors, and the reproductive cycles of the different species. Ecological studies of qualitative and quantitative aspects of estuarine fish assemblages therefore often represent merely a temporary status of an otherwise highly dynamic system. These snapshots are difficult to generalize, e.g., in order to construct predictive multispecies model approaches for ecosystem productivity or energy transfer. Few studies include changes in estuarine fish assemblages caused by seasonal immigration of oceanic species, and even fewer consider the actual extent and importance of trophic links generated in the context of this migratory behavior.Western Baltic spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus) undergoes an extensive annual migration (Aro 1989).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) on the eggs of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in a Baltic Sea lagoon

Kotterba¹,

Kühn²,

Hammer³

et al. 2014

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…1990) . Temperature and salinity may be more important than inter-and intra-species competition in determining fish community structure in shallow Scandinavian brackish water bays (Thorman & Wiederholm 1986) . The dominating labrid species in our study area migrate to deeper water in October when the water temperature falls below 9° C and return in May (Hillden 1984) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish assemblage structure in relation to macrophytes and filamentous epiphytes in shallow non-tidal rocky- and soft-bottom habitats

1994

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SynopsisThe fish assemblage in nineteen shallow water (0-3 m) areas on the Swedish west coast, including an estuarine zone, was assessed during spring and autumn 1989 and autumn 1990, using semi-quantitative survey nets. Samples of macrovegetation were collected concurrently for estimates of species composition and biomass .Nine stations had rocky-bottom substrata and ten had soft-bottom substrata all characterized by high coverage of macrovegetation and variously overgrown with epiphytic filamentous algae . Fish assemblage structures were compared and related to vegetation biomass, substrata and estuarine influences . At rocky-bottom stations total fish biomass was positively correlated with total vegetation biomass and negatively correlated with the proportion of filamentous algae during autumn samplings . In soft-bottom habitats variation in vegetation was small between stations, and no correlation existed between vegetation biomass and fish biomass .However, the number of fish species in soft-bottom habitats decreased significantly with increasing dominance of filamentous algae . The component species of the fish assemblage varied in their relation to the vegetation biomass and structure suggesting differences in degree of association with vegetation at the species level . Multivariate analysis based on fish species composition and on vegetation assemblages at the individual stations, yielded two major groups in accordance with division of the substrate into rocky-and soft-bottom habitats . Vegetation biomass superimposed on the fish assemblage ordination indicated a relationship between vegetation biomass and fish assemblage structure . Location of stations, in relation to the estuary was reflected in subgroups formed in the fish assemblage based cluster and ordination, suggesting a substantial estuarine influence on the fish assemblages . Thus, substrate type, vegetation biomass and structure, and estuarine influence are all potential structuring factors for the fish assemblages . In our study, vegetation structure s eems . t o be of major importance and changes such as increased dominance of filamentous algae, like that observed in coastal areas in Sweden, might cause significant changes in fish assemblage structure .

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“…At the depths surveyed here, 6e8 m, most of the Pomatoschistus spp. are likely to be P. minutus (Jansson et al, 1985;Thorman and Wiederholm, 1986). Consequently, only the name P. minutus was used, although our data could include some P. microps.…”

Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

The influence of offshore windpower on demersal fish

Wilhelmsson

Malm

Öhman

2006

ICES Journal of Marine Science

221

163

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Malm, T., and Ö hman, M. C. 2006. The influence of offshore windpower on demersal fish. e ICES Journal of Marine Science, 63: 775e784.A significant expansion of offshore windpower is expected in northwestern Europe in the near future. Little is known about the impacts it may have on the marine environment. Here, we investigate the potential for wind turbines to function as artificial reefs and fish aggregation devices (FADs), i.e. whether they would locally increase fish densities or alter fish assemblages. Fish communities and habitat composition were investigated using visual transects at two windpower farms off the southeastern coast of Sweden, central Baltic Sea. Fish abundance was greater in the vicinity of the turbines than in surrounding areas, while species richness and ShannoneWiener diversity (H 0 ) were similar. On the monopiles of the turbines, fish community structure was different, and total fish abundance was greater, while species richness and diversity (H 0 ) were lower than on the surrounding seabed. Blue mussels and barnacles covered most of the submerged parts of the turbines. On the seabed, more blue mussels and a lesser cover of red algae were recorded around the power plants than elsewhere. Results from this study suggest that offshore windfarms may function as combined artificial reefs and fish aggregation devices for small demersal fish.

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Food, habitat and time niches in a coastal fish species assemblage in a brackish water bay in the Bothnian Sea, Sweden

Cited by 44 publications

References 23 publications

Predation of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) on the eggs of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in a Baltic Sea lagoon

Predation of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) on the eggs of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in a Baltic Sea lagoon

Fish assemblage structure in relation to macrophytes and filamentous epiphytes in shallow non-tidal rocky- and soft-bottom habitats

The influence of offshore windpower on demersal fish

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