Larval mortality rates and population dynamics of Lesser Sandeel (Ammodytes marinus) in the northwestern North Sea

Heath, Michael R.; Rasmussen, Jens Bødtker; Bailey, M. C.; Dunn, John; Fraser, J. H.; Gallego, Alejandro; Hay, Stephen; Inglis, Michelle; Robinson, Susan

doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2011.08.010

Cited by 14 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Five species of sandeel (family Ammodytidae) occur in the North Sea, with Ammodytes marinus the most abundant and important for seabirds and the fishery (Heath et al, ; ICES, ; Nielsen, ). Hereafter, ‘sandeels’ refers to A. marinus .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Kittiwake breeding success in the southern North Sea correlates with prior sandeel fishing mortality

Carroll

Bolton

Owen

et al. 2017

Aquatic Conservation

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In the North Sea, sandeels provide a vital food source for breeding seabirds, but are also the target of an industrial fishery. GPS tracking suggests that the most productive fishing grounds overlap with foraging areas of black‐legged kittiwakes from eastern England, raising the prospect that the fishery could affect the birds. Rising sea temperatures also threaten sandeels, so kittiwake food supplies could be affected by local and larger‐scale processes. Drivers of kittiwake breeding success at Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs Special Protection Area, the UK's largest colony, and one of the closest to the sandeel fishing grounds, were examined. Relationships between sandeel stocks, sea surface temperature and kittiwake breeding success were analysed with generalized linear mixed models and generalized linear models, with model performance assessed using the Akaike Information Criterion and R2. Higher kittiwake breeding success was associated with higher sandeel spawning stock biomass (SSB; biomass of sexually mature fish) the preceding winter (R2 = 21.5%) and lower sandeel fishing mortality two years previously (R2 = 22.3%). After temporal trends were removed, only the fishing mortality effect remained. Models with multiple predictors supported the importance of fishing mortality. Higher sandeel SSB was associated with lower temperatures (R2 = 15.2–38.6%) and lower sandeel fishing mortality (R2 = 24.2–26.1%). Hence, lower temperatures and fishing mortality were positively associated with sandeel biomass, and higher sandeel biomass and lower fishing mortality were positively associated with kittiwake productivity. In light of worsening environmental conditions and declining sandeel and kittiwake populations, careful consideration should be given to the requirements of sandeel‐dependent predators when making fishery management decisions.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…FIGURE 1 Map of North Sea study area. (a) wider study area: Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs SPA colony indicated as circle at 54°N on east coast of UK; 120 km maximum foraging range (Thaxter et al, 2012) (Heath et al, 2012;ICES, 2015;Nielsen, 1994).…”

Section: Rising Sea Temperatures Have Caused Community Shifts In Sandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kittiwake breeding success in the southern North Sea correlates with prior sandeel fishing mortality

Carroll

Bolton

Owen

et al. 2017

Aquatic Conservation

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show abstract

“…Although larval abundance, and by inference spawning stock biomass, decreased after 2001, recruitment was maintained due to an increasing larval survival rate (Heath et al 2012). The number of sandeels less than age one around the time of seabird breeding therefore would not have changed dramatically over time, yet the number of older sandeels continued to decline.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, C. finmarchicus abundance peaks in spring (Bonnet et al 2005) concurrently with mean larval hatch date (Heath et al 2012), whereas C. helgolandicus abundance peaks in autumn (Bonnet et al 2005). Therefore, a mismatch between larval emergence and prey availability may occur if C. helgolandicus becomes the dominate prey species for sandeels.…”

Section: Connections Between Fish and Zooplanktonmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Confusion Reigns? A Review of Marine Megafauna Interactions with Tidal- Stream Environments

MacDonald¹,

Heath²,

Edwards

et al. 2015

Oceanography and Marine Biology

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Early ontogeny of the lesser sandeel (Ammodytes marinus)

Perrichon

Bjelland

Durif

et al. 2023

Developmental Dynamics

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BackgroundLesser sandeel (Ammodytes marinus) is widely distributed in North Sea ecosystems. Sandeel acts as a critical trophic link between zooplankton and top predators (fish, mammals, sea birds). Because they live buried in the sand, sandeel may be directly affected by the rapid expansion of anthropogenic activities linked to their habitat on the sea bottom (e.g., hydrocarbon extraction, offshore renewable energy, and subsea mining). It is, therefore, important to understand the impact of cumulative environmental and anthropogenic stressors on this species. A detailed description of the ontogenetic timeline and developmental staging for this species is lacking limiting the possibilities for comparative developmental studies assessing, e.g., the impact of various environmental stressors.ResultsA detailed description of the morphological development of lesser sandeel and their developmental trajectory, obtained through visual observations and microscopic techniques, is presented. Methods for gamete stripping and intensive culture of the early life stages are also provided.ConclusionThis work provides a basis for future research to understand the effect of cumulative environmental and anthropogenic stressors on development in the early life stages of lesser sandeel.

show abstract

Larval mortality rates and population dynamics of Lesser Sandeel (Ammodytes marinus) in the northwestern North Sea

Cited by 14 publications

References 44 publications

Kittiwake breeding success in the southern North Sea correlates with prior sandeel fishing mortality

Kittiwake breeding success in the southern North Sea correlates with prior sandeel fishing mortality

Confusion Reigns? A Review of Marine Megafauna Interactions with Tidal- Stream Environments

Early ontogeny of the lesser sandeel (Ammodytes marinus)

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