The paradox of the pelagics: why bluefin tuna can go hungry in a sea of plenty

Golet, Walter J.; Record, Nicholas R.; Lehuta, Sigrid; Lutcavage, Molly; Galuardi, Benjamin; Cooper, Andrew B.; Pershing, Andrew J.

doi:10.3354/meps11260

Cited by 41 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Peak concentrations of forage species (e.g., longfin and shortfin squids ( Illex illecebrosus )) attract recreationally and commercially important fishes such as bluefish ( Pomatomous saltatrix ) and striped bass ( Morone saxatilis ), which migrate north from overwintering grounds in the south and mid‐Atlantic regions starting in late May to early June (Collette & Klein‐MacPhee, ; Wuenschel et al, ). Highly migratory large pelagic species including bluefin tuna ( Thunnus thynnus ), basking sharks ( Cetorhinus maximus ), small‐ to medium‐sized cetaceans (e.g., long‐finned pilot whales ( Globicephala melas ); Risso's dolphins ( Grampus griseus )), and great whales (e.g., North Atlantic right whale)) also utilize offshore waters of the GoM as summer foraging grounds (Campana et al, ; Curtis, Zeeman, Summers, Cadrin, & Skomal, ; Diamond, ; Golet et al, ; Kenney et al, ; Logan, Golet, & Lutcavage, ; Murison & Gaskin, ; Siders, Westgate, Johnston, Murison, & Koopman, ; Stevenson & Scott, ).…”

Section: Key Environmental Features and Phenological Patterns In The Gommentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given that shifts in timing and distribution have been documented for several primary prey species in the GoM including sand lance, pollock, hake, and fourbeard rockling (Walsh et al, ), differential responses, or lack thereof, aligns with the mismatch hypothesis but needs to be formally tested. The seasonal availability of lower quality prey or a mismatch in size (either too small or too big) may be more important to some species than relative abundance (Golet et al, ). As has been shown in bluefin tuna, such mismatches may not necessarily result in mortality, but rather influence population dynamics through longer growing and development periods (Golet et al, ).…”

Section: Implications Of Changing Phenologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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It’s about time: A synthesis of changing phenology in the Gulf of Maine ecosystem

Staudinger

Mills

Stamieszkin

et al. 2019

Fisheries Oceanography

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The timing of recurring biological and seasonal environmental events is changing on a global scale relative to temperature and other climate drivers. This study considers the Gulf of Maine ecosystem, a region of high social and ecological importance in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and synthesizes current knowledge of (a) key seasonal processes, patterns, and events; (b) direct evidence for shifts in timing; (c) implications of phenological responses for linked ecological‐human systems; and (d) potential phenology‐focused adaptation strategies and actions. Twenty studies demonstrated shifts in timing of regional marine organisms and seasonal environmental events. The most common response was earlier timing, observed in spring onset, spring and winter hydrology, zooplankton abundance, occurrence of several larval fishes, and diadromous fish migrations. Later timing was documented for fall onset, reproduction and fledging in Atlantic puffins, spring and fall phytoplankton blooms, and occurrence of additional larval fishes. Changes in event duration generally increased and were detected in zooplankton peak abundance, early life history periods of macro‐invertebrates, and lobster fishery landings. Reduced duration was observed in winter–spring ice‐affected stream flows. Two studies projected phenological changes, both finding diapause duration would decrease in zooplankton under future climate scenarios. Phenological responses were species‐specific and varied depending on the environmental driver, spatial, and temporal scales evaluated. Overall, a wide range of baseline phenology and relevant modeling studies exist, yet surprisingly few document long‐term shifts. Results reveal a need for increased emphasis on phenological shifts in the Gulf of Maine and identify opportunities for future research and consideration of phenological changes in adaptation efforts.

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Section: Key Environmental Features and Phenological Patterns In The Gommentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Implications Of Changing Phenologymentioning

confidence: 99%

It’s about time: A synthesis of changing phenology in the Gulf of Maine ecosystem

Staudinger

Mills

Stamieszkin

et al. 2019

Fisheries Oceanography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Atlantic Herring and American Sand Lances constitute a vital source of food for many marine predators, including Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus (Chase 2002;Golet et al 2015), humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae (Weinrich et al 1997), seals (Bowen and Harrison 1996), and seabirds (Pikitch et al 2012(Pikitch et al , 2014. Although river herring have traditionally served as important forage species in estuarine and nearshore habitats, their ecological role has dwindled (Wilson et al 2009;Pikitch et al 2012).…”

Section: Predator-prey Linkages Of Diadromous Fishesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling Predator–Prey Linkages of Diadromous Fishes in an Estuarine Food Web

2016

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Historically, multiple species of diadromous fishes served as a coastal food source for commercially valuable nearshore predators. However, severe declines in diadromous fish populations in the nearshore Gulf of Maine (GOM) have impacted trophic dynamics and increased pressure on other estuarine‐dependent forage resources. The objective of this study was to compare the trophic positions and interspecific interactions of diadromous fishes as predators and prey in relation to current GOM forage fishes. Empirical biomass data along with diet compositions and vital rates were used to construct a static model of a representative GOM coastal food web: the Saco River estuary (SRE) in Maine. A series of sensitivity analyses based on model outputs was performed to determine the trophic role of diadromous fishes in this estuarine food web. Model results suggested that juvenile marine transients played a greater role as forage species for SRE predators than did the anadromous Blueback Herring Alosa aestivalis and Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus. Due to the abundant forage fish base, Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus and Shortnose Sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum were estimated to have a greater trophic position than reported in past literature. Lower‐trophic‐level fishes functioned as keystone prey species for sturgeon. The use of holistic approaches to update the ecological data on predator–prey interactions among diadromous fishes and forage resources within coastal ecosystems is necessary for the future management of these ecologically significant and threatened species. Received January 4, 2016; accepted May 20, 2016

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“…Changes in biological parameters depend on changes in the biota, not only the abiotic properties of the oceans. For example variations in growth, condition, fecundity, and recruitment can all be influenced by availability of prey and predators, how the prey and predators overlap in time and space (Neuenfeldt and Beyer, 2006) and the relative size distributions of the prey and predators (Golet et al, 2015). New operational forecast models that link the spatial distributions of interacting species (competitors, prey-predators) and use these distributions to forecast feeding, growth and mortality rates could thereby generate forecasts of productivity changes.…”

Section: Predicting Productivity Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lessons from the First Generation of Marine Ecological Forecast Products

et al. 2017

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Recent years have seen a rapid expansion in the ability of earth system models to describe and predict the physical state of the ocean. Skilful forecasts ranging from seasonal (3 months) to decadal (5-10 years) time scales are now a reality. With the advance of these forecasts of ocean physics, the first generation of marine ecological forecasts has started to emerge. Such forecasts are potentially of great value in the management of living marine resources and for all of those who are dependent on the ocean for both nutrition and their livelihood; however, this is still a field in its infancy. We review the state of the art in this emerging field and identify the lessons that can be learnt and carried forward from these pioneering efforts. The majority of this first wave of products are forecasts of spatial distributions, possibly reflecting the inherent suitability of this response variable to the task of forecasting. Promising developments are also seen in forecasting fish-stock recruitment where, despite well-recognized challenges in understanding and predicting this response, new process knowledge and model approaches that could form a basis for forecasting are becoming available. Forecasts of phenology and coral-bleaching events are also being applied to monitoring and industry decisions. Moving marine ecological forecasting forward will require striking a balance between what is feasible and what is useful. We propose here a set of criteria to quickly identify "low-hanging fruit" that can potentially be predicted; however, ensuring the usefulness of forecast products also requires close collaboration with actively engaged end-users. Realizing the full potential of marine ecological forecasting will require bridging the gaps between marine ecology and climatology on the one-hand, and between science and end-users on the other. Nevertheless, the successes seen thus far and the potential to develop further products suggest that the field of marine ecological forecasting can be expected to flourish in the coming years.

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The paradox of the pelagics: why bluefin tuna can go hungry in a sea of plenty

Cited by 41 publications

References 53 publications

It’s about time: A synthesis of changing phenology in the Gulf of Maine ecosystem

It’s about time: A synthesis of changing phenology in the Gulf of Maine ecosystem

Modeling Predator–Prey Linkages of Diadromous Fishes in an Estuarine Food Web

Lessons from the First Generation of Marine Ecological Forecast Products

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