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dc.contributor.authorFauchald, Per
dc.contributor.authorSkov, Henrik
dc.contributor.authorSkern-Mauritzen, Mette
dc.contributor.authorJohns, David
dc.contributor.authorTveraa, Torkild
dc.date.accessioned2011-11-28T10:08:54Z
dc.date.available2011-11-28T10:08:54Z
dc.date.issued2011-07-28
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11250/108643
dc.description.abstractBackground In a “wasp-waist” ecosystem, an intermediate trophic level is expected to control the abundance of predators through a bottom-up interaction and the abundance of prey through a top-down interaction. Previous studies suggest that the North Sea is mainly governed by bottom-up interactions driven by climate perturbations. However, few studies have investigated the importance of the intermediate trophic level occupied by small pelagic fishes. Methodology/Principal Findings We investigated the numeric interactions among 10 species of seabirds, two species of pelagic fish and four groups of zooplankton in the North Sea using decadal-scale databases. Linear models were used to relate the time series of zooplankton and seabirds to the time series of pelagic fish. Seabirds were positively related to herring (Clupea harengus), suggesting a bottom-up interaction. Two groups of zooplankton; Calanus helgolandicus and krill were negatively related to sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and herring respectively, suggesting top-down interactions. In addition, we found positive relationships among the zooplankton groups. Para/pseudocalanus was positively related to C. helgolandicus and C. finmarchicus was positively related to krill. Conclusion/Significance Our results indicate that herring was important in regulating the abundance of seabirds through a bottom-up interaction and that herring and sprat were important in regulating zooplankton through top-down interactions. We suggest that the positive relationships among zooplankton groups were due to selective foraging and switching in the two clupeid fishes. Our results suggest that “wasp-waist” interactions might be more important in the North Sea than previously anticipated. Fluctuations in the populations of pelagic fish due to harvesting and depletion of their predators might accordingly have profound consequences for ecosystem dynamics through trophic cascades.no_NO
dc.language.isoengno_NO
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceno_NO
dc.subjectNorth Seano_NO
dc.subjectNordsjøenno_NO
dc.subjectpelagic fishno_NO
dc.subjectpelagisk fiskno_NO
dc.titleWasp-Waist Interactions in the North Sea Ecosystemno_NO
dc.typeJournal articleno_NO
dc.typePeer reviewedno_NO
dc.subject.nsiVDP::Agriculture and fishery disciplines: 900::Fisheries science: 920::Aquaculture: 922no_NO
dc.source.pagenumber10 pp.no_NO
dc.source.volume6no_NO
dc.source.journalPLoS ONEno_NO
dc.source.issue7no_NO
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0022729


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