Structure of marine predator and prey communities along environmental gradients in a glaciated fjord
Spatial patterns of marine predator communities are influenced to varying degrees by prey distribution and environmental gradients. We examined physical and biological attributes of an estuarine fjord with strong glacier influence to determine the factors that most influence the structure of predato...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences |
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2012
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f2012-117 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/f2012-117 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f2012-117 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/f2012-117 2024-09-15T17:59:59+00:00 Structure of marine predator and prey communities along environmental gradients in a glaciated fjord Renner, Martin Arimitsu, Mayumi L. Piatt, John F. Rochet, Marie-Joëlle 2012 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f2012-117 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/f2012-117 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f2012-117 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences volume 69, issue 12, page 2029-2045 ISSN 0706-652X 1205-7533 journal-article 2012 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/f2012-117 2024-06-27T04:10:59Z Spatial patterns of marine predator communities are influenced to varying degrees by prey distribution and environmental gradients. We examined physical and biological attributes of an estuarine fjord with strong glacier influence to determine the factors that most influence the structure of predator and prey communities. Our results suggest that some species, such as walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), and glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens), were widely distributed across environmental gradients, indicating less specialization, whereas species such as capelin (Mallotus villosus), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), and Kittlitz's murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) appeared to have more specialized habitat requirements related to glacial influence. We found that upper trophic level communities were well correlated with their mid trophic level prey community, but strong physical gradients in photic depth, temperature, and nutrients played an important role in community structure as well. Mid-trophic level forage fish communities were correlated with the physical gradients more closely than upper trophic levels were, and they showed strong affinity to tidewater glaciers. Silica was closely correlated with the distribution of fish communities, the mechanisms of which deserve further study. Article in Journal/Newspaper Black-legged Kittiwake harbor seal Phoca vitulina rissa tridactyla Theragra chalcogramma Tidewater Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 69 12 2029 2045 |
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Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
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crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
Spatial patterns of marine predator communities are influenced to varying degrees by prey distribution and environmental gradients. We examined physical and biological attributes of an estuarine fjord with strong glacier influence to determine the factors that most influence the structure of predator and prey communities. Our results suggest that some species, such as walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), and glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens), were widely distributed across environmental gradients, indicating less specialization, whereas species such as capelin (Mallotus villosus), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), and Kittlitz's murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) appeared to have more specialized habitat requirements related to glacial influence. We found that upper trophic level communities were well correlated with their mid trophic level prey community, but strong physical gradients in photic depth, temperature, and nutrients played an important role in community structure as well. Mid-trophic level forage fish communities were correlated with the physical gradients more closely than upper trophic levels were, and they showed strong affinity to tidewater glaciers. Silica was closely correlated with the distribution of fish communities, the mechanisms of which deserve further study. |
author2 |
Rochet, Marie-Joëlle |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Renner, Martin Arimitsu, Mayumi L. Piatt, John F. |
spellingShingle |
Renner, Martin Arimitsu, Mayumi L. Piatt, John F. Structure of marine predator and prey communities along environmental gradients in a glaciated fjord |
author_facet |
Renner, Martin Arimitsu, Mayumi L. Piatt, John F. |
author_sort |
Renner, Martin |
title |
Structure of marine predator and prey communities along environmental gradients in a glaciated fjord |
title_short |
Structure of marine predator and prey communities along environmental gradients in a glaciated fjord |
title_full |
Structure of marine predator and prey communities along environmental gradients in a glaciated fjord |
title_fullStr |
Structure of marine predator and prey communities along environmental gradients in a glaciated fjord |
title_full_unstemmed |
Structure of marine predator and prey communities along environmental gradients in a glaciated fjord |
title_sort |
structure of marine predator and prey communities along environmental gradients in a glaciated fjord |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f2012-117 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/f2012-117 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f2012-117 |
genre |
Black-legged Kittiwake harbor seal Phoca vitulina rissa tridactyla Theragra chalcogramma Tidewater |
genre_facet |
Black-legged Kittiwake harbor seal Phoca vitulina rissa tridactyla Theragra chalcogramma Tidewater |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences volume 69, issue 12, page 2029-2045 ISSN 0706-652X 1205-7533 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/f2012-117 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences |
container_volume |
69 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
2029 |
op_container_end_page |
2045 |
_version_ |
1810437108775518208 |