Modelling energy pathways and spatio-temporal drivers of change for the Kerguelen Plateau food web ...

• Main Author: Subramaniam, Roshni
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
• Subjects: Kerguelen; Southern Ocean
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23250167; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/Modelling_energy_pathways_and_spatio-temporal_drivers_of_change_for_the_Kerguelen_Plateau_food_web/23250167

The Kerguelen Plateau is a biological hotspot and an important region for Southern Ocean fisheries. However, its remoteness and harsh environmental conditions make consistent sampling difficult. Therefore, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding regional-scale impacts of fishing and climate change. Very little is understood about the transfer of energy from prey to predators on the Kerguelen Plateau and even less is understood about how the food web is being impacted by fishing pressure and will be impacted by future climate change. Understanding the combined impacts of bottom-up and top-down processes on food web dynamics can help inform ecosystem-based management on the Kerguelen Plateau. The research in this thesis compiles current knowledge of the Kerguelen Plateau food web and uses Ecopath with Ecosim to explore ecosystem dynamics and identify the potential impacts of climate change and fishing over time and space. Previously published work to develop the first food web model with a balanced energy ...