Mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the North Sea explored using a growth and phenology model
The lesser sandeel Ammodytes marinus is a key species in the North Sea ecosystem, transferring energy from planktonic producers to top predators. Previous studies have shown a long-term decline in the size of 0-group sandeels in the western North Sea, but they were unable to pinpoint the mechanism (...
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:14593 2023-05-15T16:18:17+02:00 Mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the North Sea explored using a growth and phenology model Frederiksen, Morten Elston, David A. Edwards, Martin Mann, Alec D. Wanless, Sarah 2011 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/14593/ http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v432/p137-147/ unknown Frederiksen, Morten; Elston, David A.; Edwards, Martin; Mann, Alec D.; Wanless, Sarah. 2011 Mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the North Sea explored using a growth and phenology model. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 432. 137-147. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09177 <https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09177> Marine Sciences Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2011 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09177 2023-02-04T19:29:18Z The lesser sandeel Ammodytes marinus is a key species in the North Sea ecosystem, transferring energy from planktonic producers to top predators. Previous studies have shown a long-term decline in the size of 0-group sandeels in the western North Sea, but they were unable to pinpoint the mechanism (later hatching, slower growth or changes in size-dependent mortality) or cause. To investigate the first 2 possibilities we combined 2 independent time series of sandeel size, namely data from chick-feeding Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica and from the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR), in a novel statistical model implemented using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). The model estimated annual mean length on 1 July, as well as hatching date and growth rate for sandeels from 1973 to 2006. Mean length-at-date declined by 22% over this period, corresponding to a 60% decrease in energy content, with a sharper decline since 2002. Up to the mid-1990s, the decline was associated with a trend towards later hatching. Subsequently, hatching became earlier again, and the continued trend towards smaller size appears to have been driven by lower growth rates, particularly in the most recent years, although we could not rule out changes in size-dependent mortality. Our findings point to major changes in key aspects of sandeel life history, which we consider are most likely due to direct and indirect temperature-related changes over a range of biotic factors, including the seasonal distribution of copepods and intra- and inter-specific competition with planktivorous fish. The results have implications both for the many predators of sandeels and for age and size of maturation in this aggregation of North Sea sandeels. Article in Journal/Newspaper fratercula Fratercula arctica Copepods Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Marine Ecology Progress Series 432 137 147 |
institution |
Open Polar |
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Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Marine Sciences Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment |
spellingShingle |
Marine Sciences Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment Frederiksen, Morten Elston, David A. Edwards, Martin Mann, Alec D. Wanless, Sarah Mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the North Sea explored using a growth and phenology model |
topic_facet |
Marine Sciences Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment |
description |
The lesser sandeel Ammodytes marinus is a key species in the North Sea ecosystem, transferring energy from planktonic producers to top predators. Previous studies have shown a long-term decline in the size of 0-group sandeels in the western North Sea, but they were unable to pinpoint the mechanism (later hatching, slower growth or changes in size-dependent mortality) or cause. To investigate the first 2 possibilities we combined 2 independent time series of sandeel size, namely data from chick-feeding Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica and from the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR), in a novel statistical model implemented using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). The model estimated annual mean length on 1 July, as well as hatching date and growth rate for sandeels from 1973 to 2006. Mean length-at-date declined by 22% over this period, corresponding to a 60% decrease in energy content, with a sharper decline since 2002. Up to the mid-1990s, the decline was associated with a trend towards later hatching. Subsequently, hatching became earlier again, and the continued trend towards smaller size appears to have been driven by lower growth rates, particularly in the most recent years, although we could not rule out changes in size-dependent mortality. Our findings point to major changes in key aspects of sandeel life history, which we consider are most likely due to direct and indirect temperature-related changes over a range of biotic factors, including the seasonal distribution of copepods and intra- and inter-specific competition with planktivorous fish. The results have implications both for the many predators of sandeels and for age and size of maturation in this aggregation of North Sea sandeels. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Frederiksen, Morten Elston, David A. Edwards, Martin Mann, Alec D. Wanless, Sarah |
author_facet |
Frederiksen, Morten Elston, David A. Edwards, Martin Mann, Alec D. Wanless, Sarah |
author_sort |
Frederiksen, Morten |
title |
Mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the North Sea explored using a growth and phenology model |
title_short |
Mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the North Sea explored using a growth and phenology model |
title_full |
Mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the North Sea explored using a growth and phenology model |
title_fullStr |
Mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the North Sea explored using a growth and phenology model |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the North Sea explored using a growth and phenology model |
title_sort |
mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the north sea explored using a growth and phenology model |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/14593/ http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v432/p137-147/ |
genre |
fratercula Fratercula arctica Copepods |
genre_facet |
fratercula Fratercula arctica Copepods |
op_relation |
Frederiksen, Morten; Elston, David A.; Edwards, Martin; Mann, Alec D.; Wanless, Sarah. 2011 Mechanisms of long-term decline in size of lesser sandeels in the North Sea explored using a growth and phenology model. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 432. 137-147. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09177 <https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09177> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09177 |
container_title |
Marine Ecology Progress Series |
container_volume |
432 |
container_start_page |
137 |
op_container_end_page |
147 |
_version_ |
1766004449462976512 |