Changes in fisheries discard rates and seabird communities
It is clear that discards from commercial fisheries are a key food resource for many seabird species around the world. But predicting the response of seabird communities to changes in discard rates is problematic and requires historical data to elucidate the confounding effects of other, more '...
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ftsubgoettingen:oai:publications.goettingen-research-online.de:2/142851 2024-05-12T08:03:53+00:00 Changes in fisheries discard rates and seabird communities Votier, Stephen C. Furness, Robert W. Bearhop, Stuart Crane, Jonathan E. Caldow, Richard W. G. Catry, Paulo Ensor, Kenny Hamer, Keith C. Hudson, Anne V. Kalmbach, Ellen Klomp, Nicholas I. Pfeiffer, Simone Phillips, Richard A. Prieto, Isabel Thompson, David R. Votier, Stephen C. Furness, Robert W. Bearhop, Stuart Crane, Jonathan E. Caldow, Richard W. G. Catry, Paulo Ensor, Kenny Hamer, Keith C. Hudson, Anne V. Kalmbach, Ellen Klomp, Nicholas I. Pfeiffer, Simone Phillips, Richard A. Prieto, Isabel Thompson, David R. 2004-02-19 https://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gro-2/142851 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02315 en eng https://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gro-2/142851 doi:10.1038/nature02315 14973483 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess GRO License info:eu-repo/semantics/article journal_article no published_version 2004 ftsubgoettingen https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02315 2024-04-17T14:16:08Z It is clear that discards from commercial fisheries are a key food resource for many seabird species around the world. But predicting the response of seabird communities to changes in discard rates is problematic and requires historical data to elucidate the confounding effects of other, more 'natural' ecological processes. In the North Sea, declining stocks, changes in technical measures, changes in population structure and the establishment of a recovery programme for cod (Gadus morhua) will alter the amount of fish discarded. This region also supports internationally important populations of seabirds, some of which feed extensively, but facultatively, on discards, in particular on undersized haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus). Here we use long-term data sets from the northern North Sea to show that there is a direct link between discard availability and discard use by a generalist predator and scavenger--the great skua (Stercorarius skua). Reduced rates of discarding, particularly when coupled with reduced availability of small shoaling pelagic fish such as sandeel (Ammodytes marinus), result in an increase in predation by great skuas on other birds. This switching of prey by a facultative scavenger presents a potentially serious threat to some seabird communities. Article in Journal/Newspaper Gadus morhua Great skua Stercorarius skua GRO.publications (Göttingen Research Online Publications - Göttingen University) Nature 427 6976 727 730 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
GRO.publications (Göttingen Research Online Publications - Göttingen University) |
op_collection_id |
ftsubgoettingen |
language |
English |
description |
It is clear that discards from commercial fisheries are a key food resource for many seabird species around the world. But predicting the response of seabird communities to changes in discard rates is problematic and requires historical data to elucidate the confounding effects of other, more 'natural' ecological processes. In the North Sea, declining stocks, changes in technical measures, changes in population structure and the establishment of a recovery programme for cod (Gadus morhua) will alter the amount of fish discarded. This region also supports internationally important populations of seabirds, some of which feed extensively, but facultatively, on discards, in particular on undersized haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus). Here we use long-term data sets from the northern North Sea to show that there is a direct link between discard availability and discard use by a generalist predator and scavenger--the great skua (Stercorarius skua). Reduced rates of discarding, particularly when coupled with reduced availability of small shoaling pelagic fish such as sandeel (Ammodytes marinus), result in an increase in predation by great skuas on other birds. This switching of prey by a facultative scavenger presents a potentially serious threat to some seabird communities. |
author2 |
Votier, Stephen C. Furness, Robert W. Bearhop, Stuart Crane, Jonathan E. Caldow, Richard W. G. Catry, Paulo Ensor, Kenny Hamer, Keith C. Hudson, Anne V. Kalmbach, Ellen Klomp, Nicholas I. Pfeiffer, Simone Phillips, Richard A. Prieto, Isabel Thompson, David R. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Votier, Stephen C. Furness, Robert W. Bearhop, Stuart Crane, Jonathan E. Caldow, Richard W. G. Catry, Paulo Ensor, Kenny Hamer, Keith C. Hudson, Anne V. Kalmbach, Ellen Klomp, Nicholas I. Pfeiffer, Simone Phillips, Richard A. Prieto, Isabel Thompson, David R. |
spellingShingle |
Votier, Stephen C. Furness, Robert W. Bearhop, Stuart Crane, Jonathan E. Caldow, Richard W. G. Catry, Paulo Ensor, Kenny Hamer, Keith C. Hudson, Anne V. Kalmbach, Ellen Klomp, Nicholas I. Pfeiffer, Simone Phillips, Richard A. Prieto, Isabel Thompson, David R. Changes in fisheries discard rates and seabird communities |
author_facet |
Votier, Stephen C. Furness, Robert W. Bearhop, Stuart Crane, Jonathan E. Caldow, Richard W. G. Catry, Paulo Ensor, Kenny Hamer, Keith C. Hudson, Anne V. Kalmbach, Ellen Klomp, Nicholas I. Pfeiffer, Simone Phillips, Richard A. Prieto, Isabel Thompson, David R. |
author_sort |
Votier, Stephen C. |
title |
Changes in fisheries discard rates and seabird communities |
title_short |
Changes in fisheries discard rates and seabird communities |
title_full |
Changes in fisheries discard rates and seabird communities |
title_fullStr |
Changes in fisheries discard rates and seabird communities |
title_full_unstemmed |
Changes in fisheries discard rates and seabird communities |
title_sort |
changes in fisheries discard rates and seabird communities |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
https://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gro-2/142851 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02315 |
genre |
Gadus morhua Great skua Stercorarius skua |
genre_facet |
Gadus morhua Great skua Stercorarius skua |
op_relation |
https://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gro-2/142851 doi:10.1038/nature02315 14973483 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess GRO License |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02315 |
container_title |
Nature |
container_volume |
427 |
container_issue |
6976 |
container_start_page |
727 |
op_container_end_page |
730 |
_version_ |
1798846015404507136 |