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    Extreme inverted trophic pyramid of reef sharks supported by spawning groupers (2016)
    Elsevier
    In:  Current Biology, 26 (15). pp. 2011-2016.
    Details
    Publication Date: 2019-02-01
    Description: The extent of the global human footprint [1] limits our understanding of what is natural in the marine environment. Remote, near-pristine areas provide some baseline expectations for biomass [2, 3] and suggest that predators dominate, producing an inverted biomass pyramid. The southern pass of Fakarava atoll—a biosphere reserve in French Polynesia—hosts an average of 600 reef sharks, two to three times the biomass per hectare documented for any other reef shark aggregations [4]. This huge biomass of predators makes the trophic pyramid inverted. Bioenergetics models indicate that the sharks require ~90 tons of fish per year, whereas the total fish production in the pass is ~17 tons per year. Energetic theory shows that such trophic structure is maintained through subsidies [5–9], and empirical evidence suggests that sharks must engage in wide-ranging foraging excursions to meet energy needs [9, 10]. We used underwater surveys and acoustic telemetry to assess shark residency in the pass and feeding behavior and used bioenergetics models to understand energy flow. Contrary to previous findings, our results highlight that sharks may overcome low local energy availability by feeding on fish spawning aggregations, which concentrate energy from other local trophic pyramids. Fish spawning aggregations are known to be targeted by sharks, but they were previously believed to play a minor role representing occasional opportunistic supplements. This research demonstrates that fish spawning aggregations can play a significant role in the maintenance of local inverted pyramids in pristine marine areas. Conservation of fish spawning aggregations can help conserve shark populations, especially if combined with shark fishing bans.
    Type: Article , PeerReviewed
    Format: text
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.05.058
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    OceanRep: Article in a Scientific Journal - peer-reviewed
  • 2
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    Multi-trophic markers illuminate the understanding of the functioning of a remote, low coral cover Marquesan coral reef food web (2021)
    Nature Research
    Details
    Publication Date: 2024-02-07
    Description: We studied the food web structure and functioning of a coral reef ecosystem in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, characterized by low coral cover, high sea surface temperature and meso- to eutrophic waters. The Marquesas constitute a relevant ecosystem to understand the functioning of low diversity reefs that are also subject to global change. A multi-tracer assessment of organic matter pathways was run to delineate ecosystem functioning, using analysis of fatty acids, bulk and compound specific stable isotope analysis and stable isotopes mixing models. Macroalgae and phytoplankton were the two major food sources fueling this food web with, however, some marked seasonal variations. Specifically, zooplankton relied on phytoplankton-derived organic matter and herbivorous fishes on macroalgae-derived organic matter to a much higher extent in summer than in winter (~ 75% vs. ~ 15%, and ~ 70 to 75% vs. ~ 5 to 15%, respectively). Despite remarkably high δ15N values for all trophic compartments, likely due to local dynamics in the nitrogen stock, trophic levels of consumers were similar to those of other coral reef ecosystems. These findings shed light on the functioning of low coral cover systems, which are expected to expand worldwide under global change.
    Type: Article , PeerReviewed
    Format: text
    Format: text
    Format: text
    Format: text
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    OceanRep: Article in a Scientific Journal - peer-reviewed
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