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Plankton effect on cod recruitment in the North Sea
Grégory Beaugrand1, Keith M Brander, J Alistair Lindley
1CNRS, UMR 8013 ELICO, Station Marine, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille BP 80, 62930 Wimereux, France. gbea@mail.pml.ac.uk
Nature
|December 12, 2003
Summary
Overfishing and changing plankton due to rising temperatures have reduced Atlantic cod recruitment in the North Sea. Larval cod survival depends on prey size, timing, and abundance, impacted by temperature-driven ecosystem shifts.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Fisheries Science
- Ecosystem Dynamics
Background:
- Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) populations in the North Sea have faced severe overexploitation since the late 1960s.
- Significant concern exists regarding the decline in cod biomass and recruitment rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term impacts of plankton fluctuations on North Sea cod recruitment, beyond the effects of overfishing.
- To identify key factors influencing larval cod survival and the role of environmental variability.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of historical data on cod recruitment, plankton characteristics (prey size, timing, abundance), and sea temperature.
- Application of the match/mismatch hypothesis to explain temperature effects on larval survival.
Main Results:
- Plankton fluctuations, driven by bottom-up control, have significantly altered cod recruitment patterns.
- Larval cod survival is critically dependent on the mean size, seasonal timing, and abundance of their prey.
- Rising sea temperatures since the mid-1980s have negatively impacted the plankton ecosystem, reducing young cod survival.
Conclusions:
- Overfishing and climate-driven changes in plankton negatively affect North Sea cod populations.
- Temperature-mediated alterations in prey availability disrupt the match/mismatch dynamics crucial for larval cod survival.
- Conservation strategies must consider both fishing pressure and climate change impacts on marine food webs.
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