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Trophic cascades in a formerly cod-dominated ecosystem.

Kenneth T Frank1, Brian Petrie, Jae S Choi

  • 1Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Ocean Sciences Division, Post Office Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4A2, Canada. frankk@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 11, 2005
PubMed
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Removing top predators like cod can restructure entire ocean food webs. This study demonstrates a trophic cascade effect in a large, complex marine ecosystem, challenging previous assumptions.

Area of Science:

  • Marine Ecology
  • Ecosystem Dynamics
  • Fisheries Science

Background:

  • Top predator removal can trigger trophic cascades, altering food web structures.
  • Such cascades have been documented in simple, small-scale systems.
  • Their occurrence in large, complex open-ocean ecosystems remains largely unconfirmed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of trophic cascades in a large marine ecosystem.
  • To analyze long-term ecological data from a historically cod-dominated region.
  • To assess the broader implications for collapsed fish stocks.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized multi-decadal ecological data from the northwest Atlantic.
  • Analyzed food web dynamics in response to changes in apex predator populations.

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  • Examined historical fisheries data and ecosystem structure.

    • Main Results:

    • Demonstrated a significant trophic cascade within the northwest Atlantic ecosystem.
    • Evidence suggests the restructuring of the food web following cod stock decline.
    • Observed cascading effects impacting lower trophic levels.

    Conclusions:

    • Trophic cascades can occur and significantly impact large, complex marine ecosystems.
    • The collapse of cod stocks may initiate long-lasting ecosystem-wide changes.
    • Findings suggest potential trophic cascades in other collapsed fish stock systems globally.