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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
07:41
Modeling the Size Spectrum for Macroinvertebrates and Fishes in Stream Ecosystems
Published on: July 30, 2019
Trophic structure and community stability in an overfished ecosystem
Anne C Utne-Palm1, Anne G V Salvanes, Bronwen Currie
1Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. anne.palm@bio.uib.no
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 22, 2010
Summary
The bearded goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus) thrives in the Benguelan ecosystem by consuming jellyfish and diatomaceous mud. Physiological and behavioral adaptations enable this fish to become a key prey species following fishery collapse.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Ecology
- Fisheries Science
Background:
- The Benguelan ecosystem experienced pelagic fishery collapse in the late 1960s.
- Jellyfish biomass increased, and fish community structure shifted, with the bearded goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus) becoming dominant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors contributing to the success of the bearded goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus) in a changed ecosystem.
- To understand the dietary adaptations and resource utilization of this key prey species.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of physiological adaptations.
- Observation of antipredator and foraging behaviors.
- Body-tissue isotope signatures to determine diet.
Main Results:
- Bearded gobies exhibit physiological and behavioral adaptations enabling survival and thriving.
- Isotope analysis confirmed consumption of jellyfish and sulphidic diatomaceous mud.
- Gobies effectively transfer "dead-end" resources into the Benguelan food chain.
Conclusions:
- The bearded goby's success is driven by unique adaptations to a changing marine environment.
- Dietary flexibility, including novel food sources, is crucial for the goby's ecological dominance.
- This highlights the resilience and adaptive capacity within marine food webs.
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