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Wasp-waist interactions in the North Sea ecosystem
Per Fauchald1, Henrik Skov, Mette Skern-Mauritzen
1Department of Arctic Ecology, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway. per.fauchald@nina.no
Plos One
|August 11, 2011
Summary
Small pelagic fish like herring and sprat play a key role in the North Sea ecosystem, influencing both seabird and zooplankton populations. These "wasp-waist" interactions are crucial for ecosystem dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Marine Ecology
- Ecosystem Dynamics
- Trophic Interactions
Background:
- The North Sea ecosystem is often considered bottom-up driven by climate, with limited focus on small pelagic fish.
- Wasp-waist ecosystems predict intermediate trophic levels control both prey and predators.
- The role of small pelagic fish in North Sea trophic cascades requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the trophic interactions between small pelagic fish, seabirds, and zooplankton in the North Sea.
- To determine the influence of pelagic fish on higher and lower trophic levels.
- To assess the significance of wasp-waist dynamics in this ecosystem.
Main Methods:
- Utilized decadal-scale databases to analyze interactions among 10 seabird species, 2 pelagic fish species, and 4 zooplankton groups.
- Employed linear models to assess relationships between time series data of different trophic levels.
- Examined numeric interactions to identify bottom-up and top-down regulatory effects.
Main Results:
- Seabirds showed a positive relationship with herring (Clupea harengus), indicating bottom-up control.
- Zooplankton groups Calanus helgolandicus and krill were negatively related to sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and herring, respectively, showing top-down control.
- Positive relationships were observed among zooplankton groups, suggesting selective foraging by pelagic fish.
Conclusions:
- Herring and sprat significantly regulate seabird and zooplankton populations, respectively, in the North Sea.
- Wasp-waist interactions mediated by pelagic fish appear more critical in the North Sea than previously thought.
- Pelagic fish population fluctuations can trigger substantial ecosystem changes via trophic cascades.
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