A multi-predator trophic database for the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem.

Area of Science:

• Marine Ecology
• Fisheries Science
• Ecosystem Dynamics

Background:

• Trophic databases are crucial for understanding marine food webs.
• Previous data compilations for the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) were limited in scope and temporal coverage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create the most extensive compilation of raw trophic data for the CCLME.
• To provide a foundation for refined ecological analyses and modeling studies within the CCLME.
• To establish a continuously updated resource for marine ecosystem research.

Main Methods:

• Compilation of diet composition data from 24 diverse datasets.
• Inclusion of stomach and scat samples from 105,694 individual predators.
• Data collection spanned from 1967 to 2019 across 143 taxa within the CCLME.

Main Results:

• The California Current Trophic Database (CCTD) now includes 143 predator taxa (squids, elasmobranchs, bony fishes, marine mammals).
• Extensive time-series data are available for key predators like the California Sea Lion, Pacific Hake, and Chinook Salmon.
• The CCTD is the largest available raw trophic dataset for the CCLME.

Conclusions:

• The CCTD significantly enhances the capacity for detailed trophic analyses and ecosystem modeling in the CCLME.
• Future updates and augmentations will further increase the dataset's utility and impact.
• This database serves as a vital resource for marine conservation and management efforts in the region.