Human-driven spatial and temporal shift in trophodynamics in the Gulf of Maine, USA

Utilizing marine protected areas (MPAs) to isolate the ecological effects of human influence can help us understand our effect on systems and foster ecosystem-based approaches to management. Specifically, examining invertebrate prey community dynamics inside and outside an MPA may provide a measure...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine biology 2011-03, Vol.158 (3), p.631-638
Main Authors: Meyer, John J, Byers, James E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Aquatic ecosystems
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Climatic changes
Commercial fishing
Crustaceans
Decapoda
Deep water
Ecological effects
Environmental aspects
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human influences
Indicator organisms
Life Sciences
Marine
Marine & Freshwater Sciences
Marine biology
Marine protected areas
Microbiology
Oceanography
Original Paper
Prey
Sea water ecosystems
Shellfish
Studies
Synecology
Trophic relationships
Zoology
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Summary:Utilizing marine protected areas (MPAs) to isolate the ecological effects of human influence can help us understand our effect on systems and foster ecosystem-based approaches to management. Specifically, examining invertebrate prey community dynamics inside and outside an MPA may provide a measure of how altering human influence (i.e., certain fishing pressures) affects ecosystem interactions. We measured trophic interactions inside and outside a deep-water temperate MPA over 2 years. Predation rates on tethered, preferred groundfish prey (crabs) were initially identical inside and outside the MPA, but decreased outside the MPA after the commercial groundfish fishing season commenced. Predation trials using a ubiquitous prey species (brittle stars) and a less preferred prey species (urchins) served as controls, showing no MPA effect. Our experiments quantify differential predatory activity resulting from differences in human activity driven by an MPA, demonstrating important effects of fishing and regulations on the strength of trophic interactions.
ISSN:0025-3162
1432-1793
DOI:10.1007/s00227-010-1587-1