Predator–prey body size relationships of cod in a low-diversity marine system

How predators select their prey largely defines ecosystem trophic structure, function and dynamics. In aquatic systems, organism body size is an important trait explaining predator–prey interactions. Here, we used a unique Atlantic cod Gadus morhua stomach content dataset with diet information from...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine ecology. Progress series (Halstenbek) 2019-09, Vol.627, p.201-206
Main Authors: Niiranen, Susa, Orio, Alessandro, Bartolino, Valerio, Bergström, Ulf, Kallasvuo, Meri, Neuenfeldt, Stefan, Ustups, Didzis, Casini, Michele
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Aquatic environment
Baltic Sea
Body size
Cannibalism
Diet
Ecology
Ekologi
Environmental changes
Fish and Aquacultural Science
Fish populations
Fisk- och akvakulturforskning
Gadus morhua
Interspecific relationships
Invertebrates
Marine ecosystems
Marine fishes
Mass ratios
Populations
Predation
Predator-prey interactions
Predator-prey mass ratio
Predators
Prey
Ratios
Size distribution
Species diversity
Stomach content
Stomach content data
Structure-function relationships
Threatened species
Trophic structure
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Summary:How predators select their prey largely defines ecosystem trophic structure, function and dynamics. In aquatic systems, organism body size is an important trait explaining predator–prey interactions. Here, we used a unique Atlantic cod Gadus morhua stomach content dataset with diet information from over 100 000 individuals collected from the Baltic Sea in 1963–2014, to explore prey size distribution and predator–prey mass ratios in the diet of Eastern Baltic cod. Maximum and average prey sizes increased with predator size, as for cod in other systems. However, the prey size spectra found in Eastern Baltic cod stomachs reflect the low species diversity in the Baltic Sea. In general, Eastern Baltic cod feed on smaller prey in relation to their body size than other cod populations. Due to the truncated prey size distribution in the Baltic Sea, cod cannibalism functions as a compensatory mechanism that allows Baltic cod to reach their prey size potential. On the other hand, small- and intermediate-sized cod prey mainly on a few invertebrate prey species, potentially making them vulnerable to changes in these prey populations. Our results encourage further studies disentangling the relative effects of prey preference and prey availability on cod trophodynamics in species-poor systems such as the Baltic Sea.
ISSN:0171-8630
1616-1599
1616-1599
DOI:10.3354/meps13098