FN Archimer Export Format
PT J
TI Interannual fluctuations in spring pelagic ecosystem productivity in the Bay of Biscay (northeast Atlantic) measured by mesozooplankton aspartate transcarbamylase activity and relationships with anchovy population dynamics
BT 
AF BERGERON, Jean-Pierre
   KOUETA, Noussithe
   MASSE, Jacques
AS 1:1;2:2;3:1;
FF 1:PDG-RBE-EMH;2:;3:PDG-RBE-EMH;
C1 IFREMER, Ctr Atlantique, Dept Ecol & Modeles Halieut EMH, F-44311 Nantes 03, France.
   Univ Caen, Lab Biol & Biotechnol Marines, F-14032 Caen, France.
C2 IFREMER, FRANCE
   UNIV CAEN, FRANCE
SI NANTES
SE PDG-RBE-EMH
IN WOS Ifremer jusqu'en 2018
   copubli-france
   copubli-univ-france
IF 1.843
TC 3
UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00128/23889/21849.pdf
LA English
DT Article
CR PEL 2000
   PEL 2001
   PELGAS 2002
   PELGAS 2003
   PELGAS 2004
   PELGAS 2005
BO Thalassa
DE ;Aspartate transcarbamylase;Anchovy biomass;Breeding season;Mesozooplankton;Pelagic fisheries;Bay of Biscay
AB The French part of the continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay (northeast Atlantic) is the habitat of an anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) population of scientific interest because of its economic importance and the trend towards greater interannual fluctuations in its abundance, particularly as a consequence of variations in recruitment. Each year a 1-month survey of this population and its pelagic environment is undertaken. Among the descriptors of ecosystem function characterized, mesozooplankton aspartate transcarbamylase (ATC) activity is measured with the goal of defining overall productivity of the mesozooplankton communities. Diverse physical forcing factors are responsible for the enhancement of productivity in the Bay of Biscay, and their respective influences vary at interannual scales. We present the results of ATC activity measurements carried out within the anchovy habitat during six consecutive breeding seasons (from 2000 to 2005). A strong correlation was found between mean ATC activity and variations in interannual biomass for the anchovy population (R = 0.928; p < 0.01). During the study period the anchovy population collapsed, and a particularly low level of ATC activity in the mesozooplankton preceded this event 1 year earlier. Conversely, an increase in anchovy abundance in the year following the collapse was preceded by a return to substantially higher levels of ATC activity. We hypothesize that this relationship may be robust and generally applicable. We speculate on the environmental descriptors necessary to confirm this result, in view of its potential application to the monitoring of this valuable fish population in the Bay of Biscay.
PY 2013
PD JUL
SO Fisheries Research
SN 0165-7836
PU Elsevier Science Bv
VL 143
UT 000319491700020
BP 184
EP 190
DI 10.1016/j.fishres.2013.02.006
ID 23889
ER

EF