Primary production and depth drive different trophic structure and functioning of fish assemblages in French marine ecosystems

Type Article
Date 2020-07
Language English
Author(s) Cresson PierreORCID1, Chouvelon Tiphaine2, 3, Bustamante Paco4, 5, Bănaru Daniela6, Baudrier JeromeORCID7, Le Loch Francois8, Mauffret AourellORCID2, Mialet Benoit4, Spitz Jérome3, 9, Wessel NathalieORCID7, Briand Marine6, 10, Denamiel Margaux1, Doray MathieuORCID11, Guillou Gaël4, Jadaud AngeliqueORCID12, Lazard Coline1, Prieur Solène4, Rouquette Manuel1, Saraux Claire12, 13, Serre Sandrine14, Timmerman Charles-AndreORCID1, Verin Yves1, Harmelin-Vivien Mireille6
Affiliation(s) 1 : Ifremer, HMMN, Centre Manche Mer du Nord, 150 Quai Gambetta BP 699 62321, Boulogne sur Mer, France
2 : fremer, BE/LBCM, Centre Atlantique, Rue de l'île d'Yeu, BP 21105, 44311 Nantes Cedex 03, France
3 : Observatoire Pelagis, UMS 3462 La Rochelle Université/CNRS, 5 allée de l'Océan, 17000 La Rochelle, France
4 : Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
5 : Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
6 : MIO, UM 110, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS/INSU, Université de Toulon, IRD, Campus de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
7 : Ifremer, ODE/VIGIES, Rue de l'Ile d'Yeu, BP 21105, 44311 Nantes Cedex 03, France
8 : IRD, Univ. Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, LEMAR, IUEM, F-29280, Plouzané, France
9 : Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 La Rochelle Université-CNRS, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
10 : Ifremer, ODE/LER-PAC, Centre Méditerranée, Zone portuaire de Brégaillon, CS 20 330, 83507 La Seyne-sur-Mer Cedex, France
11 : Ifremer, EMH, Centre Atlantique, Rue de l'île d'Yeu, BP 21105, 44311 Nantes Cedex 03, France
12 : MARBEC, Université de Montpellier, Ifremer, CNRS, IRD, Sète, France
13 : IPHC UMR 7178, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 23 rue Becquerel, 67037 Strasbourg, France
14 : Institut Méditerranéen de Biologie et d'Ecologie Marine, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Université d'Avignon, Station marine d'Endoume, chemin de la Batterie des Lions, 13001 Marseille, France
Source Progress In Oceanography (0079-6611) (Elsevier BV), 2020-07 , Vol. 186 , P. 102343 (14p.)
DOI 10.1016/j.pocean.2020.102343
WOS© Times Cited 33
Keyword(s) Fish community, Trophodynamics, Food webs, Benthic-pelagic coupling
Abstract

Investigating the drivers of fish assemblage trophic structure is a critical question, in order to better understand ecosystem functioning, predict the effects of perturbations and implement integrated management of exploited marine ecosystems. Ecosystemic surveys enabled the determination of the trophic structure of the fish assemblages in three French marine ecosystems, namely the Eastern English Channel, the Bay of Biscay and the Gulf of Lions, through the simultaneous collection of qualitative (stable isotopes and energy content) and quantitative (biomass) data. In the Bay of Biscay and in the Gulf of Lions, pelagic primary production supported at least 80% of the fish biomass production, and explained the dominance of pelagic species, but with differences resulting from the different productivity. The lower productivity in the oligotrophic Gulf of Lions led to a lower total biomass, energy density as well as the predominance of zooplankton feeders. In contrast, fluxes in the Bay of Biscay were sufficient to support a higher biomass of pelagic piscivores, and of species with higher energy content. In the shallow Eastern English Channel, the respective contributions of pelagic and benthic sources were similar. Bentho-demersal species of higher trophic level dominated this assemblage, because of their ability to exploit both pathways. Results of the present study confirmed that fisheries-focused surveys can be used as efficient platforms to address questions about ecosystem functioning. Here it confirmed the expected differences between ecosystems and the importance of primary production and environment as drivers of fish assemblage structure and functioning. Future studies should nevertheless develop new methods to better assess the paramount role of low trophic level consumers.

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Cresson Pierre, Chouvelon Tiphaine, Bustamante Paco, Bănaru Daniela, Baudrier Jerome, Le Loch Francois, Mauffret Aourell, Mialet Benoit, Spitz Jérome, Wessel Nathalie, Briand Marine, Denamiel Margaux, Doray Mathieu, Guillou Gaël, Jadaud Angelique, Lazard Coline, Prieur Solène, Rouquette Manuel, Saraux Claire, Serre Sandrine, Timmerman Charles-Andre, Verin Yves, Harmelin-Vivien Mireille (2020). Primary production and depth drive different trophic structure and functioning of fish assemblages in French marine ecosystems. Progress In Oceanography, 186, 102343 (14p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2020.102343 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00629/74120/