Functional responses and scaling in predator-prey interactions of marine fishes: contemporary issues and emerging concepts

Autor: Todd W. Anderson, Stephani G. Zador, Mark A. Hixon, Mary E. Hunsicker, J. Wilson White, Vania Freitas, Göran Englund, Kung-Sik Chan, William J. Sydeman, Jeffrey A. Buckel, Henk W. van der Veer, Darren W. Johnson, Doug Reese, James F. Kitchell, Thomas P. Hurst, Kun Chen, Knut Wiik Vollset, Sarah Gaichas, Richard D. Brodeur, Kenneth T. Frank, Henrik Sjödin, George A. Rose, Jason S. Link, Kevin M. Bailey, Timothy E. Essington, Lorenzo Ciannelli
Rok vydání: 2011
Předmět:
Zdroj: Ecology Letters. 14:1288-1299
ISSN: 1461-023X
Popis: Predator–prey interactions are a primary structuring force vital to the resilience of marine communities and sustainability of the worlds oceans. Human influences on marine ecosystems mediate changes in species interactions. This generality is evinced by the cascading effects of overharvesting top predators on the structure and function of marine ecosystems. It follows that ecological forecasting, ecosystem management, and marine spatial planning require a better understanding of food web relationships. Characterising and scaling predator– prey interactions for use in tactical and strategic tools (i.e. multi-species management and ecosystem models) are paramount in this effort. Here, we explore what issues are involved and must be considered to advance the use of predator–prey theory in the context of marine fisheries science. We address pertinent contemporary ecological issues including (1) the approaches and complexities of evaluating predator responses in marine systems; (2) the scaling up of predator–prey interactions to the population, community, and ecosystem level; (3) the role of predator–prey theory in contemporary fisheries and ecosystem modelling approaches; and (4) directions for the future. Our intent is to point out needed research directions that will improve our understanding of predator–prey interactions in the context of the sustainable marine fisheries and ecosystem management.
Databáze: OpenAIRE