North Sea saithe Pollachius virens growth in relation to food availability, density dependence and temperature

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Xochitl Cormon¹  Alexander Kempf¹  Youen Vermard¹  Paul Marchal¹  Bruno Ernande¹ 

关键词: Bottom-up processes;    von Bertalanffy growth function;    Logistic growth;    Norway pout;    Prey availability effects;    Density-dependence;    Predator-prey interactions;    Resource limitation;    Competition;   

DOI  :  10.3354/meps11559

学科分类：海洋学与技术

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: North Sea saithe Pollachius virens, a major top predator in the area, supports the fishery economy of several European countries. However, recent stock assessments suggested a decrease in spawning stock biomass along with a decline in saithe mean weight-at-ages. In this context, we investigated North Sea saithe growth characteristics at the population level. First, saithe annual weight increments and age-length relationships were studied. Modelling of saithe age-length relationships was carried out using (1) the traditional von Bertalanffy growth function model, (2) the Verhulst logistic model and (3) an empirical linear model. Second, the effects of environmental factors on saithe growth were investigated. Explanatory environmental factors included food availability, represented by the total biomass of Norway pout Trisopterus esmarkii; intraspecific competition, i.e. density dependence, represented by saithe abundance; and temperature. This study revealed that the Verhulst logistic model was the best descriptor of saithe growth and that density dependence and food availability had significant effects on the saithe growth coefficient, while no effect of temperature was shown. We suggest that reduced food availability and increased competition may explain the recent decrease in the saithe growth coefficient.

【 授权许可】

Unknown