Seabird trophic position across three ocean regions tracks ecosystem differences
Published
Journal Article
© 2018 Gagné, Hyrenbach, Hagemann, Bass, Pimm, MacDonald, Peck and Van Houtan. We analyze recently collected feather tissues from two species of seabirds, the sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) and brown noddy (Anous stolidus), in three ocean regions (North Atlantic, North Pacific, and South Pacific) with different human impacts. The species are similar morphologically and in the trophic levels from which they feed within each location. In contrast, we detect reliable differences in trophic position amongst the regions. Trophic position appears to decline as the intensity of commercial fishing increases, and is at its lowest in the Caribbean. The spatial gradient in trophic position we document in these regions exceeds those detected over specimens from the last 130 years in the Hawaiian Islands. Modeling suggests that climate velocity and human impacts on fish populations strongly align with these differences.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Gagné, TO; Hyrenbach, KD; Hagemann, ME; Bass, OL; Pimm, SL; MacDonald, M; Peck, B; Van Houtan, KS
Published Date
- September 7, 2018
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 5 / SEP
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 2296-7745
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.3389/fmars.2018.00317
Citation Source
- Scopus