Annasawmy, P., Cherel, Y., Romanov, E., Le Loc'h, F., Menard, F., Ternon, J. - F., et al. (2020). Stable isotope patterns of mesopelagic communities over two shallow seamounts of the south-western Indian Ocean. Deep-Sea Res. Part II-Top. Stud. Oceanogr., 176, 104804.
Résumé: The stable carbon (delta C-13) and nitrogen (delta N-15) isotope values of soft tissues of micronekton (crustaceans, squid, mesopelagic fish) and zooplankton were measured from organisms collected on the RV Antea at two seamounts located in the south-western Indian Ocean: La Perouse (summit depth similar to 60 m) and “MAD-Ridge” (thus named in this study; summit depth similar to 240 m). Surface particulate organic matter (POM-Surf) showed higher delta C-13 at the more productive MAD-Ridge than at the oligotrophic La Perouse seamount. Particulate organic matter and zooplankton were depleted in N-15 at La Pemuse pinnacle compared with MAD-Ridge. Gelatinous organisms and crustaceans occupied the lowest and intermediate tmphic levels (TL similar to 2 and 3 respectively) at both seamounts. Mesopelagic fish and smaller-sized squid sampled at both seamounts occupied TL similar to 3 to 4, whereas the large nektonic squid, Ommastrephes bartramii, collected at MAD-Ridge only, exhibited a TL of similar to 5. The delta N-15 values of common open-water mesopelagic taxa were strongly influenced by specimen size and feeding habits at both seamounts, with an increase in delta N-15 values with increasing size. Carnivorous fish species sampled exclusively over the seamounts' flanks and summits exhibited TL values of similar to 4, irrespective of their wide size ranges. The work could not demonstrate any differences in delta C-13 values of mesopelagic fish between the seamounts and the surrounding oceanic areas. The study segregated clusters of mesopelagic organisms according to their delta C-13 and delta N-15 values, with variations in stable isotope values reflecting a complex range of processes possibly linked to productivity as well as biological and ecological traits of the species (size and feeding mode).
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Eduardo Nole, L., Bertrand, A., Mincarone, M. M., Santos, L., Fredou, T., Assuncao, R., et al. (2020). Hatchetfishes (Stomiiformes: Sternoptychidae) biodiversity, trophic ecology, vertical niche partitioning and functional roles in the western Tropical Atlantic. Prog. Oceanogr., 187, 102389.
Résumé: Species of the family Sternoptychidae (hatchetfishes) occur worldwide and play critical roles by sequestering carbon, recycling nutrients, and acting as a key trophic link between epipelagic primary consumers and higher trophic levels in marine ecosystems. Nevertheless, basic knowledge on their ecology is still lacking and their functional ecology remains understudied with respect to composition, organization, functions and environment interactions. Here we integrated comprehensive information collected in the western Tropical Atlantic on the diversity, abundance, distribution and trophic ecology of hatchetfishes, including physicochemical features of their habitats and extensive carbon and nitrogen stable isotope data on its main prey groups. On this basis we defined five functional groups of hatchetfishes with different diet preference, isotopic composition, and vertical abundance peaks and reveal a possible high resource partitioning. Additionally, these species might have a different feeding tie chronology. Hence, hatchetfishes segregate in different ecological groups responding differently to environmental constraints including oxygen concentration and presenting diverse functional roles. As deep-sea species that migrate to epipelagic waters, hatchetfishes may play a key role in the transfer of subsurface photoassimilated carbon to deeper waters, a pathway through which the effects of climate change at the surface are transferred to the deep ocean. Moreover, as consumers of gelatinous organisms, these species convert “gelatinous energy” into “fish energy” readily usable by higher trophic levels, including endangered and commercially important species. This is a crucial trophic relationship that has been historically underestimated due to methodology limitations (e.g., quickly digested gelatinous organisms were probably underestimated in previous studies, based solely on stomach contents). Considering in ecosystem models this trophic relationship, as well as the functional organization of hatchetfishes, is important to properly answer key ecological questions including resource use, carbon transportation, and influence of mesopelagic community in climate change process.
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Filmalter, J. D., Cowley, P. D., Potier, M., Menard, F., Smale, M. J., Cherel, Y., et al. (2017). Feeding ecology of silky sharks Carcharhinus falciformis associated with floating objects in the western Indian Ocean. J. Fish Biol., 90(4), 1321–1337.
Résumé: The silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis is commonly associated with floating objects, including fish aggregating devices (FADs), in the Indian Ocean. While the motives for this associative behaviour are unclear, it does make them vulnerable to capture in the tuna purse seine fishery that makes extensive use of FADs. Here, the diet of 323 C. falciformis, caught at FADs in the Indian Ocean, was investigated to test the hypothesis that trophic benefits explain the associative behaviour. A high proportion of stomachs with fresh contents (57%) suggested that extensive feeding activity occurred while associated with FADs. Multiple dietary indices showed that typical non-associative prey types dominated, but were supplemented with fishes typically found at FADs. While the trophic benefits of FAD association may be substantial, our results suggest that associative behaviour is not driven solely by feeding. (C) 2016 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
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Govinden, R., Jauhary, R., Filmalter, J., Forget, F., Soria, M., Adam, S., et al. (2012). Movement Behaviour of Skipjack (Katsuwonus Pelamis) and Yellowfin (Thunnus Albacares) Tuna at Anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) in the Maldives, Investigated by Acoustic Telemetry. Aquatic Living Resources, FirstView.
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Guyader, O., Robert, B., & Lionel, R. (2017). Assessing the number of moored fishing aggregating devices through aerial surveys: A case study from Guadeloupe. Fish Res., 185, 73–82.
Résumé: Moored fish aggregating devices (MFADs) are increasingly being used in small-scale tropical fisheries to access pelagic fish species that are otherwise difficult to harvest in large numbers. Little attention has yet been paid to monitoring MFADs in coastal areas, however. This is most likely due to the small-scale nature of most fisheries that utilize them and the presumed lower impact of those fisheries on fish stocks and their ecosystems. In this paper, we examined the abundance and density of MFADs around Guadeloupe, using aerial line transect surveys. Estimated MFAD densities were found to be high compared with previously reported densities in this area, especially within the 22-45 km range offshore. We examine and discuss possible reasons for these high densities. The main drivers appear to be the target species dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and related fishing behaviour. We present different approaches for reducing and monitoring MFADs densities, including the co-management of MFAD territorial use rights by fishing communities. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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