Pelagic fish predation is stronger at temperate latitudes than near the equator.
Details
Serval ID
serval:BIB_7F9E5BC19CA9
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Pelagic fish predation is stronger at temperate latitudes than near the equator.
Journal
Nature communications
ISSN
2041-1723 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
2041-1723
Publication state
Published
Issued date
31/03/2020
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
11
Number
1
Pages
1527
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: epublish
Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
Species interactions are widely thought to be strongest in the tropics, potentially contributing to the greater number of species at lower latitudes. Yet, empirical tests of this "biotic interactions" hypothesis remain limited and often provide mixed results. Here, we analyze 55 years of catch per unit effort data from pelagic longline fisheries to estimate the strength of predation exerted by large predatory fish in the world's oceans. We test two central tenets of the biotic interactions hypothesis: that predation is (1) strongest near the equator, and (2) positively correlated with species richness. Counter to these predictions, we find that predation is (1) strongest in or near the temperate zone and (2) negatively correlated with oceanic fish species richness. These patterns suggest that, at least for pelagic fish predation, common assumptions about the latitudinal distribution of species interactions do not apply, thereby challenging a leading explanation for the latitudinal gradient in species diversity.
Keywords
Animals, Biodiversity, Fishes/physiology, Geography, Oceans and Seas, Phylogeny, Predatory Behavior/physiology, Species Specificity, Time Factors
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
04/04/2020 15:30
Last modification date
08/08/2024 6:36