Trophic level influences larval shortbelly rockfish (Sebastes jordani) development
Data files
Sep 24, 2024 version files 10.79 KB
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README.md
1.76 KB
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S.jord_All_Revised.csv
3.35 KB
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S.jord.increments_Revised.csv
5.68 KB
Abstract
Identifying the factors influencing fish recruitment is critical for fishery management, and failure to do so can have major ecological and economic consequences. Many hypotheses over the past century have been proposed, and the recently postulated Trophic Efficiency in Early Life (TEEL) hypothesis argues that a shorter food chain length can result in more efficient energy transfer from primary producers to young fishes, thereby increasing growth rate and larval condition, reducing early-life mortality and ultimately leading to a stronger recruitment cohort. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the trophic position (TP) through compound-specific isotopic analysis of amino acids, as well as otolith microstructure and stomach content of larval shortbelly rockfish (Sebastes jordani). Results show larval rockfish that ate lower TP prey were both heavier and faster growing. This suggests the trophic characteristics of early life diet are critical to larval survival, and provide evidence in support of the TEEL hypothesis.
README: Trophic Efficiency Facilitates Larval Shortbelly Rockfish (<i>Sebastes jordani</i>) Development
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.dfn2z3584
Identifying the factors influencing fish recruitment is critical for fishery management, but despite 109 years of research, our understanding on the factors controlling fish recruitment remain incomplete. This study showcases that when larval fish consume lower trophic level prey, they are heavier and faster growing. This supports the Trophic Efficiency in Early Life (TEEL) hypothesis which postulates a shorter food chain length (FCL) result in more efficient energy transfer from primary producers to young fishes, and contribute to fish recruitment.
Description of the data and file structure
Data are saved as CSV files.
S.jord_All_Revised
ID = fish ID
station = CalCOFI line_station
year = year sampled during CalCOFI cruise
TP_group1 = low or high TP group
size_cm = total length of larva
weight_mg = total dry weight of larva
TP_Glu_Phe = CSIA-AA Trophic Position
Glu_Phe = δ15NGlu-Phe
Phe = δ15NPhe
agecap = age of fish
radcap = total area of otolith
rad1 = otolith core (nuclear width)
last3.y = area of last 3 otolith increments
last2.y = area of last 2 otolith increments
rad2 = cumulative increment area of rad1 + rad2
rad3 = cumulative increment area of rad1 + rad2 + rad3
(and so on)
Note: NA's denotes not applicable; a 1-day old fish will not have rad2, rad3 ... (or any subsequent ring information).
S. jord.increments_Revised
ID = fish ID
IDnum = unique fish ID dataset
Ring = Ring Number
Inc_width = cumulative area of increments (e.g. Ring 3 = rad1 + rad2 + rad3)
TP = CSIA-AA Trophic Position
Glu+Phe = δ15NGlu-Phe
Phe = δ15NPhe