Relative importance of predatory versus non-predatory mortality for dominant copepod species in the northern Chilean (23 degrees S) Humboldt Current System

Abstract

Copepods dominate the zooplankton communities and support large fisheries within the Humboldt Current System (HCS). Using detailed data of live/dead compositions, along with stage durations and molting rates, we derived, for the first time, both predatory and non-predatory mortality rates of the 3 dominant copepod species - Paracalanus cf. indicus, Acartia tonsa and Calanus chilensis- within the HCS and examined their relationships with environmental factors. Predatory mortality rates of all 3 species increased linearly with developmental stage, and hence body size, indicating top-down control by predators that prefer larger prey. Intrusion of oxygenpoor water via upwelling and low chlorophyll a concentration were linked to increased nonpredatory mortality rates of P. cf. indicus and A. tonsa, whereas non-predatory mortality rates of C. chilensis were positively correlated with temperature. On average, non-predatory mortality accounted for 34.8-46.3% of the total mortality among the 3 species. Changes in upwelling intensity caused by climate change may alter the extent and patterns of predatory and non-predatory mortalities in the HCS copepod communities.

Más información

Título según WOS: Relative importance of predatory versus non-predatory mortality for dominant copepod species in the northern Chilean (23 degrees S) Humboldt Current System
Título según SCOPUS: Relative importance of predatory versus non-predatory mortality for dominant copepod species in the northern Chilean (23°S) Humboldt Current System
Título de la Revista: MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
Volumen: 630
Editorial: INTER-RESEARCH
Fecha de publicación: 2019
Página de inicio: 13
Página final: 23
Idioma: English
DOI:

10.3354/meps13130

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS