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Small pelagic fish in the shallow Wadden Sea show opportunistic feeding with a strong benthic link
Maathuis, M.A.M.; Tulp, I.; Valk, S.; van den Brink, X.; Couperus, A.S.; Keur, M.C.; Nijland, R.; Sakinan, S.; van der Vorst, V.; Poos, J.J. (2024). Small pelagic fish in the shallow Wadden Sea show opportunistic feeding with a strong benthic link. ICES J. Mar. Sci./J. Cons. int. Explor. Mer 81(8): 1521-1535. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsae096
In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. Academic Press: London. ISSN 1054-3139; e-ISSN 1095-9289, more
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    DNA metabarcoding, food web, seasonal dynamics, small pelagic fish, Wadden Sea, zooplankton
Authors  Top 
  • Maathuis, M.A.M.
  • Tulp, I., more
  • Valk, S.
  • van den Brink, X.
  • Couperus, A.S.
  • Keur, M.C.
  • Nijland, R.
  • Sakinan, S.
  • van der Vorst, V.
  • Poos, J.J.
Abstract
    Small pelagic fish (SPF) are crucial in marine food webs, transferring energy from plankton to higher trophic levels. This study focuses on herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus), addressing knowledge gaps in their feeding ecology in a nursery area, the Dutch Wadden Sea. We conducted a year-long, monthly survey, and used DNA metabarcoding to analyse zooplankton samples and stomach contents of two size classes of herring and sprat. Intra-, interspecific, and seasonal variations in fish condition, stomach fullness, and diet composition, along with selective feeding, were studied. Our study showed that condition and diet composition of herring and sprat, along with zooplankton density, exhibited a clear seasonal pattern. Juvenile herring and sprat displayed opportunistic feeding behaviour, rather than showing distinct prey selection. Besides copepods, we regularly observed (larvae of) benthic invertebrates in their diet. This emphasizes the crucial role of SPF as energy transfer agents, not solely between trophic levels, but also from benthic to pelagic habitats. Furthermore, fish post-larvae were part of the diet of larger herring (10–15 cm). Because of its unprecedented temporal and taxonomical detail, this study advances the understanding of seasonal dynamics of dominant components at the base of the Wadden Sea food web.
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