Clarifying a trophic black box: stable isotope analysis reveals unexpected dietary variation in the Peruvian anchovy Engraulis ringens.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Small fishes play fundamental roles in pelagic ecosystems, channelling energy and nutrients from primary producers to higher trophic levels. They support globally important fisheries in eastern boundary current ecosystems like the Humboldt Current System (HCS) of the SE Pacific (Chile and Peru), where fish catches are the highest in the world (per unit area). This production is associated with coastal upwelling where fisheries target small pelagic fishes including the Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens). The elevated biomass attained by small pelagics is thought to reflect their low trophic position in short/simple food chains. Despite their global importance, large gaps exist in our understanding of the basic ecology of these resources. For instance, there is an

SUBMITTER: Pizarro J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6525584 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature