Trophic ecology, habitat, and migratory behaviour of the viperfish Chauliodus sloani reveal a key mesopelagic player.

ABSTRACT: Mesopelagic fishes are numerically the most important vertebrate group of all world's oceans. While these species are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities, basic biological knowledge is still lacking. For instance, major uncertainties remain on the behaviour, ecology, and thus functional roles of mesopelagic micronektivores, particularly regarding their interactions with physicochemical features. Here, we examine the trophic ecology, habitat, and migratory behaviour of the viperfish (Chauliodus sloani)-a poorly known and abundant deep-sea species-to further understand the ecology and thus functional role of mesopelagic micronektivores. Moreover, we explore how physical drivers may affect these features and how these relationships are likely to change over large oceanic areas

SUBMITTER: Eduardo LN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7710699 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature