Dataset Information

Spawning stock recruitment creates misleading dynamics under predation release in ecosystem and multi-species models.

ABSTRACT: Ecosystem and multi-species models are used to understand ecosystem-wide effects of fishing, such as population expansion due to predation release, and further cascading effects. Many are based on fisheries models that focus on a single, depleted population, and may not always behave as expected in a multi-species context. The spawning stock recruitment (SSR) relationship, a curve linking the number of juvenile fish to the existing adult biomass, can produce dynamics that are counter-intuitive and change scenario outcomes. We analysed the Beverton-Holt SSR curve and found a population with low resilience when depleted becomes very productive under persistent predation release. To avoid implausible increases in biomass, we propose limiting recruitment to its unfished level. This allows for specification of resilience when a population is depleted, without sudden and excessive increase when the population expands. We demonstrate this dynamic and solution within an end-to-end ecosystem model, focusing on myctophids under fishing-induced predation release. We present one possible solution, but the specification of stock-recruitment models should continue to be a topic of discussion amongst multi-species and ecosystem modellers and empiricists going forward.

SUBMITTER: McGregor VL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6660827 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Spawning stock recruitment creates misleading dynamics under predation release in ecosystem and multi-species models.

McGregor Vidette L VL Fulton Elizabeth A EA Dunn Matthew R MR

PeerJ 20190724

Ecosystem and multi-species models are used to understand ecosystem-wide effects of fishing, such as population expansion due to predation release, and further cascading effects. Many are based on fisheries models that focus on a single, depleted population, and may not always behave as expected in a multi-species context. The spawning stock recruitment (SSR) relationship, a curve linking the number of juvenile fish to the existing adult biomass, can produce dynamics that are counter-intuitive a ...[more]

PMID: 31372318

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Dispersal is a primary driver in shaping the future distribution of species in both terrestrial and marine systems. Physical transport by advection can regulate the distance travelled and rate of propagule supply to a habitat but post-settlement processes such as predation can decouple supply from recruitment. The effect of flow-mediated recruitment and predation on the recruitment success of an intertidal species, the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica was evaluated in two-replicated field experiments. Two key crab species were manipulated to test predator identity effects on oyster mortality. FINDINGS:Recruitment was ?58% higher in high flow compared to low flow, but predation masked those differences. Predation mortality was primarily attributed to the blue crab Callinectes sapidus, whilst the mud crab Panopeus herbstii had no effect on recruit mortality. Recruit mortality from predation was high when recruit densities were high, but when recruit density was low, predation effects were not seen. Under high recruitment (supply), predation determined maximum population size and in low flow environments, recruitment success is likely determined by a combination of recruitment and resource limitation but not predation. CONCLUSIONS:Four processes are demonstrated: (1) Increases in flow rate positively affect recruitment success; (2) In high flow (recruitment) environments, resource availability is less important than predation; (3) predation is an important source of recruit mortality, but is dependent upon recruit density; and (4) recruitment and/or resource limitation is likely a major driver of population structure and functioning, modifying the interaction between predators and prey. Simultaneous testing of flow-mediated recruitment and predation was required to differentiate between the role of each process in determining population size. Our results reinforce the importance of propagule pressure, predation and post-settlement mortality as important determinants of population growth and persistence, but demonstrate that they should not be considered mutually exclusive.

Dataset Information

Spawning stock recruitment creates misleading dynamics under predation release in ecosystem and multi-species models.

Publications

Spawning stock recruitment creates misleading dynamics under predation release in ecosystem and multi-species models.

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