Individual-based modeling of feeding ecology and prey selection of larval cod on Georges Bank

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 376:227-243 (2009) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07796 Individual-based modeling of feeding ecology and prey selection of larval cod on Georges Bank Trond Kristiansen1,4,*, R. Gregory Lough2, Francisco E. Werner1,5, Elisabeth A. Broughton2, Larry J. Buckley3 1Marine Sciences Department, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3300, USA 2Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, NOAA, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA 3University of Rhode Island/NOAA CMER Program, Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA 4Present address: Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870 Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway 5Present address: Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States *Email: trond.kristiansen@imr.no ABSTRACT: Understanding larval fish survival dynamics is essential to determining variability in future adult population structure. Realistic modeling of larval fish feeding ecology depends on incorporating both the biotic and abiotic conditions that affect predator–prey interactions. We used an individual-based model (IBM) to test which variables drive Atlantic larval cod Gadus morhua feeding preferences. The IBM included a bioenergetics component that incorporated metabolic parameters and growth and a mechanistic prey selection component that depended on larval development and behavior, prey size and behavior, depth, light, and physical oceanographic conditions. We applied our model to Georges Bank and incorporated high-resolution field data on environmental conditions and prey abundance to analyze larval cod feeding ecology. Based on simulated selectivity indices, we found that cod prey selection was determined by differential encounter of prey due to the abundance of suitably sized prey, their visibility, and larval cod ability to capture these prey items. The model suggested that Pseudocalanus spp. were the dominant prey species for larval cod because of their abundance in the water column and their large image area. Centropages spp. were also modeled to be an important part of larval diet, but no copepodite stages of this taxon were found in gut samples. Lack of Centropages spp. in the gut samples indicated that they are more elusive in their behavior than Pseudocalanus spp. Overall our results suggest larval cod feeding ecology on Georges Bank is a consequence of the physical and biological conditions rather than active prey selection. KEY WORDS: Feeding ecology · Individual-based model · Cod · Larval fish · Georges Bank · Gadus morhua · Prey selection Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Kristiansen T, Lough RG, Werner FE, Broughton EA, Buckley LJ (2009) Individual-based modeling of feeding ecology and prey selection of larval cod on Georges Bank. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 376:227-243. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07796 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 376. Online publication date: February 11, 2009 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2009 Inter-Research.