Abstract
The Culbin Sands lagoon ecosystem in NE Scotland was studied during a three-year period (1994-1996) to identify the major trophic links from benthic invertebrates to epibenthic predators, and to assess impacts of overwintering fish on their prey communities. Every 2-4 weeks, samples of mobile fauna were collected to study their diets. The major trophic links identified between benthic invertebrates and epibenthic predators were from benthic invertebrates to the shrimp Crangon crangon, and to the common goby Pomatoschistus microps and the plaice Pleuronectes platessa . The energy flow from benthic invertebrates to overwintering fish was estimated at 133 kJ m –2 yr –1 . A flow of 10 kJ m –2 yr –1 was also observed from eggs and larval stages of the overwintering shrimp Crangon crangon to the overwintering fish. Nevertheless, manipulative field experiments showed no significant impacts of the most abundant overwintering fish Pomatoschistus microps on prey community densities, despite an overall individual ingestion rate of 89 J day –1 .
Highlights
Trophic links between community components within coastal systems have been described in detail by many authors (e.g. Raffaelli et al, 2002), with both epibenthic predators and shorebirds being considered important predators of invertebrate organisms
Culbin Sands area is a protected area classified as a Special Site of Scientific Interest since July 1973
The most abundant epibenthic species at Culbin Sands lagoon were the brown shrimp Crangon crangon (10-100 ind. m–2), the common goby Pomatsochistus microps (1-10 ind. m–2), and the plaice Pleuronectes platessa (1-10 ind. m–2), individuals of larger sizes were more commonly observed in summer (Fig. 2)
Summary
Trophic links between community components within coastal systems have been described in detail by many authors (e.g. Raffaelli et al, 2002), with both epibenthic predators and shorebirds being considered important predators of invertebrate organisms. Coastal areas are known to be important nursery grounds for epibenthic fauna but the effects of overwintering species, especially fish, may be significant for their invertebrate prey communities. Benthic invertebrate macroinfauna comprise 70% in volume of the total amount eaten by epibenthic predators. The remaining 30% are composed of meiofauna (10%), other epibenthic fauna (10%), and “detritus” or “unidentified organic matter” (10%) (Pihl, 1985). Harpacticoids and ostracods are frequently eaten by smaller predators such as the sea scorpions Myoxocephalus scorpius, the pipefish Nerophis lumbriciformis, and the sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus and Spinachia spinachia. Larger fish prefer bivalves (especially siphons), polychaetes and crustaceans such as the amphipods Bathyporeia pilosa and Corophium spp
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