Dining in the Deep: The Feeding Ecology of Deep-Sea Fishes

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Abstract

Deep-sea fishes inhabit ∼75% of the biosphere and are a critical part of deep-sea food webs. Diet analysis and more recent trophic biomarker approaches, such as stable isotopes and fatty-acid profiles, have enabled the description of feeding guilds and an increased recognition of the vertical connectivity in food webs in a whole-water-column sense, including benthic-pelagic coupling. Ecosystem modeling requires data on feeding rates; the available estimates indicate that deep-sea fishes have lower per-individual feeding rates than coastal and epipelagic fishes, but the overall predation impact may be high. A limited number of studies have measured the vertical flux of carbon by mesopelagic fishes, which appears to be substantial. Anthropogenic activities are altering deep-sea ecosystems and their services, which are mediated by trophic interactions. We also summarize outstanding data gaps.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalAnnual Review of Marine Science
Volume9
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2017

Keywords

  • Feeding rates
  • Food webs
  • Trophic biomarkers
  • Trophic guilds
  • Vertical carbon flux

Disciplines

  • Marine Biology
  • Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

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