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Diets of deep-water pandalid shrimps on the Western Mediterranean slope
Abstract and Figures
The feeding habits of 3 deep-water species of pandalid shrimps occurring in the Catalan Sea (Western Mediterranean) were studied. All specimens were collected from 1988 to 1990 using bottom trawls at depths ranging between 380 and 1249 m. A total of 71 specimens of Plesionika edwardsi, 176 of P. martia, and 213 of P. acanthonotus were analyzed. Pandalid shrimps were active predators of macroplankton species. The diets of P. edwardsi and P. martia were quite similar and consisted primarily of benthopelagic eucarid crustaceans (Pasiphaea sp., euphausiids). P. acanthonotus is smaller, and its diet was based on smaller prey (siphonophores, hyperiids, euphausiids). Seasonal changes in the diets of bathyal pandalids were important. Planktonic organisms were their main food resource, and pandalid diets corresponded with changes in the abundance of available planktonic resources in the Western Mediterranean. Thus, bathymetric distribution and abundance of pandalid shrimps along the slope were related to the influence of the mesopelagic fauna on bathyal communities, which is commonly accepted to decrease with depth, The bathymetric distribution of pandalids is also discussed in relation to a possible competitive interaction for similar resources among certain pandalid species.
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... Like other species from the genus, P. edwardsii is a benthic species with moderate locomotor capacity, showing no daily Unexploited Plesionika edwardsii populations Nauplius, 29: e2021008 migration behavior in the water column (Company and Sardà, 2000). However, environmental specificity of hydrodynamic conditions, topography and food availability are factors that can considerably drive their spatial distribution along its occurrence areas (Cartes, 1993;Puig et al., 2001;Carbonell et al., 2003;Fanelli and Cartes, 2004). ...
... Bathymetric segregation by reproductive condition (ovigerous and non-ovigerous) was first reported in this study and suggests a gradual downward movement of females as they reach an ovigerous condition (Fig. 8). Such depth segregations seem to be in accordance with a distribution pattern which is supposed to reduce interspecific competition for space and available food resources (Cartes, 1993;1998;Santos et al., 2019b). ...
... These results agree with the allometric coefficient (b) reported for P. edwardsii in other North Atlantic and Mediterranean regions García-Rodriguez et al., 2000;Colloca, 2002;González et al., 2016). Although P. edwardsii is a nektobenthic crustacean, and therefore tends to increase weight isometrically with length (Company and Sardà, 1997), it is a specialized active predator that feeds mainly on macro-planktonic prey (Cartes, 1993). Therefore, the negative allometry observed suggest greater mobility, which may be advantageous during predation in deep-sea openocean areas characterized by narrow and steep shelves and rugged bottoms, such as in the Azores. ...
Plesionika edwardsii (J.F. Brandt in von Middendorf, 1851) is a cosmopolitan species that inhabits cold temperate and subarctic waters between 50 and 680 m. In the Azorean region, this is the second most abundant shrimp species and populations remain unexploited. To provide insights into a pristine state that can be useful for comparisons across regions and serve as a benchmark for a potential fishery in the future, we analyzed data collected during shrimp trap surveys in the Azores between 1999 and 2000. Plesionika edwardsii were caught between 100 and 600 m depth, with the biggest catches between 200 and 400 m. Sizes varied from 8.3 to 31.3 mm cephalothorax length (CL). Females were bigger and more abundant than males and predominated at depths up to 300 m. Ovigerous females were caught throughout most of the year, with a peak of abundance during the winter. The size at 50 % maturity was 25 mm CL. High variability in distributional patterns and life-history traits has been observed in our study and when compared with literature from other regions, it is difficult to distinguish which differences are potentially fishing-induced. Future studies should investigate the oceanographic processes associated with P. edwardsii ecology and commercial fisheries should be made on a precautionary basis.
... These species have been studied in the Mediterranean by various authors both in the western (CARTES, 1993;COMPANY & SARDÀ, 1997;CARBONELL & ABELLÒ, 1998) and the eastern basin (KOUKOURAS et al., 1998;POLITOU et al., 2000). Concerning the Italian waters, investigations on Pandalid shrimps mostly focused on species' depth distribution and life history (MURA, 1995;CAMPISI et al., 1998a, b;CUCCU et al., 1998;MARSAN et al., 2000;FANELLI et al., 2001;COLLOCA, 2002;MAIORANO et al., 2002). ...
... Some of the species studied showed intraspecific size segregation by depth, and interspecific size segregation among species was evident. This may be related to the diet composition of P. martia and P. acanthonotus, which feed on the same resources in the Catalan Sea (CARTES, 1993), segregating along a prey size gradient. This author showed that for these two species there was a different size composition at depths where they co-exist. ...
... This can be probably explained by the higher availability of food resources in this area due to the increased primary production caused by the outflow of the Tiber River. An increase of mesopelagic fauna abundance in this eutrophic area may affect distribution and abundance of pandalid shrimps (CARTES, 1993). ...
... Deep water shrimps, belonging to the infraorder Caridea, are a dominant or subdominant component from temperate to subtropical assemblages of deep cold water. They occupy a central position in food chain in which they represent a key group linking lower and higher trophic levels (Cartes, 1993;Labropoulou and Kostikas, 1999;Wehrtmann, 2007). These shrimps are benthic or benthopelagic species with a bathymetric distribution going from shelf strata (0-200m), intermediate strata (200-700) to deep strata (>700m). ...
... These shrimps are benthic or benthopelagic species with a bathymetric distribution going from shelf strata (0-200m), intermediate strata (200-700) to deep strata (>700m). They are found on mixed and/or sedimentary substrate, they are active predators of macroplankton species even if they can also exhibit a scavenging behaviour as secondary feeding activity (Cartes, 1993). In the Azores region, deep water shrimps of the families Hyppolytidae, Pandalidae and Oplophoridae have been collected with bottom traps of different shapes, floating traps and trawl nets (Siversten and Holthuis, 1956;Martins and Hargreaves, 1991;Pinho et al., 2001;Sousa et al., 2004;Aranha et al., 2006). ...
... The two most abundant species, P. edwardsii and P. martia come one after the other overlapping around the strata of 450m. These are species with similar morphology and trophic habits so that, as hypothesized byCartes (1993), in an oligotrophic environment where space and food are limiting resources, segregation by depth could be an adaptation that allows the co-existence of the two species. Finally, it is relevant to notice the low biomass recorded at Condor seamount compared with those recorded along the Faial shelf ranging from a minimum of 90.9 g/trap at 500m to a maximum of 672.0 g/trap at 350m (Aranha et al ...
This study focused on the midwater fauna around the Condor Seamount, sampled with an open 10’ IKMT. The catch includes 630 specimens of 42 species (12 families) weighing 330.3 g. Myctophidae dominate the captures and was the most specious family. Gonostomatids, stomiids and sternoptychids were also important. Lobianchia dofleini, Diaphus rafinesquei, Lampanyctus pussillus, Stomias boa ferox and Cyclothone spp. were the most frequent species. Cyclothone spp. dominated numerically. Most fish range between 20 and 80 mm SL. A few larger and heavier fish strongly influenced the biomass pattern. Shallow night hauls differ from deeper hauls, due to the absence on non-migrating species at the upper layers. Deep mesopelagic hauls by day also separate from those taken by night. Among the last, North slope hauls were also distinct; they caught less taxa, fewer fish and lower biomass. Along the Condor crest only 3 fish from two species were caught. In general fish abundance and biomass increase with depth, due to the cumulative increment of deeper fishes. Preliminary analyses show an average abundance of 2.7 fishes and a biomass of 1.8g, in a column of 1m2
to 800 m depth. The highest abundance was observed at one of the far-field stations,
followed by the southern and northern slopes of Condor, which however, showed the
highest biomass values. In most depth strata, southern slope station show high average
abundance and biomass. No specific boundary community could be identified. The sample includes mainly pelagic open waters species and no consistent differences between far-field and seamount stations could be found. However, some pseudopelagic species were caught only on the seamount stations (i.e. Capros aper, Macroramphosus scolopax and Xenodermichtys copei). A preliminary estimation of the biomass available leads to conclude that about 95 tons of midwater fish, assuming a currents speed of ca. 5 cm/s, may impinge the exposed slopes ofthe seamount (a rectangle of 12 km times 0.8 km), on a 24 hours period. Differences found between the southern and northern Condor slopes stations must be analyzed by combining trawl data with acoustic and hydrographic data collected during the survey.
... Indeed, Myctophids and other mesopelagic fishes perform extensive daily migrations along the water column, eating plankton and micronekton at multiple depths in the epipelagic layers at night (Bernal et al., 2015). Whereas, the group of benthopelagic shrimps is also characterized by several deep-water crustaceans decapods, which feed on benthic prey (such as polychaetas exploited by P. edwardsii) and their opportunistic behavior is affected by the availability of planktonic resources (Cartes, 1993;Cartes, 1998). The importance of these groups in the energy exchanges has been observed in previous local models (Ricci et al., 2019;Carlucci et al., 2021), and in models realized for nearby areas, such as the Strait of Sicily model (Agnetta et al., 2019). ...
... P. martia represents an important species in the bathyal assemblage of the Northern Ionian Sea (Maiorano et al., 2002.;Capezzuto et al., 2010;D'Onghia et al., 2011), which is an important opportunistic predator of planktonic and benthic resources (Cartes, 1993). Its role as coupler became more relevant in the period [2003][2004][2005] and this could be explained by its trophic strategy, favoured by a greater productivity during the cyclonic period (Mazzocchi et al., 2003;Lavigne et al., 2018). ...
Benthic-pelagic coupling (BPC) is a combination of downward (from pelagic to benthic) and upward (from benthic to pelagic) flows of organic matter and nutrients mediated by trophic interactions in the food web. Hydrological changes in marine ecosystems affect BPC patterns at several temporal and spatial scales. Thus, a food-web perspective help to to quantify and disentangle the role of ecosystem components and high trophic levels species in the BPC. This study investigated the spatio-temporal variability of energy and matter flows between the benthic and pelagic domains in two areas (Salento and Calabria) of the Northern Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) during two different periods. The region is subject to large-scale oceanographic changes, e.g., the Adriatic-Ionian Bimodal Oscillating Systems (BiOS), that might result in relevant spatial and temporal BPC changes. Four food-web models describe the trophic structure, the role of ecosystem components and energy flows in the Salento and Calabrian areas, during two BiOS periods, the anticyclonic (1995-1997) and the cyclonic phases (2003-2005). The food webs are described by 58 functional groups obtained by aggregating species into ecological domains, depth gradients and biological traits. The role of species in the BPC has been quantified using a new Benthic-Pelagic Coupling Index calculated on the basis of food web flows estimated by models. The results highlight the pivotal role of deep faunal communities, in which demersal and benthopelagic species sustain upward energy flows towards the pelagic domain and shelf faunal communities. Temporal changes driven by BiOS affect the trophic state of the deep communities resulting in considerable variations in their amount of consumption flows. In addition, the presence of submarine canyons seems to better support the stability of the Calabrian food web in both investigated periods, whereas geomorphological traits of the Salento area seem to support greater pelagic production during the cyclonic period than the anticyclonic one. Benthopelagic species show an important role as couplers. In particular, Aristaemorpha foliacea, Hoplostetus mediterraneus, Macrourids and Plesionika martia are important couplers of bathyal communities in both areas.
... It is reported, however, a single isolated larger female of 29.1 mm CL in the Eastern Ionian slope (Chilari et al., 2005). Another distinguishing aspect of P. martia populations in the GB is the absence of the bigger-deeper trend described for Mediterranean populations (Cartes 1993;Morales-Nin et al., 2003;Chilari et al., 2005). This is likely associated with the narrow depth distribution range (750-800 m) occupied by P. martia in the GB compared to the Mediterranean (ca. ...
... Also, in the GB, P. martia has no competitors that exploit similar prey (i.e., zooplankton: Pasiphaeidae, euphausiids) aside from other Plesionika spp. Thus, the lack of trophic competitive interactions in the GB may favor the absence of a bathymetric size structure, contrary to what is observed in the western Mediterranean Sea among Plesionika species (Cartes, 1993;Cartes et al., 1994). Thus, the GB may provide empty niches for P. martia, facilitating its colonization. ...
Few studies examined species or ecosystem dynamics on seamounts/banks. The Galicia Bank (GB), the deepest marine Special Area of Conservation in the Spanish Natura 2000 network, is considered a conservation priority because of its highly vulnerable habitats, such as cold-water and bamboo corals. The biological conditions and population structure of benthopelagic shrimps and their relationship with environmental conditions were analyzed during three expeditions over three years. Shrimps were collected by trawling. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) and nutritional condition (hepatosomatic index [HSI]) of shrimps were highest at the summit and deepest depths (>1500 m) sampled, whereas at intermediate depths between ca. 900–1500 m, these values were low. The intermediate depths around ca. 1000 m are influenced by the core of the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW), which is characterized by high salinity and low O2 concentrations. The highest GSI were recorded in species (Aristeus antennatus, Plesionika martia) distributed at summit, associated with higher Chl a 1–2 months before sampling at surface. The species with the highest HSI were also linked to Chl a 1–2 months and with higher %OM (generalized additive models, GAM, results). Overall, the studied shrimp species showed viable populations on GB, with reproductors/spawners more markedly distributed over the summit (ca. <900 m). Notably, reproductors of several important commercial species (A. antennatus, P. martia) reached larger sizes and had greater potential fecundity (GSI) than in their optimal distribution areas, out of GB. P. martia recruitment only occurred in 2010, a year characterized by highly negative North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) indices (−5.96/−5.2), suggesting that benthopelagic shrimps may colonize the GB at a variable periodicity as a probable consequence of the variable availability of zooplankton prey over seamounts. At the same time, species such as Aristaeopsis edwardsiana and P. martia may have some advantages when colonizing habitats in the GB because of the absence of competition from similar, even congeneric species. This was reflected in the patterns of size-depth distribution in the GB compared to mainland areas. In conclusion, the habitats of the GB and, by extension, of seamounts/banks contain rather isolated and small sub-populations, yet these populations can have a reservoir effect that can contribute to eventually restoring the main population core in other areas.
... The integration of the mesopelagic and benthopelagic communities with the benthodemersal ones provides a more significant understanding of their association in relation to depth. Both communities are integrated in terms of species richness, density, and biomass, which contributes to the trophic dynamics of this great area, particularly in the bathyal zone, where drastic faunal changes occur, as well as in the amount of energy available and a reduction of the available trophic resources in relation to the distribution of mesopelagic organisms and their hydrological characteristics (Cartes, 1993;Sardà and Cartes, 1993). An abrupt decrease in ecological parameters was found, such as species richness and abundance with the consequent homogeneity at greater depths. ...
... Deep-water pandalid shrimps of the genus Plesionika have a wide distribution, occurring in tropical and subtropical regions along the continental shelf and slope (Cartes 1993;Carbonell and Abelló 1998;Vafidis et al. 2008). Species that compose this genus play an important ecological role in benthic assemblages and usually feed on pelagic and benthic resources. ...
The global overfishing scenario of the historically exploited marine stocks have generated concern and encouraged the search for new potentially exploitable fisheries resources. In this sense, shrimps are potential alternative resources to be exploited, given their high diversity and stock resilience. This study had an objective to estimate life-history traits and analyse yield and abundance fishing levels to see whether Plesionika edwardsii shrimp is vulnerable to overexploitation or not in the mid-North Atlantic (Azores region, ICES Subdivision 10a2). The females showed larger L ∞ (asymptotic length) and k (coefficient of growth; L ∞ = 27.3 mm, k = 0.75 year −1) than did males (L ∞ = 24.58 mm, k = 0.73 year −1). The mortality rates of males (Z = 1.00 year −1 ; M = 0.84 year −1) and females (Z = 0.92 year −1 ; M = 0.85 year −1) were very similar. In terms of longevity, the males (3.47 year −1) survived longer than did females (3.34 year −1). Depletion experiments showed a fast and straightforward decline of CPUEs (3, 5 and 9 days), confirming a low mobility and vulnerability to high fishing efforts. The maximum sustainable yield (MSY) estimates (5.4-10.7 tonnes (Mg) year −1) showed a low annual sustainable catch. These values combined with the life-history characteristics indicated that this stock is less resilient and highly vulnerable to overfishing.
... Deep-water pandalid shrimps of the genus Plesionika have a wide distribution, occurring in tropical and subtropical regions along the continental shelf and slope (Cartes 1993;Carbonell and Abelló 1998;Vafidis et al. 2008). Species that compose this genus play an important ecological role in benthic assemblages and usually feed on pelagic and benthic resources. ...
The global overfishing scenario of the historically exploited marine stocks have generated concern and encouraged the search for new potentially exploitable fisheries resources. In this sense, shrimps are potential alternative resources to be exploited, given their high diversity and stock resilience. This study had an objective to estimate life-history traits and analyse yield and abundance fishing levels to see whether Plesionika edwardsii shrimp is vulnerable to overexploitation or not in the mid-North Atlantic (Azores region, ICES Subdivision 10a2). The females showed larger L ∞ (asymptotic length) and k (coefficient of growth; L ∞ = 27.3 mm, k = 0.75 year −1) than did males (L ∞ = 24.58 mm, k = 0.73 year −1). The mortality rates of males (Z = 1.00 year −1 ; M = 0.84 year −1) and females (Z = 0.92 year −1 ; M = 0.85 year −1) were very similar. In terms of longevity, the males (3.47 year −1) survived longer than did females (3.34 year −1). Depletion experiments showed a fast and straightforward decline of CPUEs (3, 5 and 9 days), confirming a low mobility and vulnerability to high fishing efforts. The maximum sustainable yield (MSY) estimates (5.4-10.7 tonnes (Mg) year −1) showed a low annual sustainable catch. These values combined with the life-history characteristics indicated that this stock is less resilient and highly vulnerable to overfishing.
... trophic factors, responsible for the diversification of deep-sea asellotes. In this way congeneric species are often separated bathymetrically in the deep Mediterranean (e.g. with deep shrimps Plesionika spp., Cartes, 1993), and when these species cooccur there is a size segregation. Within this general context, the present work pursues two key objectives: (1) To establish the composition and distribution of deep-sea isopods living in the BBL in the north-western Mediterranean; (2) to analyze possible variables responsible for the changes identified in isopod distribution and diversity as a function of habitat. ...
Isopods are a highly diversified group of deep-sea fauna, with a wide variety of shapes which must reflect a similar great variety of adaptations to the deep environments. The deep Mediterranean, however, has a low diversity of isopods related to its oligotrophy, the thermal stability of deep-water masses (∼12.8 °C below 150 - 200 m) and rather homogeneous geomorphology. The main factor defining isopod habitats in the Balearic Basin is insularity vs mainland influence. Desmosomatidae and Ischnomesidae, examples of epibenthic species (with lack of paddle-shaped legs and non/low-natatory capacity) are mainly linked to mainland areas with higher % organic matter (OM) and labile C, indicating food availability. By contrast, suprabenthic species like Munnopsidae (with some paddle-shaped, natatory, legs) are more dominant in insular areas. Compared with the Atlantic, the degree of impoverishment in diversity (number of species, S) of deep-Mediterranean asellotes is higher among epibenthos (with a lot of families/genera absent in the deep Mediterranean) than for suprabenthic species, with potential natatory capacity (natatory legs). This suggests that the high diversity of deep sea asellotes may depend on the trophic niches (sediment richness and diversity of habitats) available. In the 20 yrs period (1991-2011) of our (non-continuous) sampling series we identified some climatic influence (higher ENSO index) on the high densities reported in 1991-1992 samples, related to species taken at submarine canyons in mainland areas. Higher food availability (by advection) in canyons during 1991 and 1992 related with an increase of rainfall regime may enhance recruitment (e.g. in March 1992 inside canyons) and abundance/diversity of asellotes, especially for epibenthic species (Desmosomatidae).
Deep-sea images are routinely collected during at-sea expeditions and represent a repository of under-utilized knowledge. We leveraged dive videos collected by the remotely-operated vehicle Hercules (deployed from E/V Nautilus, operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust), and adapted biological trait analysis, to develop an approach that characterizes ecosystem services. Specifically, fisheries and climate-regulating services related to carbon are assessed for three southern California methane seeps: Point Dume (∼725 m), Palos Verdes (∼506 m), and Del Mar (∼1023 m). Our results enable qualitative intra-site comparisons that suggest seep activity influences ecosystem services differentially among sites, and site-to-site comparisons that suggest the Del Mar site provides the highest relative contributions to fisheries and carbon services. This study represents a first step towards ecosystem services characterization and quantification using deep-sea images. The results presented herein are foundational, and continued development should help guide research and management priorities by identifying potential sources of ecosystem services.
To determine the potential supply of prey for the deep sea shrimp, investigations on the macrobenthos of Farn Deeps and Fladen Ground were carried out. The degree of fullness and contents of the deep sea shrimp stomachs were recorded. The prey was identified to species, when possible. Pandalus borealis obtaines its food from the macroplankton as well as the macrozoobenthos. Meiofauna and detritus do not make up a significant part of its diet. The shrimp have a nocturnal activity phase during which they consume mainly plankton. During the day, they ingest benthic species. The males feed on plankton in the pelagic zone more actively than do females.
Vertical profiles of planktonic and micronektonic biomass were observed close to the sea bed along a transect running up the continental slope on the southern flank of the Porcupine Seabight (SW of Ireland). Biomass concentration doubles from 100 to 10 m above the sea bed. This is significant for disposal of high level radioactive waste since biological activity increases close to the sea bed; slope regions are areas where the potential for vertical transport of material by biological processes is enhanced; there may be dynamic links across slopes between deep-living communities and the shelf communities which are heavily exploited for living resources; so any isotopes transported by physical processes from a dumpsite which impinge on the slope may become incorporated into a highly dynamic system. It is unclear whether the dominant flux would be up slope or back onto and into the sediment. -from STAR, 23(9), 1985
The multivariate techniques of cluster analysis and factor analysis were used to study depth-correlated changes in the species composition of deep-sea gastropod assemblages. The most pronounced faunal change occurred at the shelf-slope transition. The fauna changed continuously from the upper slope to the abyss and the rate of change seemed proportional to the rate of change in depth, being highest on the slope, lowest on the abyss and intermediate on the abyssal rise. This pattern may reflect an increasingly uniform environment with increasing depth.