Functional feeding responses of piscivorous fishes from the northeast US continental shelf |
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Authors: | H Moustahfid M C Tyrrell J S Link J A Nye B E Smith R J Gamble |
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Institution: | (1) NOAA Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water St, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA |
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Abstract: | The functional feeding response forms of piscivorous fishes used in multispecies and ecosystem modeling have been questioned
because they were mostly conjectural or solely based on laboratory studies. Here, we investigate the functional feeding response
of seven species of piscivorous fishes on four species of their prey from the northeast US continental shelf using field data
that spans 30 years. Our study confirmed that Holling’s types II and III functional responses are the most common functional
responses for piscivorous fishes in this region. However, our analyses also revealed that differences exist between piscivorous
fishes’ functional responses, and, therefore, combining functional responses of piscivores is probably not appropriate in
multispecies and ecosystem modeling. In the absence of specific predator–prey functional responses, we suggest that, for cruising,
actively attacking predators, a type II functional response is slightly preferable; for a sedentary, ambush predator, a type
III functional response is slightly preferable; at low prey densities for a generic fish predator, a type III functional response
should be used; and at moderate to high prey densities, either should work sufficiently. Because we have shown that the functional
response of a particular predator to individual prey species varies, these relationships must be further evaluated as we continue
to develop and employ multispecies and ecosystem modeling. |
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