Historical changes in mean trophic level of southern Australian fisheries
Heidi K. Alleway A C , Sean D. Connell A , Tim M. Ward B and Bronwyn M. Gillanders A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
B South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), PO Box 120, Henley Beach, SA 5024, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: heidi.alleway@adelaide.edu.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 65(10) 884-893 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF13246
Submitted: 17 September 2013 Accepted: 27 December 2013 Published: 7 July 2014
Abstract
Decreases in the mean trophic level (MTL) of fishery catches have been used to infer reductions in the abundance of high trophic level species caused by fishing pressure. Previous assessments of southern Australian fisheries have been inconclusive. The objectives of the present study were to provide more accurate estimates of MTL using disaggregated taxonomic and spatial data. We applied the model of MTL to fisheries catch statistics for the state of South Australia from 1951 to 2010 and a novel set of historical market data from 1936 to 1946. Results show that from 1951 to 2010, MTL declined by 0.16 of a trophic level per decade; a rate greater than the global average of 0.10 but equivalent to similar regional investigations in other areas. This change is mainly attributable to large increases in catches of sardine, rather than reductions in the catches of high trophic level species. The pattern is maintained when the historical data is included, providing a time line from 1936 to 2010. Our results show a broadening of the catch of lower trophic levels and suggest care in interpretation of MTL of catches because reductions do not necessarily reflect change in high trophic level species by fishing pressure.
Additional keywords: fisheries, fisheries catch, ‘fishing down’ marine food webs, South Australia.
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