Submarine canyons represent an essential habitat network for krill hotspots in a Large Marine Ecosystem

Scientific Reports
Jarrod A SantoraWilliam J Sydeman

Abstract

Submarine canyon systems are ubiquitous features of marine ecosystems, known to support high levels of biodiversity. Canyons may be important to benthic-pelagic ecosystem coupling, but their role in concentrating plankton and structuring pelagic communities is not well known. We hypothesize that at the scale of a large marine ecosystem, canyons provide a critical habitat network, which maintain energy flow and trophic interactions. We evaluate canyon characteristics relative to the distribution and abundance of krill, critically important prey in the California Current Ecosystem. Using a geological database, we conducted a census of canyon locations, evaluated their dimensions, and quantified functional relationships with krill hotspots (i.e., sites of persistently elevated abundance) derived from hydro-acoustic surveys. We found that 76% of krill hotspots occurred within and adjacent to canyons. Most krill hotspots were associated with large shelf-incising canyons. Krill hotspots and canyon dimensions displayed similar coherence as a function of latitude and indicate a potential regional habitat network. The latitudinal migration of many fish, seabirds and mammals may be enhanced by using this canyon-krill network to maintain ...Continue Reading

References

May 7, 2010·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Fabio C De LeoMalcolm R Clark
Dec 15, 2010·Annual Review of Marine Science·Malcolm R ClarkJason M Hall-Spencer
Nov 20, 2016·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Jarrod A SantoraBrian K Wells

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Citations

Feb 26, 2019·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Briana AbrahmsBruce R Mate
Jul 31, 2020·Geophysical Research Letters·Jerome FiechterMonique Messié
Apr 6, 2021·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Rhian EvansMark A Hindell

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
GAM

Software Mentioned

GAM
Ord
mgcv
ArcGIS
R
Echoview
Getis

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