Publications by authors named "Tracey Dornan"
Proc Biol Sci
January 2022
Article Synopsis
- The mesopelagic zone of the ocean, located 200-1000 m below the surface, is crucial for ecosystem health and hosts a significant amount of small fish.
- New acoustic methods are being used to estimate fish biomass more accurately, revealing that the Southern Ocean's mesopelagic fish biomass could be as high as 570 million tonnes.
- The research also highlights that fish biomass is highest near the seasonal ice-edge, which is vital for the feeding of penguins and seals, indicating potential risks to these ecosystems with climate change.
Article Synopsis
- Mesopelagic fish, found 200-1000 m deep in the ocean, are the most abundant vertebrates on Earth and play a crucial role in ocean ecosystems.
- Recent research shows that several common species in these waters lack gas-filled swimbladders, which are typically detected using acoustic surveys, leading to possible underestimations of their biomass, especially as one moves towards the Antarctic.
- This shift in fish community composition has significant implications for ecosystem modeling, biomass estimation, and monitoring species that may be affected by climate change and potential overfishing.
