Small pelagic fish are central to the Baltic Sea food web. They feed on plankton and serve as prey for larger fish, seabirds and mammals. Because of this, their feeding habits influence the entire ecosystem. A new study led by researchers at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), published in ICES Journal of Marine Science, shows that the main pelagic fish species in the central Baltic, herring, sprat and stickleback, overlap surprisingly little in their use of resources. Less overlap than expected Group Winder at DEEP, together with colleagues at the Swedish University of Agriculture examined the diets of the dominant species by combining stomach content analyses with data on prey availability. Using DNA metabarcoding, they could assess the full spectrum of their resource use. Modest diet overlap was also supported by stable isotope data. The results suggest that these fishes are not locked in strong competition under current conditions. Seasonal dynamics in prey availability play a key role, as the fish adjust their diets throughout the year.
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Research in the subject takes place at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP) and the Baltic Sea Centre.
