5. Material Cycling in Aquatic Ecosystems
- Linking Climate Change and Fisheries |
| 5a. Ecosystem structure and food-web dynamics |
| Fisheries production is largely dependent on the energy transfer efficiency of primary production through a food web to the target fish species. Ecosystem structure is the principal factor regulating energy transfer efficiency and mortality events. Each food-web components has its own function in the food-web dynamics however, the individual roles of each ecosystem component and the ecosystem structure is often not fully understood. Ecosystem structure is also related to the resiliency or sensitivity of the ecosystem to perturbations. For example, specific species, genes or specific ecosystem structure may act as a buffer or an amplifier in the face of a perturbation event. Anthropogenic forcing such as habitat deterioration, eutrophication, species extinction, global warming, fishing is largely modifying ecosystem structures and food-web processes as well as natural forcing. These impacts are of great concern for sustainable use of aquatic ecosystem services. In this sub-session, we encourage contributions highlighting the food-web dynamics, functions of ecosystem components/structure to energy or material flow and ecosystem variability or resiliency. |
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