MEPS

Marine Ecology Progress Series

MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

Impact Factor2.1 (JCR 2025 release)

Article Acceptance Rate52.2% (2024)

Average Time in Review216 days (2024)

Total Annual Downloads2.994.355 (2025)

Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 218:283-302 (2001)

Trophic interactions between the Patagonian toothfish, its fishery, and seals and seabirds around Macquarie Island

ABSTRACT: Macquarie Island is a small subantarctic island that supports a variety of breeding seabird and marine mammal populations. A fishery targeting the Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus elegenoides was established around the island in1994. For ecological sustainable development (ESD) of the fishery, this study investigated the trophic interactions based on diet composition and annual consumption between Patagonian toothfish, its fishery, and seals and seabirds within the MacquarieIsland Exclusive Economic Zone (MI-EEZ). Annual consumption rates for each predator were estimated from dietary data (mostly published sources), energetic budgets, prey energy content, and population size. Results indicated little predation on toothfishby seals or seabirds, or prey competition between toothfish and other marine predators. The greatest dietary overlap with toothfish was with gentoo penguins (21% dietary overlap) and southern elephant seals (19%). These overlaps in diet were smallrelative to those among fur seals (3 species, ≥90%), giant petrels (84%), royal and rockhopper penguins (65%), and king and royal penguins and fur seals (>60%). The total annual prey biomass consumed by seabirds, seals, toothfish and the fishery witthe MI-EEZ was estimated to be 419774 t, with the greatest consumption in January, at 2779 t d-1. Pelagic fish (61%, mostly myctophids), followed by pelagic crustaceans (28%, mostly euphausids) and cephalopods (7%) were the major prey. Mostprey biomass was consumed by penguins (88%), with comparatively small amounts by toothfish (8%), seals (3%) other seabirds (<1%) and the fishery (0.1%). These results indicate weak trophic linkages between the toothfish, its fishery, and seabirds andseals around Macquarie Island.

KEYWORDS

S. D. Goldsworthy (Co-author)

  • CSIRO Marine Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia

X. He (Co-author)

  • CSIRO Marine Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia

G. N. Tuck (Co-author)

  • CSIRO Marine Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia

M. Lewis (Co-author)

  • CSIRO Marine Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia

R. Williams (Co-author)

  • Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia