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Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS 696:169-184 (2022)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14125

REVIEW
Trophic importance of small pelagic fish to marine predators of the Mediterranean Sea

Jazel Ouled-Cheikh1,2,*, Joan Giménez1, Marta Albo-Puigserver1,3, Joan Navarro1, Elena Fernández-Corredor1, José María Bellido4, Maria Grazia Pennino5, Marta Coll1

1Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 27-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
2Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio) and Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals (BEECA), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
3Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
4Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia, C/ Varadero s/n, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
5Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, 36390 Vigo, Spain
*Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT: Small pelagic fish (SPF) species such as European sardine Sardina pilchardus, European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, round sardinella Sardinella aurita and European sprat Sprattus sprattus play important ecological roles in the Mediterranean Sea marine ecosystem. However, changes in SPF abundance and biomass have recently been observed in the basin. Therefore, uncovering the trophic importance of SPF to their predators is key to unravelling potential ecological causes and consequences of SPF population changes related to predator dynamics. Here, we reviewed 101 published studies reporting the presence of the SPF species named above in the diet of marine predators inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea. We found that the number of species preying on SPF was highest for teleost fish species, followed by elasmobranchs, seabirds, marine mammals, cephalopods and sea turtles. These predators were both commercial and non-commercial taxa, and vulnerability ranged from medium to very high. From a conservation point of view, most predator species were considered Least Concern by the IUCN, with few exceptions such as the Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus, a Critically Endangered species. Geographic information showed that the European sardine was more important in the diet of predators from the western Mediterranean basin, while European anchovy consumption was higher on the eastern side. Round sardinella was consumed in high amounts in the Tyrrhenian Sea, and European sprat was anecdotally consumed. The importance of SPF in the diet of Mediterranean predators may indicate bottom-up control of the marine ecosystem; however, limited temporal information precluded the evaluation of temporal changes, highlighting the need to develop new studies in this area.


KEY WORDS: Diet · Feeding ecology · Stomach content · Trophic ecology


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Cite this article as: Ouled-Cheikh J, Giménez J, Albo-Puigserver M, Navarro J and others (2022) Trophic importance of small pelagic fish to marine predators of the Mediterranean Sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 696:169-184. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14125

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