Regime shifts in demersal assemblages of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem: a comparative assessment

• DOI: 10.1111/fog.12053
• Publication Date: 2015-02-06T11:07:50Z
• Authors: Stephen P. Kirkman; Dawit Yemane; Lara J. Atkinson; John Kathena; Silvi E. Nsiangango; Larvika Singh; Bjorn E. Axelsen; Toufiek Samaai
• Keywords: Regime shift; Demersal zone; Environmental change; Marine ecosystem; Demersal fish

Abstract Using long‐term survey data, changes in demersal faunal communities the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem were analysed at community and population levels to provide a comparative overview of occurrence timing regime shifts. For South Africa, community‐level shift observed early 1990s, lesser mid‐2000s, corresponded well with results other studies that showed environmental, or population‐level similar times, suggesting environmental forcing had played role. Several shifts detected for Namibia; these overall identified this country severe perturbations an extensive pelagic ecosystem area. However, interpretation was confounded by sampling gear; closer scrutiny types species affected direction (increase/decrease) relation nature gear modifications, revealed potentially artefact changes. This highlighted importance accounting protocols during analysis data. Angola, level mid‐2000s few (mainly positive), could not have been influenced which took place mainly before onset time series under consideration. no clear anthropogenic obvious.