Using national crop and livestock production records from 1961–2003 satellite-derived data on pasture greenness 1982–2003 we show that the productivity of crops, livestock, pastures in Africa is predictably associated with El Niño Southern Oscillation North Atlantic Oscillation. The causal relations these results are partly understandable through associations between atmospheric fluctuations African rainfall. range explained among-year variation as a whole corresponds to nutritional...

Climate can affect population dynamics in indirect ways via nonadditive forcing by external variables on internal demographic rates. Current analytical techniques, employed ecology, fail to explicitly include interactions between and variables, therefore cannot efficiently address climate effects. Here, we present the results of an analysis, employing specifically developed statistical methodology, density-dependent survival walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) prerecruitment stages...

Abstract For marine fish, the choice of spawning location may be only means to fulfil dual needs surviving from egg juvenile stage and dispersing across different habitats while minimizing predation maximizing food intake. In this article, we review factors that affect fish propose a framework distinguish between ecological evolutionary constraints. We define former as boundaries for phenotypically plastic responses environmental change, in case ability specific genotypes change their...

Studies of climate effects on ecology often account for non-stationarity in individual physical and biological variables, but rarely allow non-stationary relationships among variables. Here, we show that variables are central to understanding salmon ( Onchorynchus spp.) the Gulf Alaska during 1965–2012. The relative importance two leading patterns North Pacific climate, Decadal Oscillation (PDO) Gyre (NPGO), changed around 1988/1989 as reflected by changing correlations with axes sea surface...

Abstract The importance of survival and growth variations early in life for population dynamics depends on the degrees compensatory density dependence size at later stages. Quantifying density‐ size‐dependent mortality different juvenile stages is therefore important to understand potentially predict recruitment population. We applied a statistical state‐space modelling approach analyse time series abundance mean body larval fish. focus was identify through successive age intervals, quantify...

Abstract Understanding how climate regulates trophic control may help to elucidate the causes of transitions between alternate ecosystem states following regime shifts. We used a 34‐year time series abundance Pacific cod ( Gadus macrocephalus ) and five prey species show that nature in North depends on state. Rapid warming 1970s caused an oscillation bottom–up top–down control. This shift apparently contributed transition from initial, prey‐rich state final, prey‐poor However, could not be...

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 463:273-284 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09800 Geographically and environmentally driven spawning distributions of tuna species in western Mediterranean Sea P. Reglero1,*, L. Ciannelli2, D. Alvarez-Berastegui3, R. Balbín1, J. López-Jurado1, F. Alemany1 1Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre...

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 333:249-255 (2007) - doi:10.3354/meps333249 Egg distribution, bottom topography and small-scale cod population structure in a coastal marine system Halvor Knutsen1,2,*, Esben Moland Olsen1,2, Lorenzo Ciannelli2,4, Sigurd Heiberg Espeland2, Jan Atle Knutsen1, Henrik Simonsen1, Stig Skreslet3, Nils Chr....

Recruitment variability caused by density-dependent and density-independent processes is an important area within the study of fish dynamics. These can exhibit nonlinearities nonadditive properties that may have profound dynamic effects. We investigate importance population density (i.e., dependence) environmental forcing independence) on age-0 age-1 abundance capelin (Mallotus villosus), northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), Norwegian spring spawning...

Until the last decade it was assumed that most marine species have pronounced gene flow over vast areas, largely because of their potential for dispersal during early life stages. However, recent genetic, modeling, and field studies shown populations may be structured at scales are inconsistent with extensive eggs larvae. Such findings stimulated birth new explaining mechanisms promote population structure isolation in oceans, face high dispersal. Here we study vertical horizontal...

The spatial dynamics of species are the result complex interactions between density-independent and density-dependent sources variability. Disentangling these two variability has challenged ecologists working in both terrestrial aquatic ecosystems. Using a novel spatially explicit statistical model, we tested for presence habitat selection yellowfin sole (Limanda aspera) eastern Bering Sea. We found specificities processes operating across ontogeny particularly with gender. Density-dependent...

Density-independent and density-dependent variables both affect the spatial distributions of species. However, their effects are often separately addressed using different analytical techniques. We apply a spatially explicit regression framework that incorporates localized, interactive threshold density-independent (water temperature) (population abundance) variables, to study distribution well-monitored flatfish population in eastern Bering Sea. Results indicate when biomass was beyond...

Abstract Various ocean‐climate models driven by increased greenhouse gases and higher temperatures predict a decline in oceanic dissolved oxygen ( DO ) as result of greater stratification, reduced ventilation below the thermocline, decreased solubility at temperatures. Since spreading low waters is underway predicted to increase, understanding impacts on trophic levels essential. Within California Current System, shoaling minimum zone OMZ expected produce complex changes. Onshore movement...

Understanding responses of marine species to temperature variability is essential predict impacts future climate change in the oceans. Most ectotherms are expected adjust their behavior avoid extreme temperatures and minimize acute changes body temperature. However, measuring such behavioral plasticity wild challenging. Combining 4 years telemetry-derived data on juvenile adult (30-80 cm) Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), situ ocean measurements, we found a significant effect sea depth use...

The diel vertical migration of age-0-walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma Pallas) and their principal prey organisms were examined at a productive frontal region in the Bering Sea using 38 kHz acoustic measurements net samples. Small copepods dominated catch depth-stratified plankton tows. Two copepod species (Calanus marshallae Metridia pacifica), euphausiids chaetognaths, exhibited strong migrations, although magnitude timing migrations varied among taxa. Age-0 midwater trawl catches...

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 291:227-236 (2005) - doi:10.3354/meps291227 Landscape dynamics and resulting species interactions: cod-capelin system in southeastern Bering Sea Lorenzo Ciannelli1,3,*, Kevin M. Bailey2 1University of Washington, Joint Institute for Study Atmosphere Ocean, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA2Alaska Fisheries...

The majority of survival analyses focus on temporal scales. Consequently, there is a limited understanding how species varies over space and, ultimately, spatial variability in the environment affects dynamics abundance. Using data from Barents Sea, we study spatiotemporal juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) survival. We develop an index based changes distribution through their first winter life (from age-0 to age-1) and its relation biotic abiotic factors. Over 25 years analyzed...

Abstract Walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma (pollock hereafter) is a key ecological and economic species in the eastern Bering Sea, yet detailed synthesis of spatial temporal patterns ichthyoplankton this important region lacking. This knowledge gap particularly severe considering that egg larval distribution are essential to reconstructing spawning locations early life stages drift pathways. We used 19 yr collections determine distribution. Generalized additive models (GAMs) identified...

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 486:257-276 (2013) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10397 Comparison between environmental characteristics of larval bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus habitat in Gulf Mexico and western Mediterranean Sea Barbara A. Muhling1,*, Patricia Reglero2, Lorenzo Ciannelli3, Diego Alvarez-Berastegui4, Francisco Alemany2,...

There is growing evidence that climate and anthropogenic influences on marine ecosystems are largely manifested by changes in species spatial dynamics. However, less known about how shifts distributions might alter predator-prey overlap the dynamics of prey populations. We developed a general approach to quantify identify biotic abiotic variables dictate strength overlap. used this method test hypothesis population abundance temperature have synergistic effect arrowtooth flounder (predator)...