Skip to main content
Publications | Persons | Institutes | Projects
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

North Sea ecosystem change from swimming crabs to seagulls
Luczak, C.; Beaugrand, G.; Lindley, J.A.; Dewarumez, J.-M.; Dubois, P.J.; Kirby, R.R. (2012). North Sea ecosystem change from swimming crabs to seagulls. Biol. Lett. 8(5): 4 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2012.0474
In: Biology Letters. Royal Society Publishing: London. ISSN 1744-9561; e-ISSN 1744-957X, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Larus fuscus graellsii Brehm, 1857 [WoRMS]; Polybius henslowii Leach, 1820 [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    climate change food web Larus fuscus graelsii plankton Polybius henslowii sea temperature

Authors  Top 
  • Luczak, C., more
  • Beaugrand, G.
  • Lindley, J.A., more
  • Dewarumez, J.-M., more
  • Dubois, P.J.
  • Kirby, R.R.

Abstract
    A recent increase in sea temperature has established a new ecosystem dynamic regime in the North Sea. Climate-induced changes in decapods have played an important role. Here, we reveal a coincident increase in the abundance of swimming crabs and lesser black-backed gull colonies in the North Sea, both in time and in space. Swimming crabs are an important food source for lesser black-backed gulls during the breeding season. Inhabiting the land, but feeding mainly at sea, lesser black-backed gulls provide a link between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, since the bottom-up influence of allochthonous nutrient input from seabirds to coastal soils can structure the terrestrial food web. We, therefore, suggest that climate-driven changes in trophic interactions in the marine food web may also have ensuing ramifications for the coastal ecology of the North Sea.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors