What is it about?
This article investigates the factors driving the decline of an Atlantic cod population off the coast of Norway. We use a novel statistical algorithm to identify multiple regime shifts, or abrupt and persistent changes, in the population's productivity over time. Our results suggest that these shifts were driven by a combination of environmental and human factors, including changes in climate, zooplankton abundance, and fishing mortality. Understanding these complex interactions can help inform sustainable management practices for marine ecosystems.
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Why is it important?
Our work is important because it sheds light on the complex interactions between environmental and human factors that are driving the decline of Atlantic cod populations. By using a novel statistical algorithm to identify multiple regime shifts, we provide a more nuanced understanding of the drivers of these changes than previous studies. Our findings have implications for sustainable management practices in marine ecosystems, particularly in terms of accounting for the impacts of fishing mortality and considering the potential compounding effects of multiple regime shifts. These insights are particularly timely given the current global focus on marine conservation and the need to identify effective management strategies to support the long-term health and productivity of marine ecosystems.
Perspectives
This publication provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of marine ecosystems and the factors that can drive abrupt and persistent changes in productivity. By identifying multiple regime shifts in Atlantic cod populations and their drivers, the study highlights the need for a more holistic and integrated approach to marine conservation and management. In particular, it emphasizes the importance of accounting for the impacts of fishing mortality and the potential compounding effects of multiple regime shifts. These insights have important implications for policymakers, conservation practitioners, and researchers working to develop effective strategies to support the long-term health and productivity of marine ecosystems.
Tommi Perälä
Jyvaskylan Yliopisto
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Disentangling conditional effects of multiple regime shifts on Atlantic cod productivity, PLoS ONE, November 2020, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237414.
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