Journal
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages -Publisher
NATURE PORTFOLIO
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94368-1
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Funding
- Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) Sea Level Thematic Assembly Centre (SL-TAC)
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR MyctO-3D-MAP, Programme Blanc SVSE 7)
- Institut Polaire Francais Paul Emile Victor
- Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises [ANR-11-IDEX-0004-17-EURE-0006]
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Oceanic frontal zones play a significant role in the distribution of primary producers and top predators, while their relationship with intermediate trophic levels is complex. Results show that higher fish concentrations are more likely to occur near strong Lagrangian Coherent Structures, but the presence of fine-scale features does not always lead to fish accumulation. Front intensity significantly modulates local fish concentration, especially in chlorophyll-rich waters.
Oceanic frontal zones have been shown to deeply influence the distribution of primary producers and, at the other extreme of the trophic web, top predators. However, the relationship between these structures and intermediate trophic levels is much more obscure. In this paper we address this knowledge gap by comparing acoustic measurements of mesopelagic fish concentrations to satellite-derived fine-scale Lagrangian Coherent Structures in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean. First, we demonstrate that higher fish concentrations occur more frequently in correspondence with strong Lagrangian Coherent Structures. Secondly, we illustrate that, while increased fish densities are more likely to be observed over these structures, the presence of a fine-scale feature does not imply a concomitant fish accumulation, as other factors affect fish distribution. Thirdly, we show that, when only chlorophyll-rich waters are considered, front intensity modulates significantly more the local fish concentration. Finally, we discuss a model representing fish movement along Lagrangian features, specifically built for mid-trophic levels. Its results, obtained with realistic parameters, are qualitatively consistent with the observations and the spatio-temporal scales analysed. Overall, these findings may help to integrate intermediate trophic levels in trophic models, which can ultimately support management and conservation policies.
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