MEPS 425:297-301 (2011) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09098
AS WE SEE IT
The beauty of simplicity in science: Baltic cod stock improves rapidly in a ‘cod hostile’ ecosystem state
Massimiliano Cardinale1,*, Henrik Svedäng2
ABSTRACT: The Baltic Sea ecosystem is hypothesized to have undergone a regime shift during the last 3 decades, altering its functioning and the composition of its zooplankton and fish communities. The new stable state has been considered as 'cod hostile' due to reduced spawning success in cod, as well as increased predation on and declining food sources for cod larvae. Nonetheless, the eastern Baltic cod stock has recently recovered after more than 2 decades of low biomass and productivity. The recovery was mainly driven by a sudden reduction in fishing mortality and occurred in the absence of any exceptionally large year classes. The recovery of the cod stock during a 'cod-hostile' ecological regime indicates that fisheries are the main regulator of cod population dynamics in the Baltic Sea.
KEY WORDS: Baltic Sea ecosystem · Regime shift · Climate change · Gadus morhua
Full text in pdf format  | Cite this article as: Cardinale M, Svedäng H
(2011) The beauty of simplicity in science: Baltic cod stock improves rapidly in a ‘cod hostile’ ecosystem state. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 425:297-301. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09098
Export citation Share: Facebook - - linkedIn |
| Previous article |