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Impacts of cetaceans on the structure of Southern Ocean food webs

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 23:15 authored by Ainley, D, Ballard, G, Blight, LK, Ackley, S, Emslie, ST, Lescroel, A, Olmastroni, S, Townsend, SE, Tynan, CT, Wilson, P, Woehler, E
Recently, Ballance et al. (2006) revived the hypothesis that cetaceans were a major force in the structuring of Southern Ocean food webs, and suggested that they are still playing a keystone role even as their loss continues (see also review in Mori and Butterworth 2006), a subject that we herein would like to emphasize. According to this hypothesis, following 60 yr of directed industrial whaling (Tønnessen and Johnsen 1982, Baker and Clapham 2002), the demise of the great whales (blue, Balaenoptera musculus intermedia; fin, B. physalus; and humpback, Megaptera novaeangliae) led to changes in populations and demographic parameters among penguins, seals, and minke whales (B. bonaerensis; see also Laws 1977, Bengtson and Laws 1985). These changes to populations of the great whales’ competitors came about upon release from trophic competition as a result of the “krill surplus” that ensued (i.e., of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba; Bengtson and Laws 1985).

History

Publication title

Marine Mammal Science

Volume

26

Pagination

482-498

ISSN

0824-0469

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Soc Marine Mammalogy

Place of publication

1041 New Hampshire St, Lawrence, USA, Ks, 66044

Rights statement

The definitive published version is available online at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems

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