| Trends in body size across an environmental gradient: a differential response in scavenging and non-scavenging demersal deep-sea fish. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 16191616 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Body size trends across environmental gradients are widely reported but poorly understood. Here, we investigate contrasting relationships between size (body mass) and depth in the scavenging and predatory demersal ichthyofauna (800-4800 m) of the North-east Atlantic. The mean size of scavenging fish, identified as those regularly attracted to baited cameras, increased significantly with depth, while in non-scavengers there was a significant decline in size. The increase in scavenger size is a consequence of both intra and inter-specific effects. The observation of opposing relationships, in different functional groups, across the same environmental gradient indicates ecological rather than physiological causes. Simple energetic models indicate that the dissimilarity can be explained by different patterns of food distribution. While food availability declines with depth for both groups, the food is likely to be in large, randomly distributed packages for scavengers and as smaller but more evenly distributed items for predators. Larger size in scavengers permits higher swimming speeds, greater endurance as a consequence of larger energy reserves and lower mass specific metabolic rate, factors that are critical to survival on sporadic food items. |
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Authors:
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M A Collins; D M Bailey; G D Ruxton; I G Priede |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society Volume: 272 ISSN: 0962-8452 ISO Abbreviation: Proc. Biol. Sci. Publication Date: 2005 Oct |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2005-09-29 Completed Date: 2006-04-26 Revised Date: 2009-11-18 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101245157 Medline TA: Proc Biol Sci Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 2051-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK. macol@bas.ac.uk |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Atlantic Ocean Body Size* Body Weights and Measures Energy Metabolism / physiology Environment* Feeding Behavior / physiology* Fishes / anatomy & histology* Models, Theoretical* |
| Comments/Corrections | |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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