Trends in body size across an environmental gradient: A differential response in scavenging and non-scavenging demersal deep-sea fish

Collins, M.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7132-8650; Bailey, D.M.; Ruxton, G.D.; Priede, I.G.. 2005 Trends in body size across an environmental gradient: A differential response in scavenging and non-scavenging demersal deep-sea fish. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B, 272 (1576). 2051-2057. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2005.3189

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2005.3189

Abstract/Summary

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.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2005.3189
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Dynamics and Management of Ocean Ecosystems
ISSN:	1471-2970
Additional Keywords:	Northeast Atlantic, deep water, fishes, body size, scavengers, predators
NORA Subject Terms:	Zoology
Date made live:	19 Dec 2007 15:05 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/1709

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2005.3189

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Dynamics and Management of Ocean Ecosystems

ISSN:

1471-2970

Additional Keywords:

Northeast Atlantic, deep water, fishes, body size, scavengers, predators

NORA Subject Terms:

Zoology