New predatory herring species reshapes Baltic ecosystem dynamics
Swedish scientists have discovered a new predatory species of herring in the Baltic Sea, which may have implications for the marine ecosystem. The research was published in "Nature Communications".
A new predatory species of herring has emerged in the Baltic Sea, based on research conducted by scientists from Uppsala University, published in "Nature Communications".
This discovery could impact the marine ecosystem because the new herring species differs from the traditional plankton-eating herrings.
Baltic herrings, which usually feed on plankton, have started to evolve towards predation. The new species is larger and fattier, making it more attractive to consumers.
Research showed that these fish-eating herrings have damaged gills, a result of struggling with prey such as sticklebacks.
Leif Andersson from Uppsala University, who led the research, emphasises that the new herring species is genetically unique.
When I learned that the locals are aware of a specific population of very large Baltic herring that always spawns in the same area year after year, I decided to sample and explore their genetic constitution - Andersson said.
Genetic studies revealed the existence of at least two subpopulations of fish-eating herrings in the Baltic. One is found north of Stockholm, and the other to the south. Jake Goodall, the first author of the publication, points out that these subpopulations are distinct and have different dietary preferences.
The Baltic Sea, as a young water basin, offers unique conditions for the evolution of new species. Scientists suggest that the lack of competition from other predators, such as mackerel or tuna, may have contributed to the development of fish-eating herrings.
We hypothesise that fish-eating Baltic herring have evolved due to a lack of competition from other predatory fish, for instance, mackerel and tuna, which do not occur where we find fish-eating herring - Andersson noted.
This discovery could be significant for understanding the dynamics of the Baltic ecosystem and the impact of new species on its balance. This research is an important step towards better understanding evolutionary processes in marine environments.
