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From gaps to consideration: a framework for prioritizing trophic studies in marine fishes

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Abstract

Developing frameworks to identify knowledge gaps and prioritize research on diet studies in marine fish species is critical, as this knowledge is required for ecosystem-based management. We applied a framework in central Patagonia, Argentina, which faces a demand for gap assessments in diet knowledge and ecosystem management due to changes in marine fish assemblages' structure and function linked to industrial fishing and tropicalization. Our framework effectively identified gaps by examining the history of research efforts regarding spatial and temporal coverage, sampling sizes, fish life stages, and information quality of studies per species. We found critical gaps in local diet studies, particularly for mostly bony, Petromyzonti, and Myxini species, whereas elasmobranchs received the best coverage of the diet described. Most studies lack evaluation of ontogenetic diet changes and prey cumulative curves. Fixing these shortcomings improves research quality and reduces data uncertainties in community assessments. The prioritization framework identified high-priority species as those that require updated diet information, had shifted ranges, and lacked data. Our framework can be tailored to other biological traits and regions based on specific contextual needs to identify research gaps and priorities for fish assemblages impacted by global change while disseminating knowledge from diverse sources and languages.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) with the research grant PIP11220210100469CO. The Argentine government's Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica also funded the study with the grant PICT2021-0548.

Funding

This work was funded by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) through the research grant PIP11220210100469CO. Additionally, the Argentine government's Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica contributed to funding the study with the grant PICT2021-0548.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Estudios para Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

    Martha Patricia Rincón-Díaz & David Edgardo Galván

  2. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata, Argentina

    Manuela Funes & Mauro Belleggia

  3. Centro de Investigación y Transferencia Golfo San Jorge, Instituto de Investigación en Hidrobiología, Universidad Nacional de La Patagonia San Juan Bosco. Trelew, Chubut, Argentina

    Nelson Dario Bovcon

  4. Cátedra de Diversidad Animal II, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina

    Nelson Dario Bovcon, Pablo Daniel Cochia & Kevin Josue Jacobi

  5. Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Mar del Plata, Argentina

    Mauro Belleggia

  6. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Investigación de Hidrobiología, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina

    Pablo Daniel Cochia & Kevin Josue Jacobi

  7. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Pablo Daniel Cochia & Kevin Josue Jacobi

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  1. Martha Patricia Rincón-Díaz
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  2. Manuela Funes
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Contributions

Idea conceptualization done by MPRD, DEG, NDB, MB, and PDC. Methodology conceptualization done by MPRD, DEG, NDB, PDC, MB, and MF. Literature search and data collection done by MPRD, PDC, DEG, MF, MB, and NDB. Data standardization done by MPRD and KJ. Data analysis done by MPRD, MF, NDB, PDC, and KJ. MPRD wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Writing—review and editing done by MPRD, MF, DEG, NDB, PDC, KJ, and MB. Supervision and project coordination done by MPRD. All authors approved the manuscript for publication and agreed to be held accountable for the work performed therein.

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Correspondence to Martha Patricia Rincón-Díaz.

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Rincón-Díaz, M.P., Funes, M., Bovcon, N.D. et al. From gaps to consideration: a framework for prioritizing trophic studies in marine fishes. Hydrobiologia (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-024-05550-1

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