Topology-based analysis of pelagic food web structure in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean based on longline observer data

Abstract

The tropical Pacific Ocean supports many productive commercial fisheries. However, few studies of ecosystem structure in the tropical Pacific Ocean have been carried out. In this study, we analyzed the food web structure in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean based on trophic relationships of 35 pelagic species collected by Chinese tuna longline observers from June to November in 2017. Topology indices (node degree, D; centrality indices, BC and CC; topological importance indices, TI1, TI3; keystone indices, K, Kt and Kb) and Key-Player algorithms (KPP-1, KPP-2) were used to select key species and construct a simplified food web combined with body size data. The Kendall rank correlation and hierarchical clustering analysis indicated that different topology indices resulted in consistent rankings of key species. Most key species were the same as those selected in other studies in the Pacific Ocean, such as Shortbill spearfish (Tetrapturus angustirostris), Swordfish (Xiphias gladius), Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga), cephalopods and scomber. The food web would be separated into many unconnected parts (F=0.632, FD=0.795, RD=0.957) after the removal of the five key species, indicating the key roles of these species in the food web structure and stability. Body size was considered an influential indicator in constructing the simplified food web. This study can improve our understanding of the food web structure in the tropical Pacific Ocean and provide scientific basis for further ecosystem dynamics studies.