据介绍，动物体型的变化影响着海洋生态系统的多个过程，但栖息地的异质性阻碍了对沿人类活动梯度分布的远洋（中层）和底栖（海底）系统的体型进行全面评估。
研究人员从17411个立体诱饵视频部署中获得了鱼类大小指标，以测试中上层和海底对远离人类压力的反应，以及海洋保护区的有效性之间的差异。根据823849条个体鱼类的记录，研究人员报告了系统之间的不同反应，在人类市场附近，中上层大小的结构比海底大小的结构受到的侵蚀更为严重，这表明中上层系统更容易受到人类压力的影响。
通过在市场附近设立海洋保护区，可以有效保护底栖生物的大小结构，从而有助于海底栖息地的恢复和相关鱼类的恢复。相比之下，要想在远洋系统中恢复世界上最大和最濒危的鱼类，就需要在偏远地区建立高度保护区，包括在保护工作滞后的公海。
附：英文原文
Title: Divergent responses of pelagic and benthic fish body-size structure to remoteness and protection from humans
Author: Tom B. Letessier, David Mouillot, Laura Mannocci, Hanna Jabour Christ, Elamin Mohammed Elamin, Sheikheldin Mohamed Elamin, Alan M. Friedlander, Alex Hearn, Jean-Baptiste Juhel, Alf Ring Kleiven, Even Moland, Nicolas Mouquet, Portia Joy Nillos-Kleiven, Enric Sala, Christopher D. H. Thompson, Laure Velez, Laurent Vigliola, Jessica J. Meeuwig
Issue&Volume: 2024-03-01
Abstract: Animal body-size variation influences multiple processes in marine ecosystems, but habitat heterogeneity has prevented a comprehensive assessment of size across pelagic (midwater) and benthic (seabed) systems along anthropic gradients. In this work, we derive fish size indicators from 17,411 stereo baited-video deployments to test for differences between pelagic and benthic responses to remoteness from human pressures and effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs). From records of 823,849 individual fish, we report divergent responses between systems, with pelagic size structure more profoundly eroded near human markets than benthic size structure, signifying greater vulnerability of pelagic systems to human pressure. Effective protection of benthic size structure can be achieved through MPAs placed near markets, thereby contributing to benthic habitat restoration and the recovery of associated fishes. By contrast, recovery of the world’s largest and most endangered fishes in pelagic systems requires the creation of highly protected areas in remote locations, including on the High Seas, where protection efforts lag.
DOI: adi7562
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi7562