Brief Report: Top predator sea stars are the benthic equivalent to polar bears of the pelagic realm |
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| Authors: | Ré mi Amiraux,David J. Yurkowski,Philippe Archambault,Marie Pierrejean,C. J. Mundy |
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| Affiliation: | aCentre for Earth Observation Science, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada;bArctic and Aquatic Research Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6 Canada;cQuébec-Océan, ArcticNet, Sentinel North and Takuvik, Laval University, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
The marine pelagic compartment spans numerous trophic levels and consists of numerous reticulate connections between species from primary producers to iconic apex predators, while the benthic compartment is perceived to be simpler in structure and comprised of only low trophic level species. Here, we challenge this paradigm by illustrating that the benthic compartment is home to a subweb of similar structure and complexity to that of the pelagic realm, including the benthic equivalent to iconic polar bears: megafaunal-predatory sea stars. |
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| Keywords: | Arctic Ocean food web trophic position polar bear sea star |
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