The Linear Web: A Fragile Food Chain in Bangladesh’s Largest Lake
A new ecosystem model of Bangladesh’s Kaptai Lake reveals a linear and vulnerable trophic structure dominated by small fish. The model, built to assess trophic levels and ecosystem functioning, found that the apex predator, Catfish, occupies the top niche, while an overabundant Clupeid species dominates the lower trophic level. Key indicators, including a high ecotrophic efficiency for most groups, signal heavy fishing pressure. The ecosystem is primarily phytoplankton-based, with energy flow split between detritus and primary production. Network analysis suggests the lake is a developing system with a linear food web, indicated by a low connectance index, making it particularly susceptible to external disturbances like overfishing.
Study Significance: This research provides a critical quantitative framework for ecosystem-based fisheries management in data-scarce regions. For ecologists and conservation planners, the findings underscore the risks of linear food webs and overfishing on ecosystem resilience and biodiversity. The model offers a template for predicting how population dynamics of key species, like the booming Clupeid, can destabilize entire trophic structures, informing targeted interventions to restore food web complexity and ensure sustainable fisheries.
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