Azores region

Metal concentrations in biota

Atomic absorption spectrometers

This study is the first attempt to obtain a detailed analysis of the oceanic food web near a mid-Atlantic island. By studying the diets of a large section of the larger predators, many of which are commercially important pelagic fish, we hope to be able to answer questions as follows: (i) Which species compete for food and what will be the result of overfishing one or another species? (ii) To what extent will changes in the quantity of particular food species affect these predators? (iii) What proportions of the biomass and energy are represented by the different species within the food web of the Azores region? (iv) What are the paths of the flow of energy and heavy metals within the food web?

Martins, H. R., Clarke, M. R., Reiner, F., and Santos, R.S. (1985) A pygmy sperm whale Kogia breviceps (Blainville, 1838) (Cetacea: Odontoceti) stranded on Faial island, Azores, with notes on cephalopod beaks in stomach. Arquipelago, Serie Ciencias de Natureza 6: 63-70., ; Clarke, M. R., Martins, H. R., and Pascoe, P., (1993) The diet of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) off the Azores. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 339(1287):67-82.,

University of Azores, Department of Oceanography and Fisheries (IMAR network)
Rua Prof. Dr. Frederico Machado
Horta

9901-862
Portugal