Decoding Tuna Taste: Traits of Tasty Fish Prey

Tuna are among the most popular and valuable fish in the world, but what makes them choose their prey? A new study by researchers from Canada and the United States reveals the traits that make fish prey tasty to tuna, and how climate change may affect their feeding habits and distribution.

The study, published in the journal Ecology Letters, focused on albacore tuna, a torpedo-shaped predator that can eat hundreds of different species around the world. The researchers created a database of more than 30 traits of potential prey, such as fat and protein content, shape, color, size, and behavior.

They found that albacore tuna are quite adaptable and seek out prey that have all the characteristics they prefer, such as high energy content, large size, and slow movement. They also found that albacore tuna can switch their diet depending on the availability and quality of prey in different regions and seasons.

The researchers hope that their trait-based approach can help predict how albacore tuna and other ocean predators will respond to climate change, which is shifting where species can live and altering their food webs. For example, warmer waters may reduce the abundance and quality of prey for albacore tuna, forcing them to migrate to cooler regions or change their diet.

The study also has implications for fisheries management and conservation, as albacore tuna are an important food source for people around the world. The researchers suggest that monitoring the traits of prey species can help assess the health and productivity of albacore tuna populations, and inform sustainable harvesting practices.

The study is part of a cross-border science collaboration between the University of Alberta and the University of Washington, funded by the National Science Foundation and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The researchers used data from various sources, including scientific surveys, fishery observers, and citizen science programs.

The database of prey traits is publicly available and can be used by other scientists to study the feeding ecology of ocean predators. The researchers hope that their work will inspire more trait-based studies to understand how marine species are adapting to the impacts of climate change.

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