Shape matters: Ecomorphology informs on functional traits and diversity of Barents Sea fish.

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author.

The Barents Sea (BS) is an arcto-boreal sea and one of most productive areas adjacent to the Arctic, hosting many commercial fish stocks. As a result of climate change, high temperature increases and a northward movement of different species in the BS have been predicted, which will likely change community structures and ecosystem functioning. Ecomorphology relates shape directly to function. In this study the shape variation in the 72 most commonly observed fish species of the BS was investigated. Diet and habitat seemed to be the main drivers of shape variation in BS fish whereas biogeography played a less important role. Large demersals and flatfish function as important links between higher and lower trophic levels while eel-like fish are very efficient in using locally abundant resources. Migratory fish, with streamlined bodies are usually key species and essential to ecosystem functioning by transporting energy in the form of resources through time and space. Such shape information are very useful to further investigate ecosystem functioning and its resilience and vulnerability. This will be especially relevant for sustainable management in times of climate change.