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The role of sand lance in the Northwest Atlantic ecosystem

Authors:

Michelle Staudinger

Publication Type:
Journal Article
Year of Publication:
2017
Year:
2017

Abstract

Sand lance are small fish that play an important functional role in marine ecosystems throughout the Northwest Atlantic Ocean (NWA) where two species are present. In the Northern Hemisphere, sand lance are considered to be a "quintessential forage fish", serving as a nutritious source of prey for a wide range of marine predators including seabirds, fish, and marine mammals.