A food-web comparative modeling approach using Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) was built to characterize the ecosystem of the Gulf of Alicante (GoA) and investigate its singularities. The GoA differs from neighboring ecosystems of the Western Mediterranean Sea because of its different oceanographic characteristics. We developed a model of the study area representing early 2010s, covering a total area of 7085 km², and including the continental shelf and upper slope with depths from 50 to 800 m. In total, 45 functional groups considering all components of the food web (fish, marine mammals, seabirds, invertebrates, primary producers, and detritus) were selected to build the ecological model. The fishery was represented by the four main fleets operating in the area (i.e., bottom trawl, purse seine, longlines, and small-scale fisheries) and we included official landing data and estimated percentage of discarded species. Results were then compared with available outputs of available models representing adjacent ecosystems such as the Gulf of Cadiz (in the Atlantic side) and the North Western Mediterranean Sea (north of the study area). The study revealed that the major differences found between models were due to the lower primary production in the GoA. This led to lower catches and higher importance of the demersal compartment, where the most biomass was associated to the detritus. The main trophic flows in the GoA were originated at the basis of the food web, likely related to bottom-up flow control. Interactions between pelagic and demersal groups were weaker than in neighboring areas. Despite the high values of ecotrophic efficiencies and mortality rates, results showed a lower fishing pressure than in neighboring areas, suggesting a moderate exploitation level of marine resources in the GoA. This study fills a knowledge gap in the area and sets the baseline to develop future studies to test scenarios of change and management options.

建立了使用 Ecopath 和 Ecosim (EwE) 的食物网比较建模方法来表征阿利坎特湾 (GoA) 的生态系统并研究其奇异性。由于其不同的海洋学特征，GoA 不同于西地中海的邻近生态系统。我们开发了一个代表 2010 年代初期的研究区模型，总面积为 7085 平方公里²，包括大陆架和上坡，深度为 50 至 800 m。考虑到食物网的所有组成部分（鱼类、海洋哺乳动物、海鸟、无脊椎动物、初级生产者和碎屑），总共选择了 45 个功能组来构建生态模型。渔业由在该地区作业的四个主要船队（即底拖网、围网、延绳钓和小规模渔业）代表，我们包括官方上岸数据和丢弃物种的估计百分比。然后将结果与代表邻近生态系统的可用模型的可用输出进行比较，例如加的斯湾（在大西洋一侧）和西北部地中海（研究区以北）。研究表明，模型之间发现的主要差异是由于 GoA 的初级产量较低。这导致较低的捕获量和较高的底层隔间的重要性，其中大部分生物量与碎屑相关。GoA 中的主要营养流起源于食物网的基础，可能与自下而上的流量控制有关。远洋和底层群体之间的相互作用比邻近地区弱。尽管生态营养效率和死亡率很高，但结果显示捕捞压力低于邻近地区，表明阿果阿的海洋资源开发水平适中。这项研究填补了该领域的知识空白，并为开展未来研究以测试变化和管理选项的情景设定了基线。GoA 中的主要营养流起源于食物网的基础，可能与自下而上的流量控制有关。远洋和底层群体之间的相互作用比邻近地区弱。尽管生态营养效率和死亡率很高，但结果显示捕捞压力低于邻近地区，表明阿果阿的海洋资源开发水平适中。这项研究填补了该领域的知识空白，并为开展未来研究以测试变化和管理选项的情景设定了基线。GoA 中的主要营养流起源于食物网的基础，可能与自下而上的流量控制有关。远洋和底层群体之间的相互作用比邻近地区弱。尽管生态营养效率和死亡率很高，但结果显示捕捞压力低于邻近地区，表明阿果阿的海洋资源开发水平适中。这项研究填补了该领域的知识空白，并为开展未来研究以测试变化和管理选项的情景设定了基线。结果显示，捕捞压力低于邻近地区，表明阿果阿的海洋资源开发水平适中。这项研究填补了该领域的知识空白，并为开展未来研究以测试变化和管理选项的情景设定了基线。结果显示，捕捞压力低于邻近地区，表明阿果阿的海洋资源开发水平适中。这项研究填补了该领域的知识空白，并为开展未来研究以测试变化和管理选项的情景设定了基线。