When an ecosystem becomes overfished, some species may be able
to step in and fill the food chain gaps until others can
recover, according to a new study published in Science. The
bearded goby, a fish that lives off the coast of southwest
Africa, has become the predominant prey species in the area
because the rest have been overfished. The goby should be
threatened under the weight of so many predators, but it
isn't—in fact, researchers find it's doing better than ever,
thanks to its ability to adapt while supporting the rest of the
region's food chain. The coast of southwest Africa used to be
home to one to some of the most successful fisheries in the
world. Fishing boats collected huge amounts of sardines and
anchovies, the base of any self-respecting predator's food
pyramid, until the species became heavily overfished. Now, the
waters are dominated by jellyfish, unsuitable for eating by most
predators in the area. With the anchovies and sardines gone, all
the predators have turned to one of the only small