Age, growth and reproductive status of the European conger eel, Conger conger (L.) in Irish coastal waters

O’Sullivan, Siobhán; Moriarty, Christopher; Fitzgerald, Ross; Davenport, Julia; Mulcahy, Mark

doi:10.1016/s0165-7836(03)00100-0

Cited by 32 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…As a result, octopus predation on lobsters in the open may be a rare occurrence, while, using their long and flexible arms, octopuses mainly prey on lobsters inside their dens (Weiss et al 2006, Bouwma & Herrnkind 2009). The European conger eel is considered a voracious predator, eating a variety of speciesClupeidae (especially sardines), cephalopods (cuttlefish, squid, octopus) and crustaceans such as shrimps and small crabs (Cau & Manconi 1984, Morato et al 1999, O'Sullivan et al 2004) -and is also known to enter lobster pots (O'Sullivan et al 2003). Conger eel predation on lobster is mostly anecdotal and lacking experimental evidence; however, we believe that, inhabiting the same habitat, conger eels probably compete with lobster for limited available shelter and simultaneously could represent a menacing predator.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defensive strategies of European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas during predator attack

Buscaino¹,

Filiciotto²,

Gristina³

et al. 2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The aim of the present work was to reveal the behaviour of the European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) during encounters with predators. The study was conducted in a tank, exposing lobsters individually or in groups to a single specimen of the European conger eel or the common octopus. The behaviours of the lobsters, their sounds and the behaviours of the predators were recorded using a digital audio-video underwater acquisition system and analysed. A behavioural event not found in literature, dubbed 'Alert' by the authors, was described. The results showed that the most recurrent events were Alert, Point and Whip, which have the function of controlling the predator with the antennae, while maintaining the predator-prey distance. Moreover, a strong association between Tail Flip and Lunge (events that were stimulated in response to an imminent danger to life) with the sounds emitted by lobsters was observed. Significantly more sounds were emitted during the tests with single lobsters compared to grouped lobsters. As a result of the present study, the European conger eel may also be considered a potential natural predator of the European spiny lobster.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defensive strategies of European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas during predator attack

Buscaino¹,

Filiciotto²,

Gristina³

et al. 2011

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…The world total catch reported for this species to FAO for 2006 was 16,332 tonnes. Although there is a complete lack of fisheries management studies for the European conger eel, the available data suggest that the younger fish are not over exploited by commercial longline and trawl fisheries (Sullivan et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The absence of males and of ripe or spent females in the coastal inshore waters, suggests that sexual maturation in conger eels occurs during their migration towards their deep-sea spawning areas Manconi, 1983, 1984;Sbaihi et al, 2001;Sullivan et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age, growth and reproductive biology of the European conger eel (Conger conger) from the Atlantic Iberian waters

2009

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“…As the spawning season approaches, congers cease to feed (Cau and Manconi 1984), which prevents capture by longlines, and only trawler fishing is effective in capturing conger mature specimens (Fannon et al 1990). As a consequence, most conger eels captured in the coastal inshore waters of the Atlantic are immature (Sbaihi et al 2001;Sullivan et al 2003;Correia et al 2009). An earlier extensive survey in the eastern Mediterranean did capture sexually mature specimens, suggesting the existence of a breeding area for the European conger eel in deep waters southeast of Sardinia (Cau and Manconi 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population structure and connectivity of the European conger eel (Conger conger) across the north-eastern Atlantic and western Mediterranean: integrating molecular and otolith elemental approaches

Correia

Ramos

Barros³

et al. 2012

Mar Biol

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Genetic variation (mtDNA) of the European conger eel, Conger conger, was compared across five locations in the north-eastern Atlantic (Madeira, Azores, South Portugal, North Portugal and Ireland) and one location in the western Mediterranean (Mallorca). Genetic diversity of conger eel was high, and differentiation among regions was not significant. Additionally, comparisons of element:Ca ratios (Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca, Mn:Ca and Mg:Ca) in otolith cores (larval phase) and edges (3 months prior to capture) among the Azores, North Portugal, Madeira and Mallorca regions for 2 years indicated that variation among regions were greater for edges than cores. Therefore, while benthic conger may display residency at regional scales, recruitment may not necessarily be derived from local spawning and larval retention. Furthermore, data from otoliths suggest a separated replenishment source for western Mediterranean and NE Atlantic stocks. The combination of genetics and otolith chemistry suggests a population model for conger eel involving a broad-scale dispersal of larvae, with limited connectivity for benthic juvenile life stages at large spatial scales, although the existence of one or multiple spawning grounds for the species remains uncertain. Communicated by T. Reusch. Alberto T. Correia and Rita Castilho contributed equally to this work.

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Age, growth and reproductive status of the European conger eel, Conger conger (L.) in Irish coastal waters

Cited by 32 publications

References 11 publications

Defensive strategies of European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas during predator attack

Defensive strategies of European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas during predator attack

Age, growth and reproductive biology of the European conger eel (Conger conger) from the Atlantic Iberian waters

Population structure and connectivity of the European conger eel (Conger conger) across the north-eastern Atlantic and western Mediterranean: integrating molecular and otolith elemental approaches

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