Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) early life stages in the Central Mediterranean Sea: connectivity issues emerging among adjacent sub-areas across the Strait of Sicily
Abstract:The combined use of field data on anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus, Linnaeus, 1758) egg distribution in the Central Mediterranean Sea on both sides of the Strait of Sicily (Sicilian-Maltese and Tunisian waters) and Lagrangian simulations were used to assess the pattern of connectivity between these two sub-areas as a result of spawning activity. The field data were collected during ichthyoplankton surveys carried out in summer 2008 and 2010. The simulation runs showed considerable (up to 20%) rates of particle … Show more
“…1 ). Figure 1 Spatial distribution of anchovy eggs in both sides of the Strait of Sicily, as obtained by the ichthyoplanktonic survey, conducted in the summers 2008 and 2010 in the two study areas 22 , 60 . The solid curves represent the 200-m depth isoline; the yellow arrow represents the climatologic path of the AIS 19 .…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Based on discontinuous (in space and time) planktonic datasets, collected over different Geographic Sub Areas (i.e., GSA 12, 13, 15, and 16) of the Strait of Sicily in 2008 and 2010, observational data highlighted a widespread spawning activity of European anchovy over its the continental shelves 22 (Fig. 1 ).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In particular, density of eggs in this region evidenced a broad spatial distribution, especially in the central sector of the Strait, where the European and African shelf breaks are closer. From these inter-regional summer samplings over different GSA, Patti et al 22 provided an estimation of exchange rate across the European and African sides of the Strait of Sicily. These rates are significant in terms of number of Lagrangian particles that were released in the spawning areas crossing the Strait (up to 20%).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In this framework, the effect of the environmental conditions occurring during the planktonic dispersion of anchovy larvae within the whole Strait of Sicily has never been evaluated, and it needs to be explored thoroughly. Inspired by previous studies 15 , 17 , 18 , 21 and by the patchy (although stimulating) datasets 22 we summarized in Fig. 1 , here we explore Lagrangian connectivity between the European and African coastal zones in the Central Mediterranean Sea by using a novel approach, based on back-trajectory analysis.…”
Ecological connectivity is one of the most important processes that shape marine populations and ecosystems, determining their distribution, persistence, and productivity. Here we use the synergy of Lagrangian back-trajectories, otolith-derived ages of larvae, and satellite-based chlorophyll-a to identify spawning areas of European anchovy from ichthyoplanktonic data, collected in the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea), i.e., the crucial channel in between the European and African continents. We obtain new evidence of ecosystem connectivity between North Africa and recruitment regions off the southern European coasts. We assess this result by using bio-energetic modeling, which predicts species-specific responses to environmental changes by producing quantitative information on functional traits. Our work gives support to a collaborative and harmonized use of Geographical Sub-Areas, currently identified by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. It also confirms the need to incorporate climate and environmental variability effects into future marine resources management plans, strategies, and directives.
“…1 ). Figure 1 Spatial distribution of anchovy eggs in both sides of the Strait of Sicily, as obtained by the ichthyoplanktonic survey, conducted in the summers 2008 and 2010 in the two study areas 22 , 60 . The solid curves represent the 200-m depth isoline; the yellow arrow represents the climatologic path of the AIS 19 .…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Based on discontinuous (in space and time) planktonic datasets, collected over different Geographic Sub Areas (i.e., GSA 12, 13, 15, and 16) of the Strait of Sicily in 2008 and 2010, observational data highlighted a widespread spawning activity of European anchovy over its the continental shelves 22 (Fig. 1 ).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In particular, density of eggs in this region evidenced a broad spatial distribution, especially in the central sector of the Strait, where the European and African shelf breaks are closer. From these inter-regional summer samplings over different GSA, Patti et al 22 provided an estimation of exchange rate across the European and African sides of the Strait of Sicily. These rates are significant in terms of number of Lagrangian particles that were released in the spawning areas crossing the Strait (up to 20%).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In this framework, the effect of the environmental conditions occurring during the planktonic dispersion of anchovy larvae within the whole Strait of Sicily has never been evaluated, and it needs to be explored thoroughly. Inspired by previous studies 15 , 17 , 18 , 21 and by the patchy (although stimulating) datasets 22 we summarized in Fig. 1 , here we explore Lagrangian connectivity between the European and African coastal zones in the Central Mediterranean Sea by using a novel approach, based on back-trajectory analysis.…”
Ecological connectivity is one of the most important processes that shape marine populations and ecosystems, determining their distribution, persistence, and productivity. Here we use the synergy of Lagrangian back-trajectories, otolith-derived ages of larvae, and satellite-based chlorophyll-a to identify spawning areas of European anchovy from ichthyoplanktonic data, collected in the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea), i.e., the crucial channel in between the European and African continents. We obtain new evidence of ecosystem connectivity between North Africa and recruitment regions off the southern European coasts. We assess this result by using bio-energetic modeling, which predicts species-specific responses to environmental changes by producing quantitative information on functional traits. Our work gives support to a collaborative and harmonized use of Geographical Sub-Areas, currently identified by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. It also confirms the need to incorporate climate and environmental variability effects into future marine resources management plans, strategies, and directives.
“…The combined use of field data on anchovy (E. encrasicolus) egg distribution in the Central Mediterranean Sea on both sides of the Strait of Sicily (Sicilian-Maltese and Tunisian waters) and Lagrangian simulations were used by Patti et al (2018) to assess the pattern of connectivity between these two sub-areas as a result of spawning activity. The simulation runs showed considerable (up to 20%) rates of particle exchange in both directions (from Tunisian to Sicilian-Maltese waters and vice versa).…”
Section: Phytoplankton and Zooplankton In The Physical Environmentmentioning
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