Mediterranean coastal lagoons in an ecosystem and aquatic resources management context

Pérez‐Ruzafa, Á.; Marcos, Concepción; Pérez-Ruzafa, Isabel

doi:10.1016/j.pce.2010.04.013

Cited by 145 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The recent study on Atlanto-Mediterranean lagoons by Pérez-Ruzafa et al (2011) highlighted the presence of a north-south gradient in research effort or knowledge about the role of coastal lagoon for fi sh, with few data from the southern Mediterranean. This is a major handicap at the moment, when ways of better managing or even restoring certain Mediterranean lagoons are being discussed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish assemblages of a shallow Mediterranean lagoon (Nador, Morocco): An analysis based on species and functional guilds

Jaafour¹

2015

Acta Ichthyol. Piscat.

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R. 2015. Fish assemblages of a shallow Mediterranean lagoon (Nador, Morocco): An analysis based on species and functional guilds. Acta Ichthyol. Piscat. 45 (2): 115-124.Background. Due to their location between the continent and the sea and their shallow depths, lagoons play an important ecological role in coastal ecosystems by providing a selection of habitat types for many species, functioning as nursery areas and feeding grounds for marine opportunistic fi shes. The fi sh fauna of the Nador Lagoon (NE Morocco), as in the majority of southern Mediterranean lagoons, has been insuffi ciently studied, even though the lagoon itself supports important commercial fi sheries. The presently reported study investigated the spatial and seasonal uses of shallow habitats for fi sh fauna in the Nador Lagoon. Materials and methods. Sampling was done using a beach seine net at six stations covering almost entire lagoon and representing habitats differing in many parameters such as the distance from the inlet, bottom sediment characteristics, presence of macroalgae, etc. The fi sh abundance was standardized as catch per unit effort (CPUE) and the fi sh community was analysed both in terms of its taxonomic and functional composition (by making use of both ecological and dietary preference guilds). Results. A total of 2872 individuals, representing 15 species from 12 families, was collected during the four seasons. Only six species were always present in all seasons. Fish abundance peaked in spring and the species diversity was higher in spring and summer. The fi sh assemblage was largely dominated in terms of ecological guild by the resident and benthivorous species. Spatial and seasonal fi sh assemblages differed both in terms of fi sh abundance and diversity and also in terms of functional guilds composition. In autumn, the fi sh assemblage was dominated by the marine juvenile migrants whereas in winter, spring, and summer, resident species were the most abundant. Conclusion. The combination of taxonomic and functional characteristics of the fi sh assemblages, determined in the presently reported study, may contribute to a better understanding of the ecological networks of the Nador Lagoon, thus providing useful data for its conservation and management. Keywords: fi sh, spatio-temporal assemblages, beach seine, lagoon, Nador, Morocco Jaafour et al. 116 or even restoring certain Mediterranean lagoons are being discussed. Hence, there is a need for more information on the role and functioning of coastal lagoons in terms of fi sh requirements.The Nador Lagoon, also known as the "Sebkha Bou-Areg" or "Mar Chica" (the small sea), is the second largest lagoon complex in northern Africa (115 km 2 ) and the broadest paralic environment of Morocco. Its importance consists not only in its ecological value (RAMSAR site) but also in its socio-economic role. The fi sh fauna of the Nador Lagoon is not well known (Bouchereau et al. 2000), although the lagoon itself maintains a diverse fi sh community and supports important commercial ...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish assemblages of a shallow Mediterranean lagoon (Nador, Morocco): An analysis based on species and functional guilds

Jaafour¹

2015

Acta Ichthyol. Piscat.

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“…Along the Mediterranean coastline, more than 100 lagoons are found but only little hydrological and biological data of most of these ecosystems are available (Pérez-Ruzafa et al, 2011a). Generally, lagoons are shallow, coastal water bodies with marine water influence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrological dynamics of water sources in a Mediterranean lagoon

Stumpp

Ekdal

Gönenç

et al. 2014

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Lagoons are important ecosystems occupying large coastal areas worldwide. Lagoons contain various mixtures of marine and freshwater sources which are highly dynamic in time. However, it often remains a challenge to identify and quantify dynamic changes of water sources, particularly in heterogeneous lagoon systems like the Köycegiz-Dalyan lagoon (KDL), which is located at the south-west of Turkey on the Mediterranean Sea coast. The objective of this study was to quantify different contributions of potential water sources i.e. surface water, groundwater and seawater in the lagoon and how these water sources changed over time and space. In the wet-and dry-season stable isotopes of water, chloride concentration (Cl − ) and salinity were measured in two depths in the lagoon and surrounding water bodies (sea, lake, groundwater). Different components of water sources were quantified with a three component endmember mixing analysis. Differences in Cl − and stable isotopes over time indicated the dynamic behaviour of the system. Generally, none of the groundwater samples was impacted by water of the Mediterranean Sea. During the wet season, most of the lagoon water (> 95 %) was influenced by freshwater and vertically well mixed. During the dry season, high Cl − in the deeper sampling locations indicated a high contribution of marine water throughout the entire lagoon system due to saltwater intrusion. However, a distinct layering in the lagoon was obvious from low Cl − and depleted isotope contents close to the surface supporting freshwater inflow into the system even during the dry season. Besides temporal dynamics also spatial heterogeneities were identified. Changes in water sources were most evident in the main lagoon channel compared to more isolate lagoon lakes, which were influenced by marine water even in the wet season, and compared to side branches indicating slower turnover times. We found that environmental tracers helped to quantify highly dynamic and heterogeneous contributions of different water sources in the Köycegiz-Dalyan lagoon.

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“…Guélorget et al (1989) suggested that the confinement of the Mellah Lagoon is due to the hydrological isolation (long and narrow channel), and to the relatively high depth (6 m) with regard to the surface area (800 ha) on the other hand. Pérez-Ruzafa et al (2011b) suggested that the main factor that contributes to the structuring lagoon assemblages and which, to a certain extent, integrates all the others is related to the degree of isolation from the sea. Therefore, such confinement may explain the weak spatial pattern of variation in the fish assemblage and the prevalence of opportunistic species such as residents and Mugilidae which are known to have broad ecological tolerance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish assemblage structure in shallow waters of the Mellah Lagoon (Algeria): Seasonal and spatial distribution patterns and relation to environmental parameters

Amara¹,

Rima²

2017

Acta Ichthyol. Piscat.

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Embarek R., Amara R., Kara M.H. 2017. Fish assemblage structure in shallow waters of the Mellah Lagoon (Algeria): Seasonal and spatial distribution patterns and relation to environmental parameters. Acta Ichthyol. Piscat. 47 (2): 133-144.Background. Southern Mediterranean lagoons are poorly studied. The Mellah Lagoon is the only coastal lagoon in Algeria. Characterized by low anthropogenic pressure it has a crucial environmental and socioeconomic role because of its fishing activities and conservation status. The spatial and temporal variations of fish assemblage structure in relation with the environmental parameters were investigated. This study contributes to a better understanding of the functioning of the Mellah Lagoon, thus providing useful data regarding its conservation and management. Materials and methods. Sampling was carried out monthly during one year at four stations with a beach seine of 3-mm mesh. Environmental variables were measured during each sampling. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and cluster analysis were used to assess environmental influences on fish spatio-temporal assemblages. (Valenciennes, 1847). Resident species presented the highest abundance values, accounting for 96% of the total number of fish captured, while marine migrant species that use the lagoon as a nursery ground contributed the most to the community species richness (7 species). Atherina boyeri (87.59% of total catch by number) was the most abundant species. Environmental parameters measured were uniform across the whole lagoon. However, temperature and salinity showed a seasonal pattern. The CCA analysis based on species abundance indicated the absence of clear spatial and temporal patterns in fish assemblage. The majority of the species had mean values of distribution in relation to environmental variables. Conclusion. The fish assemblage of the shallow water (<1.5 m) of the Mellah Lagoon is characterized by a small number of species dominated by resident species. The low species richness, the dominance of resident species, and the weak spatial and temporal patterns in the fish assemblage are mainly the result of a high degree of confinement because of the low freshwater inputs from the wadis and the limited tidally-driven exchanges between the lagoon and the sea. To maintain high biodiversity and a sustainable fishery in the lagoon, it is necessary to develop a management plan which would facilitate a proper water exchange between the lagoon and the sea and would promote colonization of the lagoon by marine species.

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Mediterranean coastal lagoons in an ecosystem and aquatic resources management context

Cited by 145 publications

References 22 publications

Fish assemblages of a shallow Mediterranean lagoon (Nador, Morocco): An analysis based on species and functional guilds

Fish assemblages of a shallow Mediterranean lagoon (Nador, Morocco): An analysis based on species and functional guilds

Hydrological dynamics of water sources in a Mediterranean lagoon

Fish assemblage structure in shallow waters of the Mellah Lagoon (Algeria): Seasonal and spatial distribution patterns and relation to environmental parameters

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