Relative Influence of Environmental Factors on Biodiversity and Behavioural Traits of a Rare Mesopelagic Fish, Trachipterus trachypterus (Gmelin, 1789), in a Continental Shelf Front of the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Coastal environments can be influenced by water body masses with particular physical, chemical, and biological properties that create favourable conditions for the development of unique planktonic communities. In this study, we investigated a continental shelf front at Ponza Island (Tyrrhenian Sea) and discussed its diversity and complexity in relation to major environmental parameters. Moon phase and current direction were found to play a significant role in shaping species abundance and behaviour. During in situ observations, we also provided the first data on the behaviour of juveniles of a rare mesopelagic species, Trachipterus trachypterus, suggesting the occurrence of Batesian mimicry.

New data on Trachipterus trachypterus Gmelin, 1789 and Zu cristatus (Bonelli, 1820) (Pisces: Trachipteridae) from the Mediterranean Sea

“…Recently, FALSONE et al (2017) estimated an age of 11 years on a specimen of 876 mm TL. For this reason, it would be useful to collect and analyse more & VOLTINA 2006;CORTES et al, 1995;FARIAS et al, 2010;LIPEJ et al, 2018;MYTILINEOU et al, 2013;MACALI et al, 2020;Zu cristatus: TOR-TONESE,1958;IBAÑEZ, 1974;ECKMAYER, 1982;ROIG & DEMESTRE,1982;Scott, 1984;Heemstra e Kannemeyer, 1984;Bianco et al, 2006;Psomadakis et al, 2007;DULCIC et al, 2014;FALSONE et al, 2017;ANGULO & SANCHEZ., 2017;MOHAN et al, 2011;FITCH., 1964;GARCIA-BARCELONA et al, 2014;ZENETOS et al, 2015). Moreover, a single record was collected from data obtained by a social network.…”

A taxonomic review of the family Trachipteridae (Acanthomorpha: Lampridiformes), with an emphasis on taxa distributed in the western Pacific Ocean

“…Juvenile Trachipterus trachypterus were observed in situ by Macali et al (2020) in the upper 10 m of water during nighttime SCUBA dives near an upwelling on the Mediterranean coast of Italy. These individuals were observed to orient vertically, and upon recognition of potential predators (the divers), the fish would orient with their heads up and their elongate pelvic and caudal-fin rays extended.…”

“…These individuals were observed to orient vertically, and upon recognition of potential predators (the divers), the fish would orient with their heads up and their elongate pelvic and caudal-fin rays extended. Periodic, quick flicking of these fins was hypothesized by Macali et al (2020) to mimic jellyfishes. From video from a submersible, Mortiz et al (2015) also observed a juvenile maintaining a vertical orientation and using undulation of its dorsal fin for locomotion.…”

“…They are also known for drastic morphological changes that occur during ontogeny (Hubbs 1925). Much of the work on the taxonomy and biogeography of Trachipteridae has relied on regional descriptions (e.g., southwestern Pacific, Ogilby 1898; New Zealand, Hamilton 1916;Mediterranean and northeast Atlantic, Palmer 1961, Lipej et al 2018, Macali et al 2020; northwest Atlantic, Purchase 2017;East Pacific, Fitch 1964, Angulo & López-Sánchez 2017Tasmania, Scott 1983; South African waters, Heemstra & Kannemeyer 1984;Japan, Hayashi 2002;Korea, Ji et al 2009;North Pacific, Savinykh & Baitalyuk 2011) with limited morphological data and incomplete analysis. Although these localized reviews benefit biodiversity assessments of specific areas, such descriptions may not account for population-level differences in those species suggested to have wide-ranging or even circumglobal distributions.…”

Coastal Fish Research

“…This special edition is intended to be a contribution to the knowledge of several aspects of fish biology and ecology: coastal fish diversity, coastal fisheries and commercial species, biological invasions process and non-indigenous species, interactions between fish and their environment, ethology, bioaccumulation and reproduction [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. I hope this special issue will be helpful for all marine biologists involved in studies on fish biology and ecology.…”