Use of shallow water habitats by fish assemblages in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon

Franco, Anita; Franzoi, Piero; Malavasi, Stefano; Riccato, Federico; Torricelli, Patrizia; Mainardi, Danilo

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2005.07.020

Cited by 174 publications

(126 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Quite a few species, in fact, seem to strictly depend on seagrass habitats for settlement in the Mediterranean region, which is also in agreement with available data (e.g. Franco et al 2006). Nevertheless, this is not in agreement with the evidence available about the important nursery role of seagrasses for multispecies fish assemblages observed in other geographical regions outside the Mediterranean (Heck et al 2003).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 37%

Timing and habitat preferences for settlement of juvenile fishes in the Marine Protected Area of Torre Guaceto (south-eastern Italy, Adriatic Sea)

Bussotti

Guidetti

2011

Italian Journal of Zoology

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Timing and habitat preferences for settlement of juvenile fishes were investigated at the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Torre Guaceto (SE Adriatic Sea) from April 2005 to March 2006. Data were obtained by visual census (on a fortnightly basis) in 10 habitat types identified within the depth range 0-6 m. A total of 22 taxa of juvenile fish was recorded: juveniles of 14 taxa were analysed for settlement timing and habitat preferences, whereas the other 8 taxa were only occasionally observed. Diplodus vulgaris and Sarpa salpa showed two settlement peaks, while the other 12 species displayed a single annual peak. Most species (10 out of 14) settled between late spring and early autumn. Juvenile labrids and Oblada melanura were mostly associated with exposed shallow rocks, while Diplodus sargus, D. vulgaris, D. puntazzo and S. salpa chiefly settled in shallow sheltered coves. Juveniles of Chromis chromis were found in sublittoral rocks and Posidonia oceanica beds. Spondilyosoma cantharus, Diplodus annularis and Dicentrarchus labrax mostly associated to P. oceanica and small-sized seagrasses for settlement, while Mullus surmuletus chiefly used sublittoral sands. This study provides evidence of clear coherence during settlement of many fishes in terms of habitat for settlement, while some discrepancy was found in terms of timing across the year. In addition, this study provided suggestive evidence of the potential of the MPA, relative to the habitats included within its borders, in hosting juvenile fish stages and thus contributing to sustain local diversity of the coastal fish fauna. Similar data would deserve to be properly considered to design MPAs and refine conservation targets.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 37%

Timing and habitat preferences for settlement of juvenile fishes in the Marine Protected Area of Torre Guaceto (south-eastern Italy, Adriatic Sea)

Bussotti

Guidetti

2011

Italian Journal of Zoology

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“…This was evident when a greater species richness was registered in the mouth zone (42 species), which decreased noticeably towards the interior of the lagoon (13 species). Similarly, fish diversity was lower in the hyperhaline zone (1.08) than in the marine zone (3.48), since marine species are distributed there (Franco et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ichthyofauna has been considered as one of the principal biotic components of lagoon systems because it transfers nutrients to different levels of the food web, interchanges energy with neighbouring ecosystems and stores it within the ecosystem (Yáñez-Arancibia & Nugent, 1977;Franco et al, 2006). It is recognised that a fish species can occupy one or several habitats during its life cycle (Blaber & Blaber, 1980;Castro-Aguirre et al, 1999;Moyle & Cech, 2000;Laegdsgaard & Johnson, 2001; Cocheret de la Morinière et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal structure of fish assemblages in a hyperhaline coastal system: Ría Lagartos, Mexico

Peralta-Meixueiro¹,

Vega‐Cendejas²

2011

Neotrop. ichthyol.

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The spatial and temporal fish species assemblages were analyzed throughout two annual cycles (2004-2005 and 2007-2008) in the Ría Lagartos Lagoon system, Mexico, via non-parametric multivariate analyses. We compared density and biomass of fish species among five habitat types defined by combinations of structure and environmental characteristics (hyperhaline, rocky, seagrass, channel, and marine), and three climatic seasons (dry, rainy, and northerlies). A total of 11,187 individuals distributed in 32 families and 63 species were collected. The most numerically abundant species were Floridichthys polyommus and Cyprinodon artifrons, while Sphoeroides testudineus contributed to the greatest biomass. Species composition consisted mainly of estuarine and euryhaline marine species. Spatially, a saline gradient was observed with marine conditions in the mouth, and increasing to over 100 in the inner zone of the system. Species richness, diversity and biomass declined from the mouth to the inner zone, while density showed an inverse tendency, with the highest values in the inner zone. Thus the salinity was the variable that best explained the spatial fish assemblages' structure. The ichthyofauna composition did not change over time, but the dominant species varied with the years. The abundance of juvenile specimens, suggest that the different habitats are used as feeding and breeding zones; hence it is proposed that protection strategies be pursued not only for the lagoon system but also for the northern zone of the Yucatan Peninsula. Los ensamblajes espacio temporales de peces fueron analizados a través de dos ciclos anuales (2004-2005) y 2007-2008) en el sistema lagunar Ría Lagartos, México, vía análisis multivariados no paramétricos. Se comparó la densidad y biomasa de peces entre los cinco tipos de hábitats definidos por la combinación de características estructurales y ambientales (hiperhalino, rocoso, pastos, canal y marino) y tres temporadas climáticas (secas, lluvias y nortes). Un total de 11.187 individuos fueron recolectados, distribuidos en 32 familias y 63 especies. Las especies numéricamente más abundantes fueron Floridichthys poliommus y Cyprinodon artifrons, mientras que Sphoeroides testudineus contribuyó principalmente con la biomasa. La composición de especies consistió principalmente de especies marinas eurihalinas y estuarinas. Espacialmente, un gradiente de salinidad fue observado con condiciones marinas en la boca del sistema lagunar, incrementándose hacia la zona interna con valores superiores a 100. La riqueza de especies, diversidad y biomasa disminuyó desde la boca hacia la zona interna, mientras que la densidad mostró una tendencia inversa, con valores más altos en la zona interna. La salinidad fue la variable que mejor explicó la estructura espacial de los ensamblajes de peces. La composición de la ictiofauna no cambió en el tiempo, pero las especies dominantes varían con los años. La abundancia de especímenes juveniles sugiere que los diferentes hábitats son usados como zonas de alimentació...

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“…The drainage basin covers an highly populated and intensively farmed area, and its loads in 2003 accounted for 4 × 10 6 kg y −1 of nitrogen and 0.25 × 10 6 kg y −1 of phosphorus (ARPAV, 2007). Many types of habitats, sub-tidal and intertidal, are present, such as seagrass meadows, mud flats, sand flats and salt marshes, each one with a different functional role for migrant and resident fish fauna (Franco et al, 2006b;Franzoi et al, 2010). The type of habitat is recognised also to be an important driver for benthic secondary production (Tagliapietra et al, 2007).…”

Section: Model Implementationmentioning

confidence: 99%

An inverse model for the analysis of the Venice lagoon food web

Brigolin

Savenkoff

Zucchetta

et al. 2011

Ecological Modelling

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Use of shallow water habitats by fish assemblages in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon

Cited by 174 publications

References 54 publications

Timing and habitat preferences for settlement of juvenile fishes in the Marine Protected Area of Torre Guaceto (south-eastern Italy, Adriatic Sea)

Timing and habitat preferences for settlement of juvenile fishes in the Marine Protected Area of Torre Guaceto (south-eastern Italy, Adriatic Sea)

Spatial and temporal structure of fish assemblages in a hyperhaline coastal system: Ría Lagartos, Mexico

An inverse model for the analysis of the Venice lagoon food web

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