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Growth and condition of 0-group European flounder, Platichthys flesus as indicator of estuarine habitat quality

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Abstract

The purpose of this present study was to use the growth rates, RNA–DNA ratio and morphometric (Fulton’s K) condition indices measured on 0-group juveniles European flounder, as a means of comparing the quality of estuarine nursery habitats. The Seine estuary, heavily impacted by manmade modifications and one of the most contaminated in Europe, was compared to two smaller estuaries considered as clean (low domestic, agricultural and industrial effluents). Indicators of human disturbance (sediment chemical contaminants) as well as biotic data (macrobenthos abundances) were used to establish between-site differences in environmental quality. The abundance of macrobenthos (potential preys for juvenile) was high and not significantly different among the three estuaries confirming the important role played by estuaries as feeding grounds. Sediment metal concentrations (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) were significantly higher in the Seine than in the Canche and Authie estuaries. Otolith growth was closely related to somatic fish growth, and we used daily otolith increments from the previous 10 days before capture as an indicator of 0-group flounder recent growth (RG). RG did not vary significantly among flounders from the Canche and Authie estuaries and individuals from the Seine had slower RG. RNA–DNA ratio and K values were also significantly lower in individuals from the Seine compared to those of the Authie or the Canche. Pollution (e.g. metal contaminants) is the most likely cause of growth and condition differences among estuaries. The results of this study suggest that habitat-specific fish growth and condition are useful proxies for habitat quality since they integrate the effect of multiple environmental factors.

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Acknowledgements

This work is part of the European Interreg III program ‘‘Risk Analysis associated with Endocrine Disruption in the Manche Regions” (RAED) and the CPER “Estuaire” project with the support of Fond Européen FEDER and Conseil Régional Nord- Pas- de- Calais. The study was also supported by Agence de l’eau Artois-Picardie. The authors would like to thank V. Cornille and K. Rabhi for their assistance with the field sampling and the laboratory analyses. They also wish to thank the two anonymous reviewers for providing useful comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale, Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences, UMR 8187 LOG, 32 avenue Foch, 62930, Wimereux, France

    R. Amara & J. Selleslagh

  2. Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille 1, Bât C8 (2ème étage), Laboratoire Géosystèmes (UMR-CNRS 8157), 59655, Villeneuve d’Ascq cédex, France

    G. Billon

  3. LEMA, EA 3222, Université du Havre, 25, rue Philippe Lebon, BP540, 76058, Le Havre, France

    C. Minier

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  1. R. Amara
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  2. J. Selleslagh
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  4. C. Minier
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Correspondence to R. Amara.

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Amara, R., Selleslagh, J., Billon, G. et al. Growth and condition of 0-group European flounder, Platichthys flesus as indicator of estuarine habitat quality. Hydrobiologia 627, 87–98 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-009-9717-9

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