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Bathymetric distribution of demersal fish in the Aegean and Ionian Seas based on generalized additive modeling

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Abstract

Good knowledge of the spatial distribution of fish is critical to stock assessment and successful fisheries management. Depth is often the main gradient along which faunal changes occur when analyzing shelf and upper slope assemblages, and thus knowledge of the bathymetric distribution of fish species is of great importance. The depth distribution of 16 fish species (Chelidonichthys lucernus, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Hoplostethus mediterraneus, Lepidorhombus boscii, Lophius budegassa, Merlangius merlangus, Merluccius merluccius, Micromesistius poutassou, Mullus barbatus, Mullus surmuletus, Pagellus erythrinus, Peristedion cataphractum, Phycis blennoides, Serranus cabrilla, Trigla lyra, and Trisopterus minutus) of the Aegean and the Ionian Seas was evaluated by analyzing experimental bottom trawl data, using generalized additive modeling (GAM) techniques. A variety of bathymetric distribution patterns was observed. The main bathymetric zone of each species was defined based on the modeled relative density. Specifically, the lower and upper limits of the main bathymetric zone of each species were defined as the depths where the estimated relative density of the species becomes less than 1% of the maximum. This definition is proposed as a better and more informative alternative than reporting the minimum and maximum depths of encounter.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for useful comments that helped us improve the initial draft of the manuscript, and D. Damalas for creating the map of Fig. 1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Biological Resources, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km Athens-Sounio, P.O. Box 712, 19013, Anavissos, Attica, Greece

    Stelios Katsanevakis & Christos D. Maravelias

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  1. Stelios Katsanevakis
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  2. Christos D. Maravelias
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Correspondence to Stelios Katsanevakis.

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Katsanevakis, S., Maravelias, C.D. Bathymetric distribution of demersal fish in the Aegean and Ionian Seas based on generalized additive modeling. Fish Sci 75, 13–23 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-008-0033-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-008-0033-5

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