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Linking surface hydrodynamics to planktonic ecosystem: the case study of the ichthyoplanktonic assemblages in the Central Mediterranean Sea

  • CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN ECOSYSTEMS
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Abstract

Oceanographic processes play a key role in influencing the structure of the marine planktonic ecosystems. Taking advantage of the quasi-simultaneous collection of a large ichthyoplanktonic dataset in different regions of the Central Mediterranean Sea (Italian/Maltese, Tunisian and Libyan waters), this study aimed at the identification of the main environmental drivers that control the structure of the larval fish assemblages. Spatial distribution and taxa composition were related to physical forcings (geostrophic currents and wind stress) and environmental conditions (bottom depth, temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a concentration). ANOSIM and SIMPER identified contribution of fish taxa to the average Bray–Curtis dissimilarity among regions. In Italian and Libyan waters, two assemblages (neritic and oceanic) were identified, while a mixed assemblage characterized only some stations. Two neritic and one oceanic assemblages were discriminated in Tunisian waters. Random Forest classification model highlighted the essential role of the bathymetry, while Lagrangian simulations evidenced the action of the hydrodynamics in mixing neritic and oceanic assemblages in the Italian/Maltese and partially in Libyan waters. These findings highlighted the importance of the multidisciplinary approach and shed light on the potential value of the ichthyoplanktonic surveys for the assessment of the state of the marine ecosystem and the conservation of the fishery resources.

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Acknowledgements

This paper was supported by the FAO Project MedSudMed ‘Assessment and Monitoring of the Fishery Resources and the Ecosystems in the Straits of Sicily’, which was funded by the Italian Ministry MIPAAF and co-funded by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission (DG MARE). Dr. Enrico Arneri and Dr. Luca Ceriola (Coordinators of the MedSudMed Project) are gratefully acknowledged for the support provided during the organization of the surveys at sea and data processing. Mr. Emanuele Gentile, Master of the R/V Urania and all his crew are thanked for their work during the cruises carried out in Italian and Libyan waters. The survey along Tunisian coasts was carried out in the framework of the INSTM Fisheries Sciences research projects and supported by Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulics Resources and Fishing and the Ministry of High Education and Scientific Research. Gratitude is expressed to Dr. Federico Falcini, Dr Rosalia Santoleri and researchers and technicians of the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate of the National Research Council (ISAC-CNR) for technical and scientific help regarding the analysis of climatic data. The study was also supported by the Proreplus-Alif Project (lAboratori di testing per dispositivi eLettroacustici, sensorI oceanograFici e metodologie finalizzati al monitoraggio dello stato delle risorse biologiche del mare), which was funded by the Regione Siciliana Government (POR 2000–2006). All of the participating institutes and scientists who were on-board are gratefully acknowledged for their involvement in the work carried out.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Council, Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR), Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, via del mare, 3 Campobello di Mazara – loc. Torretta Granitola, 91021, Trapani, Italy

    Angela Cuttitta, Marco Torri, Enza Maria Quinci, Sergio Bonomo, Salvatore Mazzola & Bernardo Patti

  2. Institut National des Sciences, et Technologies de la Mer, INSTM-Mahdia, BP. 138, Mahdia, 5199, Tunisia

    Rafik Zarrad, Othman Jarboui & Hechmi Missaoui

  3. Marine Biology Research Centre, Tajura, Tripoli, Libya

    Salem Zgozi, Mohamed Hamza, Elfetori Abdulfatah, Daw Haddoud, Akram El Turki & Abdulbari Ramadan

  4. The Environment and Climate Change-Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MSDEC-DFA), Ministry for Sustainable Development, Marsa, Malta

    Roberta Mifsud

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  1. Angela Cuttitta
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  2. Marco Torri
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  3. Rafik Zarrad
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  15. Salvatore Mazzola
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  16. Bernardo Patti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marco Torri.

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Guest editors: Angelo Bonanno, Othman Jarboui, Salem Wniss Zgozi, Roberta Mifsud & Luca Ceriola / Marine Ecosystems and Living Resources in the Central Mediterranean Sea

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Cuttitta, A., Torri, M., Zarrad, R. et al. Linking surface hydrodynamics to planktonic ecosystem: the case study of the ichthyoplanktonic assemblages in the Central Mediterranean Sea. Hydrobiologia 821, 191–214 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3483-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3483-x

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