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Trophometric index: a predictor for fish density, biomass and production in Mediterranean reservoirs in Spain
Author(s) -
LARA G.,
ENCINA L.,
RODRÍGUEZ –RUIZ A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
fisheries management and ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1365-2400
pISSN - 0969-997X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2400.2009.00676.x
Subject(s) - biomass (ecology) , mediterranean climate , environmental science , index (typography) , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , mediterranean basin , water framework directive , production (economics) , ecology , biology , water quality , macroeconomics , world wide web , computer science , economics
A trophometric index (TMI) is proposed to estimate fish density, biomass and production in Mediterranean reservoirs. It consists of simple and integrated environmental variables such as the form index ( IF = S / V ), the volume percentage of water with sufficient oxygen to sustain fish life, conductivity, chlorophyll a concentration and perimeter, the synergic effect of which explains the fish structure and accounts for the functioning of the ecosystems. This index was tested in eight reservoirs in the Guadalquivir River basin, showing a good fit with a potential model for fish density and a linear model for fish biomass and production ( P < 0.01; r 2 > 0.8). The TMI is a valuable tool for evaluating fishery production in Mediterranean reservoirs and allows these to be classified by type for better management and evaluation in the framework of the European Water Directive.