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Geographic, seasonal and bathymetric distribution of demersal fish species in the eastern Mediterranean
Author(s) -
Maravelias C. D.,
Papaconstantinou C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2006.00695.x
Subject(s) - merluccius merluccius , hake , merluccius , demersal zone , demersal fish , fishery , hydrography , bathymetry , oceanography , spatial distribution , mediterranean sea , biology , abundance (ecology) , pelagic zone , mediterranean climate , geography , ecology , fishing , fish <actinopterygii> , geology , remote sensing
Summary The distributional abundance of three demersal fish species, Merluccius merluccius , Mullus barbatus and Lophius budegassa , was studied as a function of sampling season, bathymetry and geographic area. Data were collected during research trawl surveys in the Aegean and Ionian seas under the same sampling scheme, thereby allowing comparisons to be made on the mean regional densities in numbers and biomass of these three commercially important species in Greek waters. Results indicated that European hake, M. merluccius , demonstrated a wide bathymetric and geographic distribution, with specimens encountered in all regions between 20 and 500 m depth, although density was found to be highest usually between 101 and 200 m. The mean regional density of hake was observed to vary seasonally, being higher mainly in winter. Red mullet, M. barbatus , was distributed in shallow water depths (<100 m) throughout the Greek seas, particularly in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. Abundance of this species steadily decreased with increasing depth. The geographic distribution of anglerfish, L. budegassa , was found to be restricted to the central and northern part of the Aegean Sea, with the highest mean densities encountered in the Thermaikos Gulf and in intermediate water depths between 101 and 200 m. Spatial patterns of observed density are assumed to be attributed mainly to prevailing topographic and hydrographic conditions and related biological productivity levels.