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Field studies of seahorse population density, structure and habitat use in a semi‐closed north‐eastern Mediterranean marine area (Stratoni, North Aegean Sea)
Author(s) -
Correia Miguel,
Paulo Diogo,
Samara Elina,
Koulouri Panayota,
Mentogiannis Vasilis,
Dounas Costas
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/jfb.14371
Subject(s) - seahorse , biology , habitat , fishery , population , mediterranean climate , ecology , abundance (ecology) , mediterranean sea , home range , zoology , demography , sociology
The present study was carried out in the marine area of Stratoni, Greece, where two seahorse species are present ( Hippocampus hippocampus and Hippocampus guttulatus ). Two surveys were conducted (September 2016 and May 2019) to gather information regarding seahorse species' abundance, distribution and habitat characteristics. Four different seahorse natural and artificial habitat types were identified. The results revealed that the presence of H. hippocampus was relatively high, especially at sites with artificial structures, whereas the presence of H. guttulatus was rare. Data collected can provide baseline information for future population assessments.