Spatial variability of Chondrichthyes in the northern Mediterranean

Type Article
Date 2019-12
Language English
Author(s) Follesa Maria C.1, Marongiu Martina F.1, Zupa Walter2, Bellodi Andrea1, Cau Alessandro1, Cannas Rita1, Colloca Francesco3, Djurovic Mirko4, Isajlovic Igor5, Jadaud AngeliqueORCID6, Manfredi Chiara7, Mulas Antonello1, Peristeraki Panagiota8, 9, Porcu Cristina1, Ramirez-Amaro Sergio10, Salmeron Jimenez Francisca11, Serena Fabrizio12, Sion Letizia13, Thasitis Ioannis14, Cau Angelo1, Carbonara Pierluigi2
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Cagliari, Dept Life & Environm Sci, Via T Fiorelli 1, Cagliari, Italy.
2 : COISPA Tecnol & Ric, Via Trulli 18-20, Bari, Italy.
3 : Stn Zool A Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Naples, Italy.
4 : Univ Montenegro, Inst Marine Biol, PBox 69, Kotor 85330, Montenegro.
5 : Inst Oceanog & Fisheries, Set I Mestrovica 63, Split 21000, Croatia.
6 : Univ Montpellier 2, CNRS, MARBEC IFREMER, IRD, Ave Jean Monnet,CS 30171, F-34203 Sete, France.
7 : Univ Bologna, Lab Biol Marina & Pesca Fano, Viale Adriatico 1-n, I-61311 Fano, Italy.
8 : Inst Marine Biol Resources & Inland Waters, Hellen Ctr Marine Res, Iraklion 71003, Greece.
9 : Univ Crete, Biol Dept, Iraklion, Crete, Greece.
10 : Inst Espanol Oceanog, Ctr Oceanog Baleares, Moll Ponent S-N, Palma De Mallorca 07015, Spain.
11 : Inst Espanol Oceanog, Ctr Oceanog Malaga, Puerto Pesquero S-N, Fuengirola 29640, Spain.
12 : CNR, Inst Coastal Marine Environm, Via Vaccara 61, I-91026 Mazara Del Vallo, TP, Italy.
13 : Univ Bari Aldo Moro, Dept Biol, Via Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy.
14 : Dept & Fisheries & Marine Res, 101 Vithleem Str, CY-1416 Nicosia, Cyprus.
Source Scientia Marina (0214-8358) (Consejo Superior Investigaciones Cientificas-csic), 2019-12 , Vol. 83 , N. S1 , P. 81-100
DOI 10.3989/scimar.04998.23A
WOS© Times Cited 52
Note Mediterranean demersal resources and ecosystems: 25 years of MEDITS trawl surveys M.T. Spedicato, G. Tserpes, B. Mérigot and E. Massutí (eds)
Keyword(s) fish, Chondrichthyes, bottom trawl surveys, distribution, abundance, Mediterranean
Abstract Thanks to the availability of the MEDITS survey data, a standardized picture of the occurrence and abundance of demersal Chondrichthyes in the northern Mediterranean has been obtained. During the spring-summer period between 2012 and 2015, 41 Chondrichthyes, including 18 sharks (5 orders and 11 families). 22 batoids (3 orders and 4 families) and 1 chimaera, were detected from several geographical sub-areas (GSAs) established by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. Batoids had a preferential distribution on the continental shelf (10-200 m depth). while shark species were more frequent on the slope (200-800 m depth). Only three species, the Carcharhiniformes Galeus melastomus and Scyliorhinus canicida and the Torpediniformes Torpedo matmorata were caught in all GSAs studied. On the continental shelf, the Rajidae family was the most abundant, being represented in primis by Raja clavaia and then by R. miraleius, R. polystigma and R. asterias. The slope was characterized by the prevalence of G. melastomus in all GSAs, followed by S. canictda, E. spinax and Squalus blainville. Areas under higher fishing pressure, such as the Adriatic Sea and the Spanish coast (with the exception of the Balearic Islands), show a low abundance of chondrichthyans, but other areas with a high level of fishing pressure, such as southwestern Sicily, show a high abundance, suggesting that other environmental drivers work together with fishing pressure to shape their distribution. Results of generalized additive models highlighted that depth is one of the most important environmental drivers influencing the distribution of both batoid and shark species, although temperature also showed a significant influence on their distribution. The approach explored in this work shows the possibility of producing maps modelling the distribution of demersal chondrichthyans in the Mediterranean that are useful for the management and conservation of these species at a regional scale. However, because of the vulnerability of these species to fishing exploitation, fishing pressure should be further incorporated in these models in addition to these environmental drivers.
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Follesa Maria C., Marongiu Martina F., Zupa Walter, Bellodi Andrea, Cau Alessandro, Cannas Rita, Colloca Francesco, Djurovic Mirko, Isajlovic Igor, Jadaud Angelique, Manfredi Chiara, Mulas Antonello, Peristeraki Panagiota, Porcu Cristina, Ramirez-Amaro Sergio, Salmeron Jimenez Francisca, Serena Fabrizio, Sion Letizia, Thasitis Ioannis, Cau Angelo, Carbonara Pierluigi (2019). Spatial variability of Chondrichthyes in the northern Mediterranean. Scientia Marina, 83(S1), 81-100. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.04998.23A , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00600/71220/