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

Cuttitta, Angela and Torri, Marco and Zarrad, Rafik and Zgozi, Salem and Jarboui, Othman and Quinci, Enza Maria and Hamza, Mohamed and Abdulfatah, Elfetori and Haddoud, Daw and El Turki, Akram and Ramadan, Abdulbari and Missaoui, Hechmi and Mifsud, Roberta and Bonomo, Sergio and Mazzola, Salvatore and Patti, Bernardo (2018) Linking surface hydrodynamics to planktonic ecosystem: the case study of the ichthyoplanktonic assemblages in the Central Mediterranean Sea. Hydrobiologia, 821 (1). pp. 191-214. ISSN 0018-8158

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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-simulta-neous 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 environ-mental drivers that control the structure of the larval fish assemblages. Spatial distribution and taxa com-position were related to physical forcings (geostrophic currents and wind stress) and environmental condi-tions (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 high-lighted the essential role of the bathymetry, while Lagrangian simulations evidenced the action of the hydrodynamics in mixing neritic and oceanic assem-blages 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.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: 500 Scienze naturali e Matematica
500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 570 Scienze della vita; Biologia > 570.15195 Statistica in Biologia (Classificare qui la Biometria, la Biostatistica)
500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 570 Scienze della vita; Biologia > 577.7 Ecologia marina
600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate > 630 Agricoltura e tecnologie connesse > 639 Caccia, pesca, tutela delle risorse biologiche, tecnologie connesse
Depositing User: Dr Marco Torri
Date Deposited: 28 Jun 2023 12:17
Last Modified: 28 Jun 2023 12:17
URI: http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/22369

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