2024-03-29T09:53:22Zhttp://digital.csic.es/dspace-oai/requestoai:digital.csic.es:10261/196322020-11-19T08:26:38Zcom_10261_123com_10261_8col_10261_376
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López-Sanz, Àngel
author
Vert, Neus
author
Zabala, Mikel
author
Sabatés, Ana
author
2009-04-09
During the spring and summer of 2003, the small-scale spatial distribution of fish larvae was
analysed in and around the Medes Islands marine protected area (MPA). High specific richness
was found during both seasons, which is when most coastal fish species spawn in the NW
Mediterranean. Despite the small dimensions of the area, well-defined larval fish patterns were
found. Larvae from pelagic eggs were located farther from the adult habitat than those from demersal
eggs; however, there were exceptions, which highlight the influence of larval behaviour and
pelagic larval duration. Inside the reserve, there was both a high diversity index and a high abundance
of shorefish larvae in relation to the high abundance of adults and a possible retention of
larvae in the MPA. Although there was a great variability both in species composition and abundance
between periods, the sampling station assemblages were similar. Factors such as habitat and
spawning location of adults, and the role of the MPA seem to determine the stability of the larval
distribution patterns in time. The importance of small-scale approaches is highlighted to understand
the fish larval spatial distributions.
Journal of Plankton Research 31(7) : 763-775(2009)
0142-7873
http://hdl.handle.net/10261/19632
10.1093/plankt/fbp024
Small-scale distribution of fish larvae around the Medes Islands marine protected area (NW Mediterranean)