Climate-driven changes in life-history traits of the bastard grunt (Pomadasys incisus) in the north-western Mediterranean

Abstract

This study evaluates the influence of sea water temperature on the life-history traits of the thermophilic bastard grunt Pomadasys incisus along the Catalan coast. We compared two key traits of this species, condition and reproduction, from populations in two separate areas with different thermal regimes: the Gulf of Roses (cold area) and the Ebre Delta (warm area). Specimens were collected monthly from each area between 2010 and 2012. The results were also compared with those given in the literature from sites where the species is more common, i.e. the southern Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic. Our findings indicate that, compared to the populations in warmer environments, the population inhabiting the colder waters appears to be in significantly poorer condition and there is some deviance in their life-history traits: egg size and quality being traded-off for higher egg numbers; lower lengths at maturity and alterations to spawning phenology. A certain degree of plasticity in life-history traits may favour the process of expansion and establishment of this thermophilic species into newly available but colder habitats of the north-western Mediterranean under a scenario of climate change.

Otolith growth and age estimation of bastard grunt, Pomadasys incisus (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Haemulidae), in the Gulf of Tunis (Central Mediterranean)

“…Considering pooled sexes, TL 50 (16.6 cm) was higher than that reported for colder water population inhabiting the north-western Mediterranean (14.9 cm) (Villegas-Hernández et al 2015), but lower than the one in Canary Islands (18.3 cm) (Pajuelo et al 2003b). …”

“…Therefore, as reported by Villegas-Hernández et al (2015), the plasticity of the life-history traits of Pomadasys incisus may allow this thermophilic species to respond to environmental pressures from the new habitats and might play an important role in the northward spread and successful establishment within the Mediterranean Sea.…”

“…Among the topics investigated were: parasite fauna (Euzet and Ktari 1970), reproduction and length-weight relations (Chakroun-Marzouk and Ktari 1995, 2006, Kapiris et al 2008, reproduction and feeding habits (Fehri-Bedoui and Gharbi 2008), fish condition, and reproductive biology (Villegas-Hernández et al 2015). Only two studies deal with life history and growth of Pomadasys incisus in the Canary Islands (Pajuelo et al 2003a(Pajuelo et al , 2003b, but the growth of this species is unknown in the Mediterranean Sea.…”

Trade‐offs between life‐history traits in a coldwater fish in the Mediterranean Sea: the case of blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou

“…This higher fecundity could be either achieved by increasing the number of oocytes per batch or by increasing potential fecundity by spawning more batches. In fact, preovulatory maternal condition effects on egg quality and quantity have been reported in other species; e.g ., Engraulis encrasicolus (L. 1758) and Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum 1792) (Brosset et al, ) and Pomadasys incisus (Bowditch 1825) (Villegas‐Hernández et al, ). Here, however, we could not find any correlation between the F Bwm and the somatic indices.…”

ICOADS Release 3.0: a major update to the historical marine climate record

“…Wolter and Timlin, 2011) and ecosystem studies (e.g. Martinho et al, 2013;Villegas-Hernández et al, 2015). ICOADS summary products provide a 'quick look' resource based on unadjusted data without interpolation and statistical gap-filling.…”