Environmental driving forces determining the epipelagic decapod larval community distribution in the Balearic Sea (western Mediterranean)

Abstract

The decapod larvae community inhabiting the Balearic Sea surface waters was studied from plankton surveys carried out in the spring and summer of 2004 and 2005 between 38°N 0.5°E and 42°N 6°E. A total of 84 taxa were identified, from seven taxonomic orders. The mean larval densities varied from 0.01-240 (±11.69) individuals 100 m−3in 2004 to 0.40-600 (±26.89) individuals 100 m−3in 2005. The analysis of larval spatial patterns in relation to the observed inter-annual environmental variability indicated that they were associated with the different hydrodynamic conditions. In 2004, mesoscale gyres, both anticyclonic and cyclonic, influenced the surface larval distribution by trapping and retaining larvae near the islands, and these larvae constituted an identifiable community different from a second one occupying the oceanic area, characterized by the presence of mesopelagic species larvae. In 2005, most of the area was occupied by resident surface Atlantic waters, which hindered the northern progression of fresher recent Atlantic waters. This environmental homogeneity resulted in a less contrasting scenario, and a unique community including larvae both of neritic and oceanic decapod species was found in most stations. The contrasting hydrographical situations studied in these years allowed to detect shift boundaries in the larval distribution of neritic species, indicating that the hydrographically more homogeneous years may lead to a higher dispersion of neritic decapod larvae.

Composition and distribution of the larval decapod community in the deep sea of the Western Mediterranean Sea Balearic Sub‐basin

“…to 2,300 m). Similar assemblage analyses were restricted in the BSB to the epipelagic (0–200 m) of the water column (Carbonell et al., 2014), so the present study is somehow completing what happens in the meso (at the deep scattering layer, DSL) and bathypelagic near the seafloor (the benthic boundary layer, BBL). We identified different assemblages (regarding their composition and abundance) in the mainland and insular areas and at different layers of the water column (DSL and BBL).…”

“…Yet, larvae assemblages in deep waters remain virtually unknown. The available studies showed a limited larval dispersal capacity and larvae distribution in patches, suggesting that hydrography drivers model larval distribution (Rodríguez et al, 2013; Carbonell et al., 2014). Given the opportunity to explore these environmental and hydrographic conditions in deep, the present study analyses the decapod larvae spatial distribution and composition in the deep BSB and discusses the potential oceanographic modeling connectivity and dispersion.…”

IEOOS: the Spanish Institute of Oceanography Observing System

“…Also near the continental slope, a cascading of colder and even denser water was found , affecting biological processes over the whole water column (e.g. Company et al, 2008;Rodríguez et al, 2013;Carbonell et al, 2014;Hidalgo et al, 2014). In the last years, linked to the growing interest in Mediterranean Sea health state, new variables (pH, Total Inorganic Carbon, NO 2 , CH 4 ) have been added to the original sampling (Amengual et al, 2010).…”

The RADMED monitoring programme as a tool for MSFD implementation: towards an ecosystem-based approach

“…Company et al, 2008;Guijarro, 2012;Rodríguez et al, 2013;Carbonell et al, 2014;Hidalgo et al, 2014), and therefore the marine resources and their exploitation.…”