Long-term fish and macro-crustacean community variation in a Mediterranean lagoon

Salinity as the main factor structuring small-bodied fish assemblages in hydrologically altered Mediterranean coastal lagoons

“…the higher proportion of native species found in the Tancada lagoon, even in the fresher period (September), reflects a lower perturbation of the fish community by the water management. In summary, in agreement with other studies on coastal ecosystems suffering from hydrological alterations (Flower 2001, Gordo and Cabral 2001, Poizat et al 2004, Pérez-Ruzafa et al2005b, Badosa et al 2007, Cañedo-Argüelles et al 2012, our data confirm that the small-fish community composition of the Ebro Delta coastal lagoons was affected by the altered hydrological pattern.…”

“…where climatic variation such as rain and floods is the only source of freshwater inputs), have been reported to be characterized by marine and brackish species with the dominance of the families Sparidae, Mugilidae, Gobiidae, Atherinidae, Soleidae, Sygnathidae and Blennidae (Pérez-Ruzafa et al 2006, Maci and Basset 2009, Verdiell-Cubedo 2009. On the other hand, fish assemblages of coastal lagoons with artificial freshwater supplies, such as the Vaccarès lagoon (France; Poizat et al 2004) and the Albufera lagoon (Spain; Blanco et al 2003, Blanco andRomo 2006), have families typical of freshwater environments, in addition to the aforementioned brackish and marine species. Our results suggest that the hydrological alteration of the cycle might be the responsible for the current fish community in the Ebro Delta coastal lagoons composed by brackish and marine families such as Gobidae, Mugilidae and Atherinidae and by freshwater species belonging to the families Cyprinidae and Poecilidae (Blanco et al 2003, Poizat et al 2004, Blanco and Romo 2006.…”

“…On the other hand, fish assemblages of coastal lagoons with artificial freshwater supplies, such as the Vaccarès lagoon (France; Poizat et al 2004) and the Albufera lagoon (Spain; Blanco et al 2003, Blanco andRomo 2006), have families typical of freshwater environments, in addition to the aforementioned brackish and marine species. Our results suggest that the hydrological alteration of the cycle might be the responsible for the current fish community in the Ebro Delta coastal lagoons composed by brackish and marine families such as Gobidae, Mugilidae and Atherinidae and by freshwater species belonging to the families Cyprinidae and Poecilidae (Blanco et al 2003, Poizat et al 2004, Blanco and Romo 2006. Moreover, the introduction of the freshwater species (mostly the introduced Gambusia holbrooki) in these lagoons (Doadrio 2001) led to an alteration of the native species assemblage.…”

“…The most common consequences of these hydrological alterations are the decline in salinity and the increase in both eutrophication and environmental pollution as a result of increased nutrient and chemical contaminant inputs (Cloern 2001, Lucena et al 2002, Cañedo-Argüelles et al 2012. Despite the severe impacts that these hydrological alterations can have on the fish communities, studies focusing on this issue in the Mediterranean area are scarce (Poizat et al 2004, Badosa et al 2007.…”

An Unstructured Numerical Model to Study Wind-Driven Circulation Patterns in a Managed Coastal Mediterranean Wetland: The Vaccarès Lagoon System

“…In autumn and winter, the gates are opened during northerly wind periods to decrease the water level in the lagoons. In spring, between one and three gates are opened to allow fish recruitment in the lagoons [6,7]. During sea storms, the sluice gates are closed.…”