Modeling the growth of recruits of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea with generalized additive models

Ligas, Alessandro; Colloca, Francesco; Lundy, Mathieu G.; Mannini, Alessandro; Sartor, Paolo; Sbrana, Mario; Voliani, Alessandro; Belcari, Paola

doi:10.7755/fb.113.1.7

Cited by 13 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(87 reference statements)

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“…The length analysis confirms, as other studies have reported (Orsi Relini et al 2002, Ligas et al 2015, that trawl fisheries in Mediterranean waters mainly target first age classes (0-1) corresponding to sizes of between 100 and 180 mm TL. The smaller median sizes of M. merluccius observed in the western Mediterranean (northern Spain and the Gulf of Lions) and in the central Mediterranean, mostly in the Ligurian and Cretan seas, probably confirm concentrations of juveniles in these areas (Hidalgo et al 2009), whereas the largest median values, appearing in Corsican waters, the Aegean Sea and Cyprus waters, reflect the lack/ low presence of recruits in these areas (Orsi Relini et al 2002, Druon et al 2015) due to the recruitment seasonal peak (autumn-winter), which escapes from MEDITS sampling.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…El análisis de longitud muestra valores medios inferiores a 200 mm TL de la mayoría de las áreas investigadas. duction (Al-Absawy 2010), age and growth (Ligas et al 2015, Pattoura et al 2015, feeding (Carpentieri et al 2005, Mellon-Duval et al 2017, and exploitation and fishery management (Russo et al 2017, Tsagarakis et al 2017. These studies on the Mediterranean Sea are regional but most contributions have a local focus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial distribution pattern of European hake, <em>Merluccius merluccius</em> (Pisces: Merlucciidae), in the Mediterranean Sea

et al. 2020

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The present study provides updated information on the occurrence, abundance and biomass distribution patterns and length frequencies of Merluccius merluccius in the Mediterranean Sea, by analysing a time series of data from the Mediterranean International Trawl Surveys (MEDITS) from 1994 to 2015. The highest values of abundance and biomass were observed in the Sardinian Seas. The use of a generalized additive model, in which standardized biomass indices (kg km–2) were analysed as a function of environmental variables, explained how ecological factors could affect the spatio-temporal distribution of European hake biomass in the basin. High biomass levels predicted by the model were observed especially at 200 m depth and between 14°C and 18°C, highlighting the preference of the species for colder waters. A strong reduction of biomass was observed since the year 2009, probably due to the strengthening of the seasonal thermocline that had greatly reduced the availability of food. The general decrease in biomass of several stocks of anchovy and sardine, preys of European hake, might be indirectly connected to the decreasing biomass detected in the present study. The length analysis shows median values lower than 200 mm total length of most of the investigated areas.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution pattern of European hake, <em>Merluccius merluccius</em> (Pisces: Merlucciidae), in the Mediterranean Sea

et al. 2020

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“…Doing so requires increasing the knowledge on life stages sensitive to climate forcing or fishing impact, such as recruits and juveniles of hake, for which conservative management measures play an important role in the Mediterranean Sea. Although we did not detect a robust sign of fishing impact in this study, the influence of fishing activity cannot be disregarded, as hake trawl fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea are mainly sustained by the exploitation of juveniles (Colloca et al 2013, Ligas et al 2015, STECF 2015. For stock assessment purposes, a correct computation of mortality rates, considering both fishing mortality and natural mortality, is essential.…”

Section: Fishing Impact Assessment and Management Implicationscontrasting

confidence: 62%

“…Lembo et al 2000, Colloca et al 2009, Druon et al 2015, or biological information such as growth (e.g. Morales-Nin and Moranta 2004, Mellon-Duval et al 2010, Ligas et al 2015, diet (Ferraton et al 2007) and physiological and body condition (e.g. Hidalgo et al 2009, Rueda et al 2015, Cantafaro et al 2017.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Size-dependent survival of European hake juveniles in the Mediterranean Sea

et al. 2020

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Most studies on European hake focus on the recruitment process and nursery areas, whereas the information is comparatively limited on the ecology of the juvenile stage (ca. second year of life)—the one most exploited by the Mediterranean trawl fisheries. Using information of the MEDITS programme, we provide a spatial and temporal assessment of the influence of body size and growth on hake survival from recruits (age 0) to juveniles (age 1), along with the impact of surface temperature and chlorophyll variability. At a biogeographic scale, size-dependent survival is supported, with areas with higher mean length of recruits and juveniles yielding higher survival. A similar pattern was observed at interannual level in some western Mediterranean areas, also mediated by a density-dependent effect on growth. However, the most recurrent inter-annual pattern was a negative effect of size on survival, which could be attributed to potential ontogenetic changes in catchability and underrepresentation of intra-annual recruitment pulses that are seasonally inaccessible to the MEDITS survey. Results also evidence that survival in the Alboran and Adriatic seas is dependent on the primary production variability, and that Corsica and Sardinia could be potential feeding grounds receiving juveniles from neighbouring areas. The present study reveals the importance of size- and growth-dependent survival in the juvenile stage of European hake in the Mediterranean Sea.

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“…Our study is the first to apply generalized additive models to examine changes in length of wild-captured fish, although these models have been used to describe growth of other YOY fishes using otolith-based ages (Miese et al 2003, Teal et al 2008, Ligas et al 2015. We used…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-decadal variation in size of juvenile Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) in Chesapeake Bay

Nys

Fabrizio

Tuckey

2015

Journal of Sea Research

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During the last quarter-century, management of Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus along the Atlantic coast resulted in significant increases in abundance such that rebuilding targets were recently achieved. Although spawning stock biomass is high, recruitment of young-of-theyear (YOY) Summer Flounder remains variable. Chesapeake Bay is one of the principal nursery areas for this species, but processes such as growth and survival that affect production of YOY Summer Flounder in this estuary have not been explored. Here, we investigated the relationship between abundance and size of Summer Flounder recruits from the 1988 to 2012year classes in Chesapeake Bay. We also considered the effects of environmental factors on fish size because conditions in the bay vary spatially during the time that fish occupy nursery areas. To describe variations in Summer Flounder size, we used monthly length observations from 13,018 YOY fish captured by bottom trawl from the lower Chesapeake Bay and the James, York, and Rappahannock river subestuaries where Summer Flounder are commonly observed.We applied a generalized additive model to describe spatial, temporal, and environmental effects on observed fish size; we also considered the density of Summer Flounder and an index of productivity as factors in the model. Summer Flounder in Chesapeake Bay exhibited densitydependent and spatially related variations in mean length: larger fish were found mostly in the Bay and smaller fish in the subestuaries. Additionally, low (<13°C) and high (>26°C) temperatures and low salinities (<10 psu) had a negative effect on fish size, indicating that individuals found in these environments were typically smaller than conspecifics inhabiting areas of moderate temperatures and higher salinities. Variable nursery habitat conditions in temperate estuaries affect fish size and, subsequently, may influence production of Summer A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R I P T ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT3Flounder year classes through effects on maturation and survival. As water temperatures in the mid-Atlantic region continue to increase, YOY Summer Flounder size may be negatively affected. HIGHLIGHTS: Mean size of juvenile Summer Flounder varies among nursery habitats  Juvenile Summer Flounder exhibit density-dependent variations in size  Summer Flounder collected from habitats with low (<13°C) and high (>26°C) water temperatures are smaller  Continued warming of nursery areas may have negative effect on production of Summer Flounder

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Modeling the growth of recruits of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea with generalized additive models

Cited by 13 publications

References 51 publications

Spatial distribution pattern of European hake, <em>Merluccius merluccius</em> (Pisces: Merlucciidae), in the Mediterranean Sea

Spatial distribution pattern of European hake, <em>Merluccius merluccius</em> (Pisces: Merlucciidae), in the Mediterranean Sea

Size-dependent survival of European hake juveniles in the Mediterranean Sea

Multi-decadal variation in size of juvenile Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) in Chesapeake Bay

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