Spawning areas and larval distributions of anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in relation to environmental conditions in the Gulf of Tunis (Central Mediterranean Sea)

Authors

  • Rafik Zarrad Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM)
  • Hechmi Missaoui Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie
  • Francisco Alemany Instituto Español de Oceanografía.
  • Romdhane Mohamed Salah Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie
  • Alberto Garcia Instituto Español de Oceanografía.
  • M'rabet Ridha Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM)
  • Jarboui Othman Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM)
  • El Abed Amor Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2006.70s2137

Keywords:

eggs, larvae, Engraulis encrasicolus, spawning area, Gulf of Tunis

Abstract


Early life stages of anchovy were investigated in the Gulf of Tunis by means of four seasonal surveys carried out from summer 2002 to spring 2003. Anchovy eggs and larvae were found all year round, but they were much more abundant in spring and summer. In spring, the main spawning area was located in the north of the Gulf, to the west and southwest of Zembra Island. In summer, higher egg and larva abundances were also observed to the southwest of Zembra Island, but secondary spawning grounds were detected in the vicinity of the mouths of the Rivers Majreda and Meliane. No direct correlations between sea surface temperature (SST), salinity (SSS) and chlorophyll a and the horizontal distribution of eggs and larvae were observed. However, egg distributions in all seasons and larval distributions in summer and autumn were significantly related to depth. The temporal variation of temperature seems to control the spawning intensity and the beginning of spawning seems to be triggered by the increase in SST.

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Author Biography

Hechmi Missaoui, Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie

Institut Supérieur de la Pêche et de l’Aquaculture de Bizerte,

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Published

2006-10-30

How to Cite

1.
Zarrad R, Missaoui H, Alemany F, Mohamed Salah R, Garcia A, Ridha M, Othman J, Abed Amor E. Spawning areas and larval distributions of anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in relation to environmental conditions in the Gulf of Tunis (Central Mediterranean Sea). Sci. mar. [Internet]. 2006Oct.30 [cited 2024Mar.28];70(S2):137-46. Available from: https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/173

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