Spatial and temporal trend in the abundance and distribution of gurnards (Pisces: Triglidae) in the northern Mediterranean Sea

Francesco Colloca; Giacomo Milisenda; Francesca Capezzuto; Alessandro Cau; Germana Garofalo; Angélique Jadaud; Sotiris Kiparissis; Reno Micallef; Stefano Montanini; Ioannis Thasitis; Maria Vallisneri; Alessandro Voliani; Nedo Vrgoc; Walter Zupa; Francesc Ordines

doi:10.3989/scimar.04856.30A

Authors

Francesco Colloca National Research Council, Istituto per le Risorse Biologiche e le Biotecnologie Marine (CNR-IRBIM) - Department of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin” BBCD, Sapienza University of Rome https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0574-2893
Giacomo Milisenda Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1334-9749
Francesca Capezzuto Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1498-0228
Alessandro Cau Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4082-7531
Germana Garofalo National Research Council, Istituto per le Risorse Biologiche e le Biotecnologie Marine (CNR-IRBIM) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9117-6252
Angélique Jadaud MARBEC - IFREMER, CNRS, IRD, Université Montpellier https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6858-3570
Sotiris Kiparissis Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DEMETER, Fisheries Research Institute of Kavala https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0587-8889
Reno Micallef Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1921-508X
Stefano Montanini Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BIGEA), University of Bologna https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7286-7805
Ioannis Thasitis Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0940-2212
Maria Vallisneri Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BIGEA), University of Bologna https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6323-4328
Alessandro Voliani Environmental Protection Agency Tuscany Region (ARPAT) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0905-6284
Nedo Vrgoc Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5208-4512
Walter Zupa COISPA Tecnologia & Ricerca https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2058-8652
Francesc Ordines Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2456-2214

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.04856.30A

Keywords:

Triglidae, Mediterranean Sea, trawl by-catch, MEDITS, fishing pressure

Abstract

In this study we investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of gurnards (8 species of Triglidae and one species of Peristediidae) in the northern Mediterranean Sea using 22 years of MEDITS bottom trawl survey data (1994-2015). Gurnards showed significant differences in terms of abundance, dominance and composition among geographical sub-areas and ecoregions, with the highest relative biomass (BI_y) being found in Malta, eastern Corsica, the Balearic Islands and the eastern Ionian Sea. The lowest gurnards BI_y were observed in the highly exploited areas of the western Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea, where the largest number of species with a negative linear trend in BI_y was also found. The temporal trends in species abundances highlighted a general decrease for the coastal species (C. lucerna, C. lastoviza, C. obscurus) as compared with the species inhabiting the deep continental shelf and slope (T. lyra, P. cataphractum). The results provide for the first time an overview of the spatiotemporal trend in the abundance of gurnards over the wide spatial scale of the northern Mediterranean Sea, also suggesting the possible use of these species as indicators for monitoring the impact of fishing pressure on demersal fish assemblages.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Anonymous. 2017. MEDITS-Handbook. Version n. 9, MEDITS Working Group, 106 pp. http://www.sibm.it/MEDITS%202011/principaledownload. htm

Bertrand J.A., Gil De Sola L., Papaconstantinou C., et al. 2002. The general specifications of the Medits survey. Sci. Mar. 66: 9-17. https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2002.66s29

Campillo A. 1992. Les pêcheries françaises de Méditerranée. Synthèse des connaissances. Rapports Internes de la Direction des Ressources Vivantes de l'Ifremer, RIDRV 92/019 RH Sète: 206 pp.

Cardinale M., Osio G.C., Scarcella G. 2017. Mediterranean Sea: a failure of the European fisheries management system. Front. Mar. Sci. 4: 72. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2017.00072

Cleveland W.S, Grosse E., Shyu WM. 1992. Local regression models. Chapter 8 of Statistical Models, In: Chambers J.M., Hastie T.J. (eds), Wadsworth & Brooks/Cole Springer-Verlag.

Colloca F., Ardizzone G.D., Gravina M.F. 1994. Trophic ecology of gurnards (Pisces: Triglidae) in the central Mediterranean Sea. Marine Life 4: 45-57.

Colloca F., Cardinale M., Ardizzone G.D. 1997. Biology, spatial distribution and population dynamics of Lepidotrigla cavillone (Pisces, Triglidae) in the central Tyrrhenian Sea. Fish. Res. 32: 21-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-7836(97)00041-6

Colloca F., Cardinale M., Marcello A., et al. 2003. Tracing the life history of red gurnard (Aspitrigla cuculus) using validated otolith annual rings. J. Appl. Ichthyol. 19: 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0426.2003.00342.x

Colloca F., Carpentieri P., Balestri E., et al. 2010. Food resource partitioning in a Mediterranean demersal fish assemblage: the effect of body size and niche width. Mar. Biol. 157: 565-574. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1342-7

Colloca F., Cardinale M., Maynou F. et al. 2013. Rebuilding Mediterranean fisheries: a new paradigm for ecological sustainability. Fish. Fish. 14: 89-109. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2979.2011.00453.x

Colloca F., Scarcella G., Libralato S. 2017. Recent trends and impacts of fisheries exploitation on Mediterranean stocks and ecosystems. Front. Mar. Sci. 4: 244. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2017.00244

Cook R.M., Heath M.R. 2018. Population trends of bycatch species reflect improving status of target species. Fish. Fish. 19: 455-470. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12265

Damalas D., Maravelias C.D., Katsanevakis S., et al. 2010. Seasonal abundance of non-commercial demersal fish in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in relation to hydrographic and sediment characteristics. Est. Coast. Shelf. Sci. 89: 107-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2010.06.002

Di Lorenzo M., Sinerchia M., Colloca F. 2018. The North sector of the Strait of Sicily: a priority area for conservation in the Mediterranean Sea. Hydrobiologia 821: 235-253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3389-7

Dimech M., Camilleri M., Hiddink J.G., et al. 2008. Differences in demersal community structure and biomass size spectra within and outside the Maltese Fishery Management Zone (FMZ). Sci. Mar. 72: 669-682. https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2008.72n4669

D'Onghia G., Mastrototaro F., Matarrese A., et al. 2003. Biodiversity of the upper slope demersal community in the eastern Mediterranean: preliminary comparison between two areas with and without trawl fishing. J. Northwest. Atl. Fish. Soc. 31: 263. https://doi.org/10.2960/J.v31.a20

D'Onghia G., Calculli C., Capezzuto F., et al. 2017. Anthropogenic impact in the Santa Maria di Leuca cold-water coral province (Mediterranean Sea): Observations and conservation straits. Deep-Sea Res. II 145: 87-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2016.02.012

Ferrà C., Tassetti A.N., Grati F., et al. 2018. Mapping change in bottom trawling activity in the Mediterranean Sea through AIS data. Mar. Pol. 94: 275-281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2017.12.013

Gaertner J.C., Bertrand J.A., De Sola L.G., et al. 2005. Large spatial scale variation of demersal fish assemblage structure on the continental shelf of the NW Mediterranean Sea. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 297: 245-257. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps297245

Gristina M., Bahri T., Fiorentino F., et al. 2006. Comparison of demersal fish assemblages in three areas of the Strait of Sicily under different trawling pressure. Fish. Res. 81: 60-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2006.05.010

Jukic-Peladic S., Vrgoc N., Krstulovic-Sifner S., et al. 2001. Long-term changes in demersal resources of the Adriatic Sea: comparison between trawl surveys carried out in 1948 and 1998. Fish. Res. 53: 95-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-7836(00)00232-0

Kindt R., Coe R. 2005. Tree diversity analysis. A manual and software for common statistical methods for ecological and biodiversity studies. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Nairobi.

Labropoulou M., Papaconstantinou C. 2004. Community structure and diversity of demersal fish assemblages: the role of fishery. Sci. Mar. 68S1: 215-226. https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2004.68s1215

López-López L., Preciado I., Velasco F., et al. 2011. Resource partitioning amongst five coexisting species of gurnards (Scorpaeniforme: Triglidae): Role of trophic and habitat segregation. J. Sea Res. 66: 58-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2011.04.012

Marongiu M.F., Porcu C., Bellodi A., et al. 2017. Temporal dynamics of demersal chondrichthyan species in the central western Mediterranean Sea: The case study in Sardinia Island. Fish. Res. 193: 81-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2017.04.001

Massuti E., Reñones O. 2005. Demersal resource assemblages in the trawl fishing grounds off the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean). Sci. Mar. 69: 167-181. https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2005.69n1167

Montanini S., Stagioni M., Benni E., et al. 2017. Feeding strategy and ontogenetic changes in diet of gurnards (Teleostea: Scorpaeniformes: Triglidae) from the Adriatic Sea. Eur. Zool. J. 84: 356-367. https://doi.org/10.1080/24750263.2017.1335357

Morte M.S., Redon M.J., Sanz-Brau A. 1997. Trophic relationships between two gurnards Trigla lucerna and Aspitrigla obscura from the western Mediterranean. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 77: 527-537. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315400071848

Ordines F., Farriols M.T., Lleonart J., et al. 2014. Biology and population dynamics of by-catch fish species of the bottom trawl fishery in the western Mediterranean. Medit. Mar. Sci. 15: 613-625. https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.812

Papaconstantinou C. 1981. Age and growth of piper, Trigla lyra, in Saronikos Gulf (Greece). Cybium 5: 73-87.

Papaconstantinou C. 1983. Observations on the ecology of gurnards (Pisces: Triglidae) in the Greek Seas. Cybium 7: 71-88.

Papaconstantinou C. 1984. Age and growth of the yellow gurnard (Trigla lucerna L. 1758) from the Thermaikos Gulf (Greece) with some comments on its biology. Fish. Res. 2: 243-255. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-7836(84)90028-6

Pipitone C., Badalamenti F., D'Anna G., et al. 2000. Fish biomass increase after a four-year trawl ban in the Gulf of Castellammare (NW Sicily, Mediterranean Sea). Fish. Res. 48: 23-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-7836(00)00114-4

Punzón A., Serrano A., Sánchez F., et al. 2016. Response of a temperate demersal fish community to global warming. J. Mar. Sys. 161: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2016.05.001

Richards W.J., Jones D.L. 2002. Preliminary classification of the gurnards (Triglidae: Scorpaeniformes). N. Z. J. Mar. Freshw. Res. 53: 274-282.

Serena F., Baino R., Voliani A. 1990. Distribuzione dei Triglidi (Osteichthyes, Scorpaeniformes) nell'Alto Tirreno. Oebalia Suppl. XVI: 269-278.

Spalding M.D., Fox H.E., Allen G.R., et al. 2007. Marine Ecoregions of the World: a bioregionalization of coast and shelf areas. BioScience 57: 573-583. https://doi.org/10.1641/B570707

Terrats A., Petrakis G., Papaconstantinou C. 2000. Feeding habits of Aspitrigla cuculus (L., 1758) (red gurnard), Lepidotrigla cavillone (Lac., 1802) (large scale gurnard) and Trigloporus lastoviza (Brunn., 1768) (rock gurnard) around Cyclades and Dodecanese Islands (E. Mediterranean). Medit. Mar. Sci. 1: 91-104. https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.280

Teixeira C.M., Gamito R., Leitão F., et al. 2014. Trends in landings of fish species potentially affected by climate change in Portuguese fisheries. Reg. Environ. Change 14: 657-669. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-013-0524-5

Tserpes G., Nikolioudakis N., Maravelias C., et al. 2016. Viability and management targets of Mediterranean demersal fisheries: the case of the Aegean Sea. PloS ONE 11: e0168694. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0168694 PMid:28033348 PMCid:PMC5198971

Tsimenides N., Machias A., Kallioniotis A. 1992. Distribution patterns of Triglids (Pisces: Triglidae) on the Cretan shelf (Greece), and their interspecific associations. Fish. Res. 15: 83-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-7836(92)90006-F

Vallisneri M., Stagioni M., Montanini S., et al. 2011. Body size, sexual maturity and diet in Chelidonichthys lucerna (Osteichthyes: Triglidae) from the Adriatic Sea, north eastern Mediterranean. Acta Adriat. 51: 141-148.

Vallisneri M., Montanini S., Stagioni M. 2012. Size at maturity of triglid fishes in the Adriatic Sea, northeastern Mediterranean. J. Appl. Ichthyol. 28: 123-125. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0426.2011.01777.x

Vallisneri M., Tommasini S., Stagioni M., et al. 2014. Distribution and some biological parameters of the red gurnard Chelidonichthys cuculus (Actinopterygii, Scorpaeniformes, Triglidae) in the north-central Adriatic sea. Acta Ichthyol. Piscat. 44: 173-180. https://doi.org/10.3750/AIP2014.44.3.01

Voliani A., Mannini P., Auteri R. 2000. Distribuzione e biologia di Lepidotrigla cavillone (Lacepedè) e L. dieuzeidei (Auduin in Blanc e Hureau) nell'Arcipelago Toscano. Biol. Mar. Medit. 7: 844-849