DOCSLIB.ORG

Implementation of the MSFD to the Deep Mediterranean Sea IDEM

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Implementation of the MSFD to the Deep Mediterranean Sea IDEM Implementation of the MSFD to the Deep Mediterranean Sea IDEM Project Coordinator: Roberto Danovaro Deliverable 2.2. Report on the first assessment of the deep Mediterranean environmental status Leader: UNIVPM Participants: CNR, CSIC, DFMR, ENEA, TAU, UB, UM, UNIVPM SUBMISSION DATE 26th October| 2018 Deliverable 2.2 Table of Content 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 3 2. DESCRIPTOR 1: BIODIVERSITY ................................................................................................................... 5 3. DESCRIPTOR 2: NON-INDIGENOUS SPECIES ............................................................................................. 37 4. DESCRIPTOR 3: POPULATIONS OF ALL COMMERCIALLY EXPLOITED FISH AND SHELLFISH ........................ 38 5. DESCRIPTOR 4: ECOSYSTEMS, INCLUDING FOOD WEBS ........................................................................... 54 6. DESCRIPTOR 5: EUTROPHICATION ........................................................................................................... 67 7. DESCRIPTOR 6: SEAFLOOR INTEGRITY ..................................................................................................... 68 8. DESCRIPTOR 7: PERMANENT ALTERATION OF HYDROGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS ..................................... 78 9. DESCRIPTOR 8 AND 9: CONCENTRATIONS OF CONTAMINANTS/CONTAMINANTS IN FISH AND OTHER SEAFOOD FOR HUMAN COMSUMPTION ..................................................................................................... 106 9.1. Contaminants in water ......................................................................................................................... 106 9.2. Contaminants in sediments ................................................................................................................... 125 9.3 Contaminants in the biota ..................................................................................................................... 141 10. DESCRIPTOR 10: MARINE LITTER ....................................................................................................... 180 11. DESCRIPTOR 11: INTRODUCTION OF ENERGY .................................................................................... 193 12. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK .................................................................................................. 194 2 www.msfd-idem.eu Deliverable 2.2 1. INTRODUCTION The main aim of the present Deliverable is to provide an overview of the state, pressures and impacts on the deep Mediterranean Sea. We here report trends in the status, levels of pressures and impacts for those deep-sea areas for which data are available. This Deliverable is the product of the work carried out within the task 2.2 and is also based on the results of previous task 2.1 and Deliverable 2.1. During the last months of the project we focused on the collection and analysis of existing datasets obtained from scientific literature, open-access repositories, public datasets and partners’ own datasets related to monitoring programs from the different Mediterranean sub-regions. To achieve one of the aim of the IDEM project, the first assessment of deep Mediterranean status, here we analysed the available datasets and reported the results of a proper meta-analysis or a semi- quantitative analysis, depending on the availability of the data. A meta-analysis refers to a process of integration of the results of many studies to arrive at evidence synthesis (Normand, 1999). Meta-analysis is essentially a systematic review; however, in addition to narrative summary that is conducted in systematic review, in meta analysis, the analysts also numerically pool the results of the studies and arrive at a summary estimate. In the case of the overall datasets, this numerical estimation cannot be performed and we carried out a systematic review, due to the constrains highlighted below. Additionally, a systematic review has been done for those MSFD Descriptors for which a sufficient amount of data is available. The previous report (Deliverable 2.1) has evidenced indeed several gaps concerning data availability for some Descriptors. Specifically, Descriptors 2 (non-indigenous species), 5 (eutrophication) and 11 (introduction of energy) presented very few available data. More in detail, the records of deep-living non-indigenous species (Descriptor 2) are reported in few papers (11) and limited to the Eastern Mediterranean and the south-eastern part of Aegean Sea. Regarding eutrophication (Descriptor 5), most of the papers do not cover the criteria defined by the MSFD. Even a lower amount of papers (5) have been published regarding the presence and the effects of noise on deep Mediterranean ecosystems and organisms and the available data are essentially provided by deep-sea cabled observatories (i.e. ANTARES in the North-western Mediterranean and KM3NET off Cape Passero in southern Sicily). Thus, for the purpose of this report we focused on D1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. As previously reported, also for these Descriptors we have a fragmented knowledge with spatial and temporal gaps and lack of long- term data. For Descriptor 1, the amount of data available varied depending on species groups and habitat types. Thus, we carried out a proper meta-analysis on mega, macro and meio-fauna inhabiting different habitats (both soft and hard bottom substrates). Regarding the Descriptor 3, most of the assessed stocks are in the Western Mediterranean Sea. In this report we analysed the trend of the first two criteria of D3, i.e., the ratio between fishing mortality and Maximum Sustainable Yield and the spawning stock biomass, in order to assess if commercially exploited stocks, inhabiting deep-sea bottoms are in a healthy state and if exploitation should be sustainable. Further, in the case of descriptor 3, regarding those species which inhabit both the shelf and the slope (e.g. red mullets, hakes etc.), it was not possible to disentangle data from shallow and deep-sea bottoms, as stock assessments considered data complessively. Marine food webs were analysed on the basis of the stable isotope signatures of the species analysed in the three different sub-basins of the deep Mediterranean, based on the datasets provided by Report 2.1 3 www.msfd-idem.eu Deliverable 2.2 and updated with recent publications/partners’ data, if any. As stable isotope analysis (SIA) is considered a promising approach in depicting food webs and data are easily comparable among basins, when a baseline of reference is taken into account, this dataset was considered the most appropriate for the meta-analysis approach. SIA may comply with one of the primary criterion (D4C1: diversity of trophic guilds) and in part with one of the secondary criteria (D4C3: size distribution of individuals across trophic guilds) established by COMM DEC 848/2017. Regarding seafloor integrity (Descriptor 6), we carried out a semi-quantitative analysis reporting the main pressures identified in the deep Mediterranean Sea, quantitative data on bottom trawling and waste disposal and their impacts on habitats and ecosystems. For Descriptor 7 we here reviewed information regarding data distribution/availability, reporting long-term variations of hydrological conditions (i.e., alterations of temperature, salinity, nutrients, Chlorophyll a and acidification level) and the impacts on habitat and ecosystems. Concerning descriptors 8 and 9, presence of contaminants was described in deep Mediterranean waters, sediments and biota. The main toxic effects were also highlighted. Finally, for marine litter (Descriptor 10) a semi-quantitative analysis was performed focusing on the four D10 criteria. 4 www.msfd-idem.eu Deliverable 2.2 2. DESCRIPTOR 1: BIODIVERSITY The deep sea is characterized by outstanding features from a geological, biological, and oceanographic perspective. The deep sea hosts focal points for fisheries and threatened ecosystems, particularly where peculiar habitats occur (such as canyons) along the continental slope. The Mediterranean Sea is estimated to contain more than 500 canyons that are characterized by peculiar features: they are indeed steeper, more closely spaced, and are amongst the most dendritic of the world (Harris and Whiteway, 2011; Würtz, 2012). In the Mediterranean Sea, the alternation of different habitats along the continental margins is responsible for a high spatial heterogeneity and complex hydrographic patterns, which result in exchange of organisms, organic matter and sediments from the shelf to the deep sea (Vetter and Dayton, 1998; Tyler et al., 2009; Vetter et al., 2010; Thomsen et al., 2017), enhancing faunal abundance and diversity (De Leo et al., 2010; Ramirez-Llodra et al., 2010). The high spatial heterogeneity and habitat complexity at both local and regional scale (De Leo et al., 2010; Huvenne et al., 2011) are factors expected to contribute to the high meio- macro- and megafaunal biodiversity (reviewed by Fernandez-Arcaya et al., 2017). In the Mediterranean Sea, the low primary productivity, limited freshwater inputs and high and nearly constant temperatures (13-14°C, below 200 m), which causes rapid degradation of particulate organic matter (POM) exported from the photic zone, have detrimental effects on the food availability for the deep-sea benthic fauna (Danovaro et al., 1999; Pusceddu et al., 2009; 2010; Luna et al., 2012). Several studies indicated a clear and strong
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Twenty Thousand Parasites Under The
    ADVERTIMENT. Lʼaccés als continguts dʼaquesta tesi queda condicionat a lʼacceptació de les condicions dʼús establertes per la següent llicència Creative Commons: http://cat.creativecommons.org/?page_id=184 ADVERTENCIA. El acceso a los contenidos de esta tesis queda condicionado a la aceptación de las condiciones de uso establecidas por la siguiente licencia Creative Commons: http://es.creativecommons.org/blog/licencias/ WARNING. The access to the contents of this doctoral thesis it is limited to the acceptance of the use conditions set by the following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/?lang=en Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia Tesis Doctoral Twenty thousand parasites under the sea: a multidisciplinary approach to parasite communities of deep-dwelling fishes from the slopes of the Balearic Sea (NW Mediterranean) Tesis doctoral presentada por Sara Maria Dallarés Villar para optar al título de Doctora en Acuicultura bajo la dirección de la Dra. Maite Carrassón López de Letona, del Dr. Francesc Padrós Bover y de la Dra. Montserrat Solé Rovira. La presente tesis se ha inscrito en el programa de doctorado en Acuicultura, con mención de calidad, de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Los directores Maite Carrassón Francesc Padrós Montserrat Solé López de Letona Bover Rovira Universitat Autònoma de Universitat Autònoma de Institut de Ciències Barcelona Barcelona del Mar (CSIC) La tutora La doctoranda Maite Carrassón Sara Maria López de Letona Dallarés Villar Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Bellaterra, diciembre de 2016 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Cuando miro atrás, al comienzo de esta tesis, me doy cuenta de cuán enriquecedora e importante ha sido para mí esta etapa, a todos los niveles.
    [Show full text]
  • Feeding Ecology of Demersal Elasmobranchs from the Shelf and Slope Off the Balearic Sea (Western Mediterranean)
    Scientia Marina 75(4) December 2011, 633-639, Barcelona (Spain) ISSN: 0214-8358 doi: 10.3989/scimar.2011.75n4633 Feeding ecology of demersal elasmobranchs from the shelf and slope off the Balearic Sea (western Mediterranean) MARIA VALLS, ANTONI QUETGLAS, FRANCESC ORDINES and JOAN MORANTA Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015 Palma, Spain. E-mail: [email protected] SUMMARY: The feeding ecology of eight demersal elasmobranchs, three sharks (Etmopterus spinax, Scyliorhinus canicula and Galeus melastomus) and five batoids (Myliobatis aquila, Leucoraja naevus, Raja polystigma, R. miraletus and R. clavata), from the Balearic Sea (western Mediterranean) was analyzed. For each species, the diet and feeding habits were characterized by depth strata using quantitative indices such as diet overlap, diet breadth and prey diversity. Diet variation with size and depth were also tested for the most abundant species. For shelf-living species, natantian and reptantian crustaceans together with teleosts were the most important preys. On slope bottoms, euphausiids were the preferential prey for S. canicula and G. melastomus, while E. spinax fed mainly on cephalopods. The most specialist and generalist diet corresponded to G. melastomus living on the upper slope and S. canicula from the continental shelf, respectively. High overlap was found between all the skates on the continental shelf and the sympatric sharks S. canicula and G. melastomus on the slope. Significant overlap was also found between S. canicula and R. clavata on the continental shelf. Size was found to significantly affect the diet of S. canicula, G. melastomus and R.
    [Show full text]
  • Synthesis of Information on Some Demersal Crustaceans Relevant for Fisheries in the South Central Mediterranean Sea
    3232 MEDSUDMED - TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS Synthesis of information on some demersal Crustaceans relevant for fisheries in the South central Mediterranean Sea SYNTHESIS OF INFORMATION ON SOME DEMERSAL CRUSTACEANS RELEVANT FOR FISHERIES IN THE SOUTH-CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN SEA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome 2013 The conclusions and recommendations given in this and in other documents in the Assessment and Monitoring of the Fishery Resources and the Ecosystems in the Straits of Sicily Project series are those considered appropriate at the time of preparation. They may be modified in the light of further knowledge gained in subsequent stages of the Project. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of FAO. © FAO, 2015 FAO encourages the use, reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Except where otherwise indicated, material may be copied, downloaded and printed for private study, research and teaching purposes, or for use in non-commercial products or services, provided that appropriate acknowledgement of FAO as the source and copyright holder is given and that FAO’s endorsement of users’ views, products or services is not implied in any way.
    [Show full text]
  • Defensive Behaviors of Deep-Sea Squids: Ink Release, Body Patterning, and Arm Autotomy
    Defensive Behaviors of Deep-sea Squids: Ink Release, Body Patterning, and Arm Autotomy by Stephanie Lynn Bush A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Integrative Biology in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in Charge: Professor Roy L. Caldwell, Chair Professor David R. Lindberg Professor George K. Roderick Dr. Bruce H. Robison Fall, 2009 Defensive Behaviors of Deep-sea Squids: Ink Release, Body Patterning, and Arm Autotomy © 2009 by Stephanie Lynn Bush ABSTRACT Defensive Behaviors of Deep-sea Squids: Ink Release, Body Patterning, and Arm Autotomy by Stephanie Lynn Bush Doctor of Philosophy in Integrative Biology University of California, Berkeley Professor Roy L. Caldwell, Chair The deep sea is the largest habitat on Earth and holds the majority of its’ animal biomass. Due to the limitations of observing, capturing and studying these diverse and numerous organisms, little is known about them. The majority of deep-sea species are known only from net-caught specimens, therefore behavioral ecology and functional morphology were assumed. The advent of human operated vehicles (HOVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) have allowed scientists to make one-of-a-kind observations and test hypotheses about deep-sea organismal biology. Cephalopods are large, soft-bodied molluscs whose defenses center on crypsis. Individuals can rapidly change coloration (for background matching, mimicry, and disruptive coloration), skin texture, body postures, locomotion, and release ink to avoid recognition as prey or escape when camouflage fails. Squids, octopuses, and cuttlefishes rely on these visual defenses in shallow-water environments, but deep-sea cephalopods were thought to perform only a limited number of these behaviors because of their extremely low light surroundings.
    [Show full text]
  • <I>Heteroteuthis Dagamensis</I>
    Bull Mar Sci. 92(1):51–57. 2016 research paper http://dx.doi.org/10.5343/bms.2015.1061 Morphological and molecular evidence of Heteroteuthis dagamensis in the Gulf of Mexico 1 Department of Biological 1 * Sciences, University of South HL Judkins 2 Florida St. Petersburg, 140 7th M Vecchione Ave. South, St. Petersburg, K Rosario 3 Florida 33701. 2 NMFS National Systematics Laboratory, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC ABSTRACT.—Published records indicate that 20013-7012. Heteroteuthis dispar (Ruppell, 1844) is found in the North 3 College of Marine Science, Atlantic Ocean and that Heteroteuthis dagamensis Robson, University of South Florida, 140 1924 inhabits the South Atlantic Ocean. However, specimens 7th Ave South, St. Petersburg, recently collected in the northern Gulf of Mexico (n = 123) Florida 33701. show that H. dagamensis is the only species of the genus * Corresponding author email: common in the Gulf of Mexico based on identification of <[email protected]>. male specimens. Also, comparison of DNA barcodes for three morphologically similar species of Heteroteuthis, H. dispar, H. dagamensis, and Heteroteuthis hawaiiensis (Berry, 1909) confirm that all are distinct species and indicate that H. dagamensis and H. hawaiiensis are closer genetically than Date Submitted: 22 September, 2015. either is to H. dispar. Date Accepted: 27 October, 2015. Available Online: 21 December, 2015. Heteroteuthinae is a pelagic subfamily of Sepiolidae, the bobtail squids, which are small, broad-bodied decapod cephalopods with a rounded posterior mantle and ear- like fins. The heteroteuthins have a large, visceral photophore, as well as a ventral shield (Young et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Ommastrephidae 199
    click for previous page Decapodiformes: Ommastrephidae 199 OMMASTREPHIDAE Flying squids iagnostic characters: Medium- to Dlarge-sized squids. Funnel locking appara- tus with a T-shaped groove. Paralarvae with fused tentacles. Arms with biserial suckers. Four rows of suckers on tentacular clubs (club dactylus with 8 sucker series in Illex). Hooks never present hooks never on arms or clubs. One of the ventral pair of arms present usually hectocotylized in males. Buccal connec- tives attach to dorsal borders of ventral arms. Gladius distinctive, slender. funnel locking apparatus with Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Oceanic and T-shaped groove neritic. This is one of the most widely distributed and conspicuous families of squids in the world. Most species are exploited commercially. Todarodes pacificus makes up the bulk of the squid landings in Japan (up to 600 000 t annually) and may comprise at least 1/2 the annual world catch of cephalopods.In various parts of the West- ern Central Atlantic, 6 species of ommastrephids currently are fished commercially or for bait, or have a potential for exploitation. Ommastrephids are powerful swimmers and some species form large schools. Some neritic species exhibit strong seasonal migrations, wherein they occur in huge numbers in inshore waters where they are accessable to fisheries activities. The large size of most species (commonly 30 to 50 cm total length and up to 120 cm total length) and the heavily mus- cled structure, make them ideal for human con- ventral view sumption. Similar families occurring in the area Onychoteuthidae: tentacular clubs with claw-like hooks; funnel locking apparatus a simple, straight groove.
    [Show full text]
  • Role of Cephalopods in the Diet of the Swordfish, X/Ph/As Glad/Us, from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
    BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, 49(1-2): 312-324, 1991 ROLE OF CEPHALOPODS IN THE DIET OF THE SWORDFISH, X/PH/AS GLAD/US, FROM THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA Giambattista Bello ABSTRACT The gastric contents of 38 swordfish, Xiphias gladius, from the eastern Mediterranean Sea were examined to study the cephalopod component. Cephalopods were the most abundant prey items (their coefficient of prey frequency = 85.7%). Remains of 20 I cephalopod spec- imens were found, including loose hard parts, e.g., beaks, gladii, and lenses. Cephalopods belonged to eleven species, all pelagic. Todarodes sagittatus was the predominant food item. Next most abundant cephalopods were Ancistroteuthis /ichtensteinii and Heteroteuthis dispar. All other cephalopod species were ingested occasionally by swordfish. Based on the analyses of the loose beaks mantle length estimations were made and histograms oflower rostral length distribution were generated for T. sagittatus and A. /ichtensteinii. Swordfish are efficient collectors of otherwise rare pelagic animals. Based on the analysis of gastric contents, four cephalopods were recorded for the first time from the area: H. dispar, Onychoteuthis banksii, Histioteuthis bonnellii, Ancistrocheirus lesueurii. Some reflections were made about the local swordfish fishery and the exploitability of pelagic cephalopod stocks. Swordfish, Xiphic.rs gladius Linnaeus, 1758 (Osteichthyes: Xiphiidae), a cos- mopolitan teleost, is an opportunistic predator which mainly feeds on pelagic species of both vertebrates and invertebrates; the taxon mostly preyed upon is Cephalopoda (see historical resume and results in Toll and Hess, 1981). As noted by Toll and Hess (1981), however, most authors fail to give a complete list of teuthological prey items found in the gastric content of swordfish.
    [Show full text]
  • Stomach Contents of By-Caught Striped Dolphins (Stenella Coeruleoalba) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Ayhan Dede1,2, Alp Salman3 and Arda M
    Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2016, 96(4), 869–875. # Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2015 doi:10.1017/S0025315415001538 Stomach contents of by-caught striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea ayhan dede1,2, alp salman3 and arda m. tonay1,2 1Faculty of Fisheries, Istanbul University, Ordu Cad. No: 200 Laleli, Istanbul, Turkey, 2Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), P.O. Box: 10 Beykoz, Istanbul, Turkey, 3Faculty of Fisheries, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey Stomach contents of six striped dolphins taken as by-catch in the swordfish fishery in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off the Turkish coast were examined. In total, 29 taxa were identified to species or family and 1777 individual food items (1394 bony fishes, 289 cephalopods, 94 crustaceans) were counted. Diaphus spp. and Ceratoscopelus maderensis were the most remark- able ones, as they accounted for 70.45% of the total number of fishes. Onychoteuthis banksii, on the other hand, was the only cephalopod species found in all stomach content analyses and represented 38.06% of the total number of cephalopods. Bony fish species: Myctophum punctatum, Notoscopelus elongatus, Electrona risso, Sudis hyalina, Moridae sp., Phycidae sp., Sternoptychidae sp. and cephalopods: Pterygioteuthis giardi and Chtenopteryx sicula were reported the first time in the stomach contents of striped dolphin in the Mediterranean Sea. Keywords: Cetacea, striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, stomach content, eastern Mediterranean Submitted 11 July 2015; accepted 23 August 2015; first published online 28 September 2015 INTRODUCTION in various fishing gears, such as driftnets in the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea.
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity Series Background Document on the Charlie-Gibbs
    Background Document on the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone Biodiversity Series 2010 OSPAR Convention Convention OSPAR The Convention for the Protection of the La Convention pour la protection du milieu Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic marin de l'Atlantique du Nord-Est, dite (the “OSPAR Convention”) was opened for Convention OSPAR, a été ouverte à la signature at the Ministerial Meeting of the signature à la réunion ministérielle des former Oslo and Paris Commissions in Paris anciennes Commissions d'Oslo et de Paris, on 22 September 1992. The Convention à Paris le 22 septembre 1992. La Convention entered into force on 25 March 1998. It has est entrée en vigueur le 25 mars 1998. been ratified by Belgium, Denmark, Finland, La Convention a été ratifiée par l'Allemagne, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, la Belgique, le Danemark, la Finlande, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, la France, l’Irlande, l’Islande, le Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom la Norvège, les Pays-Bas, le Portugal, and approved by the European Community le Royaume-Uni de Grande Bretagne and Spain et d’Irlande du Nord, la Suède et la Suisse et approuvée par la Communauté européenne et l’Espagne Acknowledgement This report was originally commissioned by Stephan Lutter, WWF, and prepared by Dr Sabine Christiansen as a contribution to OSPAR’s work on MPAs in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The report has subsequently been developed further by the OSPAR Intersessional Correspondence Group on Marine Protected Areas led by Dr Henning von Nordheim (German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation/BfN) taking into account reviews by Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Cephalopods Distribution in the Southern Aegean Sea
    Mediterranean Marine Science Vol. 4/1, 2003, 79-86 Cephalopods distribution in the southern Aegean Sea E. LEFKADITOU1, P. PERISTERAKI2, P. BEKAS1, G. TSERPES2, C-Y. POLITOU1 and G. PETRAKIS1 1 Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Agios Kosmas, Helliniko, 16604 Athens, Greece e-mail: [email protected] 2 Institute of Marine Biology of Crete, PO Box 2214, 71003 Iraklio, Greece e-mail: [email protected] Abstract The present study concerns faunal composition and distribution of cephalopods in the southern Aegean Sea (35Æ 13’ 19’’- 37Æ 55’ 25’’ N, 23Æ 00’ 15’’ - 28Æ 15’ 37’’ E). Samples were collected from 708 hauls, obtained by an experimental bottom trawl net during eight surveys carried out in the summers of the years 1994-2001, as well as by commercial trawl net during four surveys carried out in September 1995, December 1995, May and September 1996. The hauls were performed at depths ranging from 16 to 778 m. A total of 34 species of cephalopod in 12 families were identified, including 11 oegopsid squid, 3 myopsid squid, 7 octopod, 3 cuttlefish and 10 sepiolid. Trawling with the experimental net resulted in the capturing of some uncommon pelagic species, such as Ctenopteryx sicula and Octopoteuthis sicula, which were recorded for the first time in the Aegean Sea. Most of the species showed a wide depth and geographical range. The species: Sepia officinalis, Sepietta neglecta, Sepietta obscura and Sepiola rondeleti were caught only on the continental shelf, whereas the Ancistroteuthis lichtensteini, Bathypolypous sponsalis, Brachioteuthis riisei, Chiroteuthis veranyi, Ctenopteryx sicula, Heteroteuthis dispar, Histioteuthis reversa, Neorossia caroli and Pyroteuthis margaritifera were found only on the slope.
    [Show full text]
  • Etmopterus Spinax, Galeus Melastomus, Scyliorhinus Canicula
    Turk. J. Fish.& Aquat. Sci. 19(6), 475-484 http://doi.org/10.4194/1303-2712-v19_6_03 R E S E A R C H P A P E R Feeding Ecology of Four Demersal Shark Species (Etmopterus spinax, Galeus melastomus, Scyliorhinus canicula and Squalus blainville) from the Eastern Aegean Sea Fethi Bengil1,3,* , Elizabeth G.T. Bengil2,3, Sinan Mavruk4, Ogulcan Heral2, Ozan D. Karaman2, Okan Ozaydin2 1 Girne American University, Marine School, University Drive, PO Box 5, 99428 Karmi Campus, Karaoglanoglu, Girne, TRNC via TURKEY 2 Faculty of Fisheries, Ege University, P. O. Box 35100 Izmir, TURKEY 3 Mediterranean Conservation Society, Doğa Villaları P.O. Box 35430 Izmir, TURKEY 4 Çukurova University, Fisheries Faculty, P.O. Box 01330, Balcali/Adana TURKEY Article History Abstract Received 22 February 2018 Accepted 01 June 2018 First Online 13 June 2018 In this study, the diet composition and trophic ecology of four demersal chondrichthyan species; Etmopterus spinax, Galeus melastomus, Scyliorhinus canicula and Squalus blainville were studied in the eastern Aegean Sea. In the stomachs of the Corresponding Author samples which mostly consisted of juvenile individuals, a total of 97 prey taxa were identified. Teleost fishes were the most important prey group. The diversity of Tel.: +90.392.6502000/1331 E-mail: [email protected] stomach content ranged between 15 species in E. spinax. and 70 species in S. canicula. The dietary breadth of G. melastomus and S. canicula were found to be narrower than the other two species examined. In addition, high niche overlap scores were detected amongst the species. All of the examined species had trophic levels higher than 4; with Keywords the highest trophic level being 4.20 and belonging to E.
    [Show full text]
  • CEPHALOPODS from the STOMACH CONTENTS of DEMERSAL CHONDRICHTHYANS CAUGHT in the ADRIATIC SEA Giambattista Bello
    CEPHALOPODS FROM THE STOMACH CONTENTS OF DEMERSAL CHONDRICHTHYANS CAUGHT IN THE ADRIATIC SEA Giambattista Bello To cite this version: Giambattista Bello. CEPHALOPODS FROM THE STOMACH CONTENTS OF DEMERSAL CHONDRICHTHYANS CAUGHT IN THE ADRIATIC SEA. Vie et Milieu / Life & Environment, Observatoire Océanologique - Laboratoire Arago, 1997, pp.221-227. hal-03103608 HAL Id: hal-03103608 https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-03103608 Submitted on 8 Jan 2021 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. VIE MILIEU, 1997, 47 (3): 221-227 CEPHALOPODS FROM THE STOMACH CONTENTS OF DEMERSAL CHONDRICHTHYANS CAUGHT IN THE ADRIATIC SEA Giambattista BELLO Laboratorio Provinciale di Biologia Marina, Molo Pizzoli, 70123 Bari, Italy CEPHALOPODS ABSTRACT. - The stomachs of 356 demersal chondrichthyan fishes from the CHONDRICHTHYANS Adriatic Sea (eastern Mediterranean) contained remains of 147 cephalopods. Only HETEROTEUTHIS D1SPAR Galeus melastomus, Etmopterus spinax, and Scyliorhinus canicula had ingested FEEDING COMPETITION comparatively large quantities of cephalopods, whereas Raja clavata and Chimaera ADRIATIC SEA monstrosa showed that they are not teuthivorous fish. Most cephalopods (87%) belonged to midwater species ; the most abundant one was the sepiolid squid He- teroteuthis dispar (69 %). The alimentary spectra of G. melastomus and E.
    [Show full text]