Record Details
Geographically and environmentally driven spawning distributions of tuna species in the western Mediterranean Sea
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Geographically and environmentally driven spawning distributions of tuna species in the western Mediterranean Sea |
| Names |
Reglero, P.
(creator) Ciannelli, L. (creator) Alvarez-Berastegui, D. (creator) Balbin, R. (creator) Lopez-Jurado, J. L. (creator) Alemany, F. (creator) |
| Date Issued | 2012-08-30 (iso8601) |
| Note | This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Inter-Research and can be found at: http://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/meps-home/. |
| Abstract | The spawning habitats of many large marine pelagic predators are poorly known. This lack of knowledge hampers conservation efforts that are aimed at identifying critical habitats for the spawning of these species. We hypothesized that phylogenetically related species show different adaptations and respond differently to environmental and geographical cues for when and where to spawn. We tested this hypothesis on a 5 yr data set (2001 to 2005) from the Balearic Islands region (Mediterranean Sea), targeting the early larval stage of 3 abundant species of tuna: bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus, a large migratory oceanic species; albacore T. alalunga, a smaller species; and bullet tuna Auxis rochei, often found closer to coastal areas. The spatial distribution of spawning locations at the regional scale differed for the 3 tuna species. Bluefin tuna relied heavily on environmental signals, and therefore their spawning habitats can vary depending on the environment. In contrast, the spawning habitat of albacore and bullet tuna was driven mostly by geography and was less variable over contrasting environmental conditions. These regional adaptations for spawning habitats among the 3 tuna species may play a critical role in offspring survival and species interactions, and should be taken into account when establishing conservation practices. |
| Genre | Article |
| Topic | Spawning strategy |
| Identifier | Reglero P, Ciannelli L, Alvarez-Berastegui D, Balbín R, López-Jurado JL, Alemany F (2012) Geographically and environmentally driven spawning distributions of tuna species in the western Mediterranean Sea. Marine Ecology Progress Series 463:273-284 |
