Publicação
Insights on meagre (Argyrosomus regius) spatial ecology around the Gironde estuary based on satellite telemetry
| Resumo: | Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is one of Europe's largest coastal fish and a top predator. It supports both commercial and recreational fisheries and has a growing importance in aquaculture. However, this long-lived species is particularly vulnerable due to significant genetic fragmentation and limited spawning areas. In these areas, they aggregate and are exposed to intense fishing pressures. Understanding the ecology and behavior of this species is crucial not only for fisheries management but also for conservation efforts. We used pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs), to infer the movement and ecology of meagre, in one of its spawning areas, the Gironde estuary in France. 20 fish were tagged with PSAT, with 15 providing data over sampling periods ranging from 9 to 176 days, with an average of 72.2 days. The data was collected from June until December 2022. The remaining five tags did not transmit data due to a malfunction. The results show a seasonal shift in vertical habitat use where fish utilize shallower warmer waters during summer and deeper cooler waters during the winter, as observed in previous studies in Southern Portugal. Mean depth usage ranged from 5.66 (±1.98 SD) to 17.68 (±9.17 SD) meters, and temperatures ranged from 12.6°C to 24.95°C. The range of depths used in winter was wider than in summer. The opposite was found regarding temperature, with a wider range used during summer, when the water is stratified, and narrower during winter, as the water mixes. No patterns in diel vertical movement were detected. The geolocation models showed that between June and August, the meagre remained inside the estuary or nearby to coastal waters. Since September, meagre began dispersing to more offshore areas, though always inside the Bay of Biscay. |
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| Autores principais: | Ribeiro, Inês Pires Moreira |
| Assunto: | Sciaenidae Biotelemetria Psat Movimento Baía da Biscaia |
| Ano: | 2024 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade do Algarve |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Sapientia - Universidade do Algarve |
| Resumo: | Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is one of Europe's largest coastal fish and a top predator. It supports both commercial and recreational fisheries and has a growing importance in aquaculture. However, this long-lived species is particularly vulnerable due to significant genetic fragmentation and limited spawning areas. In these areas, they aggregate and are exposed to intense fishing pressures. Understanding the ecology and behavior of this species is crucial not only for fisheries management but also for conservation efforts. We used pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs), to infer the movement and ecology of meagre, in one of its spawning areas, the Gironde estuary in France. 20 fish were tagged with PSAT, with 15 providing data over sampling periods ranging from 9 to 176 days, with an average of 72.2 days. The data was collected from June until December 2022. The remaining five tags did not transmit data due to a malfunction. The results show a seasonal shift in vertical habitat use where fish utilize shallower warmer waters during summer and deeper cooler waters during the winter, as observed in previous studies in Southern Portugal. Mean depth usage ranged from 5.66 (±1.98 SD) to 17.68 (±9.17 SD) meters, and temperatures ranged from 12.6°C to 24.95°C. The range of depths used in winter was wider than in summer. The opposite was found regarding temperature, with a wider range used during summer, when the water is stratified, and narrower during winter, as the water mixes. No patterns in diel vertical movement were detected. The geolocation models showed that between June and August, the meagre remained inside the estuary or nearby to coastal waters. Since September, meagre began dispersing to more offshore areas, though always inside the Bay of Biscay. |
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