Journal
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages -Publisher
NATURE PORTFOLIO
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92633-x
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Funding
- National Rugby League/Provale
- University of Perpignan Via Domitia Foundation
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The study revealed that the black meagre exhibit different vertical activity patterns in different seasons and depths, likely due to foraging and reproductive behaviors as well as regulation by water temperature and thermocline depth. This provides valuable information for management and protection plans.
The spatio-temporal variability of fish distribution is important to better manage and protect the populations of endangered species. In this sense, the vertical movements of a vulnerable and protected species, Sciaena umbra, were assessed in a marine protected area (the Reserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbere-Banyuls, south of France) to study the variability of their bathymetric distribution at different time scales. Twenty adults were marked with acoustic transmitters and acoustically monitored over 2.5 years. This revealed that some individuals remained at shallow waters (<8 m) all year round, while others presented vertical segregation at deeper waters during the cold months (mean depth of 22.50.04 m) and all aggregated in shallow waters during the warm months. The brown meagre was more active during the night, except in June and July when peaks of activity were observed at dusk. These patterns are likely associated with foraging and reproductive behavior during the cold and warm periods, respectively, and likely regulated by water temperature and the depth of the thermocline. Here, we provide valuable information on when and where in the water column critical periods of S. umbra life cycle are expected to occur, which should be considered in management and protection plans.
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