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Interaction between depth and protection in determining the structure of Mediterranean coastal fish assemblages

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 July 2007

Enrico Cecchi ,
Luigi Piazzi  and
David Balata
Enrico Cecchi
Affiliation:
ARPAT Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale della Toscana, Via Marradi 114, 57126 Livorno, Italy
Luigi Piazzi
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Via Volta 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
David Balata
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Via Volta 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Abstract

Patterns of spatial and temporal variability of coastal fish assemblages were compared between areas subjected to different levels of protection at two different depths using a visual census technique. A no take reserve was compared with recreational fishing areas around a small Mediterranean island at 5 m and 20 m depth. Univariate and multivariate statistical techniques were used to test the hypothesis that protection could have different effects at different depths. A total of 56 species were identified during the survey. The most represented families were Sparidae and Labridae. Results showed an interaction between depth and levels of protection that was not persistent across the study period. This result was consistent for the whole fish assemblage and for the target species; most species showed higher abundance in protected areas at 20 m depth.

Keywords

Fish assemblagesMarine protected areasVisual censusIslandsMediterranean Sea
Type
Research Article
Information
Aquatic Living Resources , Volume 20 , Issue 2 , April 2007 , pp. 123 - 129
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD, 2007

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