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Assessment of fish assemblages in coastal lagoon habitats: Effect of sampling method

Franco, A.; Franco, A.; Perez-Ruzafa, A.; Pérez-Ruzafa, A.; Drouineau, H.; Franzoi, P.; Koutrakis, E. T.; Lepage, M.; Verdiell-Cubedo, D.; Bouchoucha, M.; Lopez-Capel, A.; López-Capel, A.; Riccato, F.; Sapounidis, A.; Marcos, C.; Oliva-Paterna, F. J.; Torralva-Forero, M.; Torricelli, P.

Authors

A. Franco

A. Franco

A. Perez-Ruzafa

A. Pérez-Ruzafa

H. Drouineau

P. Franzoi

E. T. Koutrakis

M. Lepage

D. Verdiell-Cubedo

M. Bouchoucha

A. Lopez-Capel

A. López-Capel

F. Riccato

A. Sapounidis

C. Marcos

F. J. Oliva-Paterna

M. Torralva-Forero

P. Torricelli



Abstract

The structure of fish assemblages accounted for by different sampling methods (namely fyke net, seine nets, visual census) applied to vegetated and unvegetated lagoon habitats was investigated in terms of species composition, functional groups (ecological and trophic guilds), and fish size distribution. Significant differences were detected among methods, even among similar ones (seine nets). Visual census and fyke net detected more easily pelagic species, allowing the sampling of larger fish, whereas seine nets targeted more efficiently benthic-demersal species, with a dominance of 2–10 cm size classes in the fish catches. Differences were detected also among habitats, reflecting the different fish assemblages associated to vegetated and unvegetated habitats in coastal lagoons and transitional waters. However a different ability of discriminating between habitat-associated fish assemblages was recorded for the sampling methods. The different selectivity and functioning of the tested sampling methods confirm the importance of considering the targeted scale at which the research is being carried out, as well as the method that will be used to assess the ecological status of lagoon fish assemblages when choosing the most appropriate sampling method. A cross-validation of fish sampling methodologies in transitional waters is necessary to cope with the mandatory of the Water Framework Directive of standardization and comparability of monitoring methods.

Citation

Franco, A., Pérez-Ruzafa, A., Drouineau, H., Franzoi, P., Koutrakis, E. T., Lepage, M., Verdiell-Cubedo, D., Bouchoucha, M., López-Capel, A., Riccato, F., Sapounidis, A., Marcos, C., Oliva-Paterna, F. J., Torralva-Forero, M., & Torricelli, P. (2012). Assessment of fish assemblages in coastal lagoon habitats: Effect of sampling method. Estuarine, coastal and shelf science, 112, 115-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2011.08.015

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 10, 2011
Online Publication Date Aug 18, 2011
Publication Date Oct 20, 2012
Deposit Date Feb 7, 2018
Journal Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Print ISSN 0272-7714
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 112
Pages 115-125
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2011.08.015
Keywords Aquatic Science; Oceanography
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/409368
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272771411003532?via%3Dihub