Life strategies of fishes in European estuaries: the functional guild approach

Franco, Anita; Elliott, Michael; Franzoi, Piero; Torricelli, Patrizia

Abstract

The structure and functioning of estuarine fish assemblages have been analysed using data sets for 38 transitional waters covering all European latitudes, including NE Atlantic estuaries, Mediterranean lagoons and Scandinavian fjords. The fish species were assigned to functional guilds covering estuarine use, mode of feeding and reproductive strategy, thus describing the use made of transitional waters by fishes. The importance of estuaries as temporary biotopes (migration and nursery routes) for fish species has been identified together with the predominance of feeding on the detritivorous hyperbenthos and infauna. The high incidence of protective breeders in estuaries, as a mechanism to prevent the flushing out of young, has also been identified. These findings allow the validation of the functional guild approach, emphasising its use for the understanding of the functioning of estuaries and for their management and the protection of their ecological goods and services. © Inter-Research 2008.

Citation

Franco, A., Elliott, M., Franzoi, P., & Torricelli, P. (2008). Life strategies of fishes in European estuaries: the functional guild approach. Marine ecology progress series, 354, 219-228. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07203

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 1, 2008
• Publication Date: Feb 7, 2008
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Journal: Marine Ecology-Progress Series
• Print ISSN: 0171-8630
• Publisher: Inter Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 354
• Pages: 219-228
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07203
• Keywords: Ecology; Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/464452
• Contract Date: Nov 13, 2014