Movements of Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sparidae) in a coastal lagoon (Ria Formosa, Portugal)

Abecasis, D.; Bentes, L.; Erzini, Karim

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/8811

Use this identifier to reference this record.

Name:	Description:	Size:	Format:
2012_Abecasis_et_al_Sarpa_salpa_Ria.pdf		373.54 KB	Adobe PDF	Download

Send Feedback

Authors

Abecasis, D.

Bentes, L.

Erzini, Karim

Abstract(s)

The salema, Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758), is a sparid with a distribution that includes the eastern Atlantic coast from the Bay of Biscay to South Africa, as well as the Azores, Madeira, Canary and Cape Verde archipelagos. It is also found in groups in the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean from South Africa to Mozambique, living on sandy and seagrass bottoms ranging from 0 to 70 m depth (Bauchot and Hureau, 1986). The species is a protandrous hermaphrodite where, according to Criscoli et al. (2006), sex change occurs between 24 and 31 cm total length (3–7 years old). While the economic value of S. salpa in fisheries is relatively limited, its ecological importance is well recognized, with several studies on its biology and interactions on seagrass meadows (e.g. Verlaque, 1990; Criscoli et al., 2006). As an herbivore Sarpa salpa has a strong impact with seagrass meadows, being responsible for much of the herbivory (Verlaque, 1990; Cebria´n et al., 1996; Prado et al., 2008), and representing a considerable part of the ichthyofauna in these habitats (Francour, 1997, 2000). Studies on S. salpa diel activity patterns, home range and habitat utilization in the Mediterranean Sea were undertaken by Jadot et al. (2002, 2006). These studies have revealed two behaviours, with some fish being highly sedentary while others use larger areas; great variation in mobility was found, with some fish showing both behaviours. The core areas (95%) range between 1600 and 279 000m2 , with some fish presenting diel movement patterns between day and night areas as well as homing abilities. The Ria Formosa, in the southern part of Portugal, is a shallow coastal lagoon with large meadows of seagrasses (Zostera noltii, Zostera marina and Cymodocea nodosa) where the influence of S. salpa on these communities is still unknown. Previous studies on the ichthyofauna of the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon focused largely on temporal and spatial changes in species composition (Monteiro et al., 1990; Ribeiro et al., 2006, 2008). Up to the present, the acoustic telemetry studies carried out in the Ria Formosa focused on the movements and home range of Sparus aurata (Abecasis and Erzini, 2008) and Diplodus spp. (Abecasis et al., 2009). A preceding tag-recapture study of juveniles of S. salpa (between 8.2 and 16.7 cm total length) provided limited information, with only a few recaptures (Abecasis, 2007). The present study was carried out to determine the movement patterns of S. salpa inside a coastal lagoon (Ria Formosa, south Portugal) in order to provide basic information on their home range and site fidelity.