Geographically and environmentally driven spawning distributions of tuna species in the western Mediterranean Sea
Authors
Reglero, P. (Patricia); Ciannelli, L. (Lorenzo); Álvarez-Berastegui, D. (Diego); Balbín, R. (Rosa); López-Jurado, J.L. (José Luis); Alemany, F. (Francisco)Date
2012Type
articleKeywords
Spawning strategySpawning habitat
Regional scale
Spatial distribution
Large predators
Migratory strategry
Mediterranean
Tuna
Abstract
The spawning habitats of many large marine pelagic predators are poorly known. This lack of knowledge hampers conservation efforts that are aimed at identifying critical habitats for the spawning of these species. We hypothesized that phylogenetically related species show different adaptations and respond differently to environmental and geographical cues for when and where to spawn. We tested this hypothesis on a 5 yr data set (2001 to 2005) from the Balearic Islands region (Mediterranean Sea), targeting the early larval stage of 3 abundant species of tuna: bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus, a large migratory oceanic species; albacore T. alalunga, a smaller species; and bullet tuna Auxis rochei, often found closer to coastal areas. The spatial distribution of spawning locations at the regional scale differed for the 3 tuna species. Bluefin tuna relied heavily on environmental signals, and therefore their spawning habitats can vary depending on the environment. In contrast, the spawning habitat ...