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Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

Impact Factor2.1 (JCR 2025 release)

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Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 562:19-35 (2016)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11912

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Environmental drivers explain regional variation of changes in fish and invertebrate functional groups across the Mediterranean Sea from 1994 to 2012

ABSTRACT: Functional groups are sets of species that play a similar role in a food web. We defined functional groups of fish species based on their morphological characteristics, while using expert knowledge for invertebrates. We measured 9 morphological traits of 72 fish species, and carried out multivariate analyses to assign fish species to functional groups. The analysis identified 9 trait-based fish functional groups to which were added 3 expert-based invertebrate functional groups. The habitat (position in the water column) and potential diet of each group were identified from the literature. Using the MEDITS bottom trawl survey data collected at 10 to 800 m depth, we calculated relative change in the 12 fish and invertebrate functional group biomasses for 12 Mediterranean areas over the period 1994 to 2012. Multiple regression trees identified 4 regions with similar changes: (1) the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea; (2) the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Strait of Sicily; (3) the Balearic Islands and other enclosed areas such as the Gulf of Lions and Aegean Sea; and (4) the Ligurian Sea and Sardinia. The biomass of all functional groups increased or remained stable in the first 2 regions, while around half the functional group biomasses decreased in the other 2 regions. These regional differences in functional group biomass changes were mainly associated with regional variations in the time trends of bottom water temperature (37%), bottom water dissolved oxygen (23%) and mean catch levels (9%). This study contributes to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive by proposing food web indicators based on morphologically and habitat defined functional groups.

KEYWORDS

Morphological traits Community models Functional network Functional groups Mediterranean Sea Temporal trends Fish Shellfish

Anik Brind’Amour (Corresponding Author)

  • IFREMER, Unité Ecologie et Modèles pour l’Halieutique, rue de l’Ile d’Yeu, BP 21105, 44311 Nantes cedex 3, France
anik.brindamour@ifremer.fr

Marie-Joëlle Rochet (Co-author)

  • IFREMER, Unité Ecologie et Modèles pour l’Halieutique, rue de l’Ile d’Yeu, BP 21105, 44311 Nantes cedex 3, France

Francesc Ordines (Co-author)

  • Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanografic de Balears, Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Geoffrey R. Hosack (Co-author)

  • CSIRO Marine Laboratories, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia

Olivier Berthelé (Co-author)

  • IFREMER, Unité Ecologie et Modèles pour l’Halieutique, rue de l’Ile d’Yeu, BP 21105, 44311 Nantes cedex 3, France

Bastien Merigot (Co-author)

  • Université de Montpellier, UMR MARBEC, Station Ifremer, Avenue Jean Monnet, BP 171, 34203 Sète, France

Pierluigi Carbonara (Co-author)

  • COISPA Tecnologia & Ricerca, Stazione Sperimentale per lo Studio delle Risorse del Mare, Viadei Trulli, 18/20, 70126 Bari - Torre a Mare, Italy

Maria Cristina Follesa (Co-author)

  • Department of Life Science and Environment, University de Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy

Angélique Jadaud (Co-author)

  • IFREMER, Laboratoire Halieutique Mediterranée, UMR MARBEC, Avenue Jean Monnet, BP 171, 34203 Sète, France

Evgenia Lefkaditou (Co-author)

  • Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, PO BOX 712, 19013 Anavissos, Greece

Porzia Maiorano (Co-author)

  • Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona, 4 - 70125 Bari, Italy

Panagiota Peristeraki (Co-author)

  • Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, PO BOX 712, 19013 Anavissos, Greece
  • Biology Department, University of Crete, Heraklion, 71003, Crete, Greece

Alessandro Mannini (Co-author)

  • University of Genova, Dip. Te. Ris., Viale Benedetto XV, 3 - 16132 Genoa, Italy

Manuella Rabiller (Co-author)

  • IFREMER, Unité Ecologie et Modèles pour l’Halieutique, rue de l’Ile d’Yeu, BP 21105, 44311 Nantes cedex 3, France

Maria Teresa Spedicato (Co-author)

  • COISPA Tecnologia & Ricerca, Stazione Sperimentale per lo Studio delle Risorse del Mare, Viadei Trulli, 18/20, 70126 Bari - Torre a Mare, Italy

George Tserpes (Co-author)

  • Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, PO BOX 712, 19013 Anavissos, Greece

V. M. Trenkel (Co-author)

  • IFREMER, Unité Ecologie et Modèles pour l’Halieutique, rue de l’Ile d’Yeu, BP 21105, 44311 Nantes cedex 3, France

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