Abstract
The cephalopod fauna collected in five MEDITS-ES trawl surveys carried out on the Iberian Mediterranean coast was analysed. Hauls, which were carried out in spring between 1994 and 1998, numbered 480. A total of 34 cephalopod species, grouped in 11 families, was found at depths of between 25 and 786 m. Species and samples assemblages were analysed with the Bray-Curtis similarity index. From the physical parameters studied (depth, temperature and bottom type) only depth showed a positive correlation with cephalopod distribution. Three main cephalopod communities were defined: the shelf community (< 150 m), the middle slope community (> 480 m) and a group of cephalopods which were widely distributed more abundantly on the lower continental shelf-upper slope (150-480 m). SIMPER analysis revealed that Loligo (Alloteuthis) media was the main indicator species of the shelf group, Eledone cirrhosa was the indicator species of the lower shelf upper slope group and Todarodes sagittatus of the middle slope community. The 150-480 m stratum was considered a transitional zone, representing an overlapping region for shelf and slope faunas.
Highlights
SUMMARY: The cephalopod fauna collected in five MEDITS-ES trawl surveys carried out on the Iberian Mediterranean coast was analysed
SIMPER analysis revealed that Loligo (Alloteuthis) media was the main indicator species of the shelf group, Eledone cirrhosa was the indicator species of the lower shelf upper slope group and Todarodes sagittatus of the middle slope community
Heteroteuthis dispar, Histioteuthis bonnellii, Histioteuthis reversa, Brachioteuthis riisei, Bathypolypus sponsalis and Opisthoteuthis agassizii were caught at depths >200 m
Summary
Cephalopods are a well known mollusc group in the Mediterranean, as can be seen from the literature on this taxonomic group (Naef, 1921-1923; Borri, 1986; Mangold and Boletzky, 1988; Bello, 1986).Their geographic and bathymetric distributions have been studied in detail in different areas: NorthTyrrhenian Sea (Belcari et al, 1986; Belcari and Sartor, 1993); Catalan Sea (Mangold-Wirz, 1963); North Tyrrhenian Sea and Catalan Sea (Sánchez et al, 1998); Aegean Sea (D’Onghia et al, 1996); Sicilian Channel (Jereb and Ragonese, 1986; Ragonese et al 1992); Adriatic Sea (Bello, 1990; Pastorelli et al, 1995); Ligurian Sea (Relini andOrsi Relini, 1984); Ionian Sea (Tursi and D’Onghia, 1992); the coasts of Libya and Tunisia (Bonnet, 1973); Marmara Sea (Katagan et al, 1993); Northwestern Mediterranean Sea (Sartor et al, 1998); and the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Ruby and Knudsen, 1972). Cephalopods are a well known mollusc group in the Mediterranean, as can be seen from the literature on this taxonomic group (Naef, 1921-1923; Borri, 1986; Mangold and Boletzky, 1988; Bello, 1986). Their geographic and bathymetric distributions have been studied in detail in different areas: North. This study constitutes the first attempt to analyse the bathymetric distribution of cephalopods throughout Iberian Mediterranean waters. The aim of the present study is to analyse the relationship between various environmental factors
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