Abstract
AbstractFulton's K condition factor was applied, for the first time, to inter‐tidal specimens of the shanny (Lipophrys pholis) and long‐spined scorpion fish (Taurulus bubalis) from two English rocky shore and two Welsh rocky shore sites during summer 2010 and winter 2011. As both species contribute to the diet of commercial species such as cod (Gadus morhua) and near‐threatened species such as the European otter (Lutra lutra), their condition may affect that of these predators. Fulton's K found that inter‐tidal Welsh fish maintained a ‘good’ condition between seasons, whereas the inter‐tidal English fish were in a poorer condition during winter. Although condition also changed amongst the sites on each coast, further studies are needed into fish morphologies, environmental parameters, prey availabilities and abundances, and fish specimen sex and maturities.
Highlights
Pe shanny (Lipophrys pholis) and long-spined scorpion fish (Taurulus bubalis) from two English rocky shore, and two Welsh rocky shore sites, during summer 2010 and winter 2011
T. bubalis were in significantly better condition at Rhosneigr, during the summer than Penrhos, during the summer, (Mann Whitney U-test, W = 252, df = 15&10, P
The research has identified Fulton’s K as a suitable condition factor for assessing and comparing the condition of intertidal fish species, and this study could act as a baseline for prospective studies on the same fish species
Summary
The methodology is that of Barrett et al, (2013); specimen collection from all sites took place over a week of spring tides in August 2010 (summer) and January 2011 (winter) and fish were collected from small pools with the use of hand-nets (Gibson, 1999), and from larger pools using home-made fish traps (Gibson, 1999). Condition of specimens between seasons and sites were tested using the non-parametric, Mann-Whitney U test, as data was not normal and columns were of unequal lengths (Dytham, 2011), using Minitab 14 software This was done to test whether between shores and seasons of a coast, the conditions of a given fish species did not significantly differ. T. bubalis were in significantly better condition at Rhosneigr, during the summer (median = 21, range = 15-429) than Penrhos, during the summer (median = 14, range = 85-143), (Mann Whitney U-test, W = 252, df = 15&10, P
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