Abstract
The present study assessed spatial variations in several biological characteristics of Scorpaena porcus Linnaeus, 1758 and estimated length structure, dietary composition and growth parameters for the species. Sampling was carried out in two areas, about 200 km apart, in the coastal Adriatic Sea, which is the northernmost region of the Mediterranean. A total of 388 specimens of S. porcus were caught, 233 from the Split area and 155 from the Pag Island area, and a higher proportion of individuals in the ≤15 cm length classes were found in the Split area. The results of the age, growth and diet analyses demonstrated that the black scorpionfish is a slow-growing and long-lived species that feeds on a wide variety of plant and animal taxa and shows a high selectivity for crustacean decapods. Detailed comparisons and multivariate analyses showed significant fine-scale spatial structuring of the investigated species, as observed length, dietary and age compositions were heterogeneous among the two areas. Fish from the Pag Island area ingested a greater diversity of the prey types, fed to a greater extent on fishes, reached the highest total length and showed a higher growth rate. Such intraspecific variations could reflect adaptations to different environmental conditions and support the geographical scale at which local black scorpionfish populations should be managed.
Highlights
Scorpionfish are members of the family Scorpaenidae, one of the largest and most morphologically and ecologically diverse fish groups with more than 1400 species, distributed in many regions of the world, from shallow coastal waters to the deep sea [1,2].They are mainly demersal species that are found on coral reefs in the tropical zones and on rocky shore grounds at high latitudes [3]
Our focus was placed on testing whether the dietary and age-length compositions of S. porcus differ between the two areas and to what extent the age composition and growth rates are related to the habitat and food availability
The quantitative data were collected for the black scorpionfish using the same sampling methods and at comparable depths in two different areas located in coastal waters and with similar biotopes demonstrating variations in certain biological characteristics
Summary
Scorpionfish are members of the family Scorpaenidae, one of the largest and most morphologically and ecologically diverse fish groups with more than 1400 species, distributed in many regions of the world, from shallow coastal waters to the deep sea [1,2]. The age structure of a fish population is a consequence of recruitment, growth, and elimination of individuals, while the growth rates determine the following processes: rates of recruitment and sexual maturity and the life span of the species [15]. Comparisons of the biological traits of fish species at different locations, including those in the Mediterranean, demonstrate that habitat characteristics, such as food, shelter, and density of predators, exert a powerful influence on age and growth patterns in a way that higher growth rates will occur in areas that offer better living conditions [20,21,22,23,24]. Given that the black scorpionfish is a low home-range benthic species, investigating whether certain specific habitat characteristics, primarily food availability, influence the growth performance of this fish in different areas becomes very interesting. Our focus was placed on testing whether the dietary and age-length compositions of S. porcus differ between the two areas and to what extent the age composition and growth rates are related to the habitat and food availability
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
