Capítulo 2. Las comunidades de peces de las zonas someras del Mar Menor y humedales adyacentesmás de 10 años de estudios

Abstract

Fish assemblage in the littoral zone of the Mar Menor comprises a highly diverse fish community composed of at least 45 species representing 19 families, the most diverse of which are the Sparidae, followed by Syngnathidae, Gobiidae and Mugilidae, the latter being the most important in terms of fish density. The taxonomic composition is similar to fish assemblages reported in several Mediterranean coastal lagoons. Shallow littoral areas are extremely important as potential recruitment areas and juvenile refuges for certain fish species, since more than 50% of the species caught in the shallows are among those that constitute the main targets for commercial fisheries within the lagoon, or represent species that are legally protected. This again emphasizes the importance of shallow areas as critical habitats. The Mar Menor’s shallow inshore areas function as nursery grounds for the early life stages of some marine fishes, and significant relationships have been identified between the growth and condition of these fishes and hydrographical circulation patterns within the lagoon. Moreover, these shallow zones provide essential habitats for threatened fish species. Shoreline modification is an important anthropogenic coastal stressor in the Mar Menor that can have a negative impact on fish communities and populations through the modification of nearshore habitats, and newly urbanized areas have in fact been shown to affect fish assemblages the through degradation of habitat structure (loss of complexity and fish refuges). Unmodified shorelines thus provide an important nursery habitat for marine species such as Sparus aurata and Liza saliens, and represent critical habitats for species of conservation concern such as Aphanius iberus, Syngnathus abaster and Anguilla anguilla. Although much basic information has been obtained in recent decades, there is still a significant need to gain quantitative information on the ecology, biology and survival of fish assemblages and target species populations inhabiting these habitats of the coastal lagoon in order to develop appropriate assessments and recommendations for potential recovery management programmes and in the long term assist in the decision-making process regarding fisheries enhancement measures.