Distribution of Percophis brasiliensis at different maturity stages in relation to environmental factors in Northern Argentine Sea

RODRIGUES, K. A.; JAUREGUIZAR, A. J.; GUERRERO, R. A.

HYDROBIOLOGIA

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2013 vol. 709 p. 1 - 10

0018-8158

The spatial distribution of Percophis brasiliensis at different maturity stages and its relation to environmental factors was evaluated in El Rincon area (39-41ºS) between 1994 and 2008 during eight cruises carried out in spring. For this, a canonical correspondence analysis was used. Results indicate that bottom temperature and bottom salinity horizontal gradient (BSHG) were the most important variables affecting P. brasiliensis maturity stages spatial distribution. Juveniles were mainly located in shallow waters with low salinity, high temperatures and vertical stratification. Conversely, gravid and running individuals were found in high BSHG and low temperatures. This link suggests that adults spawn in a well-defined area of hydrographic conditions that would tend to retain pelagic eggs and larvae, thus minimizing dispersal, and ensuring their transport from the spawning to nursery areas. In coastal shelf of El Rincon, the water mass circulation show an anti-cyclonic gyre whose recirculation cell during spring and summer is more constrained to inshore area than during winter. Maximum reproductive activity of P. brasiliensis coincides with the highest retention period, therefore dispersal of early-life stage (eggs) depends of circulation pattern and transport pathway which would contribute importantly to its recruitment variability.