Ictioplancton asociado a praderas de Posidonia oceanica durante la época estival en la reserva marina de Tabarca

Ichthyoplankton associated with P. oceanica meadows during the summer season in the Tabarca marine reserveHabitat complexity plays a key role in survival in early stages of fish larvae. We investigated fish larvae assemblage and its relation with P. oceanicaseagrass at the Tabarca Island Marine Reserve. Samples were taken using moored plankton nets at two depths (0 and 2 m from P. oceanica meadow) over five consecutive days in July 2000. Three hundred and fifty three larvae were captured. The mostabundant families were Clupeidae (31%), Sparidae (27%), Engraulidae (11%) and Gobiidae (6%). We observed that small fish larvae were able to select nursery areas. We conclude that the P. oceanica leaf canopy is a major factor in structuring the larval fish assemblages of some demersal species.