Identificazione delle aree di deposizione e di nursery dell'acciuga europea (Engraulis encrasicolus) nel Canale di Sicilia

Anchovy is an important small pelagic species in the Mediterranean Sea in terms of commercial interest. It presents high fluctuations of abundance, depending on environmental conditions. In this project, an attempt is made to model and predict the potential spawning habitat and the nursery areas in the Strait of Sicily. Generalized additive models were constructed based on environmental variables and presence/absence and abundance of eggs and larvae data from ichthyoplanktonic surveys in July-August 2003-2008 and juveniles data from acoustic surveys in October 2001, 2004 and 2005. The main spawning sites are in the north-west of Adventure Bank, close to central coast and less in the south of Capo Passero, over continental shelf areas. The spawning is favored by an optimal range of temperature and higher chlorophyll-a. Larvae are delocalized compared to eggs because of surface currents (AIS). The nursery areas are related to the pattern of temperature and availability of food.