Thus, this plankton gear has become the standard type of gear for collecting small
and large pelagic larvae in the field, specifically for undertaking larval growth and
condition studies (Cortés 2006; García 2006) as well as ELHS trophodynamic
studies based on stable isotopes analysis (Uriarte 2010; Laíz-Carrión et al. 2011).
In conclusion, the sampling methods of ELHS applied in these studies stem from
observing the conducts of fry fisheries.
13.2 Spawning and Nursery Scenarios of Small Pelagic
13.2.1 Coastal Hydrodynamics and Planktonic Productivity
Drivers
According to the existing literature, small pelagics are particularly abundant in
upwelling areas (Cole and McGlade 1988; Cury et al. 2000) where the enrichment
in nutrients cascades throughout the food web, increasing planktonic production and
thereby, potential larval food resources. The degree of recruitment will depend on
the coupling between the timing of spawning and favorable environmental conditions for the survival of ELHS (Cury and Roy 1989; Bakun 1996; Brochier et al.
2009). The usual physical forces driving the processes that shape these conditions
are winds (wind-inducing upwelling, particularly), tides, and offshore mesoscale and
submesoscale (10–100 km) processes, which have a potential for conveying energy
to the coastal ecosystem and make it available for mixing. All of them, referred to the
northern Alboran Sea, are shortly revisited below.
From geographic and oceanographic viewpoints, the northern Alboran Sea is
divided into two differentiated areas. The first one goes from Punta Europa in the
eastern exit of the Strait of Gibraltar to Punta Calaburras, some 100 km to the east
(Estepona area or EA, hereinafter, Fig. 13.7). The second area spreads to the east of
this point and includes the productive Bay of Malaga (Malaga area, or MA). This
division is motivated by the Atlantic Jet, which flows relatively close to the coast in
Fig. 13.6 Comparative anchovy larval catch between the B40 and B90 plankton nets
494
A. García et al.
and large pelagic larvae in the field, specifically for undertaking larval growth and
condition studies (Cortés 2006; García 2006) as well as ELHS trophodynamic
studies based on stable isotopes analysis (Uriarte 2010; Laíz-Carrión et al. 2011).
In conclusion, the sampling methods of ELHS applied in these studies stem from
observing the conducts of fry fisheries.
13.2 Spawning and Nursery Scenarios of Small Pelagic
13.2.1 Coastal Hydrodynamics and Planktonic Productivity
Drivers
According to the existing literature, small pelagics are particularly abundant in
upwelling areas (Cole and McGlade 1988; Cury et al. 2000) where the enrichment
in nutrients cascades throughout the food web, increasing planktonic production and
thereby, potential larval food resources. The degree of recruitment will depend on
the coupling between the timing of spawning and favorable environmental conditions for the survival of ELHS (Cury and Roy 1989; Bakun 1996; Brochier et al.
2009). The usual physical forces driving the processes that shape these conditions
are winds (wind-inducing upwelling, particularly), tides, and offshore mesoscale and
submesoscale (10–100 km) processes, which have a potential for conveying energy
to the coastal ecosystem and make it available for mixing. All of them, referred to the
northern Alboran Sea, are shortly revisited below.
From geographic and oceanographic viewpoints, the northern Alboran Sea is
divided into two differentiated areas. The first one goes from Punta Europa in the
eastern exit of the Strait of Gibraltar to Punta Calaburras, some 100 km to the east
(Estepona area or EA, hereinafter, Fig. 13.7). The second area spreads to the east of
this point and includes the productive Bay of Malaga (Malaga area, or MA). This
division is motivated by the Atlantic Jet, which flows relatively close to the coast in
Fig. 13.6 Comparative anchovy larval catch between the B40 and B90 plankton nets
494
A. García et al.