| Affiliation: | 1. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources, PO Box 2214, GR 71003, Iraklion, Greece;2. IFREMER, Boulevard Jean Monnet, B.P. 171 34203, Sète Cedex, France;3. Istituto di Scienze Marine, CNR, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy;4. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources, Agios Kosmas, GR 16610, Athens, Greece |
| Abstract: | Identification of potential juvenile grounds of short‐lived species such as European sardine (Sardina pilchardus) in relation to the environment is a crucial issue for effective management. In the current work, habitat suitability modelling was applied to acoustic data derived from both the western and eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. Early summer acoustic data of sardine juveniles were modelled using generalized additive models along with satellite environmental and bathymetry data. Selected models were used to construct maps that exhibit the probability of presence in the study areas, as well as throughout the entire Mediterranean basin, as a measure of habitat adequacy. Areas with high probability of supporting sardine juvenile presence persistently within the study period were identified throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, within the study period, a positive relationship was found between suitable habitat extent and the changes in abundance of sardine juveniles in each study area. |
