Interannual variability in early life phenology is driven by climate and oceanic processes in two NE Atlantic flatfishes

Abstract Early life phenology is a crucial factor for population dynamics in a climate change scenario. As such, understanding how the early life cycle of marine fishes is influenced by key oceanic and climate drivers is of chief importance for sustainable fisheries. This study documents interannual...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific Reports
Main Authors: Ana Vaz, Ana Lígia Primo, Daniel Crespo, Miguel Pardal, Filipe Martinho
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023
Subjects:
Medicine
R
Science
Q
North Atlantic
North Atlantic oscillation
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30384-7
https://doaj.org/article/c8e097ed6343436e877a261651f2d08e
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Summary:Abstract Early life phenology is a crucial factor for population dynamics in a climate change scenario. As such, understanding how the early life cycle of marine fishes is influenced by key oceanic and climate drivers is of chief importance for sustainable fisheries. This study documents interannual changes in early life phenology of two commercial flatfishes: European flounder (Platichthys flesus) and common sole (Solea solea) from 2010 to 2015 based on otolith microstructure. Using GAMs, we looked for correlations of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Eastern Atlantic pattern (EA), sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyl a concentration (Chla) and upwelling (Ui) variation with the onset of hatch, metamorphosis, and benthic settlement day. We concluded that higher SST, more intensive upwelling, and EA were coincident with a later the onset of each stage, while increasing NAO induces an earlier onset of each stage. Although similar to S. solea, P. flesus showed a more complex interaction with the environmental drivers, most possibly because it is at its southern limit of its distribution. Our results highlight the complexity of the relationship between climate conditions and fish early life history, particularly those with complex life cycles that include migrations between coastal areas and estuaries.

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