Original scientific paper

Distribution and abundance of the sand star Astropecten irregularis (Pennant, 1777) (Echinodermata, Asteroidea) on the continental shelf in the northern and middle Adriatic Sea

Marija DESPALATOVIĆ ; Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Laboratory for Benthos Šet. I. Meštrovića 63, 21 000 Split, Croatia
Ivana GRUBELIĆ ; Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Laboratory for Benthos Šet. I. Meštrovića 63, 21 000 Split, Croatia
Corrado PICCINETTI ; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Fisheries, Viale Adriatico 1/N, 63032 Fano, Italy
Ivan CVITKOVIĆ ; Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Laboratory for Benthos Šet. I. Meštrovića 63, 21 000 Split, Croatia
Boris ANTOLIĆ ; Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Laboratory for Benthos Šet. I. Meštrovića 63, 21 000 Split, Croatia
Vedran NIKOLIĆ ; Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Laboratory for Benthos Šet. I. Meštrovića 63, 21 000 Split, Croatia
Ante ŽULJEVIĆ ; Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Laboratory for Benthos Šet. I. Meštrovića 63, 21 000 Split, Croatia

Abstract

The sand star Astropecten irregularis (Pennant, 1777) is a very common species in the Adriatic Sea. This study establishes the distribution, biomass and abundance of that species on the continental shelf of the open waters in the northern and middle Adriatic Sea based on experimental sampling by bottom trawl during 11 cruises of the “Pipeta” Expedition (1985-1994). Five hundred and eighteen bottom trawl hauls were performed at 56 predetermined permanent stations along ten transects, over different sediment types at depths of 10 to 430 m. Astropecten irregularis was recorded in 82.2% of the hauls, with the highest biomass and abundance indices at depths from 10 to 50 m. The deepest record was in a haul from 313.5 to 412.5 m depth. Even though it was recorded all over the investigated area, it was most abundant in some areas of the northernmost part of the Adriatic, and very abundant in the areas along the western coast. The highest average biomass and abundance indices were recorded on sand-silt-clay sediment, on silty sand and sandy silt and on the clayey silt and silty clay.

Keywords

Astropecten irregularis; Adriatic Sea; distribution; abundance

Hrčak ID:

55798

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/55798

Publication date:

1.7.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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