Spatial distribution of continental slope fish species: comparison between off northern Alboran Sea and Golfo de Vera

VIII Simposio sobre el Margen Ibérico Atlántico (MIA15), del 21 al 23 de septiembre de 2015, Málaga.-- 4 pages, 4 figures, 1 tableThe distribution pattern of demersal fish species inhabiting off northern Alboran sea and Golfo de Vera at depths ranging 200 and 800 m has been studied. For this purpose it has been analyzed the results from the MEDITS oceanographic survey series from 1994 to 2008, carried out in the study area in spring by Instituto Español de Oceanografía. The surveyed area corresponds to the continental shelf and upper-middle slope from Estepona to Cabo de Palos, including Alboran dorsal, and from 30 to 800 m depth, covering an area of 12750 km2.The target species are those dominant in terms of abundance, biomass and occurrence along the continental slope in the study area from MEDITS surveys. In the study has been included four chondrichthyans species, Galeus melastomus, Galeus atlanticus, Etmopterus spinax and Chimaera monstrosa and six osteichthyes species, Alepocephalus rostratus, Coelorhinchus caelorincus, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Nezumia aequalis, Phycis blennoides and Trachyrincus scabrus. Galeus melastomus was the most important species in terms of abundance and biomass being Phycis blennoides the most frequent (98%). Indices such as the habitat amplitude and the center of gravity have been applied to summarize the species distribution along the depth range in a single and comparative value. Helicolenus dactylopterus was the shallowest one and Alepocephalus rostratus was the deepest. Differences between Alboran sea and Golfo de Vera have been stressed in relation with abundance and fish mean weight of certain species. In general the fish mean weight was lower in Vera than in Alboran seaPeer Reviewe