Spatio-temporal dynamics and management implications of the nightly appearance of Boops boops (Acanthopterygii, Perciformes) juvenile shoals in the anthropogenically modified Mediterranean littoral zone

摘要: A remarkable phenomenon of dense Boops boops shoals appearing almost adjacent to the shoreline during nighttime is known locals island communities Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean). In this work, we investigated appearance testing hypotheses that (a) it may occur only in anthropogenically modified locations (as suggested by previous observations), (b) migration pattern littoral not arbitrary but synchronized sunset/sunrise, (c) fish abundance affected location, season and/or natural (moon) light fluctuations. Quantitative sampling included visual observations from coast at five stations Syros (Cyclades, Greece) July 2009 September 2010. Both concerning occurrence and timing with sunset/sunrise were confirmed. Fish was modelled using generalized additive models, demonstrating a seasonal revealing significant differences among stations, no moon-phase effects. The here has implications for fisheries management, as shoal proximity shore renders them prone illegal harvesting (seasonally high abundances), aggravating problem illegal, unreported unregulated fishing. Further considerations on integrated management coastal zone arise, especially effects habitat structural modification pollution.