Estimates of the mortality and the duration of the trans-Atlantic migration of European eel Anguilla anguilla leptocephali using a particle tracking model |
| |
| Authors: | S Bonhommeau O Le Pape D Gascuel B Blanke A-M Tréguier N Grima Y Vermard M Castonguay and E Rivot |
| |
| Institution: | Agrocampus Ouest, UMR 985 INRA-Agrocampus Ouest Ecologie et Santédes Ecosystèmes, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Halieutique, 65 rue de St-Brieuc, CS 84215, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France; , Laboratoire de Physique des Océans, CNRS-IFREMER-IRD-UBO, UFR Sciences et Techniques 6 avenue Le Gorgeu - CS 93837, 29238 Brest Cedex 3, France; and Pêches et Océans Canada, Institut Maurice Lamontagne, 850 route de la Mer, C.P. 1000, Mont-Joli, Québec, G5H 3Z4 Canada |
| |
| Abstract: | Using Lagrangian simulations, based on circulation models over three different hydroclimatic periods in the last 45 years in the North Atlantic Ocean, the trans-Atlantic migration of the European eel Anguilla anguilla leptocephali was simulated via the passive drift of particles released in the spawning area. Three different behaviours were modelled: drifting at fixed depth, undergoing a vertical migration or choosing the fastest currents. Simulations included mortality hypotheses to estimate a realistic mean migration duration and relative survival of A. anguilla larvae. The mean migration duration was estimated as 21 months and the mortality rate as 3·8 per year, i.e . < 0·2% of A. anguilla larvae may typically survive the trans-Atlantic migration. |
| |
| Keywords: | Lagrangian modelling leptocephalus mortality migration duration |
|
|
