Condition of Salaria pavo in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon (SE Iberian Peninsula): potential influence of environmental variables on juveniles

The relationship at the local level between fish condition and environmental variables was investigated in Salaria pavo (peacock blenny) juveniles. The relationships between fish condition and 18 environmental variables of shallow areas of the lagoon relating to intra‐ and interspecific fish interactions, water quality and habitat structure, were analysed. The study revealed that water depth and S. pavo biomass (both related to intraspecific fish interactions) were the ecological variables accounting for most of the variation in the condition of S. pavo juveniles, in this case a negative effect. In this way, the condition of S. pavo juvenile populations may be a good indicator of fish density interactions.