Use of the coastal areas adjacent to the Douro estuary as a nursery area for pouting, Trisopterus luscus Linnaeus, 1758

In the present study, the nursery role of the coastal areas adjacent to the Douro estuary for pouting, Trisopterus luscus Linnaeus, 1758, was analysed. The distribution and abundance patterns, diet and growth of T. luscus were studied based on samples collected on seven occasions from November 2000 to March 2002 using a 12 m otter‐trawl with 18 mm mesh size at 12 sites within the estuary and six sites in the adjacent coastal areas. This species occurred only in the coastal areas adjacent to the estuary and a marked seasonal pattern was reported, which reflected the peak abundance of juveniles that use this area as a nursery ground. No marked relationships were obtained between T. luscus abundance and the environmental variables considered. Nonetheless, the highest densities of pouting were recorded at sites where water temperature was high compared with the other sampling areas. Diet of T. luscus juveniles was mainly composed of crustaceans Decapoda, Mysidacea and Amphipoda. The growth rate determined for T. luscus juveniles off the Portuguese coast was higher than those reported for North European areas, and was similar to those obtained in the eastern Mediterranean.