Untitled - CNR

Marine research at CNRFigure 2: Examples of density maps of recruits of: a) Red Mullet - autumn 2004; b)European hake – autumn 1997; c) Horned octopus – spring 2003; d) Deep-water roseshrimp – spring 1996; e) Greater Forkbeard – spring 1999; f) Norway lobster – spring1998; g) Giant red shrimp – spring 2002. The stable nurseries identified for each species(in one or two seasons, depending on the species) are outlined.a variable pattern with a small area of stability(Figure 2c) located along the easternedge of the Adventure Bank. The recruitmentcomponent in the LFDs of the deepwaterrose shrimp was always high, especiallyin spring. The cut-off length variedbetween 14 and 24 mm carapace length(CL) in spring (average cut-off = 18 mmCL) and between 16 and 20 mm CL in autumn(average cut-off = 17 mm CL) (Table1). Recruits were mainly present onthe outer shelf /upper slope, with the mainpeak between 150 and 300 m depth. Thedistribution maps of recruits revealed theexistence of several areas of recruit concentrations.The main area was localizedalong the 200 m isobath in the waters offthe central coast of Sicily and it was persistentin both spring and autumn, therefore itis an important nursery of the deep-waterrose shrimp in the Strait of Sicily (Figure2d). Other areas were identified with somedegree of annual variability on the easternand western sides of the Adventure Bank.Recruitment of the greater forkbeard takesplace in the spring [18]. The cut-off length1983