@article {498,
	title = {Depth and substrate type driven patterns in the infralittoral fish assemblage of the NW Mediterranean Sea},
	journal = {Cybium},
	volume = {30},
	year = {2006},
	abstract = {<p>Fish fauna was studied in the coastal area of Portofino Promontory  (Ligurian Sea) by means of visual census techniques to explore the  relationships between fish assemblage, depth and substrate type. Because  of the complexity of substrate types (Posidonia oceanica, rocky bottom,  pebble, sand) and depth ranges (0-3; 3.1-12; 12.1-24 m), two different  visual census methods were used. Sampling was carried out between 1998  and 1999. The data showed that species richness was greater at shallower  depths and positively related with the structural complexity of the  substrate type. Data analysis indicated a strong affinity between fish  assemblages associated with pebble, P. oceanica meadow and rocky bottom,  and confirmed the difference between ichthyofauna from sand and other  substrate types. Depth was the main factor affecting variability in fish  assemblages associated to P. oceanica, pebble and rocky bottom. The  medium size class of fish was generally predominant in all depth and  substrate type, except for the shallower depth range over sand and the  deeper depth range over rocky bottom, where succeed respectively small  and large size classes. The strong evidence of the role of depth and  substrate should be taken into consideration in planning future studies  to characterise fish assemblages in other Italian and Mediterranean  coastal areas.</p>},
	keywords = {assemblage, census, decision making, depth, fauna, fish, fish assemblage, Italy, Ligurian Sea, marine protected area, Mediterranean sea, planning, Portofino, Posidonia oceanica, protected area, rocky shore, r{\^o}le, sand, seagrass, size, species richness, visual census, western Mediterranean},
	author = {L. Tunesi and M. Mori and E. Salvati and A. Molinari}
}
