2 sites on the western coast of Portugal (at the mouth of Tagus and Sado rivers) and 1 site on the south coast of Portugal (at Ria Formosa)

Fish morphology, age and physiology; Fish abundance in water bodies; Fish taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of the bed; Fish taxonomy-related counts; Fish behaviour; Habitat characterisation; Habitat extent

Pelagic trawl nets; manual biota samplers; observers

The breeding seasons and breeding ecology in Portuguese waters has been described for the blenniids (Pisces: Blenniidae) Coryphoblennius galerita, Lipophrys pholis, L. canevae, Parablennius pilicornis and Salaria pavo, the gobiid (Pisces: Gobiidae) Gobius cobitis and the gobiesocid (Pisces: Gobiesocidae) Lepadogaster lepadogaster purpurea. For some of these species data are also available on population structure, timing of appearance of first juveniles in the shore, growth rates of 0+ group fishes, microhabitat differences among sexes and size classes and variation of condition factor. Bioenergetic data are being worked out. This program is intended to be continued on a long term basis and include an increasing number of species, in order to form a database on the fish communities of the rocky shores in Portuguese waters and their relation with climate change.

Institute of Applied Psychology, Lisbon, UIE, Eco-Ethology Research Unit (IMAR network)
Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34 Portugal
Lisbon
Lisbon
1149-041
Portugal