Estimates of the mortality and the duration of the trans-Atlantic migration of European eel Anguilla anguilla leptocephali using a particle tracking model.
Using Lagrangian simulations, based on circulation models over three different hydroclimatic periods in the last 45 years in the North Atlantic Ocean, the trans-Atlantic migration of the European eel Anguilla anguilla leptocephali was simulated via the passive drift of particles released in the spawning area. Three different behaviours were modelled: drifting at fixed depth, undergoing a vertical migration or choosing the fastest currents. Simulations included mortality hypotheses to estimate a realistic mean migration duration and relative survival of A. anguilla larvae. The mean migration duration was estimated as 21 months and the mortality rate as 3.8 per year, i.e. < 0.2% of A. anguilla larvae may typically survive the trans-Atlantic migration.
Bonhommeau
S
S
Agrocampus Ouest, UMR 985 INRA-Agrocampus Ouest Ecologie et Santé des Ecosystèmes, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Halieutique, Rennes Cedex, France. sylvain.bonhommeau@ifremer.fr
Le Pape
O
O
Gascuel
D
D
Blanke
B
B
Tréguier
A-M
AM
Grima
N
N
Vermard
Y
Y
Castonguay
M
M
Rivot
E
E
D000811:Anguilla / Q000502:physiology*; D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D003198:Computer Simulation; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis