@article{PAR00007362,
  title = {{F}luctuations in {E}uropean eel ({A}nguilla anguilla) recruitment resulting from environmental changes in the {S}argasso {S}ea},
  author = {{B}onhommeau, {S}. and {C}hassot, {E}mmanuel and {R}ivot, {E}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{E}uropean eel decline is now widely observed and involves a large number of factors such as overfishing, pollution, habitat loss, dam construction, river obstruction, parasitism and environmental changes. {I}n the present study, we analysed the influence of environmental conditions in the {S}argasso {S}ea and {A}tlantic ocean circulation on {E}uropean glass eel recruitment success. {O}ver a recent 11-year period, we showed a strong positive correlation between an original index of glass eel recruitment and primary production in eel spawning area. {M}oreover, primary production was negatively correlated with temperature in the {S}argasso {S}ea. {T}herefore, we used sea temperature as an inverse proxy of marine production. {A} close negative relationship has been found over the last four decades between long-term fluctuations in recruitment and in sea temperature. {T}hese findings were reinforced by the detection of a regime shift in sea temperature that preceded the start of the decline in glass eel recruitment in the early 1980s. {B}y contrast, variations in integrative indices measuring ocean circulation, i.e. latitude and strength of the {G}ulf {S}tream, did not seem to explain variations in glass eel recruitment. {O}ur results support the hypothesis of a strong bottom-up control of leptocephali survival and growth by primary production in the {S}argasso {S}ea on short and long time-scales. {W}e argue that sea warming in the eel spawning area since the early 1980s has modified marine production and eventually affected the survival rate of {E}uropean eels at early life stages.},
  keywords = {{A}nguilla anguilla ; {BATS} ; glass eel ; bottom-up ; primary production ; regime shift ; {SST} ; {S}argasso {S}ea ; recruitment ; {SARGASSES} {MER} ; {ATLANTIQUE} {NORD}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{F}isheries {O}ceanography},
  volume = {17},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {32--44},
  ISSN = {1054-6006},
  year = {2008},
  DOI = {10.1111/j.1365-2419.2007.00453.x},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00007362},
}