Can thin-lipped mullet directly exploit the primary and detritic production of European macrotidal salt marshes?

Pascal Laffaille (1, 2) , Eric Feunteun (1) , C. Lefebvre (1) , Alain Radureau (1) , Gaël Sagan (1) , Jean-Claude Lefeuvre (1)

1 ECOBIO - Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution [Rennes]
2 CESAC - Centre d'Ecologie des Systèmes Aquatiques Continentaux

Juveniles and adults (>100 mm) of Liza ramada colonize macrotidal salt marsh creeks of Mont Saint-Michel bay (France)between March and November, during spring tide floods (43% of the tides) and return to coastal waters during the ebb. This fish species actively feeds during its short stay in the creek (from 1 to 2 h). On average, each fish swallows sediment including living and inert organic matter, which amounts to 8% of its fresh body weight. Their diet is dominated by small benthic items (especially diatoms and salt marsh plant detritus), that correspond to the primary and detritic production of this macrotidal salt marsh creek. Despite very short submersion periods, mullets filter and ingest large quantities of sediment and concentrated organic matter (on average organic matter in stomach content is 31%) produced by these coastal wetlands. European salt marshes are thus shown to act as trophic areas for mullets, which are well adapted to this constraining habitat which is only flooded for short periods during spring tides.

Mots clés: Liza ramada; Tidal salt marsh; Feeding; Adaptation; Organic matter fluxes

Domaines: Biodiversité; Ecologie, Environnement

Pascal Laffaille, Eric Feunteun, C. Lefebvre, Alain Radureau, Gaël Sagan, et al.. Can thin-lipped mullet directly exploit the primary and detritic production of European macrotidal salt marshes?. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2002, Vol. 54, pp.729-736. ⟨10.1006/ecss.2001.0855⟩. ⟨hal-00793410⟩