Responses of deep-water shrimp populations to intermediate nepheloid layerdetachments on the Northwestern Mediterranean continental margin

A clear link between the distribution of intermediate nepheloid layer detac hments on the Northwestern Mediterranean continental margin and the populat ion structure of five congeneric megafaunal species of deep-water benthic s hrimps inhabiting different depth ranges between 100 and 1100 m. was found. The results of the multidisciplinary approach presented in this study prov ide evidence for the ecological conditions that affect the spatial distribu tion of juveniles and females of a deep-water fishery resource. The signifi cantly higher occurrence of juveniles and females in regions where intermed iate nepheloid layers detach from the seabed allows us to define these area s as potential deep-water nursery habitats. The spatial recognition of thes e habitats could contribute to the management of the stocks concerned and a fford a basis for protecting these vulnerable habitats from fishing pressur e. Overall, our findings furnish support for the hypothesis that deep-water benthic biological processes are linked to pelagic processes, suggesting t hat the detachments of intermediate nepheloid layers serve as one of the ph ysical links between these two environments. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.