| European hake (Merluccius merluccius) is a commercial and ecological important species in the Gulf of Lions. Juveniles are mainly located on the continental shelf, and abundance of smaller individuals (< 15 cm) is highest during spring in deeper areas principally. Juvenile hake (5 to 24 cm) density, relative condition factor, food resources and food web structure were investigated in four locations of the continental shelf (distributed with depth : shallow-deep, and distance from the Rhone river mouth : Rhone-Agde) during three springs (2002-2003-2004). Changes of food resources were identified with hake length, spatio-temporal variations were also observed for smaller juveniles (< 15 cm). Despite of hake prey diversity, the same organic source is at... |
