Environmental Conditions along Tuna Larval Dispersion: Insights on the Spawning Habitat and Impact on Their Development Stages

Estimated larval backward trajectories of three Tuna species, namely, Atlantic Bluefin (Thunnus thynnus, Linnaeus, 1758), Bullet (Auxis Rochei, Risso, 1801) and Albacore alalunga, Bonnaterre, 1788) in the central Mediterranean Sea, were used to characterize their spawning habitats, assess impact changes due major environmental parameters (i.e., sea surface temperature chlorophyll-a concentration) on development during advection by currents. We assumed that variability experienced larvae along paths may have influenced development, also affecting survival. Our results showed underwent an accelerated growth favorable conditions, impacting notochord development. In addition, further updated information retention habitats Tuna, Tunas Sea delivered.