Effects of Po discharge and nutrients on small pelagic fish in the north-western adriatic sea

The small pelagic species, anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus, Linnaeus 1758) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus, Walbaum 1792), represent key species for the Adriatic Sea ecosystem. In the last decade, the status of these stocks turned in an alarming situation as a consequence of an increasing fishing exploitation. However, the fishing activity is probably not the only factor influencing these stocks, also the environmental changes can affect the dynamics of these species (Grbec et al., 2002). The aim of this poster is to investigate the effects of the modifications occurred in the last 40 years of the Po River discharge and the loading of nutrients in the north-western Adriatic Sea (GSA 17).