Evaluation of the seahorse Hippocampus guttulatus home range size at Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean Sea, Italy)

Knowledge of the biological cycles and interactions with the environment represents a fundamental requisite for drafting management protocols for threatened species and those with the fragmented distribution. Seahorses, emblematic fish with particular life cycle traits, are considered at risk by many national and international laws due to the modification and loss of suitable habitats. Furthermore, they are also threatened by fisheries and collected for traditional oriental medicines. Despite this, knowledge about their ecology results fragmented, and this is especially true for the Mediterranean Sea. The population of Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea) is considered one of the most important in the Mediterranean Sea. However, it shows signs of fragility due to the ecological structure and intense use of the basin for industrial and productive purposes. The present two-year study, conducted at Mar Piccolo of Taranto, investigates the dynamics of small-scale displacement in seahorses in relation to size and sex. The results showed an important variation both in size distribution between two years and in home range sizes between males, females, adults and juveniles.