Field studies of seahorse population density, structure and habitat use in a semi-closed north-eastern Mediterranean marine area (Stratoni, north Aegean Sea)

The present study was carried out in the marine area of Stratoni, Greece, where two seahorse species are present (Hippocampus hippocampus and H. guttulatus). Two surveys were conducted (September 2016, May 2019) to gather information regarding seahorse species’ abundance, distribution and habitat characteristics. Four different seahorse natural and artificial habitat types were identified. Results revealed that the abundance of H. hippocampus was relatively high, especially at sites with artificial structures, while the presence of H. guttulatus was rare. Data collected can provide baseline information for future population assessments.Project Seahorse. This work was supported by Hellas Gold (https://www.hellas-gold.com/). FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology through project UIDB/04326/2020, and from the operational programmes CRESC Algarve 2020 and COMPETE 2020 through project EMBRC.PT ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio