LAUSR

The distribution of fishes at early development stages in a 0–100 m water layer (0–bottom) in the northern part of the Central East Atlantic (northern and southern parts of Morocco and Mauritania) is considered using multivariate analysis methods. The distribution of different ecological fish groups at their early development stages can be analyzed using data on the number of eggs and larvae of fish with certain localization patterns. Two independent ecological groups are often differentiated in the study areas: mesopelagic group (far from the coast), which includes representatives of the families Myctophidae and Gonostomatidae, and neritic (coastal) group, which includes representatives of the families Clupeidae and Sparidae. The methodology used for analyzing the material makes it possible to objectively assess the similarity and difference in the species structure and distribution features of mass fishes in their early ontogenesis.