BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Pomatoschistus microps
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Karen Riley	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	Angus Jackson
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	The common goby is found along all British and Irish coasts.
Global distribution	Its worldwide distribution extends from the Baltic Sea, western Norway to the western Mediterranean.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	Down to 11 m.
Migratory	See additional information
Distribution Additional Information	Pomatoschistus microps is a migratory fish, except where natural or man-made barriers prevent this. In the Atlantic the common goby can migrate for spawning, moving inshore for the breeding season, or to avoid low salinities (Miller, 1975) and temperatures (Nyman, 1953; Jones & Miller, 1966; Araujo et al., 2000). It can be found down to 11 m in depth but normally occurs at < 1 m. It may also follow the incoming tide up over mudflats. Along the coastline it moves into warmer, deeper water for the duration of winter (Barnes, 1994), in particular when sea temperatures drop below 5 °C, but not where minimum sea temperature is above 7 °C (Miller, 1975). The common goby lives in estuary channels where current flow can be considerable. In estuaries the it migrates downstream during the breeding season and also with the onset of maturation (Miller, 1975). In the Mediterranean they tend to be less mobile.

Substratum preferences	Coarse clean sand Fine clean sand Sandy mud Muddy sand Mud Mixed Rockpools Pebbles Gravel / shingle	Physiographic preferences	Open coast Estuary Enclosed coast / Embayment Isolated saline water (Lagoon)
Biological zone	Sublittoral Fringe	Wave exposure	Moderately Exposed Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Insufficient information	Salinity	Low (<18 psu) Variable (18-40 psu) Reduced (18-30 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward et al., 1996, Barnes, 1994, Miller, 1975, Jones & Miller, 1966, Fonds, 1973, Araújo et al., 2000, Nyman, 1953, Eno et al., 1997,