Estimating Muricid abundances from trapping methods used in Mediterranean Tyrian Purple industry

A new statistical method based on a stochastic dynamic model is proposed to assess population abundances of murcid species at scales relevant to both Ancient and Modern artisanal, coastal fisheries. Motivated by the long-term goal of reconstructing the dynamics of exploited murex populations during Antiquity, the objective was to quantify the population density of the banded-dye murex, Hexaplex trunculus (Linnaeus, 1758) from successive captures with baited traps, using a method similar to the technique employed in the Mediterranean purple dye industry. A stochastic model simulating cumulative captures while taking into account high variability was developed and calibrated with data acquired during a field experiment conducted on Crete Island, near Heraklion. Sampling devices were deployed in two shallow water habitats. The traps9 catchability and the Effective Area of Attraction were estimated using the individual speed and behavioural response toward the bait observed during independent laboratory experiments. The average density of H. trunculus was estimated at 2.2 ± 1.4 SE individuals per square meter, with no significant differences between seagrass and rocky habitats, respectively. The clearing time (the time to catch all individuals within reach of the trap) of the successive experiments was 84 ± 6 SE hours, on average. This means that clearing ca. 0.4 ha of subtidal area would be necessary to produce ca. 1.0 g of pure dye pigment. While the method is discussed here with respect to a particular historical context, it is generalizable to making population abundance estimates for other species such as whelks, in modern fisheries.