Percorrer por autor "Espino, Fernando"
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- Drivers of variation in seagrass-associated amphipods across biogeographical areasPublication . Navarro-Mayoral, Sandra; Tuya, Fernando; Prado, Patricia; Marco-Méndez, Candela; Fernandez-Gonzalez, Victoria; Fernández-Torquemada, Yolanda; Espino, Fernando; Antonio de la Ossa, Jose; Vilella, David Mateu; Machado, Margarida; Martínez-Crego, BegoñaAmphipods are one of the dominant epifaunal groups in seagrass meadows. However, our understanding of the biogeographical patterns in the distribution of these small crustaceans is limited. In this study, we investigated such patterns and the potential drivers in twelve Cymodocea nodosa meadows within four distinctive biogeo-graphical areas across 2000 Km and 13 degrees of latitude in two ocean basins (Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean). We found that species abundances in the assemblage of seagrass-associated amphipods differed among areas following a pattern largely explained by seagrass leaf area and epiphyte biomass, while the variation pattern in species presence/absence was determined by seagrass density and epiphyte biomass. Seagrass leaf area was also the most important determinant of greater amphipod total density and species richness, while amphipod density also increased with algal cover. Overall, our results evidenced that biogeographical patterns of variation in amphipod assemblages are mainly influenced by components of the habitat structure, which covary with envi-ronmental conditions, finding that structurally more complex meadows harboring higher abundance and rich-ness of amphipods associated.
- Effect of Depth across a Latitudinal Gradient in the Structure of Rhodolith Seabeds and Associated Biota across the Eastern Atlantic OceanPublication . Pérez-Peris, Inés; Navarro-Mayoral, Sandra; de Esteban, Marcial Cosme; Tuya, Fernando; Peña, Viviana; Barbara, Ignacio; Neves, Pedro; Ribeiro, Cláudia; Abreu, Antonio; Grall, Jacques; Espino, Fernando; Bosch, Nestor Echedey; Haroun, Ricardo; Otero-Ferrer, FranciscoRhodolith seabeds are 'ecosystem engineers' composed of free-living calcareous red macroalgae, which create extensive marine habitats. This study addressed how depth influenced the structure (size and morphology) of rhodoliths and the abundance of associated floral and faunal epibionts across the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. Sampling was carried out at two sites within five regions (Brittany, Galicia, Madeira, Gran Canaria, and Principe Island), from temperate to tropical, covering a latitudinal gradient of 47 degrees, in three depth strata (shallow, intermediate and deep), according to the rhodolith bathymetrical range in each region. Depth typically affected the rhodolith size at all regions; the largest nodules were found in the intermediate and deep strata, while rhodolith sphericity was larger at the shallow depth strata. Higher biomasses of attached macroalgae (epiphytes) were observed at depths where rhodoliths were larger. The abundance of epifauna was variable across regions and depth strata. In general, the occurrence, structure, and abundance of the associated biota across rhodolith habitats were affected by depth, with local variability (i.e., sites within regions) often displaying a more significant influence than the regional (large-scale) variation. Overall, this study showed that the rhodolith morphology and associated epibionts (flora and fauna) were mostly affected by depth, irrespective of latitude.
- Levelling-up rhodolith-bed science to address global-scale conservation challengesPublication . Tuya, Fernando; Schubert, Nadine; Aguirre, Julio; Basso, Daniela; Bastos, Eduardo O.; Berchez, Flávio; Bernardino, Angelo F.; Bosch, Néstor E.; Burdett, Heidi L.; Espino, Fernando; Fernández-Gárcia, Cindy; Francini-Filho, Ronaldo B.; Gagnon, Patrick; Hall-Spencer, Jason M.; Haroun, Ricardo; Hofmann, Laurie C.; Horta, Paulo A.; Kamenos, Nicholas A.; Le Gall, Line; Magris, Rafael A.; Martin, Sophie; Nelson, Wendy A.; Neves, Pedro; Olivé, Irene; Otero-Ferrer, Francisco; Peña, Viviana; Pereira-Filho, Guilherme H.; Ragazzola, Federica; Rebelo, Ana Cristina; Ribeiro, Cláudia; Rinde, Eli; Schoenrock, Kathryn; Silva, João; Sissini, Marina N.; Tâmega, Frederico T. S.Global marine conservation remains fractured by an imbalance in research efforts and policy actions, limiting progression towards sustainability. Rhodolith beds represent a prime example, as they have ecological importance on a global scale, provide a wealth of ecosystem functions and services, including biodiversity provision and potential climate change mit-igation, but remain disproportionately understudied, compared to other coastal ecosystems (tropical coral reefs, kelp for-ests, mangroves, seagrasses). Although rhodolith beds have gained some recognition, as important and sensitive habitats at national/regional levels during the last decade, there is still a notable lack of information and, consequently, specific conservation efforts. We argue that the lack of information about these habitats, and the significant ecosystem services they provide, is hindering the development of effective conservation measures and limiting wider marine conservation success. This is becoming a pressing issue, considering the multiple severe pressures and threats these habitats are exposed to (e.g., pollution, fishing activities, climate change), which may lead to an erosion of their ecological function and eco-system services. By synthesizing the current knowledge, we provide arguments to highlight the importance and urgency of levelling-up research efforts focused on rhodolith beds, combating rhodolith bed degradation and avoiding the loss of associated biodiversity, thus ensuring the sustainability of future conservation programs.
- “Pink power”—the importance of coralline algal beds in the oceanic carbon cyclePublication . Schubert, Nadine; Tuya, Fernando; Peña, Viviana; Horta, Paulo A.; Salazar, Vinícius W.; Neves, Pedro; Ribeiro, Cláudia; Otero-Ferrer, Francisco; Espino, Fernando; Schoenrock, Kathryn; Ragazzola, Federica; Olivé, Irene; Giaccone, Thalassia; Nannini, Matteo; Mangano, M. Cristina; Sará, Gianluca; Mancuso, Francesco Paolo; Tantillo, Mario Francesco; Bosch-Belmar, Mar; Martin, Sophie; Gall, Line Le; Santos, Rui; Silva, joãoCurrent evidence suggests that macroalgal-dominated habitats are important contributors to the oceanic carbon cycle, though the role of those formed by calcifiers remains controversial. Globally distributed coralline algal beds, built by pink coloured rhodoliths and maerl, cover extensive coastal shelf areas of the planet, but scarce information on their productivity, net carbon flux dynamics and carbonate deposits hampers assessing their contribution to the overall oceanic carbon cycle. Here, our data, covering large bathymetrical (2–51 m) and geographical ranges (53°N–27°S), show that coralline algal beds are highly productive habitats that can express substantial carbon uptake rates (28–1347 g C m−2 ), which vary in function of light availability and species composition and exceed reported estimates for other major macroalgal habitats. This high productivity, together with their substantial carbonate deposits (0.4–38 kilotons), renders coralline algal beds as highly relevant contributors to the present and future oceanic carbon cycle.
- Rhodolith physiology across the atlantic: towards a better mechanistic understanding of Intra- and interspecific differencesPublication . Schubert, Nadine; Peña, Viviana; Salazar, Vinícius W.; Horta, Paulo A.; Neves, Pedro; Ribeiro, Cláudia; Otero-Ferrer, Francisco; Tuya, Fernando; Espino, Fernando; Schoenrock, Kathryn; Hofmann, Laurie C.; Le Gall, Line; Santos, Rui; Silva, JoãoCoralline algae are important components in a large variety of ecosystems. Among them, rhodoliths are a group of free-living coralline red algae that cover extensive coastal areas, from tropical to polar regions. In contrast to other ecosystem engineers, limited research efforts preclude our understanding of their physiology, underlying mechanisms, drivers and potential differences related to species under varying environments. In this study, we investigated the photosynthetic and calcification mechanisms of six Atlantic rhodolith species from different latitudes, as well as intra-specific differences in one species from four locations. Laboratory incubations under varying light levels provided simultaneous photosynthesis- and calcification-irradiance curves, allowing the assessment of inter- and intra-specific differences on the coupling between these two processes. Stable isotope analysis and specific inhibitor experiments were performed to characterize and compare carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs), as well as the involvement of specific ion-transporters for calcification. Our findings showed significant differences in rhodolith physiological mechanisms that were partially driven by local environmental conditions (light, temperature). High variability was found in the coupling between photosynthesis and calcification, in CCM-strategies, and in the importance of specific ion transporters and enzymes involved in calcification. While calcification was strongly correlated with photosynthesis in all species, the strength of this link was species-specific. Calcification was also found to be reliant on hotosynthesis- and light-independent processes. The latter showed a high plasticity in their expression among species, also influenced by the local environment. Overall, our findings demonstrate that (1) rhodolith calcification is a biologically-controlled process and (2) the mechanisms associated with photosynthesis and calcification display a large variability among species, suggesting potential differences not only in their individual, but also community responses to environmental changes, such as climate change.