Browsing by Author "Gizzi, Francesca"
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- Evaluating fish foraging behaviour on non-indigenous Asparagopsis taxiformis using a remote video foraging systemPublication . Chebaane, Sahar; Pais, Miguel Pessanha; Silva, Rodrigo; Gizzi, Francesca; Triay-Portella, Raül; Florido, Marta; Monteiro, João GamaThe proliferation of pest and invasive marine macroalgae threatens coastal ecosystems, with biotic interactions, including direct effects such as grazing and indirect effects such as the trophic cascades, where one species indirectly affects another through its interactions with a third species, play a critical role in determining the resistance of local communities to these invasions. This study examines the foraging behaviour and preference of native fish communities toward native (Halopteris scoparia, Sargassum vulgare) and non-indigenous (Asparagopsis taxiformis) macroalgae using the Remote Video Foraging System (RVFS). Fifty-four weedpops were deployed across three locations to present these macroalgae, while associated epifaunal assemblages were also collected. Video analysis revealed that four common fish species displayed preference towards native macroalgae, possibly due to by the presence of zoobenthos rather than herbivory. This observation suggests that these fish species identified the macroalgae as a habitat that harboured their preferred food items. In contrast, A. taxiformis was consistently avoided, suggesting limited integration into the local food web. Site-specific variations in fish-macroalgae interactions and epifaunal diversity highlighted the complexity of these dynamics. This study contributes to understanding of the ecological implications of invasive macroalgae and supports the use of RVFS as a tool for assessing local biotic resistance against non-indigenous species in coastal ecosystems globally.
- Exploring foraging preference of local fish species towards non-indigenous fouling communities near marinas: Insights from Remote Video Foraging System (RVFS) trialsPublication . Chebaane, Sahar; Pais, Miguel Pessanha; Engelen, Aschwin; Ramalhosa, Patrício; Silva, Rodrigo; Gizzi, Francesca; Canning-Clode, João; Bernal-Ibáñez, Alejandro; Monteiro, João GamaNon-indigenous species (NIS) spread from marinas to natural environments is influenced by niche availability, habitat suitability, and local biotic resistance. This study explores the effect of indigenous fish feeding behaviour on NIS proliferation using fouling communities, pre-grown on settlement plates, as two distinct, representative models: one from NIS-rich marinas and the other from areas outside marinas with fewer NIS. These plates were mounted on a Remote Video Foraging System (RVFS) near three marinas on Madeira Island. After 24-h, NIS abundance was reduced by 3.5 %. Canthigaster capistrata's preference for marinas plates suggests potential biotic resistance. However, Sparisoma cretense showed equal biting frequencies for both plate types. The cryptogenic ascidian Trididemnum cereum was the preferred target for the fish. Our study introduces a global framework using RVFS for in-situ experiments, replicable across divers contexts (e.g., feeding behaviour, biotic resistance), which can be complemented by metabarcoding and isotopic analysis to confirm consumption patterns.
- A pioneering longterm experiment on mesophotic macrofouling communities in the North AtlanticPublication . Canning-Clode, João; Gizzi, Francesca; Braga-Henriques, Andreia; Ramalhosa, Patrício; Abreu, Pedro; Álvarez, Soledad; Biscoito, Manuel; Buhl-Mortensen, Pål; Delgado, João; Esson, Diane; Freitas, Mafalda; Freitas, Magno; Henriques, Filipe; Jakobsen, Joachim; Jakobsen, Kirsten; Kerckhof, Francis; Lüter, Carsten; Moura, Carlos J.; Radeta, Marko; Rocha, Rosana M.; Santos, Romana; Sepúlveda, Pedro; Silva, Rodrigo; Silva, Teresa; Souto, Javier; Triay-Portella, Raül; Wirtz, Peter; Xavier, Joana R.; Bastida-Zavala, Rolando; Bellou, Nikoleta; Gueroun, Sonia K. M.; Monteiro, João G.The mesophotic zone represents one of our planet's largest and least explored biomes. An increasing number of studies evidence the importance of macrofouling species in marine ecosystems, but information on these communities and the factors influencing their structures at mesophotic depths remain poor. This lack of understanding limits our ability to predict anthropogenic impacts or conduct restoration operations in the mesophotic and the lower boundary of the euphotic zones. In this study, we performed a 24-month experiment in a natural environment to investigate three factors influencing the macrobenthic community structure of the mesophotic and the euphotic lower boundary: depth, substrate orientation and substrate material. Using a manned submersible, several recruitment panels of two different materials were deployed at 100, 200 and 400 meters in vertical and horizontal positions. All three factors contributed to structuring the macrofouling communities, but depth and substrate orientation displayed the strongest effects. This study not only advances our understanding of lower boundary euphotic and mesophotic macrofouling communities but also establishes a foundation for future research and restoration efforts of mesophotic environments in the Madeira archipelago, where mesophotic habitats are amongst the least studied marine habitats in the Northeast Atlantic.