Browsing by Author "Otero-Ferrer, Francisco"
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- A synthesis of European seahorse taxonomy, population structure, and habitat use as a basis for assessment, monitoring and conservationPublication . Woodall, Lucy C.; Otero-Ferrer, Francisco; Correia, Miguel; Curtis, Janelle M. R.; Garrick-Maidment, Neil; Shaw, Paul W.; Koldewey, Heather J.Accurate taxonomy, population demography, and habitat descriptors inform species threat assessments and the design of effective conservation measures. Here we combine published studies with new genetic, morphological and habitat data that were collected from seahorse populations located along the European and North African coastlines to help inform management decisions for European seahorses. This study confirms the presence of only two native seahorse species (Hippocampus guttulatus and H. hippocampus) across Europe, with sporadic occurrence of non-native seahorse species in European waters. For the two native species, our findings demonstrate that highly variable morphological characteristics, such as size and presence or number of cirri, are unreliable for distinguishing species. Both species exhibit sex dimorphism with females being significantly larger. Across its range, H. guttulatus were larger and found at higher densities in cooler waters, and individuals in the Black Sea were significantly smaller than in other populations. H. hippocampus were significantly larger in Senegal. Hippocampus guttulatus tends to have higher density populations than H. hippocampus when they occur sympatrically. Although these species are often associated with seagrass beds, data show both species inhabit a wide variety of shallow habitats and use a mixture of holdfasts. We suggest an international mosaic of protected areas focused on multiple habitat types as the first step to successful assessment, monitoring and conservation management of these Data Deficient species.
- 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.
- 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.