Percorrer por autor "Pais, Miguel Pessanha"
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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.
- From plates to baits: using a remote video foraging system to study the impact of foraging on fouling non-indigenous speciesPublication . Chebaane, Sahar; Canning-Clode, João; Ramalhosa, Patrício; Belz, Janina; Castro, Nuno; Órfão, Inês; Sempere-Valverde, Juan; Engelen, Aschwin; Pais, Miguel Pessanha; Monteiro, João GamaMarinas are a gateway for the introduction and establishment of non-indigenous species (NIS). In these habitats, competition and predation are crucial determinants for NIS establishment and invasiveness. However, fish trophic preferences and biotic effects inside marinas are poorly known. This study proposes a novel method that combines the deployment of settlement plates to recruit different assemblages, followed by their use as bait in remote underwater video systems. This combined approach, addressed as a remote video foraging system (RVFS), can record fish foraging behaviour, including feeding choices and their impacts on fouling assemblage composition. An experimental RVFS trial carried out in a marina of Madeira Island, Portugal (NE Atlantic), identified the Mediterranean parrotfish, Sparisoma cretense, as the most important fouling grazer in the area. S. cretense behaved as a generalist and increased the heterogeneity of fouling assemblages, which can hamper NIS dominance of the fouling and reduce the pressure of propagules from the marina to the natural environment. The RVFS tool was useful to understand the trophic links between foragers and fouling and has the potential to provide relevant information for the management of NIS introductions, establishment and spread.