Browsing by Author "Saavedra, C."
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Feeding ecology of harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena stranded on the Galician coast (NW Spain) between 1990 and 2018Publication . Hernandez-Gonzalez, A.; Saavedra, C.; Read, F. L.; López, A.; Gouveia, Anabela; Covelo, P.; Alonso-Fernández, A.; Velasco, F.; Santos, M Begoña; Pierce, G. J.Diet studies on the endangered and genetically distinct Iberian population of the southern harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena are scarce. The present study provides updated information on the feeding ecology of this cetacean along the Galician coast (NW Spain) over the last 3 decades (1990-2018). The stomach contents of 72 stranded harbour porpoises were analysed to determine diet composition, to study which factors affect dietary variability and to estimate overlap between harbour porpoise diet and the target species of the fisheries in the study area, one of the most important fishing regions in Europe. Results showed that harbour porpoises are mainly piscivorous. We identified 33 prey taxa, but only 4 were important in the diet: fish of the genus Trisopterus, blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou, Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus and European hake Merluccius merluccius. Interannual and ontogenetic variability in the diet were statistically significant, although differences in diet between sexes or between seasons were not detected. The diet of harbour porpoises from the Galician coast shows a partial overlap with fisheries catches in the area in terms of commercial fish species (approximate to 61%) and size classes (approximate to 45%), confirming the potential vulnerability of the Iberian population to interactions with fishing activities (i.e. bycatch in fishing gear and/or reduced prey availability).
- Population genetics and transcriptomics of Manila Clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) and carpet-shell clam (R. decussatus): implications for aquaculturePublication . Saavedra, C.; Milan, M.; Cordero, D.; Leite, R.; Pena, J. B.; Delgado, M.; Liu, B.; Ruesink, J.; Cancela, M. Leonor; Bargelloni, L.; Patarnello, T.Knowledge of the genetics of populations is essential to understand performance differences among races and local stocks of shellfish species. We have studied the population genetics of the native Asian -but now globally cultured- Manila clam, and the native European carpet-shell clam, which are exploited in Europe by a combination of wild bed harvesting and supplementation with hatchery spat. Using mtDNA and nuclear markers we found that both species show clear phylogeographic breaks at the Mediterranean Sea (carpet-shell clam) and at the East China Sea (Manila clam).