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- Genetic and oceanographic tools reveal high population connectivity and diversity in the endangered pen shell Pinna nobilisPublication . Wesselmann, Marlene; Gonzalez-Wanguemert, Mercedes; Serrao, Ester A.; Engelen, Aschwin H.; Renault, Lionel; Garcia-March, Jose R.; Duarte, Carlos M.; Hendriks, IrisFor marine meta-populations with source-sink dynamics knowledge about genetic connectivity is important to conserve biodiversity and design marine protected areas (MPAs). We evaluate connectivity of a Mediterranean sessile species, Pinna nobilis. To address a large geographical scale, partial sequences of cytochrome oxidase I (COI, 590 bp) were used to evaluate phylogeographical patterns in the Western Mediterranean, and in the whole basin using overlapping sequences from the literature (243 bp). Additionally, we combined (1) larval trajectories based on oceanographic currents and early life-history traits and (2) 10 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci collected in the Western Mediterranean. COI results provided evidence for high diversity and low inter-population differentiation. Microsatellite genotypes showed increasing genetic differentiation with oceanographic transport time (isolation by oceanographic distance (IBD) set by marine currents). Genetic differentiation was detected between Banyuls and Murcia and between Murcia and Mallorca. However, no genetic break was detected between the Balearic populations and the mainland. Migration rates together with numerical Lagrangian simulations showed that (i) the Ebro Delta is a larval source for the Balearic populations (ii) Alicante is a sink population, accumulating allelic diversity from nearby populations. The inferred connectivity can be applied in the development of MPA networks in the Western Mediterranean.
- Highly polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Mediterranean endemic fan mussel Pinna nobilisPublication . Gonzalez-Wanguemert, Mercedes; Costa, J.; Basso, L.; Duarte, C. M.; Serrão, Ester; Hendriks, IrisPinna nobilis is an endemic bivalve of the Mediterranean Sea whose populations have decreased in the last decades due to human pressure; as a consequence, it was declared a protected species in 1992. Despite its conservation status, few genetic studies using mitochondrial markers have been published. We report on the isolation and development of 10 microsatellite loci for the fan mussel, Pinna nobilis. All loci (2 di-nucleotide, 5 tri-nucleotide, 2 tetra-nucleotide and 1 penta-nucleotide) are characterized by high levels of polymorphism in 76 individuals tested from two populations in the Balearic Islands (Spain, Western Mediterranean Sea). The number of alleles ranged from 4 to 24 and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.4269 to 0.9400. These microsatellites could be very useful for the assessment of the genetic diversity and connectivity patterns of P. nobilis and the establishment of new conservation strategies.
- Spatial synchronies in the seasonal occurrence of larvae of oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and mussels (Mytilus edulis/galloprovincialis) in European coastal watersPublication . Philippart, C. J. M.; Araújo Amaral, Ana Margarida; Asmus, R.; van Bleijswijk, J.; Bremner, J.; Buchholz, F.; Cabanellas-Reboredo, M.; Catarino, D.; Cattrijsse, A.; Charles, F.; Comtet, T.; Cunha, A. H.; Deudero, S.; Duchêne, J. - C.; Fraschetti, S.; Gentil, F.; Gittenberger, A.; Guizien, Katell; Gonçalves, Jorge Manuel Santos; Guarnieri, G.; Hendriks, Iris; Hussel, B.; Vieira, R. P.; Reijnen, B. T.; Sampaio, I.; Serrão, Ester; Pinto, I. S.; Thiebaut, E.; Viard, F.; Zuur, A. F.Reproductive cycles of marine invertebrates with complex life histories are considered to be synchronized by water temperature and feeding conditions, which vary with season and latitude. This study analyses seasonal variation in the occurrence of oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and mussel (Mytilus edulis/galloprovincialis) larvae across European coastal waters at a synoptic scale (1000s of km) using standardised methods for sampling and molecular analyses. We tested a series of hypotheses to explain the observed seasonal patterns of occurrence of bivalve larvae at 12 European stations (located between 37 N and 60 N and 27 W and 18 E). These hypotheses included a model that stated that there was no synchronisation in seasonality of larval presence at all between the locations (null hypothesis), a model that assumed that there was one common seasonality pattern for all stations within Europe, and various models that supposed that the variation in seasonality could be grouped according to specific spatial scales (i.e., latitude, large marine ecosystems and ecoregions), taxonomic groups, or several combinations of these factors. For oysters, the best models explaining the presence/absence of larvae in European coastal waters were (1) the model that assumed one common seasonal pattern, and (2) the one that, in addition to this common pattern, assumed an enhanced probability of occurrence from south to north. The third best model for oysters, with less empirical support than the first two, stated that oysters reproduced later in the south than in the north. For mussels, the best models explaining the seasonality in occurrence of larvae were (1) the model that assumed four underlying trends related to large marine ecosystems, and (2) the one that assumed one common seasonal pattern for larvae occurrence throughout Europe. Such synchronies in larval occurrences suggest that environmental conditions relevant to bivalve larval survival are more or less similar at large spatial scales from 100s to 1000s of km. To unravel the underlying mechanisms for this synchronisation is of particular interest in the light of changing environmental conditions as the result of global climate change and the possible consequences for marine food webs and ecosystem services.
- The future of Blue Carbon sciencePublication . Macreadie, Peter I.; Anton, Andrea; Raven, John A.; Beaumont, Nicola; Connolly, Rod M.; Friess, Daniel A.; Kelleway, Jeffrey J.; Kennedy, Hilary; Kuwae, Tomohiro; Lavery, Paul S.; Lovelock, Catherine E.; Smale, Dan A.; Apostolaki, Eugenia T.; Atwood, Trisha B.; Baldock, Jeff; Bianchi, Thomas S.; Chmura, Gail L.; Eyre, Bradley D.; Fourqurean, James W.; Hall-Spencer, Jason; Huxham, Mark; Hendriks, Iris; Krause-Jensen, Dorte; Laffoley, Dan; Luisetti, Tiziana; Marbà, Núria; Masque, Pere; McGlathery, Karen J.; Megonigal, J. Patrick; Murdiyarso, Daniel; Russell, Bayden D.; Santos, Rui; Serrano, Oscar; Silliman, Brian R.; Watanabe, Kenta; Duarte, Carlos M.The term Blue Carbon (BC) was first coined a decade ago to describe the disproportionately large contribution of coastal vegetated ecosystems to global carbon sequestration. The role of BC in climate change mitigation and adaptation has now reached international prominence. To help prioritise future research, we assembled leading experts in the field to agree upon the top-ten pending questions in BC science. Understanding how climate change affects carbon accumulation in mature BC ecosystems and during their restoration was a high priority. Controversial questions included the role of carbonate and macroalgae in BC cycling, and the degree to which greenhouse gases are released following disturbance of BC ecosystems. Scientists seek improved precision of the extent of BC ecosystems; techniques to determine BC provenance; understanding of the factors that influence sequestration in BC ecosystems, with the corresponding value of BC; and the management actions that are effective in enhancing this value. Overall this overview provides a comprehensive road map for the coming decades on future research in BC science.