The new aquatic fauna of southern Portugal and their potential as economic resources: a collaborative merge between science and society

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New records of fish species from the coast of Luanda, Angola

Publication . Baptista, Vânia; Encarnação, João; Serrao, Ester; Wirtz, Peter; Barros, Lueji; Faria, Silvana; Teodosio, MA

The coastal waters of Angola support a rich and diverse fauna. However, the ichthyofauna of the region is poorly known; the only fish species studied in detail are those with commercial importance. The main objective of the present study is to report the presence of several fish species for the first time from the coast of Angola. The records were made during a survey in the coastal area of Luanda Island. Species were identified based on photographs taken during SCUBA diving surveys. In the present study, we report for the first time the occurrence of seven fish species in the Angolan region, belonging to six families: Pomacanthidae (Guinean angelfish Holacanthus africanus), Pomacentridae (African sergeant Abudefduf hoefleri), Labridae (Guinean rainbow wrasse Coris atlantica and Newton's wrasse Thalassoma newtoni), Scaridae (Guinean parrotfish Scarus hoefleri), Blenniidae (oyster blenny Hypleurochilus aequipinnis), and Tetraodontidae (sharpnose-puffer Canthigaster capistrata). These records from Luanda Island are the southernmost known for the species reported here.

2021Journal article

Restricted access

Free Pass through the Pillars of Hercules? Genetic and historical insights Into the recent expansion of the Atlantic Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus to the West and the East of the Strait of Gibraltar

Publication . González-Ortegón, Enrique; Berger, Selina; Encarnação, João; Chairi, Hicham; Morais, Pedro; Teodosio, Maria; Oliva-Paterna, Francisco J.; Schubart, Christoph D.; Cuesta, Jose A.

The invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus has considerably extended its distribution along the Gulf of Cadiz and Moroccan coasts in the northeast Atlantic. This could indicate a new introduction event in the Gulf of Cadiz from the native area, in case of detectable genetic differences from the Mediterranean Sea populations. To test this and reconstruct the invasion, we assessed the genetic structure of crabs in the Gulf of Cadiz and Alboran Sea. We used sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), in almost its full length (1511 basepairs), of 149 individuals from three sites along the Spanish Mediterranean coast, two in the Alboran Sea, and two in the Gulf of Cadiz. Our data reveal low genetic variability, with only two haplotypes (here referred to as CSWM1 and CSWM2), compared to its known high genetic diversity in the native range, indicating a strong founder effect in the study region. Here we document an inversion of haplotype predominance between regions, haplotype CSWM2 being dominant in most of the Spanish Mediterranean coast, but less frequent in the Gulf of Cadiz and Alboran Sea. This suggests a secondary introduction of propagules into the investigated area, rather than a new introduction from the native area, nor a natural westward expansion with environmental selection of one haplotype over the other. Further studies with additional populations would help to better unveil the history of yet another invasive species in the Gulf of Cadiz.

2022Journal article

Open access

First record of the nudibranch tenellia adspersa (Nordmann, 1845) in Portugal, associated with the invasive hydrozoan cordylophora caspia (Pallas, 1771)

Publication . Encarnação, João; Seyer, Thomas; Teodosio, Maria; Leitão, Francisco

The estuarine nudibranch Tenellia adspersa (Nordmann, 1845) was recorded for the first time in Portugal, while sampling for fouling fauna of artificial structures along the salinity gradient of the Guadiana estuary (SW Iberian Peninsula). Two specimens were found in association with the invasive hydrozoan Cordylophora caspia (Pallas, 1771) and kept in the laboratory for taxonomy purposes. After two days, batches of eggs were seen in C. caspia branches, while the nudibranchs were also actively feeding on the hydrozoan polyps. The fast generation times of T. adspersa, along with its food preference for C. caspia, might suggest a positive role of the nudibranch on controlling this invasive hydrozoan in the Guadiana estuary. Introduction routes and facilitation interactions are discussed.

2020Journal article

Open access

A horizon scan exercise for aquatic invasive alien species in Iberian inland waters

Publication . Oficialdegui, Francisco J.; Zamora-Marín, José M.; Guareschi, Simone; Anastácio, Pedro M.; García-Murillo, Pablo; Ribeiro, Filipe; Miranda, Rafael; Cobo, Fernando; Gallardo, Belinda; García-Berthou, Emili; Boix, Dani; Arias, Andrés; Cuesta, Jose A.; Medina, Leopoldo; Almeida, David; Banha, Filipe; Barca, Sandra; Biurrun, Idoia; Cabezas, M. Pilar; Calero, Sara; Campos, Juan A.; Capdevila-Argüelles, Laura; Capinha, César; Casals, Frederic; Clavero, Miguel; Encarnação, João; Fernández-Delgado, Carlos; Franco, Javier; Guillén, Antonio; Hermoso, Virgilio; Machordom, Annie; Martelo, Joana; Mellado-Díaz, Andrés; Morcillo, Felipe; Oscoz, Javier; Perdices, Anabel; Pou-Rovira, Quim; Rodríguez-Merino, Argantonio; Ros, Macarena; Ruiz-Navarro, Ana; Sánchez, Marta I.; Sánchez-Fernández, David; Sánchez-González, Jorge R.; Sánchez-Gullón, Enrique; Teodosio, M A; Torralva, Mar; Vieira-Lanero, Rufino; Oliva-Paterna, Francisco J.

As the number of introduced species keeps increasing unabatedly, identifying and prioritising current and potential In-vasive Alien Species (IAS) has become essential to manage them. Horizon Scanning (HS), defined as an exploration of potential threats, is considered a fundamental component of IAS management. By combining scientific knowledge on taxa with expert opinion, we identified the most relevant aquatic IAS in the Iberian Peninsula, i.e., those with the greatest geographic extent (or probability of introduction), severe ecological, economic and human health impacts, greatest difficulty and acceptability of management. We highlighted the 126 most relevant IAS already present in Ibe-rian inland waters (i.e., Concern list) and 89 with a high probability of being introduced in the near future (i.e., Alert list), of which 24 and 10 IAS, respectively, were considered as a management priority after receiving the highest scores in the expert assessment (i.e., top-ranked IAS). In both lists, aquatic IAS belonging to the four thematic groups (plants, freshwater invertebrates, estuarine invertebrates, and vertebrates) were identified as having been introduced through various pathways from different regions of the world and classified according to their main functional feeding groups. Also, the latest update of the list of IAS of Union concern pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 includes only 12 top-ranked IAS identified for the Iberian Peninsula, while the national lists incorporate the vast majority of them. This fact underlines the great importance of taxa prioritisation exercises at biogeographical scales as a step prior to risk anal-yses and their inclusion in national lists. This HS provides a robust assessment and a cost-effective strategy for decision -makers and stakeholders to prioritise the use of limited resources for IAS prevention and management. Although ap-plied at a transnational level in a European biodiversity hotspot, this approach is designed for potential application at any geographical or administrative scale, including the continental one.

2023Journal article

Open access

A multi-taxa assessment of aquatic non-indigenous species introduced into Iberian freshwater and transitional waters

Publication . Zamora-Marín, Jose M.; Ruiz-Navarro, Ana; Oficialdegui, Francisco J.; Anastácio, Pedro M.; Miranda, Rafael; García-Murillo, Pablo; Cobo, Fernando; Ribeiro, Filipe; Gallardo, Belinda; García-Berthou, Emili; Boix, Dani; Medina, Leopoldo; Morcillo, Felipe; Oscoz, Javier; Guillén, Antonio; Herrero-Reyes, Antonio A.; Aguiar, Francisca C.; Almeida, David; Arias, Andrés; Ayres, César; Banha, Filipe; Barca, Sandra; Biurrun, Idoia; Cabezas, M. Pilar; Calero, Sara; Campos, Juan A.; Capdevila-Argüelles, Laura; Capinha, César; Carapeto, André; Casals, Frederic; Chainho, Paula; Cirujano, Santos; Clavero, Miguel; Cuesta, Jose A.; Deltoro, Vicente; Encarnação, João; Fernández-Delgado, Carlos; Franco, Javier; García-Meseguer, Antonio J.; Guareschi, Simone; Guerrero-Gómez, Adrián; Hermoso, Virgilio; López-Cañizares, Celia; López-Soriano, Joaquín; Machordom, Annie; Martelo, Joana; Mellado-Díaz, Andrés; Moreno, Juan C.; Olivo del Amo, Rosa; Otero, J. Carlos; Perdices, Anabel; Pou-Rovira, Quim; Quiñonero-Salgado, Sergio; Rodríguez-Merino, Argantonio; Ros, Macarena; Sánchez-Gullón, Enrique; Sánchez, Marta I.; Sánchez-Fernández, David; Sánchez-González, Jorge R.; Soriano, Oscar; Teodosio, M A; Torralva, Mar; Vieira-Lanero, Rufino; Zamora-López, Antonio; Oliva-Paterna, Francisco J.

Aquatic ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS), lead-ing to multi-faceted ecological, economic and health impacts worldwide. The Iberian Peninsula comprises an exceptionally biodiverse Mediterranean region with a high number of threatened and endemic aquatic species, most of them strongly impacted by biological invasions. Following a structured approach that combines a systematic review of available information and expert opinion, we provide a comprehensive and updated multi-taxa inventory of aquatic NIS (fungi, macroalgae, vascular plants, invertebrates and vertebrates) in Iberian inland waters. Moreover, we assess overall patterns in the establishment status, in-troduction pathways, native range and temporal introduction trends of listed NIS. In addition, we discuss the legal coverage provided by both national (Spanish and Portuguese) and European NIS regulations. We inventoried 326 aquatic NIS in Iberian inland waters, including 215 established, 96 with uncertain estab-lishment status and 15 cryptogenic taxa. Invertebrates (54.6%) and vertebrates (24.5%) were the groups with the highest number of NIS, with Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Chordata being the most represented phyla. Recorded NIS originated from diverse geographic regions, with North and South America being the most frequent. Vertebrates and vascular plants were mostly introduced through intentional pathways (i.e. release and escape), whereas invertebrates and macroalgae arrived mostly through unintentional ways (i.e. contaminant or stowaway). Most of the recorded NIS were introduced in Iberian inland waters over the second half of the 20th century, with a high number of NIS introductions being reported in the 2000s. While only 8% of the recorded NIS appear in the European Union list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern, around 25% are listed in the Spanish and Portuguese NIS regulations. This study provides the most updated checklist of Iberian aquatic NIS, meeting the requirements set by the EU regulation and providing a baseline for the evaluation of its application. We point out the need for coordinated transna-tional strategies to properly tackle aquatic invasions across borders of the EU members.

2023Journal article

Open access