38 research outputs found
Life history baseline of unexploited populations: The case of Beryx splendens from the Sierra Leone Rise
This study examines for the first time the biology of alfonsino (Beryx splendens) from three small seamounts of the Sierra Leone Rise (SLR), an unexploited and fragile ecosystem in the Atlantic, using data from an experimental survey carried out in 2001 by Spanish longliners. In general, the lack of rigorous baseline data limits the implementation of efficient management and conservation plans in fisheries strategies. Therefore, the main aim of present study was to provide baseline information on basic biological parameters of the alfonsino population associated with an unexploited ecosystem. A total of 17296 individuals of alfonsino were sampled from SLR. Alfonsino is gonochoric and presented an unbalanced sex ratio, there were significantly more females than males. Taking into account the results in stage of maturity of alfonsino and the gonadosomatic index values during studied period, we can conclude that at least one reproductive period in these seamounts was in the late spring and early summer. The spawning stage was attained at a minimum fork length of 23 and 25 cm for males and females, respectively. The size at which 50% of the population attains sexual maturity was approximately 28 and 27 cm for males and females, respectively. The stock structure of alfonsino showed a segregation of the size with the depth, as they increase in size they move into the deeper water.Versión del edito
Biology (growth and reproduction) of the Mediterranean deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846), Crustacea, Decapoda) from the Alicante Gulf (s.e. Spain).
The deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) is a demersal species and an important resource for the trawl fishery in the Alicante Gulf (S.E. Spain). This paper describes, for first time in this area, certain biometric relationships, as well as growth parameters and reproductive patterns of the species. The results showed a sexual size dimorphism, with a negative allometry of relative growth and high rates of absolute growth, both particularly in males. However, females dominated in the catch proportion. The spawning period occurred throughout the year, but especially in June-July and in October-November and the maturation stage for females takes place within the second year of life
Bathyal megabenthic assemblages in the SE Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean Sea)
The Iberian SE is an interesting transition and connectivity zone between the Alboran Sea and the Algerian-Balearic basin. It hosts important deep water fisheries targeting mostly red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus). The area comprises a complex system of tectonic canyons (Mazarron Escarpment), seamounts, knolls and hills (Palos, Planazo, Plis-Plas), and pockmark fields (Acosta et al., 2013). Few studies have been conducted on the bathyal megabenthos, unlike in the neighbouring Chella Bank (De la Torriente et al. 2018) and Balearic Islands (Massuti et al. 2022). The LIFE IP Intemares project is filling this gap
Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems found in a bathyal zone off the SE Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean)
The Spanish Intemares LIFE IP project contemplates the creation of Special Areas of Conservation within the Natura 2000 Network. During its August 2019 cruise, a series of towed sledge transects were conducted on two seamounts (“Planazo” and “Plis Plas”) and a muddy field of pockmarks, both located in areas off the SE Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean), between 220 and 694m depth. The prospected area has a significant pressure from bottom trawl (directed towards Aristeus antennatus, Nephrops norvegicus, Plesionika spp.) and, to a smaller extent, of bottom longline fisheries (focused on Merluccius merluccius and Pagellus bogaraveo). Some of the observed bathyal habitats fall into the category of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME), according to FAO (2009, 2016), since they present at least one of the following characteristics: i) uniqueness or rarity; ii) functional significance of habitat; iii) fragility; iv) life history traits of component species that make recovery difficult; and/or v) structural complexity. Among them, “gorgonian gardens” (of Paramuricea hirsuta, Callogorgia verticillata, Bebryce mollis, Swiftia pallida, and Ellisella flagellum) and the yellow tree coral (Dendrophyllia cornigera) highlight rocky bottoms; while on muddy substrates, sea-pen fields (Funiculina quadrangularis and Kophobelemnon stelliferum) and “bamboo coral gardens” (Isidella elongata) do so. These habitats, along with fields of the crinoid Leptometra phalangium, are also considered Essential Habitats for target species of fishing interest. The location, mapping and characterization of these habitats are necessary to establish “no-take” zones within the future management plan for the area studied
Bathyal megabenthic assemblages in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula (Western Mediterranean)
The SE Iberian sector represents an interesting transition and connectivity zone between the Alboran Sea and the Algerian Balearic basin, and the area comprises a system of tectonic canyons (Mazarron Escarpment), seamounts and pockmarks fields. Despite this, relatively few studies have been conducted on the bathyal zone. During the LIFE IP Intemares A2.2-Mu0820 survey, the continental slope was observed by ROV Liropus-2000, between 183 and 1735m depth following bathymetric mapping using a multibeam echosounder. A combination of multivariate analysis of still imagery and video groundtruthing
have been able to discriminate some megabenthic assemblages.
On hard bottoms of the upper bathyal horizon: i) Neopycnodonte cochear-Mergelia truncata facies, 193-244m depth; ii) Ellisella flagellum facies, 2441-320m; iii) Antipathes dichotoma facies, 259-270m. Middle horizon: i) Demospongiae facies (Pachastrella, Phakellia, Aaptos…), 241-494m; ii) gorgonian assemblage (Callogorgia, Paramuricea, Placogorgia), 294-624m; iii) Leptometra phalangium facies 293-611m; iv) cold-water corals (Desmophyllum, Madrepora), 516-607m; Antipatharia facies (Antipathella, Leiopathes, Parantipathes), 519-624m. Lower bathyal horizon:; Dicopia antirrhinum facies, 645-1167m. On soft bottoms (mud, sandy-mud) of the upper bathyal horizon: i) Ceriantharia facies, 213-219m depth. Middle horizon: i) Pennatulacea facies (Funiculina, Kophobelemnon, Pteroeides…), 219-541m; ii) Thenea muricata facies, 418-814m; iii) Isidella elongata facies, 462-681m. Lower horizon: i) Pelosina fields, 235-1321m.
The results reveals that the bathyal zone of the SE Iberian Peninsula is topographically complex and harbours diverse benthic assemblages, some of which fall within the category of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems; and some species are listed in annex II of the RAC/SPA list of endangered or threatened species
Report of the Workshop on Growth-increment Chronologies in Marine Fish: climate-ecosystem interactions in the North Atlantic 2.
Mar Menor: una laguna singular y sensible. Evaluación científica de su estado.
Este libro recopila las aportaciones que equipos de investigación de la Universidad de Murcia, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Instituto Geológico-Minero de España, Universidad de Alicante, el Instituto Español de Oceanografía y otros organismos hicieron en las Jornadas Científicas del Mar Menor, celebradas en diciembre de 2014.La información recogida en este libro se estructura en dos grandes bloques, uno de Biología y Ecología del Mar Menor (capítulos 1 al 8) y otro de Condiciones fisicoquímicas e impacto de actividades humanas en la laguna (capítulos 9 al 14). El primer bloque resume buena parte de los estudios ecológicos realizados en el Mar Menor, que han servido para mejorar su conocimiento y también para cambiar antiguas asunciones sobre la naturaleza y el funcionamiento de estos ecosistemas lagunares (Capítulo 1). El segundo capítulo muestra que esta laguna alberga en zonas someras de su perímetro hábitats fundamentales para mantener y conservar tanto especies migratorias como residentes, que es necesario conocer para paliar el impacto de las actividades humanas que les afectan. En este sentido la reducción de la carga de nutrientes y contaminantes orgánicos e inorgánicos que fluyen hacia el Mar Menor puede ayudar a preservar la laguna en mejores condiciones, bien sea tratando las escorrentías (plantas de tratamiento, humedales artificiales u otras técnicas) y recuperar este agua para uso agrícola o evitar su descarga en la laguna (Capítulo 3). Estas actuaciones serán clave para la conservación de especies emblemáticas como el caballito de mar (Capítulo 4) y reducir el impacto de las proliferaciones masivas de medusas que se producen en la laguna desde 1993 (Capítulo 5). En este mismo sentido los cambios acaecidos en la laguna han favorecido la incursión de invertebrados marinos alóctonos (Capítulo 6) y han afectado a la respuesta de la dinámica poblacional de las aves acuáticas a distintas escalas (Capítulo 7). Para completar este bloque se ofrece una perspectiva histórica de la importancia que ha tenido la investigación sobre acuicultura realizada en esta laguna, que ha servido de base para su gran desarrollo actual (Capítulo 8).
El segundo bloque se inicia con una evaluación del origen y evolución del Mar Menor desde el punto de vista geológico, y evidencia su vulnerabilidad ante el deterioro que puede sufrir la desaparición de la barrera de cierre y/o su colmatación (Capítulo 9). En el Capítulo 10 se describe la relevancia que tiene la interacción de los acuíferos del Campo de Cartagena con la laguna, que se produce no sólo a nivel superficial sino también subterráneo. Esta interacción permite el acceso de nutrientes a la laguna, a pesar de la cierta capacidad de depuración de los humedales que le circundan, y también de metales traza por los aportes de residuos mineros (Capítulo 11). De hecho los metales traza están presentes en los sedimentos de la laguna, y su distribución se ha caracterizado en la columna sedimentaria relacionándola con la granulometría y el contenido de materia orgánica del sedimento (Capítulo 12). Posteriormente se describe la entrada de diversos contaminantes orgánicos, incluyendo pesticidas y fármacos a través de la rambla del Albujón, y su distribución estacional en agua y sedimento de la laguna (Capítulo 13). Este segundo bloque finaliza con el Capítulo 14 en el que se describe la bioacumulación de hidrocarburos aromáticos policíclicos, pesticidas y fármacos en moluscos y peces del Mar Menor, así como los efectos biológicos que la carga contaminante que accede a través de la rambla del Albujón produce en los organismos que allí habitan. El libro concluye con un breve epílogo redactado por los editores de este libro.Versión del edito
La carrea de los caballitos de mar. Valorando el estado de conservación de los caballitos de mar en el Mar Menor
Corroboration of faster annual growth rate of black anglerfish (Lophius budegassa) in Spanish Mediterranean based on length frequency analysis
The illicium (first dorsal fin ray) has become the standard structure for age estimation of black
anglerfish (Lophius budegassa) in most of the European countries and the one used as a basis for
stock assessment, after calibration exchanges among the age readers and workshops. However, the
tendency in the past to not pay essential attention to the need to validate or corroborate the age
estimation in some stocks has led to misunderstanding of their dynamics. Thus, the Atlantic black
anglerfish stocks have not been annually assessed using age-structured models during the last years
in ICES working groups due to problems with the data quality, including those coming from a biased
illicia age estimation criterion. The same age estimation criterion is used for the Mediterranean
black anglerfish. Evidence obtained in the last years, using alternative methodologies to the age
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estimation, have shown a faster growth rate of black anglerfish. Some growth increments
considered as annuli in illicia do not seem to be really annual.
The growth pattern of black anglerfish in Spanish Mediterranean waters is analyzed in this study
using the length-frequencies (lengths ranging 3-128 cm) of annual groundfish research surveys
between 2004 and 2012. The results corroborate that the growth pattern of the Mediterranean
population of this species is also faster than that estimated applying the traditional illicia age
estimation criterion. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters are also estimated and compared to
those of previous studies; they will be available if a length-structured model including growth
parameters is used in the assessment of this Mediterranean stock