New Insights into Pathogenic Vibrios Affecting Bivalves in Hatcheries: Present and Future Prospects

Hatcheries constitute nowadays the only viable solution to support the husbandry of bivalve molluscs due to the depletion and/or overexploitation of their natural beds. Hatchery activities include the broodstock conditioning and spawning, rearing larvae and spat, and the production of microalgae to feed all stages of the production cycle. However, outbreaks of disease continue to be the main bottleneck for successful larval and spat production, most of them caused by different representatives of the genus Vibrio. Therefore, attention must be paid on preventive and management measures that allow the control of such undesirable bacterial populations. The present review provides an updated picture of the recently characterized Vibrio species associated with disease of bivalve molluscs during early stages of development, including the controversial taxonomic affiliation of some of them and relevant advances in the knowledge of their virulence determinants. The problematic use of antibiotics, as well as its eco-friendly alternatives are also critically discussedThe studies of the University of Santiago de Compostela reviewed here were supported in part by grants AGL2013-42628R and AGL2014-59655 from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and GRC-2014/007 from Xunta de Galicia (Spain)S

Independent estimates of marine population connectivity are more concordant when accounting for uncertainties in larval origins

Marine larval dispersal is a complex biophysical process that depends on the effects of species biology and oceanography, leading to logistical difficulties in estimating connectivity among populations of marine animals with biphasic life cycles. To address this challenge, the application of multiple methodological approaches has been advocated, in order to increase confidence in estimates of population connectivity. However, studies seldom account for sources of uncertainty associated with each method, which undermines a direct comparative approach. In the present study we explicitly account for the statistical uncertainty in observed connectivity matrices derived from elemental chemistry of larval mussel shells, and compare these to predictions from a biophysical model of dispersal. To do this we manipulate the observed connectivity matrix by applying different confidence levels to the assignment of recruits to source populations, while concurrently modelling the intrinsic misclassification rate of larvae to known sources. We demonstrate that the correlation between the observed and modelled matrices increases as the number of observed recruits classified as unknowns approximates the observed larval misclassification rate. Using this approach, we show that unprecedented levels of concordance in connectivity estimates (r = 0.96) can be achieved, and at spatial scales (20–40 km) that are ecologically relevant.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia | Ref. PTDC/BIA-BIC/120483/2010Xunta de Galicia | Ref. POS-A/2012/189Xunta de Galicia | Ref. POS-B/2016/032Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia | Ref. SFRH/BD/ 84263/2012CESAM | Ref. UID/AMB/50017 - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-00763

New physical and biological evidence of lateral transport affecting dinoflagellate cyst distribution in the benthic nepheloid layer along a land-sea transect off Figueira da Foz (Atlantic Iberian margin)

30 pages, 12 figures, 3 tables.-- This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY)[Introduction] The production of resting cysts is a key dispersal and survival strategy of many dinoflagellate species. However, little is known about the role of suspended cysts in the benthic nepheloid layer (BNL) in the initiation and decline of planktonic populations. [Method] In September 2019, sampling of the dinoflagellate cyst community at different water depths in the water column and in the bottom sediments, and studies of spatio-temporal changes in physical properties (temperature, salinity, density and suspended sediment concentration), were carried out along a land-sea transect off Figueira da Foz (NW Portugal) to investigate the dinoflagellate cyst distribution and the factors (physical and biological) affecting it. A clustering analysis was used to compare the BNL and sediment cyst records with the cyst rain recorded by a sediment trap at a fixed station. Furthermore, Lagrangian particle experiments enabled simulating cyst trajectories in the BNL 5 and 10 days before sampling and assessing cross-shore, vertical and alongshore transport within the studied region. [Results] A well-developed BNL was present during the survey, which covered a change from active (14th of September) to relaxed (19th of September) upwelling conditions. Organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts were dominant in all samples, although calcareous dinoflagellate cysts consistently occurred (at low abundances). High proportions of full cysts were observed in the BNL, of which a significant portion was viable as shown by excystment experiments. Moreover, BNL cyst records collected on the 19th of September along the land-sea transect were similar to the sediment trap cyst record but greatly differed from sediment cyst records. The heterotrophic small spiny brown cysts (SBC) and cysts of the autotrophic yessotoxin-producer Protoceratium reticulatum notably increased during the survey, in the BNL and in the water column above. [Discussion] The comparison of the BNL, surface sediment and sediment trap cyst records supported that the main origin of cysts in the BNL was the recent production in the water column. The spatial coincidences in the distribution of cysts and vegetative cells of Protoceratium reticulatum also supported that full cysts in the water column were being produced in surface waters. New data evidenced the presence of a significant reservoir of viable cysts in the BNL that have the potential to seed new planktonic blooms. Furthermore, back-track particle modelling evidenced that alongshore advection was the main physical mechanism controlling cyst dynamics in the BNL during most part of the survey period, being particularly intense in coastal stations (<100 m depth). Consequently, the sediment cyst signal is a mixture of locally and regionally produced cysts. We provide multi-disciplinary data evidencing that cysts recently formed in the photic zone can be laterally advected within the studied region through the BNL, contributing to a better understanding of the role of the BNL in cyst dynamics and tracing the seed sources of the new bloomsThis work is a contribution to HABWAVE project LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-031265, co-funded by EU ERDF funds, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020, and national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P.(FCT, I.P.) also to AQUIMAR project MAR2020; MAR-02.01.01-FEAMP-017. This study had the support of FCT through the strategic projects UIDB/04292/2020 and UIDP/04292/2020 awarded to MARE and through project LA/P/0069/2020 granted to the Associate Laboratory ARNET, the strategic project UIDB/04326/2020 awarded to CCMAR. Thanks are also due for the financial support to CESAM by FCT/MCTES (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020+LA/P/0094/2020), Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020. IG-M was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from Xunta de Galicia, Spain (ref. ED481B-2019-074, 2019). JM gratefully acknowledges the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and its support via strategic funding UIDB/04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020, and project MIWAVES (PTDC/2022.01215.PTDC)Peer reviewe

A window to the sea: environmental indicators for coastal risk management under the RAIA observatory (NW-Iberian Peninsula)

ECSA 59 Using the best scientific knowledge for the sustainable management of estuaries and coastal seas, San Sebastian (Spain), 5th–8th September 2022The international RAIA Observatory (www.marnaraia.org) resulted from the effort of 12 research and academic institutions and public agencies (Spanish and Portuguese) working in the field of meteorology and oceanography. The RAIA Observatory serves the main maritime activities of the Galicia-Northern Portugal Euroregion and contributes to collaborative observational networks. Under the framework of coastal risk management, environmental indicators are fundamental tools for the evaluation and mitigation of environmental risks, showing the current state and helping to predict future changes on ecosystem health regarding environmental risks. In last years, the different partners of the RAIA Observatory have identified 38 environmental indicators, in which 12 key risks affecting the ecosystem services of the Galicia-Northern Portugal Euroregion are being evaluated. Data was analyzed and compiled by the various partners of the RAIA Observatory and the development and optimization of the environmental indicators has been done according to the specifications provided by the European Environmental Agency (EEA) and the International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC). The resulting environmental indicators are included and shared on a publicly-accessible Web service, georeferenced and accompanied by plots (https://marrisk.inesctec.pt/public/#!/indicators). So far, the current status of the indicators has allowed us to establish risk assessment protocols for the Euroregion, and identify critical gaps in a temporal and spatial coverage. The inclusion of the environmental indicators in the RAIA Observatory is of great relevance for national and international data exchange and promotes future collaborationsN

A window to the sea: environmental indicators for coastal risk management under the RAIA observatory (NW-Iberian Peninsula)

Poster.-- International Ocean Data Conference 2022, Sopot, Poland, 14-16 February 2022Environmental indicators are fundamental tools for the evaluation and mitigation of environmental risks, showing the current state and helping to predict future changes on ecosystem health regarding environmental risks The framework of the RAIA observatory www marnaraia org identified 38 environmental indicators, in which 12 key risks affecting the ecosystem services of the Euroregion Galicia Northern Portugal have been evaluated The objective of this initiative is to optimize and analyze the environmental indicators identified for the Euroregion and make them available through a Web service that allows users to get information on the current state and evolution of the ecosystem healthThis contribution has been funded by the European Union MarRISK project Adaptación costera ante el Cambio Climático conocer los riesgos y aumentar la resiliencia (0262_MarRISK1_E) through EP-INTERREG V A España-Portugal (POCTEP) programN

Modelling nutrients cycling in coastal ecosystems of the northwestern Iberian Peninsula

1 póster presentado en ECSA54 coastal systems under change: tuning assessment and management tools, 12-16 May 2014, Sesimbra, PortugalPeer reviewe

Filaments on the Western Iberian Margin: a modeling study

17 páginas, 11 figurasCoastal upwelling filaments off the Western Iberian Margin, detected in AVHRR satellite imagery and in a realistic ROMS simulation of sea surface temperature, were studied in the upwelling seasons (May–October) of 2001–2010. Sea surface temperature data were retrieved from AVHRR satellite imagery and from a realistic ROMS numerical simulation. The development and variability of the observed filaments were characterized and analyzed during each upwelling season of the 10 year period. Filaments were generally found anchored to the main bathymetric and coastal features but off the more regular northern coast of the Western Iberian Margin their locations were more variable. The results from the modeling analysis reproduced well the general features of filament development. Moreover results of model and observation showed very similar characteristics as those found in the earlier study of Haynes et al. (1993). The model output was used to relate filament patterns, eddy activity, and wind forcing. There was a clear relation between upwelling-favorable wind strength and number and length of filaments, although the relation was weaker in the north of the region. Model filaments were clearly related to eddies only during periods of weak winds. The filament detection method was also applied to a climatologically forced ROMS simulation, which reproduced only gross features of the observed and interannually forced model filament development. This suggests that direct wind forcing and its spatial structure are highly importantThis paper is a contribution to RAIA.co project (0520_RAIA_CO_1_E) funded by POCTEP and FEDER that supported NGF Cordeiro grant. A. Cordeiro-Pires was supported by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) through PhD fellowship SFRH/BD/47500/2008. This work is part of the IMPROVE project, PTDC/MAR/110796/2009 funded by the FCT under the European Regional Development FundPeer reviewe

Numerical modelling of the phytoplankton patterns in an upwelling event off the NW Iberian Margin

An extreme event in September 2007, presenting a strong upwelling core detaching from the Galician NW coast and extending towards west-northwest from the Cape Finisterre - Cape Ortegal zone, with the formation of several filaments and a consequent strong response in chlorophyll concentration values is analyzed. To do so, a NPZD biogeochemical module coupled to a ROMS_Agrif configuration is used. The model response was satisfactory and an analysis of the event, including its forcing, was made. The particular wind direction and intensity along with the specific coastal orientation of the study area were identified as important characteristics for the development of the event. The analysis of the behavior and evolution of this phytoplankton bloom may give further insight in the relations between atmospheric forcing, the consequent characteristic coastal ocean processes, and their conditioning in phytoplankton distribution and patterns in the study area.The present work has been supported by RAIA Coastal Observatory, financed by POCTEP 2007–2013 (0313-RAIA-1-E and 0520-RAIA-CO-1-E), and ‘ISCAD - Inner shelf circulation and dispersion patterns: Interactions with estuarine systems”, PTDC/MAR/65760/2006 research project, also funded by the FCT under the European Regional Development Fund.publishe

Solving the equation for the Iberian upwelling biogeochemical dynamics: an optimization experience

1 poster presented at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2012, Vienna, Austria, 22 – 27 April 2012Trying to find a set of parameters to properly reproduce the biogeochemical dynamics of the region of study is a major concern in biogeochemical ocean modelling. Model parameters are constant values introduced in the equations that calculate the time and space evolution of the state variables of the biogeochemical model. A good set of parameters allows for a better representation of the biological and chemical processes in the system, and thus to model results more approximated to reality. However, it is not a straightforward task, because many parameters are not well constrained in the literature, or they may be unknown or vary considerably between different regions. Usually, the approach to find the appropriate values is running several simulations, after some sensitivity test to individual parameters, until a satisfactory result is obtained. This may be very time consuming and quite subjective. A more systematic way to find this set of parameters has arisen over the last years by using mathematical optimization techniques. The basic principle under optimization is to minimize the difference between an observed and a simulated data series by using a cost function. We have applied an optimization technique to find an appropriate set of parameters for modelling the biogeochemical dynamics of the western Iberian shelf, off the Atlantic coast of Portugal and Galicia (NW Spain), which is characterized by a conspicuous seasonal upwelling. The ocean model is a high resolution 3D regional configuration of ROMS coupled to a N2PZD2 biogeochemical model. Results using the a priori parameters and the optimized parameters are compared and discussed. The study is the result of a multidisciplinary collaborative effort between the University of Aveiro ocean modelling group (Portugal), the ETHZ (Switzerland) and the IIM-CSIC Vigo oceanography group (Spain)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) for funding this PhD research (SFRH/BD/33388/2008).Peer reviewe

Oxygen in the Iberian margin: A modeling study

20 páginas, 13 figuras, 1 tablaHighly productive eastern boundary coastal upwelling areas provide interesting environments to study the physical–biological interactions that govern dissolved oxygen (O2O2) dynamics. The Iberian Upwelling System is located in the northern limit of the North East Atlantic upwelling region, along the Iberian margin off Portugal and Spain. It presents a marked seasonality in the hydrodynamics and it is under the influence of water masses of different origin. Here, we describe the seasonal variability and spatial patterns of O2O2 in this system taking advantage of the 3-dimensional (3D) ocean model Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). The model has been satisfactorily validated and has allowed a sound 3D description of the O2O2 dynamics of the coast and adjacent ocean, showing a strong seasonality in the O2O2 concentration of the upper water column. This seasonality is mainly caused by the deepening and shoaling of the seasonal mixed layer from winter to summer. O2O2 concentration is high during winter and reaches maximum values in spring due to the seasonal phytoplankton bloom. Minimum O2O2 values are obtained in summer and autumn. Additionally, the regional circulation of Eastern North Atlantic Central Water (ENACW) noticeably influences the O2O2 distribution. Over the shelf and slope, more variability is introduced by the intense hydrodynamics of the upwelling season (spring/summer), the slope poleward flow (autumn/winter) and continental runoffThis work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, through the PhD Grant SFRH/BD/33388/2008 to R.R. The study is a contribution to the RAIA project (“Observatorio oceánico del margen ibérico”, POCTEP-FEDER, 0520_-RAIA_CO_1_E), which financed a fellowship to N.C. X.A.A.S. was also funded by the project CAIBEX, Grant No. CTM2007-66408-C02-01/MAR. We also thank CSIC for providing the data of the two stations sampled within the frame of the project DYBAGA, Grant No. MAR99-1039-C02-01Peer reviewe