A possible relation between sardine fisheries and oceanographic conditions in NW Spanish coastal waters

The NW of more often the shelf sardine in Spain is influenced by episodic upwelling which occurs between March and October. The consequent enrichment of waters is the origin of a very important fishery for the area. Eggs and larval survival is directly related to the oceanograph¡c conditions between the date of birth and recruitment. Laryal survival seems to be related essentially to weak upwelling conditions since they favour the non-dispersion of eggs (larvae) and allow growth of medium sized phytoplankters as suitable food. On the other hand, strpng upwelling causes dispersion of eggs (larvae) and favours growth of very large phytoplankton specles, mainly diatoms, that are thought to be un-suitable food for larvae. However, strong upwelling conditions are favorable for sardine adults, since the large phytoplankters growing during these upwelling events were found to be the main food supply, as shown by the study of stomach contents

Winter distributions of Dinophysis populations: do they help to predict the onset of the bloom?

Blooms of diarrhetic shellfish toxin (DST) producers of the genus Dinophysis (D. acuminata, D. acuta) pose the main threat to the sustainable exploitation of cultivated mussels and other bivalves on the Atlantic coasts of Europe. Dinophysis species do not rely on cysts as a seeding strategy. Detection and evaluation of holoplanktonic populations surviving after bloom decline may be the key to predict the initiation of next year’s bloom. Three cruises were carried out on the NW Iberian shelf in February 2013 (DINVER 2013), January 2006 (DINVER 2006) and May-June 1993 (MORENA 93) to explore winter (D. acuminata) and pre-bloom (D. acuta) distributions of harmful microalgal species. Sampling protocols were adapted to be able to detect extremely low densities (1-5 cells l-1) of Dinophysis species. Potential inoculum populations in retention areas, as previously described for other species in upwelling regions, were not found on these cruises. Here we explore retrospectively data from these cruises, identify hydrodynamic patterns, and accompanying microplanktonic communities, in an attempt to untangle a crucial question in Dinophysis population dynamics: how to predict the initiation of the Dinophysis growth season.ISSHAEn prens

Abundance estimation and distribution of sardine in Northern Spain (north of IXa and VIIIc divisions)

Since 1986, an acoustic survey programme have been carried out for assessment of sardine: stock in Atlantic waters of the Iberian Peninsula. Sardine abundance estimated by length and age groups and oceanographic conditions in Galician and Cantabrian waters from 1986 to 1993 were studied. The biomass decreased after 1986 despite the occurrence of two very good year classes 1983 (the strongest ever recorded since 1976) and in 1987. The 1991 recruiting year c1ass seems to be a good one in the 1993 survey.Depuis 1986, un programme de sondage acoustique a été fait pour l'evaluation du stock de sardines dans les eaux atlantiques de la Peninsule Iberique. L'abondance de sardines, estimée par des groupes de taille et d'age, et les conditions oceanographiques dans les eaux de la Galicie et de la mer Cantabrique a été étududiée depuis 1986 jusqu'à 1993. La biomasse a diminué après 1986, malgre la presence de deux bonnes années 1983 (la plus forte jamais registrée depuis 1976) et 1987

Evidencias do cambio climático na hidrografía e a dinámica das rías e da plataforma galega

16 páginas, 9 figuras, 3 tablas[EN] This study is focused on multidecadal-scale variations of the hydrographic and hydrodynamic features of Rías and shelf waters off Galicia. Water masses take, through their thermohaline characteristics, a footprint of the climatic variability, mainly caused by changes either in the hydrological budget (precipitation, evaporation, runoff), in heat exchange and wind stress. In this study we focus in the evidences of change in the surface and sub-surface water mass characteristics. Regarding surface water masses, a significant warming during the last 45 years has been noticed, at a rate of 0.17 ºC/ decade. This warming was especially intense from the 1970’s, 0.27 ºC/decade. The tendency is opposite in subsurface waters, but it only takes into account data from the last 15 years. Regarding hydrodynamics, because of its strong influence in the renewal time of the Rías and consequently in their living resources, a study of decadal changes in the estuarine circulation of the Rías de Vigo and Arousa has been made. Results showed a progressive decay in the estuarine circulation, which causes an increase of renewal times. On the other hand, indirect evidence of a possible deceleration of the winter Iberian Poleward Current (IPC) are reported. This slow down is partially caused by a decrease in the meridional (N-S) temperature gradient off the Iberian coast. Nevertheless, the fall of the meridional gradient is not clear because it has been inferred from surface waters. On the contrary, IPC seems to be intensified by the increasing southerly autumn winds, although it appears weakened by the decreasing southerly winter winds. Thus, the overall effect of the CIP is still uncertain. Finally, a study of sea level and wave changes on the Galician coast has been made. An increase of (2-2.5 cm/ decade) in the sea level as well as a decrease in the wave height (3 cm/decade) has been reported, but in this last topic results are not significant[GA] Este estudo centrarase en determinar as variacións que ocorren a escalas multidecadais nas características hidrográficas e hidrodinámicas das augas das rías e da plataforma fronte a Galicia. As masas de auga reciben a través das súas características termohalinas unha pegada das alteracións climáticas, principalmente a causa de cambios no balance hidrolóxico (precipitación, evaporación, achegas continentais), do intercambio de calor e da acción do vento. Neste estudo analizaremos as evidencias de cambio nas características das masas de auga superficiais e subsuperficiais. Nas primeiras detectouse quentamento de xeito significativo nos últimos 45 anos a unha taxa media de 0,17 ºC por década, especialmente intenso desde hai 30 anos, 0,27 ºC por década. Nas augas subsuperficiais a tendencia é a inversa, aínda que só se conta con datos dos últimos 15 anos. En canto á hidrodinámica, e pola súa forte implicación nos tempos de renovación da ría e, polo tanto, nos recursos mariños que viven nela, fíxose un estudo sobre os cambios na circulación estuárica das rías de Vigo e Arousa nas últimas décadas. Os resultados amosan un descenso paulatino a longa escala temporal da circulación que causa un aumento dos tempos de renovación. Por outra banda, achéganse evidencias indirectas dunha posible ralentización da corrente invernal cara ao Polo (CIP) causada por un descenso no gradiente meridional (N-S) de temperatura fronte ás costas ibéricas. Non obstante, o descenso do gradiente meridional non está claro, pois induciuse só a partir de datos superficiais. Ademais, a propia CIP amosa estar intensificada pola maior intensidade dos ventos sur no outono e debilitada polo descenso dos ventos do sur no inverno, polo que o efecto global na CIP é aínda incerto. Por último, faise un estudo dos cambios do nivel do mar e da ondada nas costas galegas que amosa un aumento daquel (2-2,5 cm/década) e un descenso desta (3 cm/década), aínda que no caso da ondada os resultados non son concluíntesPeer reviewe

Towards a HAB forecast service in the Galician region

We will present the recent developments of our forecasting capabilities to warn of impending harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Galicia, where aquaculture has a strong socio-economic impact. A HAB warning service for monitoring agencies and the aquaculture industry has been developed as a demonstration of a Copernicus marine downstream service coupled to the MyOcean service. In this contribution, we describe the Galician ASIMUTH forecast system and demonstrate its skill in predicting HAB transport and its usefulness to provide assessment for the management of the areas affected by toxic outbreaks. We also describe the Galician pilot HAB bulletins, aimed at distributing forecasts of HAB events that might induce closures of harvesting areas or, when the areas are already closed, at giving information on forthcoming oceanographic conditions that could favour or hamper the opening of an area. Our results show that the model forecasts and the bulletins can provide early warning of the risk of Dinophysis spp. events and the risk of closures linked to the presence of toxins above regulatory levels in harvesting areas.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

LIPG endothelial lipase and breast cancer risk by subtypes

Experimental data showed that endothelial lipase (LIPG) is a crucial player in breast cancer. However, very limited data exists on the role of LIPG on the risk of breast cancer in humans. We examined the LIPG-breast cancer association within our population-based case–control study from Galicia, Spain, BREOGAN (BREast Oncology GAlicia Network). Plasma LIPG and/or OxLDL were measured on 114 breast cancer cases and 82 controls from our case–control study, and were included in the present study. The risk of breast cancer increased with increasing levels of LIPG (multivariable OR for the highest category (95% CI) 2.52 (1.11–5.81), P-trend = 0.037). The LIPG-breast cancer association was restricted to Pre-menopausal breast cancer (Multivariable OR for the highest LIPG category (95% CI) 4.76 (0.94–28.77), P-trend = 0.06, and 1.79 (0.61–5.29), P-trend = 0.372, for Pre-menopausal and Post-menopausal breast cancer, respectively). The LIPG-breast cancer association was restricted to Luminal A breast cancers (Multivariable OR for the highest LIPG category (95% CI) 3.70 (1.42–10.16), P-trend = 0.015, and 2.05 (0.63–7.22), P-trend = 0.311, for Luminal A and non-Luminal A breast cancers, respectively). Subset analysis only based on HER2 receptor indicated that the LIPG-breast cancer relationship was restricted to HER2-negative breast cancers (Multivariable OR for the highest LIPG category (95% CI) 4.39 (1.70–12.03), P-trend = 0.012, and 1.10 (0.28–4.32), P-trend = 0.745, for HER2-negative and HER2-positive tumors, respectively). The LIPG-breast cancer association was restricted to women with high total cholesterol levels (Multivariable OR for the highest LIPG category (95% CI) 6.30 (2.13–20.05), P-trend = 0.018, and 0.65 (0.11–3.28), P-trend = 0.786, among women with high and low cholesterol levels, respectively). The LIPG-breast cancer association was also restricted to non-postpartum breast cancer (Multivariable OR for the highest LIPG category (95% CI) 3.83 (1.37–11.39), P-trend = 0.003, and 2.35 (0.16–63.65), P-trend = 0.396, for non-postpartum and postpartum breast cancer, respectively), although we lacked precision. The LIPG-breast cancer association was more pronounced among grades II and III than grade I breast cancers (Multivariable ORs for the highest category of LIPG (95% CI) 2.73 (1.02–7.69), P-trend = 0.057, and 1.90 (0.61–6.21), P-trend = 0.170, for grades II and III, and grade I breast cancers, respectively). No association was detected for OxLDL levels and breast cancer (Multivariable OR for the highest versus the lowest category (95% CI) 1.56 (0.56–4.32), P-trend = 0.457)The BREast Oncology GAlician Network (BREOGAN) is funded by FIS ISCIII/PI12/02125 and PI17/00918 Acción Estratégica de Salud del Instituto de Salud Carlos III / Cofinanciado FEDER; FIS Intrasalud PI13/01136; Programa Grupos Emergentes, Cancer Genetics Unit, CHUVI Vigo Hospital, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Grant 10CSA012E, Consellería de Industria Programa Sectorial de Investigación Aplicada, PEME I+D e I+D Suma del Plan Gallego de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica de la Consellería de Industria de la Xunta de Galicia, Spain; Grant EC11-192. Fomento de la Investigación Clínica Independiente, Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad, Spain; and Grant FEDER-Innterconecta. Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Xunta de Galicia, Spain. MM funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities under Grant RTI2018-099646-B-I00, the Consellerı́a de Educación, Universidade e Formación Profesional and the European Regional Development Fund under Grant ED431G-2019/04S

Recent changes in the pelagic ecosystem of the Iberian Atlantic in the context of multidecadal variability

Trends in ecosystem variables of the Eastern North Atlantic shelf near the Iberian Peninsula were analysed in relation to regional climate and oceanographic variability. In addition, detailed changes in oceanographic properties (surface temperature, upwelling and poleward current activity) and biological components (plankton and pelagic consumers) in the period 1989-2005 were compared with the main trends and multidecadal periods observed in time series dating back to 1950. In contrast to previous studies, the North Atlantic Oscillation did not appear as the main influence in the climate of the North Iberian region, while East-West and subtropical gradients were the dominant modes. Climatic oscillations at decadal scales were paralleled by similar oscillations in oceanographic and biological variables, but the latter appeared weakly related to climate. Time- lags of up to 5 years in the biological response may partly explain these relationships. The main planktivorous fish species (sardine and anchovy) alternate in periods of 10-15 years of relative dominance, in synchrony with equivalent species around the world. In contrast, plankton cycles appear greatly modified after 1990 in coincidence with shifts in climatic and oceanographic variables. Subregional variability indicated divergent trends in biological variables, particularly the zooplankton increase off A Coruña and the decrease in the Bay of Biscay since 1990. Such divergences are related to direct and indirect effects of global changes in this transitional upwelling region

The Spanish Institute of Oceanography Observing System around N and NW Iberia

In the late 80's, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) began some ambitious programs of monitoring around the Iberian Peninsula. The coastal observing system core structure was the Radiales program, a series of transects nearby most coastal IEO laboratories where a minimum set of hydrographical, chemical and biological parameters is sampled monthly. The sections are designed to be completed in one-day journeys so the system is supported by quite small vessels, mainly covering the continental shelf with the noteworthy exception of the Santander Section, where the proximity of the shelf-break allows sampling deep waters monthly. During the last 20 years the program has supported many specific scientific research projects and has created a detailed description of seasonal to interannual variability in the coastal ecosystem that serves as a baseline to explore long-term changes or trends...Versión de auto