Presence of bryozoans in the mud volcanoes of the Gulf of Cádiz

The Gulf of Cádiz, located in the NE Atlantic Ocean, between the Iberian Peninsula and northern Africa, contains more than 50 mud volcanoes (MVs). MVs are seafloor edifices that result from the release of mud, brine and hydrocarbon fluids in areas with gas-rich over pressure sediments. These MVs are in different stages of seepage activity, bearing a broad diversity of chemosymbiotic and heterotrophic organisms. Some previous works focussed on the bryozoans from some areas of the Gulf of Cádiz (e.g. López de la Cuadra & García Gómez, 1994, Harmelin & d’Hondt, 1992a, b) however, information on bryozoans colonizing the different substrate types (bioclasts, authigenic carbonates, mud breccias) of MVs is almost nule. During 2010 and 2011 and within the framework of the INDEMARES-CHICA project, 25 samples were collected with beam trawl and benthic dredge at six MVs (Gazul, Almazán, Aveiro, Pipoca, Tarsis and Chica). Forty-five taxa belonging to 26 families and 31 genera were identified. Most taxa (39) was found in a single MV (Gazul) and others in several MVs, including the taxa Adeonellopsis, Palmicellaria, Tessaradoma, Reteporellina, and Schizomavella sp. 2. Several factors may influence the observed bryozoan biodiversity such as the sampling effort and sampling method used, the type and heterogeneity of substrates, and habitats as well as the depth. The identification to species level of the bryozoan material will improve the information on benthic communities of these MVs located in the recently established Site of Community Importance of “Volcanes de fango del Golfo de Cádiz”.Versión del edito

Vulnerable marine ecosystems and biological features of Gazul mud volcano (Gulf of Cádiz): A contribution towards a potential "Gulf of Cádiz" EBSA

The Gulf of Cádiz (GoC) represents an area of socioeconomic and scientific importance for oceanographic, geological and biological processes. An interesting feature of the GoC is the presence of a large amount of mud volcanoes (MVs) and diapirs that display different seepage, seabed types, oceanographic settings and biological communities. Detailed exploration of some MVs is still needed for detecting Vulnerable Marine ecosystems (VMEs) that seem to be rare in other areas of the GoC, improving the current knowledge on its biodiversity and ecological attributes. During different expeditions (MEDWAVES-ATLAS, INDEMARES-CHICA 0610 & 0412 and ISUNEPCA 0616) carried out in different years, biological samples and videos were obtained in Gazul MV (Spanish Margin of the GoC). The study of those samples and videos has revealed the presence of several ecologically important VMEs (e.g. 3 species of reef framework-forming corals, coral gardens including solitary scleractinians, gorgonians and antipatharians, as well as deep-sea sponge aggregations and chemosynthesis-related structures) and a large number of species occurring in this MV, including new records for the European margin, threatened species and non-previously described species. The combination of different environmental and anthropogenic factors allowed the present-day persistence of these VMEs in the GoC. Some of Gazul MV biological and ecological attributes fit several criteria of the Convention on Biological Diversity for EBSA description (e.g. 1,3,4,6) that, together with those of other areas of the GoC, may contribute to the future potential nomination of an EBSA in this area of the NE Atlantic

Three species of Reteporella (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) in a diapiric and mud volcano field of the Gulf of Cádiz, with the description of Reteporella victori n.sp.

Diapirs and mud volcanoes (MVs) are formed by the migration and extrusion of fluids and mud to the seafloor, respectively. In the Gulf of Cádiz there are ca. 60 MVs and several diapirs with different environmental conditions and seepage activity. Previous studies, mainly on MVs, have demonstrated that the invertebrate fauna associated with these seafloor structures can be very diverse, including chemosymbiotic species, mostly mollusks and frenulate polychaetes, as well as vulnerable suspension feeders, such as cold-water corals and sponges, among others. Previous studies of the bryozoan fauna in this area have recorded species belonging to 28 families. One of these families is Phidoloporidae, which comprises 27 genera worldwide, including the common Rhynchozoon, Reteporellina, and Reteporella. In the present study, two species belonging to Reteporella are redescribed, and a new species is described from diapirs and MVs on the shelf and slope of the Gulf of Cádiz. The samples were collected during several oceanographic expeditions carried out by the Instituto Español de Oceanografia. This genus is well represented in the NE Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and our study extends its occurrence on MVs and diapirs fields of the Gulf of Cádiz

Descubiertas cuatro nuevas especies de briozoos marinos

Los fondos marinos profundos del margen Ibérico albergan zonas que han sido poco exploradas hasta la fecha y que contienen montañas, cañones submarinos y volcanes de fango entre otros relieves marinos, así como diferentes hábitats, algunos conformados por singulares comunidades quimiosintéticas y otros por complejos corales centenarios que ofrecen refugio y alimento a diferentes especies. En los últimos años, el avance de nuevas tecnologías de estudio del fondo marino ha permitido localizar y cartografiar estas zonas, y por otro lado aumentar el conocimiento de su biodiversidad. Algunas de las especies ya eran conocidas para otras zonas similares del Mediterráneo o Atlántico, pero otras han resultado ser citas nuevas para las aguas españolas e incluso nuevas especies para la ciencia. En este trabajo mostramos algunas especies recientemente encontradas en aguas del golfo de Cádiz y del mar de Alborán. Se trata de especies del filo Bryozoa, las cuales han sido poco estudiados entre el norte de África y el sur de Europa, donde se encuentra una alta biodiversidad de especies provenientes del Atlántico boreal, Mediterráneo y zona subtropical africana.En prensa

Cold-water coral associated fauna in the Mediterranean Sea and adjacentwaters. CWCs in the Mediterranean. Mediterranean Cold-Water Corals: Past, Present and Future, Coral Reefs of the World

Cold-water corals are recognised as a key component of Mediterranean deep-sea ecosystems but the knowledge of their associated biodiversity is still limited. To date, the fauna associated to the Central Mediterranean cold-water coral habitats is the best known (e.g. the cold-water coral provinces of Santa Maria di Leuca, Bari canyon and Strait of Sicily) but such knowledge should be extended to the whole Mediterranean Basin. The combined biodiversity censed so far for Mediterranean cold-water coral habitats and those of adjacent areas (Strait of Gibraltar-Gulf of Cádiz) includes a conspicuous number of species (ca. 520 spp.) with a high representation of sponges (ca. 90 spp.), polychaetes (ca. 90 spp.), cnidarians (ca. 80 spp.), bryozoans (ca. 75 spp.), crustaceans (ca. 60 spp.), molluscs (ca. 50 spp.), fishes (ca. 50 spp.), echinoderms (ca. 20 spp.) and brachiopods (7 spp.). Most species are not univocally linked to cold-water corals, but they benefit from the complex and diverse microhabitats provided by them. There is a clear need to continue the investigation of Mediterranean cold-water coral habitats to fully document the faunistic inventory, biogeographic connections and functions of the many species connected to such emblematic ecoystems of the deep-sea.Postprin

New advances in the study of the biodiversity of the SCI “Volcanes de fango del golfo de Cádiz” (southwestern Spanish Margin)

The Gulf of Cádiz represents an important seepage area with ca. 70 mud volcanoes (MV), of which one third are located in European waters (Spain and Portugal). Previous projects and expeditions resulted on a large amount of information on different aspects of MV of the Moroccan margin, which seem to have a higher seepage activity than those of the Iberian margin. Those studies mainly focused on their geological characteristics, whereas others offered novel information on their associated biota, especially the endosymbiont-bearing invertebrates as well as non-previously described species (Vanreusel et al. 2009). In 2014, the MV of the Spanish margin of the Gulf of Cádiz were included in the Natura 2000 network (Site of Community Importance - SCI "Volcanes de fango del golfo de Cádiz" - ESZZ12002) under the framework of the Life + project INDEMARES. Nowadays, the LIFE IP PAF INTEMARES project represents an opportunity for improving the knowledge on the biodiversity of this SCI

Vulnerable marine ecosystems and biological features of Gazul mud volcano (Gulf of Cádiz): A contribution towards a potential "Gulf of Cádiz" EBSA

The Gulf of Cádiz (GoC) represents an area of socioeconomic and scientific importance for oceanographic, geological and biological processes. An interesting feature of the GoC is the presence of a large amount of mud volcanoes (MVs) and diapirs that display different seepage, seabed types, oceanographic settings and biological communities. Detailed exploration of some MVs is still needed for detecting Vulnerable Marine ecosystems (VMEs) that seem to be rare in other areas of the GoC, improving the current knowledge on its biodiversity and ecological attributes. During different expeditions (MEDWAVES-ATLAS, INDEMARES-CHICA 0610 & 0412 and ISUNEPCA 0616) carried out in different years, biological samples and videos were obtained in Gazul MV (Spanish Margin of the GoC). The study of those samples and videos has revealed the presence of several ecologically important VMEs (e.g. 3 species of reef framework-forming corals, coral gardens including solitary scleractinians, gorgonians and antipatharians, as well as deep-sea sponge aggregations and chemosynthesis-related structures) and a large number of species occurring in this MV, including new records for the European margin, threatened species and non-previously described species. The combination of different environmental and anthropogenic factors allowed the present-day persistence of these VMEs in the GoC. Some of Gazul MV biological and ecological attributes fit several criteria of the Convention on Biological Diversity for EBSA description (e.g. 1,3,4,6) that, together with those of other areas of the GoC, may contribute to the future potential nomination of an EBSA in this area of the NE Atlantic

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data