Mating structure of the blue and red shrimp, Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816) characterized by relatedness analysis

Understanding life history variation and strategies is crucial for stock assessment and fisheries management due to the direct effects on population dynamics, effective population size, sex-ratios, levels of inbreeding, and relatedness among individuals. Aristeus antennatus (En ─ Blue and red shrimp; Fr ─ Crevette rouge; Sp ─ Gamba rosada) is one of the most exploited demersal resources in the Western Mediterranean Sea. However, information regarding the mating system and mate choice preferences remains largely unknown. Advances in molecular genetic markers and methods of inferring biological relationships among individuals have facilitated new insights into the reproductive dynamics of the species in the wild. Here, we used microsatellite markers to examine the A. antennatus mating system and putative mate choice preferences. Our results provided clear evidence of polyandry and polygyny. Relatedness analyses, together with FST and DAPC values showed females exhibited a mating bias towards unrelated males. Mating males were inferred from spermatophores and suggested males were sympatric with females and were also from other spawning grounds. Our findings provided the first description of the reproductive behavior of blue and red shrimpThis work was supported by a grant from Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (CTM2014-54648-C2-2-R) to MIR. LP benefited from predoctoral fellowship from the Universitat de Girona (BR2014)S

Producció de biogàs per codigestió anaeròbia

Guia simple sobre el procés de digestió anaeròbia i sobre les possibilitats que té, detallant els punts més destacats d’aquest tractament i donant una visió pràctica per a la implantació i el funcionament d’una planta d’aprofitament energètic de biogàs a partir del tractament conjunt de purins i residus o de subproductes orgànics

Genetic structure and population connectivity of the blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus

The blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus is a demersal marine species harvested by bottom trawling in the Mediterranean Sea, the adjacent Atlantic Ocean (AO) waters, and the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean (IO). As it is considered to be a priority species for sustainable fishing, identification of its genetic stocks and the connectivity between them is essential. Using 12 microsatellite loci we detected at least four genetic stocks distributed in the Western Mediterranean (WM), Eastern Mediterranean (EM), AO, and IO and signals for a possible fifth stock in the Alborán Sea. We detected no additional population structuring within the WM. Thus, although the Almería-Orán Front exerts some isolating effect, high genetic homogeneity and gene flow are present within the WM Basin. The IO stock is genetically closer to the AO stock than to the others; thus, the species dispersion route is more likely via the Atlantic Ocean than via the Red Sea. Large effective population sizes suggest population sustainability, but moderate genetic diversity values indicate to proceed with caution. Our genetic results serve as a basis for species conservation to ensure long-term sustainability of this marine resourceThis work was supported by grants to M.I.R. by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (CTM2006–00785) and Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (CTM2014-54648-C2-2-R). Additional support to S.H by PADI foundation. L.P. benefited from a predoctoral fellowship from the University of Girona (BR2014)S

Male Deep-Sea Shrimps Aristeus antennatus at Fishing Grounds: Growth and First Evaluation of Recruitment by Multilocus Genotyping

The population biology of the deep-sea shrimp Aristeus antennatus, as with other exploited demersal species, is usually studied using data from fishery statistics. Such statistical analyses have shown female-biased sex ratios during the spawning season in this species. Because the abundance of males increases at greater depths that are not exploited by fisheries (virgin grounds), knowledge on their recruitment is limited. Here, the growth and recruitment of A. antennatus males at fishing grounds was evaluated. This was achieved by integrating information on previously identified breeding behaviours and by tracing the young-of-year cohort through genotyping at 10 microsatellite loci. Using a codend and a codend cover with distinct meshed windows, four groups of males were collected in winter and in a subsequent spawning summer season. Summer collections were mostly composed of pre-adult males, reaching sizes that are to be expected from the growth of winter juveniles; however, many specimens also originated from nearby grounds. This result indicates the horizontal dispersal of male juveniles via intermediate and deep oceanographic currents. Such dispersal complements passive larval dispersal in surface waters, and contributes to the weak genetic divergence among regional fishing grounds. These features could be shared by other deep-sea crustacean and fish species, and should be considered for the sustainable exploitation of demersal fisheriesThis work was supported by a grant from Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (CTM2014-54648-C2-2-R) to M.I.R. L.P. and M.A. benefited from predoctoral fellowship from the Universitat de Girona (BR2014 and IFUdG2018, respectively)S

Genetic demography of the blue and red shrimp, aristeus antennatus: A female-based case study integrating multilocus genotyping and morphometric data

In this study, we quantified the three key biological processes, growth, recruitment, and dispersal pattern, which are necessary for a better understanding of the population dynamics of the blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus. This marine exploited crustacean shows sex-related distribution along the water column, being females predominate in the middle slope. The present study attempts to fill the existing gap in the females’ genetic demography, as scarce knowledge is available despite being the most abundant sex in catches. We analyzed morphometric data and genotyped 12 microsatellite loci in 665 A. antennatus females collected in two consecutive seasons, winter and summer 2016, at the main Mediterranean fishing ground as a model. Almost every female in summer was inseminated. Five modal groups were observed in both seasons, from 0+ to 4+ in winter and from 1+ to 5+ in summer. Commercial-sized sorting based on fishermen’s experience resulted in a moderate-to-high assertive method concerning cohort determination. Genetic data pointed out females’ horizontal movement between neighboring fishing grounds, explaining the low genetic divergence detected among western Mediterranean grounds. Our results could represent critical information for the future implementation of management measures to ensure long-time conservation of the A. antennatus populationsThis work was supported by a grant from Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (CTM2014-54648-C2-2-R) to M.I.R., L.P. and M.A. benefited from the predoctoral fellowship from the Universitat de Girona (BR2014 and IFUdG2018, respectively).S

An evaluation of the genetic connectivity and temporal stability of the blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus: a case study of spawning females’ grounds in the Western Mediterranean Sea

The blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus has been intensively exploited by trawling fishery in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Implementation of an adequate management plan needs complete genetic data of the non-spawning and spawning grounds of the species. During the reproductive period, the species forms spawning aggregations in the middle slope, mainly constituted of mature females carrying spermatophores. Seven spawning females’ grounds in the Western Mediterranean Sea from Gulf of Lions (France) to Cabo de Palos (Spain) were sampled during two consecutive years, 2016 and 2017. This study assessed for the first time the levels of genetic diversity within spawning grounds, the genetic divergence among them and estimated the degree of temporal genetic stability using multilocus genotyping. Our results showed a high connectivity of the spawning females’ grounds that remains stable during the two analysed years, explained by passive larval dispersal, together with juveniles and adults’ migration. We advise that a future management plan for A. antennatus fishery should consider the Mediterranean Subarea GSA6 as a single unit, but it should be combined with local monitoring in order to ensure the sustainable exploitation of the populations.This work was supported by a grant from Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (CTM2014-54648-C2-2-R) to MIR. LP and MA benefited from predoctoral fellowship from the Universitat de Girona (BR2014 and IFUdG2018, respectively). Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature.S

Desenvolupament i aplicació dels microsatèl·lits a l'estudi de la dinàmica reproductiva de la Gamba rosada (Aristeus antennatus)

The blue and red shrimp, Aristeus antennatus, is a commercially important crustacean in the Western Mediterranean Sea and has been listed as a priority species for fishery management. In this thesis, 97 potential and novel microsatellite loci were developed from Next generation sequencing (NGS) data, and 35 of them were confirmed as polymorphic. With the aim of inferring the mating system of the sepecies in wild we developed a reliable and non-invasive differential DNA extraction protocol to isolate male DNA from spermatophores attached in female thelycum. Reproductive dynamics is crucial for stock assessment and fisheries management due to its direct effect on the sex ratio, the amount of inbreeding, the population dynamics and the resilience of a population after an environmental perturbation. However, information regarding the mating system and mate choice preferences is still largely unknown in A. antennatus. In this study, the mating system as well as putative mate choice were evaluated. Evidences of multiple mating for both females and males indicate a polygynandrous mating system in A. antennatus under natural conditions. In addition, putative mate choice preferences toward unrelated partners were detected.La gamba rosada, Aristeus antennatus, és un crustaci decàpode d'elevada importància econòmica a la Mediterrània occidental que ha estat catalogat com a espècie prioritària per a la gestió pesquera. En aquesta tesi s’han desenvolupat 97 loci microsatèl·lits putatius a partir de la NGS, 35 dels quals són polimòrfics en l'espècie. Paral·lelament s'ha desenvolupat un protocol d'extracció de DNA diferencial, fiable i no invasiu, que permet obtenir el DNA del mascle copulador a partir de l'anàlisi genètica dels espermatòfors units al telicle de les femelles. Finalment s'ha utilitzat aquest panell de loci microsatèl·lits polimòrfics per inferir paràmetres de la dinàmica reproductiva d'A. antennatus desconeguts fins al moment. Els resultats indiquen que l’espècie presenta un sistema d'aparellament basat en la poliginàndria en condicions naturals, alhora que s'observen indicis de l’existència de selecció de parella en funció del menor grau de parentiu. Aquests resultats són d’elevat interès a l’hora d’avaluar un estoc i aplicar determinades mesures de gestió, ja que la dinàmica reproductiva d’una espècie incideix directament sobre la proporció de sexes, l'endogàmia, la dinàmica poblacional i la resiliència de les poblacions en front a pertorbacions ambientals i antropogèniques

Desenvolupament i aplicació dels microsatèl·lits a l'estudi de la dinàmica reproductiva de la Gamba rosada (Aristeus antennatus)

The blue and red shrimp, Aristeus antennatus, is a commercially important crustacean in the Western Mediterranean Sea and has been listed as a priority species for fishery management. In this thesis, 97 potential and novel microsatellite loci were developed from Next generation sequencing (NGS) data, and 35 of them were confirmed as polymorphic. With the aim of inferring the mating system of the sepecies in wild we developed a reliable and non-invasive differential DNA extraction protocol to isolate male DNA from spermatophores attached in female thelycum. Reproductive dynamics is crucial for stock assessment and fisheries management due to its direct effect on the sex ratio, the amount of inbreeding, the population dynamics and the resilience of a population after an environmental perturbation. However, information regarding the mating system and mate choice preferences is still largely unknown in A. antennatus. In this study, the mating system as well as putative mate choice were evaluated. Evidences of multiple mating for both females and males indicate a polygynandrous mating system in A. antennatus under natural conditions. In addition, putative mate choice preferences toward unrelated partners were detected.La gamba rosada, Aristeus antennatus, és un crustaci decàpode d'elevada importància econòmica a la Mediterrània occidental que ha estat catalogat com a espècie prioritària per a la gestió pesquera. En aquesta tesi s’han desenvolupat 97 loci microsatèl·lits putatius a partir de la NGS, 35 dels quals són polimòrfics en l'espècie. Paral·lelament s'ha desenvolupat un protocol d'extracció de DNA diferencial, fiable i no invasiu, que permet obtenir el DNA del mascle copulador a partir de l'anàlisi genètica dels espermatòfors units al telicle de les femelles. Finalment s'ha utilitzat aquest panell de loci microsatèl·lits polimòrfics per inferir paràmetres de la dinàmica reproductiva d'A. antennatus desconeguts fins al moment. Els resultats indiquen que l’espècie presenta un sistema d'aparellament basat en la poliginàndria en condicions naturals, alhora que s'observen indicis de l’existència de selecció de parella en funció del menor grau de parentiu. Aquests resultats són d’elevat interès a l’hora d’avaluar un estoc i aplicar determinades mesures de gestió, ja que la dinàmica reproductiva d’una espècie incideix directament sobre la proporció de sexes, l'endogàmia, la dinàmica poblacional i la resiliència de les poblacions en front a pertorbacions ambientals i antropogèniques

Producció de biogàs per codigestió anaeròbia

Guia simple sobre el procés de digestió anaeròbia i sobre les possibilitats que té, detallant els punts més destacats d’aquest tractament i donant una visió pràctica per a la implantació i el funcionament d’una planta d’aprofitament energètic de biogàs a partir del tractament conjunt de purins i residus o de subproductes orgànics