Plegadognathus bonariensis (Acari: Halacaridae): First halacarid mite report from Qatar

In this study, the genus Plegadognathus Morselli, 1981 with the species P. bonariensis. Viets, 1936) is recorded from Qatar for the first time. Diagnoses for the genus Plegadognathus and the short description of female of P. bonariensis are given with original illustrationsThis work has been conducted under the framework of the project NPRP7-1129-1-201, funded by the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of The Qatar Foundation)

Alien species in the Guadiana Estuary (SE-Portugal/SW-Spain): Blackfordia virginica (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) and Palaemon macrodactylus (Crustacea, Decapoda): potential impacts and mitigation measures

The cnidarian Blackfordia virginica and the adult of the caridean prawn, Palaemon macrodactylus are first recorded from the Guadiana Estuary. The habitats and environmental conditions under which these species were found are described and the potential impacts and mitigation measures for their introduction are discussed. The first observations of adults of these species were made in July 2008, at the transitional zone of the estuary (brackish area). Most samples taken in the middle-estuary were characterized by large densities of B. virginica (> 100 individuals 100 m-3), while P. macrodactylus was recorded in much smaller densities (<0.01 individuals m-2). Despite a comprehensive survey of invertebrates done between 1999 and 2003, neither of these species was previously detected in the Guadiana estuary. These observations may, therefore, coincide with the introduction of these species to the Guadiana estuary. Small planktonic crustaceans are generally described as the main food items for B. virginica. Our results show that the presence of the medusa was usually associated with a reduction of densities of all zooplanktonic organisms, including eggs of Engraulis encrasicolus. The reduction of planktonic biomass could have severe implications for organisms at upper trophic levels, such as E. encrasicolus, which use the Guadiana estuary as a nursery area and feed mostly on small planktonic crustaceans. Moreover, the potential consumption of eggs by B. virginica could potentially increase the impact on the nursery function of the estuary. The other alien species detected, P. macrodactylus, appears to be a strong invader, able to colonise a wide geographical range. It has a strong osmoregulatory capacity, and is known to inhabit a wide range of salinities, particularly if compared to similar native species (Crangon crangon and Palaemon longirostris). There is clear potential for the occurrence of competition for food between P. macrodactylus and the native prawn, due to dietary overlapping. The Guadiana estuary is under Mediterranean climate influence and is expected to be strongly impacted by climatic changes in the next decades. Other threat-factors are also present, such as increasing regulation by dams, the construction of new harbors, and increase shipping activity. It is important, therefore, to study the impact of these new invasions in this estuary and, based on the ecohydrology approach, propose mitigations measures to be applied in this system and other similar ecosystems worldwide

Effects of inter-annual freshwater inflow shifts on the community structure of estuarine decapods

The objective of this study was to evaluate how inter-annual changes in freshwater inputs have affected the decapod assemblages in the Guadiana estuary. Three major areas in the estuary were sampled during the summer, in 2001 (high inflow year and before the filling of the Alqueva dam), in 2002 (low inflow and after filling of the Alqueva dam), and in 2008 and 2009 (low inflow and after consolidation of the impacts of the Alqueva dam). A significant increase in total decapod densities was recorded for the entire estuary, but especially in the upper estuary, after the closure of the dam in 2002. Changes in salinity, turbidity and temperature, which were mainly due to changes in freshwater input and climatic influence (North Atlantic Oscillation index), had an important influence on the structure of the decapod crustacean assemblages. The major conclusions of the study were that, following the construction of the Alqueva dam and regularization of the freshwater inflow, the decapod crustacean community in the Guadiana estuary changed and a shift of the dominant decapod species to upper zones of the estuary happened. These changes, and the presence of the non-native Palaemon macrodactylus in 2008 and 2009, further enhance the importance of estuarine monitoring studies to improve ecologists’ knowledge on distinguishing and understanding natural changes and anthropogenic impacts in the ecosystem.Effets des variations interannuelles d’apports d’eau douce sur la structure d’une communauté estuarienne de décapodes. L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer comment les variations interannuelles d’apports d’eau douce affectent l’assemblage de décapodes dans l’estuaire du Guadiana. Trois grands domaines de l’estuaire ont été échantillonnés en été : en 2001 (année d’apports importants et avant le remplissage du barrage d’Alqueva), en 2002 (faible apport d’eau douce et après le remplissage du barrage d’Alqueva), en 2008 et 2009 (après la consolidation de l’impact du barrage d’Alqueva). Une augmentation significative de la densité totale des décapodes pour tout l’estuaire a été enregistrée, mais surtout dans l’estuaire supérieur, après la fermeture du barrage en 2002. Les variations de salinité, turbidité et température, principalement dues à des changements d’apports d’eau douce et à l’influence du climat (indice d’oscillation nordatlantique), ont eu une influence importante sur la structure des assemblages de crustacés décapodes. Les principales conclusions de l’étude sont que, à la suite de la construction du barrage d’Alqueva et de la régulation de l’apport d’eau douce, la communauté de crustacés décapodes dans l’estuaire du Guadiana a changé et les principales espèces de décapodes se sont déplacées vers les zones supérieures de l’estuaire. Ces changements, ainsi que la présence de l’espèce non native Palaemon macrodactylus en 2008 et 2009, soulignent l’importance de surveiller l’estuaire dans le futur proche afin de pouvoir mieux distinguer et comprendre les changements naturels et les impacts anthropiques sur l’écosystème

Macrobenthic response to sewage discharges in confined areas from coastal lagoons: implication on the ecological quality status

We studied the effect of wastewater on macrobenthic assemblages and local Ecological Quality Status (EcoQS) along a pollution gradient. The study consisted of six sampling sites surrounding the discharge channel of a Wastewater Treatment Plant located within Ria Formosa coastal lagoon. The total number of individuals was significantly higher at the discharge point comparatively to the control site, while total number of species, species richness and diversity values revealed the opposite pattern. Deposit-feeding were the most abundant trophic group, particularly at the inner sites, while the highest contributions of suspension-feeding and carnivory groups were observed at external ones. The organic matter content was positively correlated with the deposit-feeding group conferring a structural character of this variable near the plant discharge. M-AMBI index was consistent with the ANOSIM and SIMPER analysis, successfully separating the sampling stations according to the distance from the discharge and distinguishing the lower EcoQS of the inner sites not complying with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive of a “Good” quality status. In addition, changes in ecological and biotic indices were negatively correlated with variations of organic matter and positively correlated with salinity, corroborating the effect of these variables on the composition and structure of macrobenthic communities

Food web structure of three Mediterranean stream reaches along a gradient of anthropogenic impact

Anthropogenic impact can alter food web structure through changes in species interactions. In this study, we explored the food web of three Mediterranean stream reaches (two seasonal and one permanent) along an anthropogenic impact gradient to test the hypothesis that increasing impact simplifies food webs. To test this, we applied the isotopic (δ13C and δ15N) niche concept to compare reaches using isotopic metrics (isotopic richness, divergence, dispersion, evenness, and redundancy). The isotopic indices were useful to identify differences in food web architecture among the three reaches. The least impacted site had the highest isotopic richness, dispersion, and isotopic redundancy, suggesting higher ecological resilience at this site. The effect of disturbance in the remaining two sites was masked by the presence of invasive crayfish, which increased isotopic divergence and was responsible for higher food-chain length in the most impacted reach, but not in the moderately impacted reach. Consumers displayed generalistic feeding habits, with Bayesian mixing models indicating that they relied primarily on a mixture of periphyton, other macroinvertebrates, and to a lesser extent, detritus. Some taxa displayed changes in their dietary habitats depending on the site, indicating that the same type of taxa fed on distinct foods at each stream reach

Current biodiversity and biogeography trends of reef-building corals in Qatar

Coral reefs represent one of the most biologically and socio-economically important natural assets in the Arabian region, particularly in Qatar. Stress through increasing sea temperatures and salinities, growing development, and other pressures, has resulted in shifts in reef communities across the region in recent years. Branching corals have disappeared from most reef systems while previously thriving inshore reefs are being reduced to rubble with little signs of life remaining. We here conduct a thorough re-assessment of coral reefs around Qatar, focusing on coral cover and biodiversity using photoquadrat surveys, and we investigate potential environmental drivers of coral communities in the region. Results show higher coral cover on offshore reefs than on inshore reefs. Additionally, among previously documented inshore corals reefs, several have lost their coral cover and have shifted to non-coral ecosystems composed of rubble, turf algae, and oysters. Coral diversity is higher on offshore reefs than inshore reefs, with previously reported species now absent on inshore reefs. Environmental factors such as salinity and sea surface temperatures could play an important role in driving current patterns of coral biodiversity and biogeography and in predicting their shift as a function of future regional climate scenarios. We expect inshore reefs to be generally more fragile and susceptible to stress due the higher variability in environmental conditions. These same inshore reefs are also the most exposed to human interactions and coastal development. To ensure the future of coral reefs in the region and to sustain their ecosystem services, coral reefs in Qatar will need to be effectively regulated (i.e. through the development and implementation of an ecosystem-based management plan). In addition, recovery of impacted reefs could be assisted through the creation of a network of marine protected areas (MPAs), allowing for natural replenishment of coral communities through connectivity. In the meantime, local reefs are likely to continue their decline in coral cover and diversity, particularly the inshore environments.qscienc

International Centre for Coastal Ecohydrology: applying the ecohydrology approach for the sustainable functioning of coastal ecosystems

Coastal areas are among the most sensitive and productive ecosystems around the world, providing for the subsistence of large numbers of people, particularly in developing countries. Human pressure on coastal areas has dramatically increased during the last decades and climate changes will pose new threats to these areas, as expected from sea-level rise and the decrease in freshwater discharges from rivers (Chicharo et al., 2009). The International Centre for Coastal Ecohydrology (ICCE) a newly approved centre under the auspices of UNESCO, in October 2009, is located in the Algarve region (south Portugal). The centre acts as a facilitator and synergetic structure by providing the articulation of different scientific and institutional stakeholders at national and international levels. ICCE aims are to contribute scientific knowledge, capacity-building, educational and dissemination activities to support, design and implement adaptation and mitigation strategies and policies for coastal zones, including the impacts of climate change, addressing the goals of the Strategic Plan of the 7th Phase of UNESCO-IHP, the Millennium Development Goals (UN-MDGs) and the key themes for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UN-DESD), particularly in African and Mediterranean regions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Uncovering responses of zooplankton community to CO2 acidification in Qatar coastal waters

The combustion of fossil fuels is pushing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) to unprecedented levels. This rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 is causing global changes, with noticeable increases in temperature, sea level rise and changes to marine carbon chemistry (i.e., Ocean Acidification - OA). The today average pH of ocean surface waters has already declined by 0.1 units from pre-industrial levels. According to the IPCC representative concentration pathways (RCPs), further declines in pH are predicted until the end of the century, varying between 0.14 units and 0.43 units. OA is irreversible on short time frames and previous studies have shown the potential impacts of ocean acidification on the physiology, reproduction, immunology and behavior of marine organisms, with effects already documented in multiple species and several regions of the world, although not in the Arabian Gulf. Nevertheless, the strong environmental variability of the Arabian Gulf presents good opportunities to study the potential impacts of future global change on marine ecosystems and to investigate the underlying mechanisms governing their resistance and adaptation to future environmental extremes. In this research we are targeting the response of zooplanktonic assemblages to OA, since these are commonly used as bioindicators of environmental and climate driven impact on marine ecosystems. The approach is mainly experimental, using controlled CO2 perturbation experiments, done aboard the Qatar University research vessel “Janan”. We are specifically investigating the response of zooplankton communities to relevant scenarios of seawater acidification by CO2, in terms of assemblage composition and structure; respiration rates; and egg production rates. The first round of experiments was conducted during a 3 day cruise offshore from Doha (June 3–5, 2016); complemented with a second cruise and round of experiments (November 17–19, 2016). Results provide insightful information about zooplankton communities’ responses to high CO2 levels in seawater of the Arabian Gulf and contribute to a better understanding about the biogeochemistry of coastal marine areas in Qatar, and more broadly in the Arabian Gulf.This study is funded by QNRF through the project “Zooplankton community responses to CO2 acidification in Qatar coastal waters (UREP18-177-1-021)

Using vertebrate environmental DNA from seawater in biomonitoring of marine habitats

Conservation and management of marine biodiversity depends on biomonitoring of marine habitats, but current approaches are resource‐intensive and require different approaches for different organisms. Environmental DNA (eDNA) extracted from water samples is an efficient and versatile approach to detecting aquatic animals. In the ocean, eDNA composition reflects local fauna at fine spatial scales, but little is known about the effectiveness of eDNA‐based monitoring of marine communities at larger scales. We investigated the potential of eDNA to characterize and distinguish marine communities at large spatial scales by comparing vertebrate species composition among marine habitats in Qatar, the Arabian Gulf (also known as the Persian Gulf), based on eDNA metabarcoding of seawater samples. We conducted species accumulation analyses to estimate how much of the vertebrate diversity we detected. We obtained eDNA sequences from a diverse assemblage of marine vertebrates, spanning 191 taxa in 73 families. These included rare and endangered species and covered 36% of the bony fish genera previously recorded in the Gulf. Sites of similar habitat type were also similar in eDNA composition. The species accumulation analyses showed that the number of sample replicates was insufficient for some sampling sites but suggested that a few hundred eDNA samples could potentially capture >90% of the marine vertebrate diversity in the study area. Our results confirm that seawater samples contain habitat‐characteristic molecular signatures and that eDNA monitoring can efficiently cover vertebrate diversity at scales relevant to national and regional conservation and management.Maersk Oil; Qatar National Research Fund. Grant Number: NPRP 7 ‐ 1129 ‐ 1 – 201; Naturvidenskab og Teknologi, Aarhus Universite

Towards Better Surveillance for Coral Ecosystems in Qatar: Stakeholder Engagement in EBM Approach.

More recently, Qatar has undergone a remarkable social and economic transformation in less than a generation. Although Qataris have a historic connection to the sea, dating back to the pearl diving days in the 19th century, the marine environment requires many interventions to be managed in a sustainable manner. Given the fact that coral reefs play an important role in the coastal ecosystem in this peninsular state, principles of environment sustainability should be undertaken for this significant habitats along the Qatari shores. Local pressures and climate change are among the most important factors that have negatively affected Qatar's coral communities. Other major threats result largely from human activities. To achieve sustainable development that preserves the Environment is a core goal especially included in all recent development regimes in Qatar. A balance between development needs and protecting the environment represents the fourth pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030. An explicit reference is also documented in the two most recently adopted strategies of development. This study introduces a good opportunity for Qatar to position itself as a regional leader in the use of environmental management systems that integrate multiple partners in guiding and conserving coral reefs as part of valuable ecosystems as a right of future generations of Qatari nationals guaranteed by the country's sustainable development agenda. It defines 4-stage engagement framework that include 9 diverse stakeholders proposed to participate in the management of coral reef ecosystems, therefore, facilitate monitoring and enforcement, enhance understanding of system dynamics, improve management capacity to respond to shocks and disturbances, and facilitate teamwork.This publication was made possible by the NPRP award [NPRP8-952-1-186] from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of The Qatar Foundation) through the National Priority Research Program