Identifying the Genetic Population Structure Knowledge Gaps Hindering an Improved Management of the Spurdog (Squalus acanthias) stock in the Northeast Atlantic: A Systematic Review

Despite its long history of exploitation, there is limited information about the spurdog. Therefore, it is important to identify which general and genetic information is available for the species and what is missing to resolve stock structure and advice future management schemes. The goal of this study was to identify the knowledge gaps, in terms of genetic population structure and diversity, which could inform an improved fisheries management for the spurdog in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. To achieve this, a systematic review and a series of phylogenetic analyses using the NADH2 marker were done. Results from the review showed there is very limited general information about the species in the study regions, with only 38 documents found out of over 6000 hits. Only 3 studies were found concerning its genetic structure and diversity, with high diversity found for all studies but no genetic differentiation, except for the subpopulation in the Adriatic Sea. No genetic structure was found for the species in the Northeast Atlantic, but fine structuring was found for the Mediterranean Sea, indicating different stocks. The phylogenetic trees showed complex taxonomical relationships within the Squalus genus and no clear formation of monophyletic clades according to the location in which the samples were taken for sequences of S. acanthias. Major conclusions indicate the need for collecting more information, particularly with less invasive methods, given the zero TAC in the areas and the limitations of fisheries surveys, as well as more sampling efforts in regions different from Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Adriatic Sea. Furthermore, given that the phylogenetic analysis of the species with the NADH2 marker was inconclusive, the use of more efficient genetic markers, such as microsatellites or single nucleotide polymorphisms, is recommended for identifying fine genetic structuring in the populations

Search and characterization of exo-earths participation in the development of the espresso spectrograph for the VLT

The search for exo-Earths using Doppler spectroscopy faces nowadays two main difficulties. The first is a technical limitation. The precision of the instruments limits the measurable amplitudes to signals produced by super-Earths orbiting close to their host stars. Terrestrial planets orbiting solar-type stars induce variations smaller than 1 m s−1 except when orbiting very close to the star. The arrival of ESPRESSO and the Laser Frequency Comb as calibration unit will palliate this limitation and move the measurement precision to the range of 5 cm s−1 . So far the search in solar-Type stars is limited to super-Earths. The alternative is to find terrestrial planets in the habitable zone is the search around M-type stars. Their lower mass makes the signals of terrestrial planets detectable by today’s instruments. The second issue is the presence of radial velocity variations induced by the homogeneities of the stellar surface. The changes in the stellar surface and the stellar rotation induce periodic signals that go from less than 1 m s−1 in the quietest stars to dozens of m s−1 in active stars and might be easily mistaken for signals induced by rocky planets. In the case of M-dwarfs the need of performing the analysis of the stellar induced signals is even more important. Signals produced by early M-dwarfs have periods compatible with the habitable zone of those stars and amplitudes similar to those of super-Earths. The rise in precision expected for the next years will make this kind of signals visible even in the quietest stars making even more important to understand and correctly model them. Using chromospheric indicators from high resolution spectroscopic and photometric time series we study both long term and short term variability (solarlike cycles and rotation) of a sample of 176 low magnetic activity stars with spectral types going from late F-type to mid M-type stars. We provide new measurements of magnetic cycles for 105 stars, and rotation periods for 123 stars. We study the distribution of rotation periods, finding that there is an evolution in the rotation period lengths, getting longer for later type stars, that saturates when reaching K-type stars and begins to increase again at types later than M2. We study the distribution of magnetic cycles, finding no clear difference among different spectral types. We study the relationships between the measured periods and the chromospheric activity level of the stars, measured as the log10(R0 HK). To do so we extend the log10(R0 HK) calibration to cover stars up to B-V ∼ 2.0. We find a strong correlation between the measured rotation period and the mean level of chromospheric activity that allows to predict the rotation periods of main sequence stars from G-type to mid M-type with an accuracy of the ∼ 20% of the period. We analyse the radial velocity time series of 133 stars searching both for activity induce signals and planetary signals. We detect rotation induced signals in 46 stars, with amplitudes going from 0.3 to 16.4 ms−1 . We study the relationship between the amplitude of the induced signals and the activity indicators, finding a correlation between the mean level of chromospheric activity log10(R0 HK) and the measured amplitude of the signal. This relationship shows that FGK stars show a similar behaviour, which is different for M-type stars. We find also a relationship between the amplitude of the modulation in the Mount Wilson S index and the amplitude of the induced radial velocity signal. This relationship behaves differently for two populations of stars, with a breaking point around mid-K stars. After cleaning the radial velocity series form stellar activity induced signals we performed a search for dynamical signals in the same sample of stars. We recovered most of the previously published planet candidates, except for a few cases where we attribute a stellar origin to the previously assumed planetary companion. We present the discovery of six new planets around the stars HD 1581, HD 161098, HD 176986, GJ 536 and GJ 3998, with minimum masses in M⊕ units of 5.87 ± 0.99, 26.60 ± 4.39, 4.86 ± 0.66 and 5.47 ± 0.84, 2.35 ± 0.42 and 6.12 ± 1.11 respectively located at 0.321, 2.503, 0.061, 0.066, 0.029 and 0.089 au from their parent stars. The latter two have been reported by Affer et al. (2016). Five of them are presumably rocky planets. We suggest the presence of a seventh one in the star HD 161098 with a minimum mass of 5.30 ± 1.22 M⊕ located at 0.317 au of the star, which could be habitable given the appropriate atmospheric conditions. We suggest also the presence of five additional candidates that still require further analysis and observations.La búsqueda de exotierras por medio de espectroscopía doppler se enfrenta hoy en día a dos grandes dificultades. La primera es de carácter técnico. En estrellas de tipo solar la precisión de los instrumentos existentes limita la amplitud de las señales que se pueden medir a aquellas producidas por supertierras a separaciones orbitales cercanas a sus estrellas. Los planetas de tipo terrestre orbitando alrededor de estrellas de tipo solar producen variaciones muy inferiores a 1 m/s excepto a distancias muy cercanas a la estrella. La llegada de ESPRESSO y el Laser Frequency Comb como unidad de calibración paliarán esta limitación al llevar la precisión de las medidas hasta el rango de los 5 cm/s. Hasta ese momento la búsqueda en estrellas de tipo solar queda limitada a supertierras. La alternativa en estos momentos está en la búsqueda alrededor de estrellas de tipo M, ya que su baja masa hace que las señales de los planetas de tipo terrestre sean detectables con los instrumentos actuales. La segunda dificultad está en las variaciones en velocidad radial producidas por las inhomogeneidades de la superficie de las estrellas. Los cambios en las regiones activas de la superficie en las estrellas y su rotación provocan variaciones periódicas en la velocidad radial que pueden ir desde menos de 1 m/s en estrellas tranquilas hasta varias decenas de m/s en las más activas y pueden ser fácilmente confundidas con la variación provocada por planetas rocosos. En el caso de las estrellas M la necesidad de realizar este análisis de las señales originadas por la actividad estelar resulta aun más importante. Las señales inducidas por las estrellas M tempranas tienen periodos compatibles con los de las órbitas de los planetas en la zona habitable de estas estrellas, y amplitudes compatibles con las de las supertierras. Con el aumento de precisión previsto para el futuro estas señales aparecerán hasta en las estrellas menos activas conocidas, resultando cada vez más importante entenderlas y modelarlas correctamente. Usando series temporales de indicadores cromosféricos de espectros de alta resolución y curvas fotométricas estudiamos la variabilidad de 176 estrellas de baja actividad magnética de tipos espectrales desde F tardío hasta M intermedio, buscando tanto actividad a largo plazo (ciclos similares al ciclo solar) como a corto plazo (rotación). Presentamos nuevas medidas de ciclos magnéticos para 105 estrellas, y periodos de rotación para 123 estrellas. Estudiamos la distribución de periodos de rotación, donde encontramos una evolución hacia mayores valores en la duración del periodo en los tipos espectrales más tardíos. Esa evolución se detiene al llegar a las estrellas de tipo K temprano, y se reanuda al cruzar la frontera de las estrellas M2. Estudiamos así mismo la distribución de ciclos magnéticos, sin encontrar diferencias evidentes entre las estrellas de diferentes tipos espectrales. Estudiamos la relación entre el periodo de rotación medido y el nivel medio de actividad cromosférica, medido como el log(Rhk). Para ello extendemos la calibración del log(Rhk) para cubrir estrellas de B-V hasta ~2.0. Encontramos una fuerte correlación entre el periodo de rotación medido y el nivel de actividad cromosférica, que permite predecir el periodo de rotación de estrellas desde estrellas de tipo G hasta estrellas de tipo M intermedio de secuencia principal con una precisión del ~23\%. Analizamos las curvas de velocidad radial de 133 estrellas buscando tanto señales de velocidad radial inducidas por actividad como señales inducidas por planetas. Detectamos la señal inducida por rotación en 46 estrellas, con amplitudes desde 0.3 hasta 16.4 m/s. Estudiamos la relación entre la amplitud de las señales inducidas y los indicadores de actividad cromosférica, encontrando una vez más una correlación entre el nivel medio de actividad log(Rhk) y la amplitud de la señal inducida. Esta relación nos enseña que las estrellas FGK siguen un comportamiento similar, mientras que para las estrellas M las amplitudes inducidas son mayores. Encontramos también una relación entre la amplitud de la modulación rotacional del índice Smw y la amplitud de la señal en velocidad radial inducida por la rotación. En este caso encontramos dos poblaciones bien diferenciadas, divididas por las estrellas de tipo K intermedio. Tras limpiar las curvas de velocidad radial de señales inducidas por actividad llevamos a cabo una búsqueda de señales dinámicas en la misma muestra de estrellas. Recuperamos la mayor parte de los candidatos a planetas previamente publicados, salvo unos pocos casos donde atribuimos a la señal un origen intrínseco a la estrella. Presentamos el descubrimiento de seis nuevos planetas alrededor de las estrellas HD 1581, HD 161098, HD 176986, GJ 536 y GJ 3998, con masas mínimas de 5.87 +- 0.99, 26.60 +- 4.39, 4.86 +- 0.66 y 5.47 +- 0.84 Me, 2.35 +- 0.42 Me y 6.12 +- 1.11 Me respectivamente, situados a 0.321, 2.503, 0.061, 0.066, 0.029 y 0.089 au de sus estrellas. Los dos últimos publicados ya por Affer et al. 2016. Cinco de ellos probablemente sean planetas rocosos. Sugerimos también la presencia de un séptimo en la estrella HD 161098 con una masa mínima de 5.30 +-1.22 Me orbitando a una distancia de 0.317 au, que podría ser habitable si se diesen las condiciones atmosféricas apropiadas. Sugerimos por último la presencia de otros cinco candidatos que aún requieren observaciones adicionales y un análisis detallado

The RoPES project with HARPS and HARPS-N. I. A system of super-Earths orbiting the moderately active K-dwarf HD 176986

We report the discovery of a system of two super-Earths orbiting the moderately active K-dwarf HD 176986. This work is part of the RoPES RV program of G- and K-type stars, which combines radial velocities (RVs) from the HARPS and HARPS-N spectrographs to search for short-period terrestrial planets. HD 176986 b and c are super-Earth planets with masses of 5.74 and 9.18 M$_{\oplus}$, orbital periods of 6.49 and 16.82 days, and distances of 0.063 and 0.119 AU in orbits that are consistent with circular. The host star is a K2.5 dwarf, and despite its modest level of chromospheric activity (log(R'hk) = - 4.90 +- 0.04), it shows a complex activity pattern. Along with the discovery of the planets, we study the magnetic cycle and rotation of the star. HD 176986 proves to be suitable for testing the available RV analysis technique and further our understanding of stellar activity.Comment: 21 pages, 24 figures, 7 table

AlH lines in the blue spectrum of Proxima Centauri

The recently-computed ExoMol line lists for isotopologues of AlH are used to analyse the blue spectrum (4000-4500 {\AA}) of Proxima Cen (M5.5 V). Comparison of the observed and computed spectra enables the identification of a large number of 27AlH lines of the A1{\Pi} - X1{\Sigma}+ band system: the spectral range covering 1-0, 0-0 and 1-1 bands is dominated by clearly resolved AlH lines. We reveal the diffuse nature of transitions close to the dissociation limit which appears in the form of increasingly wider(up to 5 {\AA}) and shallower (up to the continuum confusion limit) AlH line profiles. The predicted wavelengths of AlH diffuse lines are systematically displaced. The effect broadening by pre-dissociation states on the line profiles is included by increasing the radiative damping rate by up to 5 orders of magnitude. We determine empirical values of damping rates for a number of the clean 0-0 Q-branch transitions by comparing the observed and synthetic stellar spectra. We find excellent agreement between our damping rates and lifetimes available in the literature. A comparison of 27Al1H ExoMol and REALH spectra shows that the observed spectrum is better described by the ExoMol line list. A search for 26Al1H lines in the Proxima Cen spectrum does not reveal any notable features; giving an upper limit of 27Al1H/26Al1H {>} 100.Comment: 22 pages, 6 tables, 10 figs, accepted by MNRA

Analysis of the chromosphere and corona of low-activity early-M dwarfs

While most of the exoplanets have been found orbiting around solar-type stars, low-mass stars have recently been recognized as ideal exo-life laboratory. Currently, stellar activity is one of the limiting factors for the characterization of Earth-twins and for assessing their habitability: understanding the activity of M dwarfs is thus crucial. In this contribution I present the spectroscopic analysis of the quiet early-M dwarfs monitored within the HADES (HArps-n red Dwarf Exoplanet Survey) radial velocity survey. The spectra allow us to analyze simultaneously the Ca ii H&K doublet and the Hydrogen Balmer series, while the intensive follow up gives us a large number of spectra ( 100) for each target. We complement this dataset with ground-based follow-up photometry and archival X-ray data. I present our results on the activity-rotation-stellar parameters and flux-flux relationships, and discuss the correlation of emission fluxes at low activity levels and the evolution timescales of active regions

A super-Earth orbiting the nearby M-dwarf GJ 536

We report the discovery of a super-Earth orbiting the star GJ 536 based on the analysis of the radial-velocity time series from the HARPS and HARPS-N spectrographs. GJ 536 b is a planet with a minimum mass M sin $i$ of 5.36 +- 0.69 Me with an orbital period of 8.7076 +- 0.0025 days at a distance of 0.066610(13) AU, and an orbit that is consistent with circular. The host star is the moderately quiet M1 V star GJ 536, located at 10 pc from the Sun. We find the presence of a second signal at 43 days that we relate to stellar rotation after analysing the time series of Ca II H&K and H alpha spectroscopic indicators and photometric data from the ASAS archive. We find no evidence linking the short period signal to any activity proxy. We also tentatively derived a stellar magnetic cycle of less than 3 years.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figures, 5 tables, Accepted in A&

Dynamical masses of two young transiting sub-Neptunes orbiting HD 63433

Although the number of exoplanets reported in the literature exceeds 5000 so far, only a few dozen of them are young planets ($\le$900 Myr). However, a complete characterization of these young planets is key to understanding the current properties of the entire population. Hence, it is necessary to constrain the planetary formation processes and the timescales of dynamical evolution by measuring the masses of exoplanets transiting young stars. We characterize and measure the masses of two transiting planets orbiting the 400 Myr old solar-type star HD\,63433, which is a member of the Ursa Major moving group. We analysed precise photometric light curves of five sectors of the TESS mission with a baseline of $\sim$750 days and obtained $\sim$150 precise radial velocity measurements with the visible and infrared arms of the CARMENES instrument at the Calar Alto 3.5 m telescope in two different campaigns of $\sim$500 days. We performed a combined photometric and spectroscopic analysis to retrieve the planetary properties of two young planets. The strong stellar activity signal was modelled by Gaussian regression processes. We have updated the transit parameters of HD\,63433\,b and c and obtained planet radii of R$_p^b$\,=\,2.140\,$\pm$\,0.087 R$_\oplus$ and R$_p^c$\,=\,2.692\,$\pm$\,0.108 R$_\oplus$. Our analysis allowed us to determine the dynamical mass of the outer planet with a 4$\sigma$ significance ($M_p^c$\,=\,15.54\,$\pm$\,3.86 M$_\oplus$) and set an upper limit on the mass of the inner planet at 3$\sigma$ ($M_p^b$\,$<$\,21.76 M$_\oplus$). According to theoretical models, both planets are expected to be sub-Neptunes, whose interiors mostly consist of silicates and water with no dominant composition of iron, and whose gas envelopes are lower than 2\% in the case of HD\,63433\,c. The envelope is unconstrained in HD\,63433\,b

Calculations of periodicity from H<i>α</i> profiles of Proxima Centauri

We investigate retrieval of the stellar rotation signal for Proxima Centauri. We make use of high-resolution spectra taken with UVES and HARPS of Proxima Centauri over a 13-yr period as well as photometric observations of Proxima Centauri from ASAS and HST. We measure the Hα equivalent width and Hα index, skewness and kurtosis and introduce a method that investigates the symmetry of the line, the peak ratio, which appears to return better results than the other measurements. Our investigations return a most significant period of 82.6 ± 0.1 days, confirming earlier photometric results and ruling out a more recent result of 116.6 days which we conclude to be an alias induced by the specific HARPS observation times. We conclude that whilst spectroscopic Hα measurements can be used for period recovery, in the case of Proxima Centauri the available photometric measurements are more reliable. We make 2D models of Proxima Centauri to generate simulated Hα, finding that reasonable distributions of plage and chromospheric features are able to reproduce the equivalent width variations in observed data and recover the rotation period, including after the addition of simulated noise and flares. However the 2D models used fail to generate the observed variety of line shapes measured by the peak ratio. We conclude that only 3D models which incorporate vertical motions in the chromosphere can achieve this