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Higueruelo A, Constenla M, Padrós F, Sánchez-Marín P, Carrassón M, Soler-Membrives A, Dallarés S. Coping with current impacts: The case of Scyliorhinus canicula in the NW Mediterranean Sea and implications for human consumption. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116200. [PMID: 38430679 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) is a bottom-dwelling elasmobranch that represents the most discarded catch in terms of biomass in the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean). Potential impacts affecting its population and food safety implications have been assessed in three localities along the Catalan coast. Distinct indicators were integrated, such as biological data, ingested anthropogenic items (plastic and cellulose-like items), parasitological indices, trace metal concentrations and histopathology using liver as target organ. Although high ingestion rates of fibres and levels of some heavy metals, they do not seem negatively affected by any major pathology nor by the current levels of pollutants. Small-scale differences among localities and depths were found and discussed. No zoonotic parasites were found. Encysted larvae of Grillotia adenoplusia and, above all, the levels of Hg found in the musculature, that are well over the European Commission limits, rise concerns regarding human consumption of S. canicula in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Higueruelo
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Constenla
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Padrós
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Sánchez-Marín
- Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Subida a Radio Faro, s/n, 36390 Vigo, Spain
| | - Maite Carrassón
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Soler-Membrives
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Sara Dallarés
- Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
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Maioli F, Weigel B, Chiarabelli E, Manfredi C, Anibaldi A, Isailović I, Vrgoč N, Casini M. Influence of ecological traits on spatio-temporal dynamics of an elasmobranch community in a heavily exploited basin. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9596. [PMID: 37311785 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36038-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Elasmobranchs, which include sharks and batoids, play critical roles in maintaining the integrity and stability of marine food webs. However, these cartilaginous fish are among the most threatened vertebrate lineages due to their widespread depletion. Consequently, understanding dynamics and predicting changes of elasmobranch communities are major research topics in conservation ecology. Here, we leverage long-term catch data from a standardized bottom trawl survey conducted from 1996 to 2019, to evaluate the spatio-temporal dynamics of the elasmobranch community in the heavily exploited Adriatic Sea, where these fish have historically been depleted. We use joint species distribution modeling to quantify the responses of the species to environmental variation while also including important traits such as species age at first maturity, reproductive mode, trophic level, and phylogenetic information. We present spatio-temporal changes in the species community and associated modification of the trait composition, highlighting strong spatial and depth-mediated patterning. We observed an overall increase in the abundance of the dominant elasmobranch species, except for spurdog, which has shown a continued decline. However, our results showed that the present community displays lower age at first maturity and a smaller fraction of viviparous species compared to the earlier observed community due to changes in species' relative abundance. The selected traits contributed considerably to explaining community patterns, suggesting that the integration of trait-based approaches in elasmobranch community analyses can aid efforts to conserve this important lineage of fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Maioli
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Bologna, 61032, Fano, Italy.
| | - Benjamin Weigel
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Research Centre for Ecological Change, University of Helsinki, 00100, Helsinki, Finland
- EABX, INRAE, 33612, Cestas, France
| | - Elettra Chiarabelli
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Bologna, 61032, Fano, Italy
- CoNISMa, 00196, Rome, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Chiara Manfredi
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Bologna, 61032, Fano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Anibaldi
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Bologna, 61032, Fano, Italy
- CoNISMa, 00196, Rome, Italy
| | - Igor Isailović
- Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, 21000, Split, Croatia
| | - Nedo Vrgoč
- Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, 21000, Split, Croatia
| | - Michele Casini
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Bologna, 61032, Fano, Italy.
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Marine Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 45330, Lysekil, Sweden.
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3
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The Nursehound Scyliorhinus stellaris Mitochondrial Genome—Phylogeny, Relationships among Scyliorhinidae and Variability in Waters of the Balearic Islands. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810355. [PMID: 36142266 PMCID: PMC9499419 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the Nursehound Scyliorhinus stellaris has been determined for the first time and compared with congeneric species. The mitogenome sequence was 16,684 bp in length. The mitogenome is composed of 13 PCGs, 2 rRNAs, 22 transfer RNA genes and non-coding regions. The gene order of the newly sequenced mitogenome is analogous to the organization described in other vertebrate genomes. The typical conservative blocks in the control region were indicated. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a monophyletic origin of the Scyliorhininae subfamily, and within it, two subclades were identified. A significant divergence of Scyliorhinus spp. together with Poroderna patherinum in relation to the group of Cephaloscyllium spp. was observed, except for Scyliorhinus torazame, more related to this last cited clade. A hypothesis of a divergent evolution consequent to a selective pressure in different geographic areas, which lead to a global latitudinal diversity gradient, has been suggested to explain this phylogenetic reconstruction. However, convergent evolution on mitochondrial genes could also involve different species in some areas of the world.
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Bellodi A, Benvenuto A, Melis R, Mulas A, Barone M, Barría C, Cariani A, Carugati L, Chatzispyrou A, Desrochers M, Ferrari A, Guallart J, Hemida F, Mancusi C, Mazzoldi C, Ramírez-Amaro S, Rey J, Scannella D, Serena F, Tinti F, Vella A, Follesa MC, Cannas R. Call me by my name: unravelling the taxonomy of the gulper shark genus Centrophorus in the Mediterranean Sea through an integrated taxonomic approach. Zool J Linn Soc 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The current shift of fishery efforts towards the deep sea is raising concern about the vulnerability of deep-water sharks, which are often poorly studied and characterized by problematic taxonomy. For instance, in the Mediterranean Sea the taxonomy of genus Centrophorus has not been clearly unravelled yet. Since proper identification of the species is fundamental for their correct assessment and management, this study aims at clarifying the taxonomy of this genus in the Mediterranean Basin through an integrated taxonomic approach. We analysed a total of 281 gulper sharks (Centrophorus spp.) collected from various Mediterranean, Atlantic and Indian Ocean waters. Molecular data obtained from cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), 16S ribosomal RNA (16S), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) and a portion of a nuclear 28S ribosomal DNA gene region (28S) have highlighted the presence of a unique mitochondrial clade in the Mediterranean Sea. The morphometric results confirmed these findings, supporting the presence of a unique and distinct morphological group comprising all Mediterranean individuals. The data strongly indicate the occurrence of a single Centrophorus species in the Mediterranean, ascribable to C. cf. uyato, and suggest the need for a revision of the systematics of the genus in the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bellodi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences – University of Cagliari, Via T. Via Fiorelli 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
- CoNISMa Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Mare, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Benvenuto
- CoNISMa Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Mare, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences – Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Sant’alberto 163, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Riccardo Melis
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences – University of Cagliari, Via T. Via Fiorelli 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
- CoNISMa Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Mare, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Mulas
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences – University of Cagliari, Via T. Via Fiorelli 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
- CoNISMa Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Mare, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Barone
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – Fisheries Division, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Barría
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alessia Cariani
- CoNISMa Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Mare, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences – Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Sant’alberto 163, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Laura Carugati
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences – University of Cagliari, Via T. Via Fiorelli 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
- CoNISMa Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Mare, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
| | - Archontia Chatzispyrou
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, 576A Vouliagmenis Ave., 16452 Argyroupoli, Greece
| | - Monique Desrochers
- Northeastern University College of Science, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alice Ferrari
- CoNISMa Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Mare, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences – Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Sant’alberto 163, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Javier Guallart
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Zoology Department, Universitat de València, Burjassot E-46100 València, Spain
| | - Farid Hemida
- Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Sciences de la Mer et de l’Amenagement du Littoral, Dely Ibrahim 16320, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Cecilia Mancusi
- Environmental Protection Agency of Tuscany Region, Marine Division, Operational Unit Fisheries Resources and Marine Biodiversity, Via Marradi 114, 56127 Livorno, Italy
| | - Carlotta Mazzoldi
- University of Padova, Department of Biology, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Sergio Ramírez-Amaro
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015 Palma, Spain
| | - Javier Rey
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Malaga, Muelle Pesquero s/n, 29640 Fuengirola, Spain
| | - Danilo Scannella
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, National Research Council, Via Vaccara, 61, 91026, Mazara del Vallo, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Serena
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, National Research Council, Via Vaccara, 61, 91026, Mazara del Vallo, Italy
| | - Fausto Tinti
- CoNISMa Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Mare, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences – Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Sant’alberto 163, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Adriana Vella
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2080, Malta
| | - Maria Cristina Follesa
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences – University of Cagliari, Via T. Via Fiorelli 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
- CoNISMa Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Mare, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Cannas
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences – University of Cagliari, Via T. Via Fiorelli 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
- CoNISMa Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Mare, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
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Hidalgo M, Vasilakopoulos P, García-Ruiz C, Esteban A, López-López L, García-Gorriz E. Resilience dynamics and productivity-driven shifts in the marine communities of the Western Mediterranean Sea. J Anim Ecol 2021; 91:470-483. [PMID: 34873693 PMCID: PMC9300018 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ecological resilience has become a conceptual cornerstone bridging ecological processes to conservation needs. Global change is increasingly associated with local changes in environmental conditions that can cause abrupt ecosystem reorganizations attending to system‐specific resilience fluctuations with time (i.e. resilience dynamics). Here we assess resilience dynamics associated with climate‐driven ecosystems transitions, expressed as changes in the relevant contribution of species with different life‐history strategies, in two benthopelagic systems. We analysed data from 1994 to 2019 coming from a scientific bottom trawl survey in two environmentally contrasting ecosystems in the Western Mediterranean Sea—Northern Spain and Alboran Sea. Benthopelagic species were categorized according to their life‐history strategies (opportunistic, periodic and equilibrium), ecosystem functions and habitats. We implemented an Integrated Resilience Assessment (IRA) to elucidate the response mechanism of the studied ecosystems to several candidate environmental stressors and quantify the ecosystems’ resilience. We demonstrate that both ecosystems responded discontinuously to changes in chlorophyll‐a concentration more than any other stressor. The response in Northern Spain indicated a more overarching regime shift than in the Alboran Sea. Opportunistic fish were unfavoured in both ecosystems in the recent periods, while invertebrate species of short life cycle were generally favoured, particularly benthic species in the Alboran Sea. The study illustrates that the resilience dynamics of the two ecosystems were mostly associated with fluctuating productivity, but subtle and long‐term effects from sea warming and fishing reduction were also discernible. Such dynamics are typical of systems with wide environmental gradient such as the Northern Spain, as well as systems with highly hydrodynamic and of biogeographical complexity such as the Alboran Sea. We stress that management should become more adaptive by utilizing the knowledge on the systems’ productivity thresholds and underlying shifts to help anticipate both short‐term/less predictable events and long‐term/expected effects of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Hidalgo
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO, CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (COB), Ecosystem Oceanography Group (GRECO), Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | | | - Cristina García-Ruiz
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO, CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Fuengirola, Málaga, Spain
| | - Antonio Esteban
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO, CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia, San Pedro del Pinar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Lucía López-López
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO, CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares (COB), Ecosystem Oceanography Group (GRECO), Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
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Integrating Literature, Biodiversity Databases, and Citizen-Science to Reconstruct the Checklist of Chondrichthyans in Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean Sea). FISHES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/fishes6030024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Chondrichthyans are apex predators influencing the trophic web through a top-down process thus their depletion will affect the remaining biota. Notwithstanding that, research on chondrichthyans is sparse or data-limited in several biogeographic areas worldwide, including the Levantine Sea. We revise and update the knowledge of chondrichthyans in Cyprus based on a bibliographic review that gains information retrieved from peer-reviewed and grey literature, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (135 records of at least 18 species) and the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (65 records of at least14 species), and the citizen science project Mediterranean Elasmobranchs Citizen Observations (117 records per 23 species). Our updated checklist reports 60 species that account for about 70% of the Mediterranean chondrichthyan biota. The list includes 15 more species than the previous checklist and our study reports three new species for Cyprus waters, namely the blackmouth catshark Dalatias licha, the round fantail stingray Taeniurops grabatus, and the sawback angelshark Squatina aculeata. Our research highlights the need for conservation measures and more studies regarding the highly threatened blackchin guitarfish Glaucostegus cemiculus and the devil ray Mobula mobular, and stresses the importance for training a new generation of observers to strengthen the knowledge and conservation of elasmobranchs in the region.
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Diet of the Deep-Sea Shark Galeus melastomus Rafinesque, 1810, in the Mediterranean Sea: What We Know and What We Should Know. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13073962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
We reviewed literature on the diet of the Galeus melastomus Rafinesque, 1810, from the Mediterranean Sea. Specific keywords (“Galeus melastomus diet”, “feeding habits”, “trophic position”, “biology”, “deep environment adaptation”) in the principal data sources, such as Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar were used. Seventeen studies conducted on the diet and trophic position of G. melastomus have been considered for Mediterranean Sea regions. The feeding habits have been analyzed in many areas of the western basin; instead, for the Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, and central Mediterranean Seas, information is outdated and fragmentary. In all investigated sub areas, the data showed that G. melastomus is an opportunistic demersal supra benthic predator, benthic feeder, and scavenger, that adapts its diet to the seasonal and geographical fluctuations of the prey availability. It occupies a generalist niche showing individual specialization. In all reviewed Mediterranean sub areas, the most important prey groups were crustaceans, cephalopods, and teleost fishes. Taxa percentage in its diet composition can vary depending on different habitats with ontogenetic development of individuals, depth (that is correlated with the ontogenetic development), seasonal availability, and distribution of different prey groups. Widening knowledge of G. melastomus feeding habits is a fundamental tool for better understand meso and bathy-pelagic ecosystems.
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Mancusi C, Massi D, Baino R, Cariani A, Crobe V, Ebert DA, Ferrari A, Gordon CA, Hoff GR, Iglesias SP, Titone A, Serena F. An identification key for Chondrichthyes egg cases of the Mediterranean and Black Sea. THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2020.1862926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Physiology: An Important Tool to Assess the Welfare of Aquatic Animals. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10010061. [PMID: 33467525 PMCID: PMC7830356 DOI: 10.3390/biology10010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Ensuring a good quality of life for animals is a matter of concern. Welfare assessment has been quite well developed for many terrestrial species, but it is less well characterized for aquatic animals. Classic methodologies, such as behavioral observation, seem unable to improve the wellbeing of aquatic animals when used alone, mainly due to the large number of species and the difficulty to obtain comparative results among taxa. For this reason, it is necessary to identify more methodologies that may be common to the main aquatic taxa of interest to humans: Fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Here we present a physiological framework for these taxa as a proxy to evaluate aquatic animal welfare. Physiology is a useful tool in this regard, since animals maintain their homeostasis in a range of values determined for each parameter. Changes occur depending on the type and degree of stress to which animals are subjected. Therefore, understanding the physiology of stress can offer information that helps improve the welfare of aquatic animals. Abstract The assessment of welfare in aquatic animals is currently under debate, especially concerning those kept by humans. The classic concept of animal welfare includes three elements: The emotional state of the organism (including the absence of negative experiences), the possibility of expressing normal behaviors, and the proper functioning of the organism. While methods for evaluating their emotions (such as fear, pain, and anguish) are currently being developed for aquatic species and understanding the natural behavior of all aquatic taxa that interact with humans is a task that requires more time, the evaluation of internal responses in the organisms can be carried out using analytical tools. This review aims to show the potential of the physiology of crustaceans, cephalopods, elasmobranchs, teleosts, and dipnoans to serve as indicators of their wellbeing. Since the classical methods of assessing welfare are laborious and time-consuming by evaluation of fear, pain, and anguish, the assessment may be complemented by physiological approaches. This involves the study of stress responses, including the release of hormones and their effects. Therefore, physiology may be of help in improving animal welfare.
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Villafaña JA, Marramà G, Klug S, Pollerspöck J, Balsberger M, Rivadeneira M, Kriwet J. Sharks, rays and skates (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii) from the Upper Marine Molasse (middle Burdigalian, early Miocene) of the Simssee area (Bavaria, Germany), with comments on palaeogeographic and ecological patterns. PALAONTOLOGISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT 2020; 94:725-757. [PMID: 33184517 PMCID: PMC7648011 DOI: 10.1007/s12542-020-00518-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Elasmobranch remains are quite common in Miocene deposits and were the subject of numerous studies since the middle of the nineteenth century. Nevertheless, the taxonomic diversity of the Marine Molasse sharks, rays and skates is still largely unknown. Here, we describe 37 taxa from the lower Miocene of the Molasse Basin: 21 taxa could be identified at species level, whereas 15 taxa could only be assigned to genus and one taxon is left as order incertae sedis. The material was collected from deposits of the Auwiesholz Member of the Achen Formation (middle Burdigalian, middle Ottnangian age, ca. 17.8 Ma) exposed near Simssee, Upper Bavaria. This faunal assemblage is a mixture of shallow marine, near-coastal, pelagic and deep-water taxa. The fauna from Simssee displays different biogeographic dynamics at local and regional scales, possibly related to the intense climatic, oceanographic and tectonic events that occurred during the Eggenburgian-Ottnangian stages. The faunal relationships of the early Miocene chondrichthyan faunas from the Mediterranean Sea and Paratethys with others regions are established on the basis of qualitative (presence/absence) data. The beta diversity (Sørensen-Dice coefficient) of the Miocene Molasse elasmobranchs was used to characterize the taxonomic differentiation between localities and regions. According to our results, the fauna from Simssee shows close similarities with those from Switzerland, Austria, France and northern Germany. Faunal similarities and differences are mainly related to tectonic events and oceanographic variables (i.e. migration through seaway passages) or might represent collecting biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime A. Villafaña
- Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Centro de Investigación en Recursos Naturales y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | - Giuseppe Marramà
- Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso, 35, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Stefanie Klug
- School of Science (GAUSS), Georg–August University, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Marcelo Rivadeneira
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas, Av. Ossandon 877, Coquimbo, Chile
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, Chile
| | - Jürgen Kriwet
- Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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