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Chemello G, De Santis LJ, Trotta E, Zarantoniello M, Santoni C, Maradonna F, Olivotto I, Giorgini E, Gioacchini G. Revealing Spermatogenesis in Smooth-Hound Sharks Mustelus mustelus: Insights into the Morphological and Macromolecular Composition of Spermatogenic Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6230. [PMID: 38892415 PMCID: PMC11173109 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Elasmobranchs have an ancestral reproductive system, which offers insights into vertebrate reproductive evolution. Despite their unchanged design over 400 million years, they evolved complex mechanisms ensuring reproductive success. However, human activities induced a significant decline in elasmobranch populations worldwide. In the Mediterranean basin, the smooth-hound shark (Mustelus mustelus) is one of the species that are considered vulnerable to human activities. Conservation efforts necessitate a thorough understanding of its reproductive strategy. This study focused on mature male specimens of smooth-hound sharks that were captured in the Adriatic area and successively analyzed to provide, for the first time, a histologically detailed description of testicular development in the species. Seven phases of the spermatogenesis process were identified, along with the macromolecular characterization of cells obtained using Fourier-transform infrared imaging. Histological analysis showed structural and cellular features similar to those documented in the spermatocysts of other elasmobranchs. The examination of the evolution and migration of both germinative and Sertoli cells at each phase revealed their close connection. Furthermore, different expression levels of lipids, proteins, and phosphates (DNA) at each spermatogenesis stage were observed. This research provided new information on spermatogenesis in the common smooth-hound shark, which is crucial for conservation efforts against population decline and anthropogenic pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Chemello
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (G.C.); (E.T.); (M.Z.); (C.S.); (F.M.); (I.O.); (E.G.)
- Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Consorzio Interuniversitario (INBB), 00136 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Erica Trotta
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (G.C.); (E.T.); (M.Z.); (C.S.); (F.M.); (I.O.); (E.G.)
- Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Consorzio Interuniversitario (INBB), 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Zarantoniello
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (G.C.); (E.T.); (M.Z.); (C.S.); (F.M.); (I.O.); (E.G.)
| | - Chiara Santoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (G.C.); (E.T.); (M.Z.); (C.S.); (F.M.); (I.O.); (E.G.)
| | - Francesca Maradonna
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (G.C.); (E.T.); (M.Z.); (C.S.); (F.M.); (I.O.); (E.G.)
- Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Consorzio Interuniversitario (INBB), 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Ike Olivotto
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (G.C.); (E.T.); (M.Z.); (C.S.); (F.M.); (I.O.); (E.G.)
| | - Elisabetta Giorgini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (G.C.); (E.T.); (M.Z.); (C.S.); (F.M.); (I.O.); (E.G.)
| | - Giorgia Gioacchini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (G.C.); (E.T.); (M.Z.); (C.S.); (F.M.); (I.O.); (E.G.)
- Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Consorzio Interuniversitario (INBB), 00136 Rome, Italy
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Yahiaoui Bouiba S, Bendimerad MEA, Rouane-Hacene O, Boualga A, Richir J. Metallic trace element dynamics in Paracentrotus lividus from Algeria: Environmental large-scale survey and human health risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 915:169492. [PMID: 38142987 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169492] [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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
This paper evaluates the dynamics of Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs; Cd, Pb, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni and Co) in the gonads of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus collected in five sites: four contaminated and one reference, along the Western coast of Algeria, recontextualizes this contamination within a wider geographical distribution area throughout 83 sites among the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic and focuses on the potential risk of their consumption on human health for the first time in Algeria. The trace element pollution index places Algeria, and generally the North African coasts, as the region most contaminated by MTEs. The geographical variability in metal contamination levels is greater in the Mediterranean Sea than in the Atlantic. The health risk assessment indicates that Pb exceeds the maximum limit set by the Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 at two of the four Algerian contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Yahiaoui Bouiba
- Department of Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Valorization of Human Actions for the Protection of the Environment and Application in Public Health, Abou Bekr Belkaid University, Tlemcen, Algeria.
| | - Mohammed El Amine Bendimerad
- Department of Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Valorization of Human Actions for the Protection of the Environment and Application in Public Health, Abou Bekr Belkaid University, Tlemcen, Algeria
| | - Omar Rouane-Hacene
- University of Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, Department of Biology, El M'naouer, Oran, Algeria
| | - Ahmed Boualga
- Laboratory of Clinical and Metabolic Nutrition, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, Oran, Algeria.
| | - Jonathan Richir
- SciSca SRL, 5330 Maillen, Belgium; Station de Recherches Sous-marines et Océanographiques, Punta Revellata, BP33, 20260 Calvi, France
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Da Ros Z, Fanelli E, Cassatella S, Biagiotti I, Canduci G, Menicucci S, De Felice A, Malavolti S, Leonori I. Resource Partitioning among "Ancillary" Pelagic Fishes ( Scomber spp., Trachurus spp.) in the Adriatic Sea. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:272. [PMID: 36829549 PMCID: PMC9953290 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean is one of the most overfished seas of the world where mesopredators are severely threatened. The trophic strategies of four pelagic species that inhabit the Adriatic Sea (Scomber spp. and Trachurus spp.) were investigated through an integrated approach of stomach contents and stable isotopes analyses. Our study demonstrated that Scomber colias feeds mainly on strictly pelagic prey, with fish larvae as a secondary prey in the Southern Adriatic Sea, while S. scombrus feeds on prey belonging to higher trophic levels. Smaller specimens of Trachurus mediterraneus have a diet mainly based on pelagic prey, while larger fishes rely on prey such as benthic decapods, showing an ontogenetic shift in the diet of the species. Trachurus trachurus shows a preference for offshore and deeper areas and a diet such as that of its congeneric, but no clear ontogenetic shift was observed. This spatial segregation allows the co-existence of these two species of Trachurus. Scomber colias mainly inhabits southern areas and S. scombrus shows a preference for the northern sectors. This latitudinal gradient avoids the overlap of their trophic niches. Bayesian mixing models confirmed that the trophic niches of these species only partially overlap in the middle of the trophic web.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaira Da Ros
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Emanuela Fanelli
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Sacha Cassatella
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Ilaria Biagiotti
- IRBIM-Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, CNR-National Research Council, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 1, 60125 Ancona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Canduci
- IRBIM-Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, CNR-National Research Council, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 1, 60125 Ancona, Italy
| | - Samuele Menicucci
- IRBIM-Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, CNR-National Research Council, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 1, 60125 Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea De Felice
- IRBIM-Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, CNR-National Research Council, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 1, 60125 Ancona, Italy
| | - Sara Malavolti
- IRBIM-Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, CNR-National Research Council, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 1, 60125 Ancona, Italy
| | - Iole Leonori
- IRBIM-Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, CNR-National Research Council, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 1, 60125 Ancona, Italy
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4
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Bouiba S, Bendimerad MEA, Rouane-Hacene O, Boualga A, Richir J. Metallic trace element dynamics in Paracentrotus lividus from Algeria: Environmental and human health risk assessment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 187:114485. [PMID: 36584435 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114485] [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: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This paper evaluates the dynamic of Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs; Cd, Pb, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni and Co) in the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus collected in five sites: four contaminated and one reference, along the western coast of Algeria, recontextualizes this contamination within a wider geographical distribution area throughout 84 sites among the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic and focuses on the potential risk on human health for the first time in Algeria. The Trace Element Pollution Index places Algeria, and generally the North African coasts, as the region most contaminated by MTEs. The Trace Element Spatial Variation Index ranks Pb as a MTE of key environmental concern according to global spatial variability. The health risk assessment indicates that Cd and Pb exceed the maximum limits set by the Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 on three of the four contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Bouiba
- Department of Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Valorization of Human Actions for the Protection of the Environment and Application in Public Health, Abou Bekr Belkaid University, Tlemcen, Algeria.
| | - Mohammed El Amine Bendimerad
- Department of Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Valorization of Human Actions for the Protection of the Environment and Application in Public Health, Abou Bekr Belkaid University, Tlemcen, Algeria
| | - Omar Rouane-Hacene
- University of Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, Department of Biology, El M'naouer, Oran, Algeria
| | - Ahmed Boualga
- Laboratory of Clinical and Metabolic Nutrition, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, Oran, Algeria.
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Boerlijst SP, Johnston ES, Ummels A, Krol L, Boelee E, van Bodegom PM, Schrama MJJ. Biting the hand that feeds: Anthropogenic drivers interactively make mosquitoes thrive. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159716. [PMID: 36302419 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic stressors on the environment are increasing at unprecedented rates and include urbanization, nutrient pollution, water management, altered land use and climate change. Their effects on disease vectors are poorly understood. A series of full factorial experiments investigated how key human induced abiotic pressures, and interactions between these, affect population parameters of the cosmopolitan disease vector, Culex pipiens s.l. Selected pressures include eutrophication, salinity, mean temperature, and temperature fluctuation. Data were collected for each individual pressure and for potential interactions between eutrophication, salinization and temperature. All experiments assessed survival, time to pupation, time to emergence, sex-ratio and ovipositioning behavior. The results show that stressors affect vector survival, may speed up development and alter female to male ratio, although large differences between stressors exist to quite different extents. While positive effects of increasing levels of eutrophication on survival were consistent, negative effects of salinity on survival were only apparent at higher temperatures, thus indicating a strong interaction effect between salinization and temperature. Temperature had no independent effect on larval survival. Overall, increasing eutrophication and temperatures, and the fluctuations thereof, lowered development rate, time to pupation and time to emergence while increasing levels of salinity increased development time. Higher levels of eutrophication positively impacted egg-laying behavior; the reverse was found for salinity while no effects of temperature on egg-laying behavior were observed. Results suggest large and positive impacts of anthropogenically induced habitat alterations on mosquito population dynamics. Many of these effects are exacerbated by increasing temperatures and fluctuations therein. In a world where eutrophication and salinization are increasingly abundant, mosquitoes are likely important benefactors. Ultimately, this study illustrates the importance of including multiple and combined stressors in predictive models as well as in prevention and mitigation strategies, particularly because they resonate with possible, but yet underdeveloped action plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- S P Boerlijst
- Center for Environmental Research Leiden, Department of Environmental biology, University of Leiden, Einsteinweg 2, 2333CC Leiden, the Netherlands; Deltares, Daltonlaan 600, 3584 BK Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - E S Johnston
- University of Utrecht, Department Population Health Sciences, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - A Ummels
- Center for Environmental Research Leiden, Department of Environmental biology, University of Leiden, Einsteinweg 2, 2333CC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - L Krol
- Center for Environmental Research Leiden, Department of Environmental biology, University of Leiden, Einsteinweg 2, 2333CC Leiden, the Netherlands; Deltares, Daltonlaan 600, 3584 BK Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - E Boelee
- Deltares, Daltonlaan 600, 3584 BK Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - P M van Bodegom
- Center for Environmental Research Leiden, Department of Environmental biology, University of Leiden, Einsteinweg 2, 2333CC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - M J J Schrama
- Center for Environmental Research Leiden, Department of Environmental biology, University of Leiden, Einsteinweg 2, 2333CC Leiden, the Netherlands
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6
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Zhang J, Song Z, Li Z, Yang J, Xie Z. Life history and population ecology of Radix swinhoei (Lymnaeidae) in nearshore regions of a hypereutrophic plateau lake. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9631. [PMID: 36532136 PMCID: PMC9750820 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate assessment of life history and population ecology of widespread species in ultra-eutrophic freshwater lakes is a prerequisite for understanding the mechanisms by which widespread species respond to eutrophication. Freshwater pulmonate (Radix swinhoei) is widespread and abundant in many eutrophic water bodies in Asia. Despite its key roles in eutrophic lake systems, the information on life history and population ecology of R. swinhoei is lacking, especially in ultra-eutrophic freshwater plateau lakes. Here, we conducted a 1-year survey of R. swinhoei with monthly collections to measure the life history traits (life span and growth), annual secondary production, and population size structure of R. swinhoei in nearshore regions with a high seasonally variation of nutrients in Lake Dianchi, a typic hypereutrophic plateau lake in Southwest China. Our results showed that R. swinhoei had the highest biomass in autumn and had the lowest in winter. Its maximum potential life span was 2.5 years, with three recruitment periods (November, March, and July) within a year. Its annual secondary production and P/B ratio were 137.19 g WW/m2 and 16.05, respectively. Redundancy analysis showed that eutrophication-related environmental factors had weak correlations with population size structure of R. swinhoei. Our results suggested that R. swinhoei is a typical r-strategist with high secondary production and thrive in eutrophic environment. Our study can help better understand the mechanisms for widespread species to survive eutrophication and could also be relevant for biodiversity conservation and management of eutrophic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of HydrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
| | - Zhuoyan Song
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental ResearchUniversity of WindsorWindsorOntarioCanada
| | - Zhengfei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of HydrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
| | - Jiali Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of HydrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zhicai Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of HydrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
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Rincón-Díaz MP, Bovcon ND, Cochia PD, Góngora ME, Galván DE. Fish functional diversity as an indicator of resilience to industrial fishing in Patagonia Argentina. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 99:1650-1667. [PMID: 34386971 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between fish functional diversity and fishing levels at which its baselines shift is important to identify the consequences of fishing in ecosystem functioning. For the first time, the authors of this study implemented a trait-based approach in the Argentine Patagonian Sea to identify the vulnerability and spatiotemporal changes in functional diversity of fish assemblages incidentally captured by a trawling fleet targeting the Argentine red shrimp Pleoticus muelleri (Spence Bate, 1888) between 2003 and 2014. The authors coupled seven fish trophic traits to a reconstructed fish assemblage for the study area and by-catch and evaluated changes in fish species richness and four complementary functional diversity measures (functional richness, redundancy, dispersion and community trait values) along with fishing intensity, temporal use, latitudinal location and depth of fishing grounds, and vessel length. Resident fishes larger than 30 cm in length, with depressed and fusiform bodies, intermediate to high trophic levels, and feeding in benthic, demersal and midwater areas were vulnerable to by-catch. In addition, fish assemblages exhibited a low functional trait redundancy, likely related to species influxes in a biogeographic ecotone with tropicalisation signs. Significant increases in fish trait richness and dispersion poleward and deep suggested new functional roles in these grounds, matching trends in community body size, reproductive load, maximum depth and trophic level. Finally, a temporal increase in fish species and functional trait removal in fishing grounds led to trait homogenisation since 2003. The authors identified that tipping points in temperate fish functional trait diversity showed the importance of trait-based approaches within ecosystem-based fisheries management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Patricia Rincón-Díaz
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Edificio CCT CONICET - CENPAT, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Nelson D Bovcon
- Instituto de Investigación de Hidrobiología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina
- Departamento de Pesca Deportiva, Secretaría de Pesca de la Provincia del Chubut, Rawson, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Pablo D Cochia
- Instituto de Investigación de Hidrobiología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina
| | - María Eva Góngora
- Instituto de Investigación de Hidrobiología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina
| | - David E Galván
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Edificio CCT CONICET - CENPAT, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
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Shift towards Opportunistic Life-History of Sleeper in Response to Multi-Decadal Overfishing. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13182582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Understanding long-term changes in life-history traits is central to assessing and managing freshwater fisheries. In this study, we explored how life-history traits have shifted in association with long-term change in population status for a native fish species (freshwater sleeper, Odontobutis sinensis, a by-catch species of shrimp traps) in the middle Yangtze lakes, China. We assessed the life-history traits of the species from Honghu Lake in 2016, where abundance had been dramatically lower following about 60 years of high fishing pressure, and made comparisons to similar data from Liangzi Lake (1957), when fishing intensity was low and abundance was high, and Bao’an Lake (1993–1994), when about 10 years of intense exploitation had occurred and abundance had greatly declined. Modern Honghu Lake sleeper exhibit life-history traits that are substantially more opportunistic compared to both of the historical populations. Modern fish were larger at age-1 and had significantly faster growth rates, a higher prevalence of sexually mature individuals and increased fecundities. Fish from the historical samples were larger and had higher age class diversity and delayed sexual maturation. Combined, the data suggest that faster growth towards early sexual maturation and reduced body sizes are associated with destabilized populations and ecosystems. Similar life-history patterns are common in other declined fish populations under exploitation. Recovering historic fish life-history dynamics requires conservation management policies aimed at reducing harvest and improving floodplain habitats.
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Veneroni B, Fernandes PG. Fishers' knowledge detects ecological decay in the Mediterranean Sea. AMBIO 2021; 50:1159-1171. [PMID: 33454884 PMCID: PMC8068750 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01452-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Northern Adriatic Sea (NAS) is one of the most overexploited marine ecosystems in Europe. Given the gaps in scientific knowledge regarding the NAS, this study sought Fishers' Ecological Knowledge (FEK) to determine NAS' historical baselines for conservation. By interviewing 53 fishers in three ports of northern Italy, estimates of the catch rates of four commercial demersal species were generated over a 60-year period, and perceptions of target and non-target species' diversity and benthic diversity were analysed in three groups of fishers (i.e. novices, experienced and veterans). Results showed a significant decline in perceived abundance of sole (Solea solea), common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and mantis shrimp (Squilla mantis), and evidence was found of a Shifting Baseline Syndrome (SBS) among novices. Given FEK's ability to complement scientific knowledge, fishers' participation in marine management policies and intergenerational communication should be enhanced, to improve the status of marine ecosystems and hinder SBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Veneroni
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ UK
| | - Paul G. Fernandes
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ UK
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Riginella E, Correale V, Marino IAM, Rasotto MB, Vrbatovic A, Zane L, Mazzoldi C. Contrasting life-history traits of two sympatric smooth-hound species: implication for vulnerability. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2020; 96:853-857. [PMID: 31984490 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this study, life-history traits (maximum and average size, size at maturity and fecundity) of two congeneric smooth-hounds, Mustelus mustelus and Mustelus punctulatus, which share a geographical distribution and experience a similar fishing exploitation, were estimated and compared between species. The results indicated a lower maximum and average size, a lower size at maturity and a higher fecundity in M. punctulatus compared with those in M. mustelus. Considering that these two species co-occur in the same areas and are caught by the same fishing gears, the results indicate a higher vulnerability to exploitation of M. mustelus compared with that of M. punctulatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Riginella
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Zoological Station Anton Dohrn, Napoli, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Lorenzo Zane
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- CoNISMa (Interuniversity Consortium of Marine Sciences), Rome, Italy
| | - Carlotta Mazzoldi
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- CoNISMa (Interuniversity Consortium of Marine Sciences), Rome, Italy
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Life-history traits of the spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias in the Adriatic Sea. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14317. [PMID: 31586144 PMCID: PMC6778190 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50883-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Pivotal life history traits concerning age structure and reproduction of the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias, Linnaeus 1758) were investigated in the Adriatic Sea from mid February 2012 to mid July 2013 and in 2016. The whole sample consisted of 176 females and 150 males, ranging between 217-1025 mm and 219-875 mm, respectively. The individual age, which was estimated using a cross-sectioning technique of the second dorsal-fin spine, ranged from 0 to 13+ years for females and from 0 to 9+ years for males. Based on the length-at-age estimates, the Gompertz growth parameters were L∞ = 1130 mm, k = 0.18 and L∞ = 920 mm, k = 0.24 for females and males, respectively. The size at sexual maturity (L50) was 659 mm for females and 575 mm for males, corresponding to 7.5 and 5.5 years of age (A50), respectively. Mean biennial fecundity was approximately 11 embryos/female and 12 ripe oocytes/female. Mature males occurred during much of the sampling period, while mature females with nearly full-term embryos were exclusively recorded in May 2013 and July 2016. Monitoring of catches conducted in a sample port of the north Adriatic (Chioggia) over the past 20 years has shown fluctuating trends in landings, with peaks during the summer reproductive season.
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Gredelj A, Barausse A, Grechi L, Palmeri L. Deriving predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) for emerging contaminants in the river Po, Italy, using three approaches: Assessment factor, species sensitivity distribution and AQUATOX ecosystem modelling. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 119:66-78. [PMID: 29935425 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) found in environmental matrices worldwide have raised concerns due to their toxicity, ubiquity and persistence. A widespread pollution of groundwater and surface waters caused by PFASs in Northern Italy has been recently discovered, becoming a major environmental issue, also because the exact risk for humans and nature posed by this contamination is unclear. Here, the Po River in Northern Italy was selected as a study area to assess the ecological risk posed by perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), a class of PFASs, considering the noticeable concentration of various PFAAs detected in the Po waters over the past years. Moreover, the Po has a large environmental and socio-economic importance: it is the largest Italian river and drains a densely inhabited, intensely cultivated and heavily industrialized watershed. Predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) were derived using two regulated methodologies, assessment factors (AFs) and species sensitivity distribution (SSD), which rely on published ecotoxicological laboratory tests. Results were compared to those of a novel methodology using the mechanistic ecosystem model AQUATOX to compute PNECs in an ecologically-sound manner, i.e. considering physical, chemical, biological and ecological processes in the river. The model was used to quantify how the biomasses of the modelled taxa in the river food web deviated from natural conditions due to varying inputs of the chemicals. PNEC for each chemical was defined as the lowest chemical concentration causing a non-negligible yearly biomass loss for a simulated taxon with respect to a control simulation. The investigated PFAAs were Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as long-chained compounds, and Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) as short-chained homologues. Two emerging contaminants, Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) and triclosan, were also studied to assess the performance of the three methodologies for chemicals whose ecotoxicology and environmental fate are well-studied. The most precautionary approach was the use of AFs generally followed by SSD and then AQUATOX, except for PFOS, for which AQUATOX yielded a much lower PNEC compared to the other approaches since, unlike the other two methodologies, it explicitly simulates sublethal toxicity and indirect ecological effects. Our findings highlight that neglecting the role of ecological processes when extrapolating from laboratory tests to ecosystems can result in under-protective threshold concentrations for chemicals. Ecosystem models can complement existing laboratory-based methodologies, and the use of multiple methods for deriving PNECs can help to clarify uncertainty in ecological risk estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gredelj
- Environmental Systems Analysis Lab (LASA) Research Group, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Alberto Barausse
- Environmental Systems Analysis Lab (LASA) Research Group, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Laura Grechi
- Environmental Systems Analysis Lab (LASA) Research Group, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Palmeri
- Environmental Systems Analysis Lab (LASA) Research Group, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Mautner AK, Gallmetzer I, Haselmair A, Schnedl SM, Tomašových A, Zuschin M. Holocene ecosystem shifts and human-induced loss of Arca and Ostrea shell beds in the north-eastern Adriatic Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 126:19-30. [PMID: 29421087 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The molluscan assemblages in a sediment core from the north-eastern Adriatic show significant compositional changes over the past 10,000yrs related to (1) natural deepening driven by the post-glacial sea-level rise, (2) increasing abundance of skeletal sand and gravel, and (3) anthropogenic impacts. The transgressive phase (10,000-6000 BP) is characterized by strongly time-averaged communities dominated by infaunal bivalves. During the early highstand (6000-4000 BP), the abundance of epifaunal filter feeders and grazers increases, and gastropods become more important. Epifaunal dominance culminates during the late highstand (4000-2000 BP) with the development of extensive shell beds formed by large-sized Arca noae and Ostrea sp. bivalves. This community persists until the early 20th century, when it falls victim to multiple anthropogenic impacts, mainly bottom trawling, and is substituted by an infauna-dominated community indicative of instability, disturbance and organic enrichment. The re-establishment of this unique shell-bed ecosystem can be a goal for restoration efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Katharina Mautner
- Department of Paleontology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Ivo Gallmetzer
- Department of Paleontology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra Haselmair
- Department of Paleontology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sara-Maria Schnedl
- Department of Paleontology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Adam Tomašových
- Earth Science Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84005 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Martin Zuschin
- Department of Paleontology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Matović N, Cadiou B, Oro D, Sanz-Aguilar A. Disentangling the effects of predation and oceanographic fluctuations in the mortality of two allopatric seabird populations. POPUL ECOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10144-017-0590-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Quetglas A, Rueda L, Alvarez-Berastegui D, Guijarro B, Massutí E. Contrasting Responses to Harvesting and Environmental Drivers of Fast and Slow Life History Species. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148770. [PMID: 26859577 PMCID: PMC4747561 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
According to their main life history traits, organisms can be arranged in a continuum from fast (species with small body size, short lifespan and high fecundity) to slow (species with opposite characteristics). Life history determines the responses of organisms to natural and anthropogenic factors, as slow species are expected to be more sensitive than fast species to perturbations. Owing to their contrasting traits, cephalopods and elasmobranchs are typical examples of fast and slow strategies, respectively. We investigated the responses of these two contrasting strategies to fishing exploitation and environmental conditions (temperature, productivity and depth) using generalized additive models. Our results confirmed the foreseen contrasting responses of cephalopods and elasmobranchs to natural (environment) and anthropogenic (harvesting) influences. Even though a priori foreseen, we did expect neither the clear-cut differential responses between groups nor the homogeneous sensitivity to the same factors within the two taxonomic groups. Apart from depth, which affected both groups equally, cephalopods and elasmobranchs were exclusively affected by environmental conditions and fishing exploitation, respectively. Owing to its short, annual cycle, cephalopods do not have overlapping generations and consequently lack the buffering effects conferred by different age classes observed in multi-aged species such as elasmobranchs. We suggest that cephalopods are sensitive to short-term perturbations, such as seasonal environmental changes, because they lack this buffering effect but they are in turn not influenced by continuous, long-term moderate disturbances such as fishing because of its high population growth and turnover. The contrary would apply to elasmobranchs, whose multi-aged population structure would buffer the seasonal environmental effects, but they would display strong responses to uninterrupted harvesting due to its low population resilience. Besides providing empirical evidence to the theoretically predicted contrasting responses of cephalopods and elasmobranchs to disturbances, our results are useful for the sustainable exploitation of these resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoni Quetglas
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Lucía Rueda
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | | | - Beatriz Guijarro
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Enric Massutí
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Smoliński S, Całkiewicz J. A fish-based index for assessing the ecological status of Polish transitional and coastal waters. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2015; 101:497-506. [PMID: 26522163 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.10.065] [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: 09/12/2015] [Revised: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Fish assemblages are considered indicators of aquatic ecosystem quality. Based on how fish communities respond to anthropogenic pressures, we developed a multimetric fish index for evaluating the health of both coastal and transitional waters. Fish data were collected along the Polish coast in the years 2011, 2013 and 2014 using different types of gear. Redundancy analysis showed that the most important environmental factor affecting fish community was salinity. Responses to anthropogenic disturbances of 20 candidate metrics were tested by generalized linear models, taking into account salinity, sampling protocol and the proxy of human pressures described by the Baltic Sea Impact Index (BSII). Five selected metrics were combined in a Multimetric Index, which showed negative significant correlation with BSII. The index presented herein appeared to be a good tool for assessing the ecological state of highly impacted Polish transitional and coastal areas and complies with the Water Framework Directive requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szymon Smoliński
- Department of Fisheries Resources, National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kołłątaja 1, 81-332 Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Joanna Całkiewicz
- Department of Logistics and Monitoring, National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Poland
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Lin M, Chevalier M, Lek S, Zhang L, Gozlan RE, Liu J, Zhang T, Ye S, Li W, Li Z. Eutrophication as a driver of r-selection traits in a freshwater fish. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2014; 85:343-354. [PMID: 24925695 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
This study tested whether eutrophication could influence life-history traits of a cyprinid, Chanodichthys erythropterus, in 10 Chinese lakes. Using the von Bertalanffy growth model, the asymptotic length (L∞ ) and the growth performance index (IGRO ) were significantly affected by eutrophication. The gonado-somatic index (IG ) and relative fecundity (FR ) were significantly lower in mesotrophic lakes than in eutrophic and hypertrophic lakes. These results indicate that increasing eutrophication affects the life-history tactics of a freshwater fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Department of Deep-sea Sciences, Sanya Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan Province, China
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Mazzoldi C, Sambo A, Riginella E. The Clodia database: a long time series of fishery data from the Adriatic Sea. Sci Data 2014; 1:140018. [PMID: 25977775 PMCID: PMC4322584 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2014.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term time series of species abundances can depict population declines and changes in communities in response to anthropogenic activities, climate changes, alterations of trophic relationships. Here we present a database of historical marine fishery landing data, covering a remarkably long time series (1945-2013) and referring to one of the most exploited areas of the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic Sea. The database includes two time series of landing data, 1945-2013 and 1997-2013, from the official statistics of the fish market of Chioggia, where the major fishing fleet of the area operates. Comparisons between the landing data of the database and landing data from other fisheries or data from scientific surveys support the reliability of the time series in depicting changes in species abundances. The database is expected to be used by fishery biologists and ecologists interested in depicting and understanding temporal variations in species abundances and community composition, in relation to environmental and anthropogenic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Mazzoldi
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Sambo
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Emilio Riginella
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Henriques S, Pais MP, Vasconcelos RP, Murta A, Azevedo M, Costa MJ, Cabral HN. Structural and functional trends indicate fishing pressure on marine fish assemblages. J Appl Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Henriques
- Centro de Oceanografia; Faculdade de Ciências; Universidade de Lisboa; 1749-016 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Miguel P. Pais
- Centro de Oceanografia; Faculdade de Ciências; Universidade de Lisboa; 1749-016 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Rita P. Vasconcelos
- Centro de Oceanografia; Faculdade de Ciências; Universidade de Lisboa; 1749-016 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Alberto Murta
- Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera; Av. de Brasília 1449-006 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Manuela Azevedo
- Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera; Av. de Brasília 1449-006 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Maria J. Costa
- Centro de Oceanografia; Faculdade de Ciências; Universidade de Lisboa; 1749-016 Lisboa Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Animal; Faculdade de Ciências; Universidade de Lisboa; 1749-016 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Henrique N. Cabral
- Centro de Oceanografia; Faculdade de Ciências; Universidade de Lisboa; 1749-016 Lisboa Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Animal; Faculdade de Ciências; Universidade de Lisboa; 1749-016 Lisboa Portugal
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20
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Melli V, Riginella E, Nalon M, Mazzoldi C. From trap to nursery. Mitigating the impact of an artisanal fishery on cuttlefish offspring. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90542. [PMID: 24587390 PMCID: PMC3938780 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 02/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Overexploitation and the impact of several types of human activities have caused declines of marine resources. The direct and active involvement of fishermen in the management of marine resources is effective not only for resource conservation, but also for changing fishermen’s attitudes. In this study, we proposed and tested the efficacy and suitability of a measure for mitigating the impact of a trap fishery on cuttlefish eggs in the North Adriatic Sea. This measure directly involves fishermen in promoting the conservation of the early, and more vulnerable, stages of the cuttlefish life cycle. Methodology/Principal findings Through surveys on fishing boats and interviews with fishermen, we found that traps placed in coastal areas during the cuttlefish breeding season have a high impact on cuttlefish eggs, with over 3 million eggs likely being destroyed by 3750 traps of 15 fishermen in less than 3 miles of coast. The use of removable ropes attached inside traps as an additional substrate for egg deposition allowed the recovery of 23.7% of the eggs deposited on the traps on average, without affecting the catch rate of adults. Experiments examining hatching success in the field highlighted the need for a careful choice of hatching sites to maximise the efficacy of the mitigation measure. Conclusions/Significance The proposed mitigation measure reduced the impact of fishing on cuttlefish eggs, with no significant effect on the commercial catch. Fishermen showed a positive attitude towards the application of this measure, which is inexpensive and easy to employ. The direct involvement of fishermen in the management of this resource and the maintenance of traditional fishing methods are a novel aspect of the proposed measure and represent the basis for its success.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marco Nalon
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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Meneghesso C, Riginella E, La Mesa M, Donato F, Mazzoldi C. Life-history traits and population decline of the Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrusin the Adriatic Sea. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2013; 83:1249-1267. [PMID: 24111672 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated demographic structure and reproductive characteristics of the Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus, in relation to landing trends in the northern-central Adriatic Sea. Results highlighted the occurrence of only small-sized and young-age individuals, and a marked decline from the 1990s to the present in maximum age (from 8 to 3 years) and total length (L(T); from 420 to 360 mm). Fecundity ranged between 40,000 and 190,000 eggs, and was related to female L(T). High levels of atresia implied lower values of actual fecundity. Sexual maturity was attained by 72·8% of individuals in their first year of life at 200 mm. The reduction in maximum L(T) resulted in a marked decline in the population egg production, while the reduction in maximum age implied that females participated in fewer spawning events.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Meneghesso
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Bartolini F, Barausse A, Pörtner HO, Giomi F. Climate change reduces offspring fitness in littoral spawners: a study integrating organismic response and long-term time-series. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2013; 19:373-386. [PMID: 23504777 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2012] [Revised: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 09/19/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Integrating long-term ecological observations with experimental findings on species response and tolerance to environmental stress supports an understanding of climate effects on population dynamics. Here, we combine the two approaches, laboratory experiments and analysis of multi-decadal time-series, to understand the consequences of climate anomalies and ongoing change for the population dynamics of a eurythermal littoral species, Carcinus aestuarii. For the generation of cause and effect hypotheses we investigated the thermal response of crab embryos at four developmental stages. We first measured metabolic rate variations in embryos following acute warming (16-24 °C) and after incubation at 20 and 24 °C for limited periods. All experiments consistently revealed differential thermal responses depending on the developmental stage. Temperature-induced changes in metabolic activity of early embryonic stages of blastula and gastrula suggested the onset of abnormal development. In contrast, later developmental stages, characterized by tissue and organ differentiation, were marginally affected by temperature anomalies, indicating enhanced resilience to thermal stress. Then, we extended these findings to a larger, population scale, by analyzing a time-series of C. aestuarii landings in the Venice lagoon from 1945 to 2010 (ripe crabs were recorded separately) in relation to temperature. Landings and extreme climatic events showed marked long-term and short-term variations. We found negative relationships between landings and thermal stress indices on both timescales, with time lags consistent with an impact on crab early life stages. When quantitatively evaluating the influence of thermal stress on population dynamics, we found that it has a comparable effect to that of the biomass of spawners. This work provides strong evidence that physiological responses to climatic anomalies translate into population-level changes and that apparently tolerant species may be impacted before the ontogeny of eurythermy. These ontogenetic bottlenecks markedly shape population dynamics and require study to assess the effects of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Bartolini
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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