scholarly journals Is the local extinction of Pinna nobilis facilitating Pinna rudis recruitment?

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 623
Author(s):  
DIEGO KURT KERSTING ◽  
ENRIC BALLESTEROS
Keyword(s):  
Sibling Species ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Local Extinction ◽  
Distribution Area ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Ecological Role ◽  
Pinna Nobilis ◽  
Nw Mediterranean

Until the late 2010s the spiny fan-mussel Pinna rudis shared habitat in many Mediterranean sites with Mediterranean endemic Pinna nobilis, which dominated in abundance but that has gone locally extinct in most of its distribution area due to a recent widespread disease outbreak. In the Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve (NW Mediterranean) both species coexisted until 2017, when P. nobilis populations completely disappeared. In spring 2021 we revisited 7 permanent plots covering 1,485 m2 that had been previously monitored during the period from 2005 to 2009. We found that although previous studies described P. rudis populations as stable with low recruitment rates, recruitment after 2017 increased in comparison to 2005-2009. At least two cohorts of recruits (~3 and ~1 year in age) were to be found both within the plots as well as in other areas throughout the Columbretes archipelago, colonizing areas previously occupied by P. nobilis. We hypothesize that P. rudis has been benefited by the local extinction of the sibling species P. nobilis, most probably as a result of reduced interspecific competition. The ecological role once played mainly by P. nobilis as the dominant species, might now be taken over by P. rudis, whose populations could grow during the oncoming years.

scholarly journals The importance of oceanic atoll lagoons for coral reef predators

2020 ◽  
Vol 167 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Skinner ◽  
Aileen C. Mill ◽  
Steven P. Newman ◽  
S. Nadia Alsagoff ◽  
Nicholas V. C. Polunin
Keyword(s):  
Dominant Species ◽  
Outer Edge ◽  
Ecological Role ◽  
Underwater Video ◽  
Visual Census ◽  
Outer Reef ◽  
Underwater Visual Census ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Lagoonal Habitat ◽  
Depth And Complexity

AbstractPredators on coral reefs play an important ecological role structuring reef fish communities and are important fishery targets. It is thought that reef predator assemblages increase in density and diversity from inner lagoonal to outer edge reefs. Oceanic atolls may differ though, as nutrients are available throughout. Reef predator populations are declining, but there is little known about how their distributions may vary across oceanic atolls. Using a combination of underwater visual census and baited remote underwater video, this study aimed to compare reef predator populations between inner and outer reefs of North Malé Atoll (Maldives) and determine which reef metrics may drive any differences in assemblage structure. We found that predator assemblages were significantly different between inner and outer atoll. Body sizes of several predator families were consistently larger in the outer atoll, however, abundance, biomass and species richness were similar between outer edge reefs and inner lagoonal reefs suggesting atoll lagoons may be undervalued habitats. Depth and complexity were consistently important predictors of the predator assemblage. Inner atoll lagoonal habitat is equally as important for reef predator assemblages as outer reef slopes, although the dominant species differ. This study provides important information on reef predator populations in the Maldives, where detailed assessments of the reef predator assemblage are lacking but the reef fishery is thriving and annual catch will continue to increase.

scholarly journals The Roses Ocean and Human Health Chair: A New Way to Engage the Public in Oceans and Human Health Challenges

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (14) ◽  
pp. 5078
Author(s):  
Josep Lloret ◽  
Rafael Abós-Herràndiz ◽  
Sílvia Alemany ◽  
Rosario Allué ◽  
Joan Bartra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Public Health Challenges ◽  
Nw Mediterranean ◽  
Regional Partnership ◽  
Health Field

Involving and engaging stakeholders is crucial for studying and managing the complex interactions between marine ecosystems and human health and wellbeing. The Oceans and Human Health Chair was founded in the town of Roses (Catalonia, Spain, NW Mediterranean) in 2018, the fruit of a regional partnership between various stakeholders, and for the purpose of leading the way to better health and wellbeing through ocean research and conservation. The Chair is located in an area of the Mediterranean with a notable fishing, tourist, and seafaring tradition and is close to a marine reserve, providing the opportunity to observe diverse environmental conditions and coastal and maritime activities. The Chair is a case study demonstrating that local, collaborative, transdisciplinary, trans-sector, and bottom-up approaches offer tremendous opportunities for engaging coastal communities to help support long-lasting solutions that benefit everyone, and especially those living by the sea or making their living from the goods and services provided by the sea. Furthermore, the Chair has successfully integrated most of its experts in oceans and human health from the most prestigious institutions in Catalonia. The Chair focuses on three main topics identified by local stakeholders: Fish and Health; Leisure, Health, and Wellbeing; and Medicines from the Sea. Led by stakeholder engagement, the Chair can serve as a novel approach within the oceans and human health field of study to tackle a variety of environmental and public health challenges related to both communicable and non-communicable diseases, within the context of sociocultural issues. Drawing on the example provided by the Chair, four principles are established to encourage improved participatory processes in the oceans and human health field: bottom-up, “think local”, transdisciplinary and trans-sectorial, and “balance the many voices”.

scholarly journals Characteristics of atypical Huperzia selago subsp. arctica habitats to the south of distribution area

2012 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilona Jukonienė ◽  
Rasa Dobravolskaitė ◽  
Jūratė Sendžikaitė
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Natural Vegetation ◽  
Distribution Area ◽  
The South ◽  
Campylopus Introflexus

Two localities for <em>Huperzia selago </em>subsp. <em>arctica </em>are recorded from Lithuania, to the south of its known distribution area. The habitats of this subspecies are cutover peatlands whose natural vegetation was disturbed 6-8 years ago during peat exploitation. One of the dominant species of latest vegetation cover is the invasive bryophyte <em>Campylopus introflexus</em>. Characteristics of the habitats of <em>H. selago </em>subsp. <em>arctica </em>and the frequency of this taxon in populations were analysed.

scholarly journals Parkia biglobosa (Nere)-A threatened useful tree species: Directory of sanitary constraints according to north-south climatic gradient in Mali

2020 ◽  
pp. 132-137
Author(s):  
Bokary Allaye Kelly ◽  
Amadou Malé Kouyaté
Keyword(s):  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Distribution Area ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Climatic Gradient ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Parkia Biglobosa ◽  
The North ◽  
Adult Trees ◽  
Wood Boring

Parkia biglobosa, a multi-purposes species offers food, medicine and income to rural populations. This species is facing several constraints mainly aged populations, weak natural regeneration, and reduction of tree densities. A study, was undertaken in three sites from three agro-climatic zones according to the north-south climatic gradient in southern Mali, to assess dendrometric characteristics of Parkia biglobosa trees. Permanent plots of 0.25 ha each were installed in fields and fallows with three replications in each stand within each site. Adult trees in the plots were monitored, measured and also assessed for sanitary constraints. Several sanitary constraints were encountered and classified into six categories (from attacks on trunks and gross branches to damages on fruits and general attacks, infestations and damages due to wood-boring insects, human beings and other abiotic factors). Damages like those with symptoms of dieback or staghead disease pose a serious threat for production, productivity and survival of the species. Concrete actions are necessary like sanitary diagnostic at the level of the distribution area of the species in Mali, followed by identifying real cause of damages and seeking for appropriate solutions, sensitizing and training farmers, implementing a national program of regeneration of the species by planting and/or by promoting Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) approach.

Studies on the sibling species Anopheles gambiae Giles and Anopheles arabiensis Patton (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Kisumu area, Kenya.

1979 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. Highton ◽  
Joan H. Bryan ◽  
P. F. L. Boreham ◽  
J. A Chandler
Keyword(s):  
Anopheles Gambiae ◽  
Sibling Species ◽  
Malaria Infection ◽  
Anopheles Arabiensis ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Sporozoite Rate ◽  
Anopheles Gambiae Giles

AbstractA study was undertaken of the seasonal abundance, feeding habits, resting habits and malaria infection rates of the sibling species Anopheles gambiae Giles and A. arabiensis Patton on the Kano Plain, Kenya, and the surrounding foothills. A. arabiensis was the dominant species on the plains and A. gambiae in the foothills. A. gambiae was highly anthropophilic with 92% feeding on man, whereas 59% of A. arabiensis fed on cattle. In both species, the choice of host was affected by the availability of cattle. A. arabiensis rested out of doors more commonly than A. gambiae. The sporozoite rate in A. gambiae was 5·33%, 15·98 times higher than the rate of 0·33% found in A. arabiensis.

scholarly journals A new Cladocora caespitosa population with unique ecological traits

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. KERSTING ◽  
E. CEBRIAN ◽  
J. VERDURA ◽  
E. BALLESTEROS
Keyword(s):  
Coral Cover ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Colony Growth ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Distribution Area ◽  
Ecological Traits ◽  
Rare Type ◽  
Algal Communities ◽  
Cladocora Caespitosa ◽  
Waves And Currents

The Mediterranean endemic scleractinian coral Cladocora caespitosa (L., 1767) has been recently included in the IUCN Red List as an endangered species. In this context, information on the species is urgently required to further assess its status and to determine its distribution area. This study reports on the main traits of a recently discovered C. caespitosa population in Formentera (Balearic Islands, W Mediterranean). Here, coral colonies live wrapped in Cystoseira forests thriving on rocky substrata (5 - 13 m depth), thus being a new example of the ability of C. caespitosa to build up extensive populations within algal communities. Even though coral cover reaches ~ 20 % on average, which is a remarkable figure for this species, colonies are generally small (~ 10 cm diameter on average), most probably due to partial exposure to waves and currents. The combination of hydrodynamics and the presence of algal forests in the studied site could be responsible for the high occurrence of a rare type of colony growth: free-living coral nodules or coralliths. This population is highly interesting for future monitoring owing to its unique traits, the absence of necrosis signs related to past mortality events, and its location inside a marine reserve.

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