Environmental factors affecting the nursery function for fish in the main estuaries of the Gulf of Cadiz (south-west Iberian Peninsula)

Farming Sparus aurata (Teleostei: Sparidae) in marsh ponds: trophic characterization and trace metal accumulation

Considering the overexploitation of fishing on most of the world coasts, the ingestion of fish and shellfish will depend mostly on aquaculture production. Since intensive mariculture usually involves environmental impact, developing sustainable cultures is a priority. In this sense, salt marshes can provide ecosystem services and incorporate both conservation and extensive aquaculture activities. In the present study we compared gilthead seabream Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758 cultured in extensive and semi-intensive marsh ponds with wild conspecifics from surrounding coastal areas, using trophic characterization (diet analysis and stable isotopes) and trace metal accumulation. Stomach content analysis revealed different feeding habits among gilthead seabream from different origin. Although wild specimens had the most diverse diet, results of stable isotopes showed that extensive diet had the wider isotopic niche and revealed the highest similarities between wild and extensively cultured gilthead seabream. A similar trace element signature was also measured in wild and extensive culture, whereas the semi-intensive culture showed different concentrations for several elements. Cr, Fe and Mn showed the highest concentrations in semi-intensive cultured fish, while As and Zn showed the lowest values in this group. In any case, average values measured in both extensive and semi-intensive culture were, in general terms, below the hazardous limits provided by the standards recommended for trace metals by national and international regulations. Therefore, marsh ponds provide a suitable environment where the cultured fish, especially extensive, should be promoted.

Assessment of elemental composition in commercial fish of the Bay of Cádiz, Southern Iberian Peninsula

The assessment of trace metal content in our fish diet is important due to the adverse effect on human health. Despite the increasing interest about the fish quality, little information is available for Southern Spain, a region characterized by high seafood intake. Nine species from the Bay of Cádiz with high commercial value were selected. Similar values were measured in the nine studied species for most of the elements, except for the macroelements Ca and S, and the microelements Fe, Mn and As, which showed significant differences among species. Metal Pollution Index (MPI) did not differ among species, and it was similar to those obtained for other Atlantic and Mediterranean locations. The values measured for the nine species were below the health limits provided by World, European and Spanish legislations, indicating that, in general terms, consumption of these species is safe in the study area.

Does environmental heterogeneity explain β diversity of estuarine fish assemblages? Example from a tropical estuary under the influence of a semiarid climate, Brazil

Estuarine fish assemblages are often sensitive to environmental conditions, because fluctuation in physico-chemical conditions at different spatial and seasonal scales can directly influence species distributions. In this way, we conducted a field survey to investigate the role of estuarine gradient (environmental heterogeneity) in fish α and β diversity. The study was carried out in three zones in Mamanguape River estuary according to salinity and geomorphology features during an atypical climatic event in 2015. In total, 18,084 specimens of 125 species were captured. Additive partitioning of diversity analysis detected a higher proportion of beta diversity among estuarine zones during the rainy (β₃ = 58.6%) and dry season (β₃ = 40.94%) and were higher than expected by chance (Prop_{exp> obs} <0.001). Decomposing β-diversity analysis showed that total β-diversity (β_sor) results were more dominated by species turnover (β_sim) than nestedness (β_nes) in both seasons. Forward selection procedure and db-RDA identified salinity, coarse sand and chlorophyll-a as the main environmental variables influencing β_sor and site distance from estuary mouth and split as the main landscape variables. Variation partitioning analysis revealed more contribution to the pure fraction of environmental variables to fish species turnover, however, both pure fraction of environmental and landscape variables significantly contributed to β_sim. Our study highlighted the importance to environmental heterogeneity and connectivity to promote fish diversity across the Mamanguape River estuary. Thus, future conservation policies should focus on maintaining these two components to guarantee its nursery ground role to estuarine fish assemblages.

Effects of maintenance dredging on the macrofauna of the water column in a turbid estuary

Many human activities in or near aquatic habitats generate alterations in their environmental conditions, which could affect the organisms that inhabit them. Maintenance dredging of navigation channels in order to allow large ships access to inland ports is one such source of disturbance. In this study, by taking multiple approaches (immediate-, short- and medium term), we analysed the effects of a maintenance dredging operation on physiochemical variables and the early life stages of fish and other macrofauna groups present in two zones of the Guadalquivir estuary with different salinity ranges (poly- and mesohaline). Most physiochemical variables were homogenized in the water column immediately after the water mass passed by the dredger, including sediment resuspension. However, this process seemed to be transient as no significant increments in the depth-averaged levels of turbidity were observed in the short- and medium-terms. Instead, metal concentrations of Cr, Fe and Zn increased in the polyhaline station. Even so, these perturbations did not appear to be severe enough to influence the macrofauna. Still, organisms can suffer direct mechanical impacts of the trailer suction. Hyperbenthic species, like Pomatoshcistus spp. or decapods, tended to decrease slightly, while pelagic species such as Engraulis encrasicolus or mysids did not, indicating that benthic organisms are usually more susceptible to high entrainment. Nonetheless, the possible effects of this disturbance were of the same order or less than those of natural ones; therefore, organisms of the macrofauna could be well adapted to cope with them.

Unravelling spatio-temporal patterns of suspended microplastic concentration in the Natura 2000 Guadalquivir estuary (SW Spain): Observations and model simulations

Microplastics (MPs) patterns in a weakly-stratified estuary were investigated using a combined approach of observations and modeling. The study was conducted in the Guadalquivir River Estuary, which is of high environmental value, yet significantly altered by human activities. The study aims to contribute to understanding and quantifying the land-ocean transport of MPs. Mean concentrations of MPs in the estuary were 0.041itemsm^-3, with maximum values up to 0.20itemsm^-3, in agreement with the range reported in other estuaries. Polyethylene floating MPs were predominant. Relationships between increases in MP concentration and local rainfall events were identified in the middle estuary when there were no significant discharges from the head dam. Modeling results mimicked observations and revealed the effects of tidal straining, density-driven, and river flow-induced circulation on the net transport. Convergence of transports favors the MPs trapping in the vicinity of Doñana National Park, overlapping the location of the Estuarine Turbidity Maximum.

Function of estuaries and coastal areas as nursery grounds for marine fish early life stages

The present study describes the larval and juvenile fish fauna of an estuary and its adjacent coastal area (Mondego estuary, Northwest coast of Portugal) and evaluates their function as nurseries for marine fish. For this, larvae and juveniles were sampled in both systems. The temporal and spatial patterns of the ichthyoplankton community were described for each system and related to the influence of environmental factors. Additionally, the recruitment pattern was evaluated based on the composition of juveniles. Results show a seasonal variation of larval density and community structure between and within systems, indicating a degree of segregation according to their ecological functional classification. Temperature was the most important environmental factor structuring the communities. The juvenile recruitment patterns observed show a different nursery function of the estuary and coastal area for early life stages of different species, reinforcing the need to integrate larval and juvenile stages to better understand fish life cycles and the connectivity between systems.