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Ortega-Jiménez E, Sedano F, Espinosa F. Molluscs community as a keystone group for assessing the impact of urban sprawl at intertidal ecosystems. Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-021-01192-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractMollusc communities are getting endangered in the aftermath of urban sprawl because artificial structures do not surrogate natural substrates. In this study, we compared the diversity, community and trophic arrangements of molluscs among different models of artificial substrate and their adjacent natural rock, to detect relationships between some abiotic variables and the mollusc communities. Complexity, chemical composition and age were tested as potential drivers of the community. Diversity, community and trophic structure differed between natural and artificial substrates. Complexity at the scale of cm was detected as the most important factor driving the community structure. In addition, a chemical composition based on silica and/or scarce calcium carbonates seems to be relevant for molluscs, as well as for the secondary substrate where they inhabit. However, age did not seem to be a driving factor. Among the different artificial structures, macroscale complexity was detected as the main factor diverging a drastically poor community at seawall from other artificial structures. In this context, macro and microscale complexity, chemical composition and mineral type are variables to consider in future designs of artificial substrates.
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Márquez F, Idaszkin YL. Crab carapace shape as a biomarker of salt marsh metals pollution. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 276:130195. [PMID: 33744650 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130195] [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: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Coastal environmental pollution is a global problem that has been growing for decades. For this reason, different approaches have been sought to address and detect its environmental implications. Some organisms are considered bioindicators or biomonitors of contamination, which provide information about environmental quality. Previous studies used the crab Neoelice granulata (Brachyura, Varunidae) as bioindicator of the presence of metals by the analysis of soft tissues to evaluate physiological and molecular markers. However, the contaminant levels accumulated in these soft tissues have shown to be affected by seasonal variations, suggesting that environmental assessments based on soft tissue samples may be unreliable. Within this framework, we aimed to describe the crab body (carapace) variations related to a known soil metal gradient in a Patagonian salt marsh and to evaluate the use of the body shape as an alternative biomarker for monitoring the quality of salt marsh systems. We studied the carapace shape variations using geometric morphometrics (GM) based on a 2D structure with object symmetry. We observed symmetric and asymmetric components of carapace shape variation. While the latter was not found associated with a gradient of contamination by metals, the symmetric component responded to environmental changes; therefore, it could be considered a stress biomarker related to metal contamination. Consequently, we recommended using GM analysis because it is inexpensive, faster and non-seasonal and could be used on living organisms, avoiding destroying individuals to measure the environmental stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Márquez
- LARBIM, Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos (IBIOMAR-CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Boulevard Brown 3051, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina.
| | - Yanina L Idaszkin
- Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Boulevard Brown 3051, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina; Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC- CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
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Sedano F, Navarro-Barranco C, Guerra-García JM, Espinosa F. Understanding the effects of coastal defence structures on marine biota: The role of substrate composition and roughness in structuring sessile, macro- and meiofaunal communities. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 157:111334. [PMID: 32658698 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The increasing deployment of artificial structures into the marine environment is creating new hard substrates that differ from natural ones in physical and biological aspects. However, studies of macrofaunal and meiofaunal communities associated with artificial structures are very limited. Seawalls, cubes, acropods and rip-raps in Algeciras Bay (southern Spain) were each compared with the nearest natural hard substrate and their community structure was related to substrate roughness, composition, carbonates content, crystallinity and age, using db-RDA. The results showed clear differences between substrates for the three community levels (sessile, macro- and meiofauna). Overall, rip-raps were the most similar to natural substrates. Under similar environmental conditions, substrate roughness, composition (only for sessile) and age of the structures seemed to play important roles in structuring those communities. They especially affected the sessile community, initiating strong cascading effects that were detectable at high taxonomic level in the associated fauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Sedano
- Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain.
| | - C Navarro-Barranco
- Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain
| | - J M Guerra-García
- Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain
| | - F Espinosa
- Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain
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Fa DA, Finlayson G, Sempere-Valverde J, García-Gómez JC. ‘Impossible’ re-introduction of the endangered limpet Patella ferruginea Gmelin, 1791? Progress in resolving translocation mortality. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2018. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Ghribi F, Bello G, Zupa R, Passantino L, Santamaria N, El Cafsi M, Corriero A. Reproductive and tissue plasticity in Arca noae (Bivalvia: Arcidae). THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2017.1368725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- F. Ghribi
- Unit of Physiology and Aquatic Environment, Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar , Tunis, Tunisia
| | - G. Bello
- Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari Aldo Moro , Valenzano, Italy
| | - R. Zupa
- Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari Aldo Moro , Valenzano, Italy
| | - L. Passantino
- Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari Aldo Moro , Valenzano, Italy
| | - N. Santamaria
- Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari Aldo Moro , Valenzano, Italy
| | - M. El Cafsi
- Unit of Physiology and Aquatic Environment, Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar , Tunis, Tunisia
| | - A. Corriero
- Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari Aldo Moro , Valenzano, Italy
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Espinosa F, Rivera-Ingraham GA. Biological Conservation of Giant Limpets: The Implications of Large Size. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2016; 76:105-155. [PMID: 28065294 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Patellogastropods, also known as true limpets, are distributed throughout the world and constitute key species in coastal ecosystems. Some limpet species achieve remarkable sizes, which in the most extreme cases can surpass 35cm in shell length. In this review, we focus on giant limpets, which are defined as those with a maximum shell size surpassing 10cm. According to the scientific literature, there are a total of 14 species across five genera that reach these larger sizes. Four of these species are threatened or in danger of extinction. Inhabiting the intertidal zones, limpets are frequently affected by anthropogenic impacts, namely collection by humans, pollution and habitat fragmentation. In the case of larger species, their conspicuous size has made them especially prone to human collection since prehistoric times. Size is not phylogeny-dependent among giant limpets, but is instead related to behavioural traits instead. Larger-sized species tend to be nonmigratory and territorial compared to those that are smaller. Collection by humans has been cited as the main cause behind the decline and/or extinction of giant limpet populations. Their conspicuously large size makes them the preferred target of human collection. Because they are protandric species, selectively eliminating larger specimens of a given population seriously compromises their viability and has led to local extinction events in some cases. Additionally, sustained collection over time may lead to microevolutionary responses that result in genetic changes. The growing presence of artificial structures in coastal ecosystems may cause population fragmentation and isolation, limiting the genetic flow and dispersion capacity of many limpet species. However, when they are necessitated, artificial structures could be managed to establish marine artificial microreserves and contribute to the conservation of giant limpet species that naturally settle on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Espinosa
- Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - G A Rivera-Ingraham
- UMR 9190 MARBEC, Groupe fonctionnel AEO, Université de Montpellier 2, Montpellier, France
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Espinosa F, Rivera-Ingraham GA. Subcellular evidences of redox imbalance in well-established populations of an endangered limpet. Reasons for alarm? MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 109:72-80. [PMID: 27297591 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Intertidal species are more vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances than others inhabiting subtidal and offshore habitats. Coastal development frequently results in trace-metal pollution. For endangered species such as Patella ferruginea it can be a high risk that leads local populations to extinction. Three localities were surveyed, one within a natural and unpolluted area and the other two within the harbor of Ceuta (Strait of Gibraltar), on breakwaters outside and inside. The specimens collected inside the harbor reached 3-fold higher Hg content than for those incoming from the natural area. PERMANOVA test indicated that metal composition of the specimens from inside the harbor was different from the rest. In addition, evidence of cell damage was detected in the specimens from the harbor area. This highlights the urgency of undertaking a physiological evaluation of some of the most vulnerable populations, establishing eco-physiological protocols for monitoring and managing populations settled on artificial substrata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Free Espinosa
- Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Georgina A Rivera-Ingraham
- UMR 9190 MARBEC, Groupe fonctionnel AEO, Bat. 24. CC092, Université de Montpellier 2, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France
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