Miquel Planas1, Cristina Piñeiro-Corbeira2, Carmen Bouza3,4, Inés Castejón-Silvo5, Manuel Vera3,4, Marcos Regueira6, Verónica Ochoa6, Ignacio Bárbara2, Jorge Terrados5, Alexandro Chamorro6, Rodolfo Barreiro2, Jorge Hernández-Urcera6, Irene Alejo7, Miguel Nombela7, Manuel Enrique García6, Belén G Pardo3,4, Viviana Peña2, Pilar Díaz-Tapia2, Javier Cremades2, Beatriz Morales-Nin5. 1. Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM-CSIC), Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208, Vigo, Spain. mplanas@iim.csic.es. 2. BioCost Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias and CICA, Universidade da Coruña, 15071, Coruña, Spain. 3. Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus de Lugo, Avenida Carballo Calero S/N, 27002, Lugo, Spain. 4. Instituto de Acuicultura, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. 5. Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (CSIC-UIB), 07190, Esporles, Spain. 6. Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM-CSIC), Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208, Vigo, Spain. 7. Department of Marine Geosciences and Territorial Planning, Marine Sciences Faculty, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Syngnathid fishes (Actinopterygii, Syngnathidae) are flagship species strongly associated with seaweed and seagrass habitats. Seahorses and pipefishes are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic and environmental disturbances, but most species are currently Data Deficient according to the IUCN (2019), requiring more biological and ecological research. This study provides the first insights into syngnathid populations in the two marine Spanish National Parks (PNIA-Atlantic- and PNAC-Mediterranean). Fishes were collected periodically, marked, morphologically identified, analysed for size, weight, sex and sexual maturity, and sampled for stable isotope and genetic identification. Due the scarcity of previous information, habitat characteristics were also assessed in PNIA. RESULTS: Syngnathid diversity and abundance were low, with two species identified in PNIA (Hippocampus guttulatus and Syngnathus acus) and four in PNAC (S. abaster, S. acus, S. typhle and Nerophis maculatus). Syngnathids from both National Parks (NP) differed isotopically, with much lower δ15N in PNAC than in PNIA. The dominant species were S. abaster in PNAC and S. acus in PNIA. Syngnathids preferred less exposed sites in macroalgal assemblages in PNIA and Cymodocea meadows in PNAC. The occurrence of very large specimens, the absence of small-medium sizes and the isotopic comparison with a nearby population suggest that the population of Syngnathus acus (the dominant syngnathid in PNIA) mainly comprised breeders that migrate seasonally. Mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence variants were detected for H. guttulatus, S. acus, and S. abaster, and a novel 16S rDNA haplotype was obtained in N. maculatus. Our data suggest the presence of a cryptic divergent mitochondrial lineage of Syngnathus abaster species in PNAC. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first multidisciplinary approach to the study of syngnathids in Spanish marine NPs. Habitat preferences and population characteristics in both NPs differed. Further studies are needed to assess the occurrence of a species complex for S. abaster, discarding potential misidentifications of genus Syngnathus in PNAC, and evaluate migratory events in PNIA. We propose several preferential sites in both NPs for future monitoring of syngnathid populations and some recommendations for their conservation.
BACKGROUND: Syngnathid fishes (Actinopterygii, Syngnathidae) are flagship species strongly associated with seaweed and seagrass habitats. Seahorses and pipefishes are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic and environmental disturbances, but most species are currently Data Deficient according to the IUCN (2019), requiring more biological and ecological research. This study provides the first insights into syngnathid populations in the two marine Spanish National Parks (PNIA-Atlantic- and PNAC-Mediterranean). Fishes were collected periodically, marked, morphologically identified, analysed for size, weight, sex and sexual maturity, and sampled for stable isotope and genetic identification. Due the scarcity of previous information, habitat characteristics were also assessed in PNIA. RESULTS: Syngnathid diversity and abundance were low, with two species identified in PNIA (Hippocampus guttulatus and Syngnathus acus) and four in PNAC (S. abaster, S. acus, S. typhle and Nerophis maculatus). Syngnathids from both National Parks (NP) differed isotopically, with much lower δ15N in PNAC than in PNIA. The dominant species were S. abaster in PNAC and S. acus in PNIA. Syngnathids preferred less exposed sites in macroalgal assemblages in PNIA and Cymodocea meadows in PNAC. The occurrence of very large specimens, the absence of small-medium sizes and the isotopic comparison with a nearby population suggest that the population of Syngnathus acus (the dominant syngnathid in PNIA) mainly comprised breeders that migrate seasonally. Mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence variants were detected for H. guttulatus, S. acus, and S. abaster, and a novel 16S rDNA haplotype was obtained in N. maculatus. Our data suggest the presence of a cryptic divergent mitochondrial lineage of Syngnathus abaster species in PNAC. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first multidisciplinary approach to the study of syngnathids in Spanish marine NPs. Habitat preferences and population characteristics in both NPs differed. Further studies are needed to assess the occurrence of a species complex for S. abaster, discarding potential misidentifications of genus Syngnathus in PNAC, and evaluate migratory events in PNIA. We propose several preferential sites in both NPs for future monitoring of syngnathid populations and some recommendations for their conservation.
Entities:
Keywords:
Conservation; Genetic identification; Habitat; National park; Stable isotopes; Syngnathids
Authors: Healy Hamilton; Norah Saarman; Graham Short; Anna B Sellas; Beth Moore; Tinya Hoang; Christopher L Grace; Martin Gomon; Karen Crow; W Brian Simison Journal: Mol Phylogenet Evol Date: 2016-10-29 Impact factor: 4.286
Authors: P Rumolo; A Bonanno; M Barra; E Fanelli; M Calabrò; S Genovese; R Ferreri; S Mazzola; G Basilone Journal: Mar Environ Res Date: 2016-02-11 Impact factor: 3.130
Authors: D Sanna; F Biagi; H B Alaya; F Maltagliati; A Addis; A Romero; J De Juan; J-P Quignard; A Castelli; P Franzoi; P Torricelli; M Casu; M Carcupino; P Francalacci Journal: J Fish Biol Date: 2013-02-06 Impact factor: 2.051