• SDSN - Greece
• Open Access close
• 14. Life underwater close

[Main conclusion] Both AE and SIE rarity on La Palma show a clear spatial pattern, with hotspots of endemic rarity found at high elevations and in rare climates, presumably owing to geographical and climatic constraints and possibly anthropogenic pressure (e.g., land use, introduced herbivores, fire). Areas of high rarity estimates coincide with the distribution and extent of PAs on La Palma, especially since the recent addition of the Natura 2000 sites. The hypervolume approach is a promising tool to estimate species range sizes, and can be applied on all scales where point/plot data are available. [Methods] We recorded all present endemic vascular plant species in 1,212 plots covering the entire island. We calculated endemic rarity (corrected range-rarity richness for endemics) using a rarity estimation approach based on kernel density estimations (hypervolume approach). We performed a sensitivity analysis based on multiple linear regressions and relative importance estimations of environmental drivers to estimate the performance of the hypervolume-based rarity estimation compared to standard methods (occurrence frequency, convex hulls, alpha hulls). [Aim] Rarity—an important measure for conservation biogeography—can vary over many orders of magnitude. However, it is unclear which regional-scale abiotic conditions drive processes affecting rarity of endemic species on islands. To support conservation efforts, we (1) assess the main abiotic drivers of endemic rarity, (2) determine how well existing protected areas (PAs) coincide with hotspots of endemic rarity and (3) introduce and evaluate a new hypervolume-based rarity estimator. [Results] Climate variables (mean annual temperature, climatic rarity, precipitation variability) best explained archipelago endemic (AE) and single-island endemic (SIE) rarity. Existing PAs covered the majority of AE and SIE rarity, especially national and natural parks as well as the Natura 2000 sites. In our study system, hypervolumes performed better than standard measures of range size. This work contributed to and was partially supported by the European H2020 Project 641762 ECOPOTENTIAL: Improving future ecosystem benefits through Earth Observations. [Location] La Palma (Canary Islands). © 2017 The Authors. Peer Reviewed

The purpose of this document is to establish a framework for the analysis of Multi-Use (MU) in the sea basin context, which will provide the project consortium with the practical research tools necessary to examine theoretical understanding and practical experience related to MU. This framework will guide further analyses and also feed into Work Package (WP) 3 - Case Study Analysis. For this specific purpose, this analytical framework (AF) will be considered in the preparation of the Case Study Methodology (D3.1), aiming at maximizing the degree of commonality between the two scales of analysis (Sea Basin scale and local scale). The analytical framework is intended to guide the process of information and data gathering and stakeholder engagement, providing the needed degree of homogeneity to the analysis of different Sea Basins. The framework should be interpreted as a flexible tool, and it may be modified and adapted through the implementation process, according to the emerging needs. In the event of changes or additions to the framework described herein being encountered, a technical note will be prepared by the WP2 leader, describing the amendments to the methodology. After WP2 completion, a revised version of this framework will be prepared, incorporating all changes.

Enteromyxum leei is a myxozoan histozoic parasite that infects the intestine of several teleost fish species. In gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), it provokes a chronic disease, entailing anorexia, delayed growth, reduced marketability and mortality. Direct fish‐to‐fish transmission, relevant in aquaculture conditions, has been demonstrated for E. leei via effluent, cohabitation, and oral and anal routes. However, the minimum time of exposure for infection has not been established, nor the possible effect on the fish immune response. Two effluent trials were performed at different temperatures (high: average of 25.6°C; and low: constant at 18°C), different times of exposure to the effluent (1, 3, 5 and 7 weeks) and different population densities. The results showed that 1 week was enough to infect 100% of fish at high temperature and 58.3% at low temperature. High temperature not only increased the prevalence of infection in posterior intestine, but also induced a higher production of specific antibodies, limiting the progression of the infection along the intestine. Longer time of exposure to the parasite and higher fish densities facilitated E. leei infection. These results show that effective diagnosis, lowering animal density and removal of infected fish are key aspects to manage this disease in aquaculture facilities. This work has been carried out with financial support from the European Commission, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020, Societal Challenges under grant agreement 634429 (ParaFishControl). This publication reflects only the authors' view, and the European Union cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. IE was contracted under APOSTD/2016/037 grant by the “Generalitat Valenciana,” and MCP, under Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas CSIC PIE project no. 201740E013. Peer reviewed

Abstract The aim of this work is to analyze the performance of the Overtopping Breakwater for Energy Conversion (OBREC), developed by the team of the University of Campania and installed at prototype scale in the port of Naples. It is a multifunctional coastal structure aimed to protect harbors and produce energy, based on the overtopping principle. This device has been preliminary analyzed by means of experimental and numerical investigations. This contribution provides for the first time an integrated assessment of the OBREC hydraulic and structural performance, by means of the measurements collected at the prototype installation and of numerical modelling i.e. methodologies not affected by the scale effects. The numerical model, developed in the openFOAM environment, is calibrated on the field data gathered during a storm event and is then applied to extend the information related to the OBREC response under the typical wave climate. The results obtained are proposed in terms of overtopping discharge rates and pressures acting along the OBREC profile, under several sea states. Based on these results some recommendations and indications regarding the optimal cross section design are given to maximize the energy production, without compromising the structural stability, and to promote the device exploitability.

Sediments in the Nazare Canyon (NE Atlantic) are inhabited by unexpectedly high abundances of the deposit-feeding holothurian Molpadia musculus. The energetic demand of such a large megafaunal biomass is presumably high and requires the efficient exploitation of the food inputs coming from the photic zone. We hypothesise the existence of cooperative interactions between these deep-sea holothurians and prokaryotes in their guts. To investigate these interactions, sediment samples and holothurians were collected at ca. 3500 m depth using a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) and an incubation chamber used to "harvest" faeces from the holothurian. In all of these samples (ingested sediment from different sectors of the holothurian gut content, faeces and sediments) we determined total prokaryotic abundance, the relative abundance of Bacteria and Archaea (by means of Catalysed Reporter Deposition-Fluorescence in situ Hybridisation) and bacterial diversity (by means of fingerprinting techniques: ARISA and T-RFLP). Prokaryotic abundances and bacterial diversity in the holothurian gut were very high (up to 10(5) bacterial Operational Taxonomic Units) and significantly greater than in surrounding bottom sediments. Archaea represented a key component within the gut of the holothurians and in certain tracts dominated the prokaryotic assemblage. We also found that ca. 40% of bacterial OTUs were associated uniquely with the gut contents (i.e., absent in surrounding sediments). These findings suggest the occurrence of wide and highly diversified interactions between prokaryotes and deep-sea holothurians. Results presented here provide new insights into the potential relationships between deep-sea holothurians and specific associations of Archaea and Bacteria within their guts. The work opens new perspectives for investigating the diversity of prokaryotes associated to deep-sea megafauna. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Galicia (NW Spain) is an important fishing region with a high potential for cetacean–fishery interactions. Cetacean depredation on catch and damage to fishing gear can potentially lead to substantial economic loss for fishers, while cetacean bycatch raises conservation concerns. With the aim of gathering information on the types and scale of interactions and of suggesting possible management strategies, we conducted face-to-face interviews with fishers in local fishing harbours, in particular to identify specific problematic interactions and to quantify the level of economic loss and bycatch rates associated with these interactions. We found that cetacean–fishery interactions are frequent, although damage to catch and fishing gear by cetaceans was mostly reported as small. Nevertheless, substantial economic loss can result from common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) damaging coastal gillnets and from short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) scattering fish in purse-seine fisheries. Cetacean bycatch mortality was reported to be highest for trawls and set gillnets, and probably exceeds sustainable levels for local common and bottlenose dolphin populations. Although interview data may be biased due to the perceptions of interviewees, and therefore should be interpreted with care, the methodology allowed us to cover multiple sites and fisheries within a reasonable time frame. Minimizing cetacean–fishery interactions requires the implementation of case-specific management strategies with the active participation of fishers. For set gillnet and purse-seine fisheries, the use of acoustic deterrent devices (pingers) may prevent cetaceans from approaching and getting trapped in the nets. For trawl fisheries, where bycatch appears to be particularly high at night in water depths of 100–300 m, possible solutions include the implementation of time/area closures and the relocation of some fishing effort to deeper waters The study was funded by the EC projects MEXC-CT-2006-042337 and MEST-CT-2005-020501), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT). MBS participation was part of the EU FP7 grant MYFISH (No. 289257) and the LOTOFPEL project (Plan Nacional de I + D + I, CTM 2010-16053) 14 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables Peer reviewed

International audience; Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN, also called viral encephalo- and retinopathy (VER)), is a widespread disease of marine aquaculture caused by betanodavirus (or nervous necrosis virus - NNV), a segmented positive sense RNA virus, member of the nodaviridae family. VNN affects predominantly marine fish and cause significant losses to the Mediterranean fish farming industry, including the production of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Of the four circulating genotypes of betanodavirus, red-spotted grouper NNV (RGNNV) and the reassortant geno-type red-spotted grouper/striped jack NNV (RG/SJNNV) are most prevalent in the Mediterranean. Inheritable resistance against VNN has been detected in sea bass, and selective breeding could be a mean to limit this untreatable disease. In the current study, we compare resistance to disease among three populations from the Atlantic Ocean (AT), Eastern Mediterranean (EM) and Western Mediterranean (WM), by challenge trials using both a highly pathogenic isolate of RGNNV and a lower pathogenic reassortant isolate of RG/SJNNV. The sur-vival of the three populations were modelled with a logistic regression, and the odds ratio (OR) of surviving was calculated. The challenge with RG/SJNNV reduced the odds of surviving three-fold (OR =0.29 [0.07-0.87]), whereas the challenge with RGNNV reduced the odds of surviving 100-fold (OR =0.01 [0.00-0.03]). Overall, the EM population had 3.32 (1.92–5.86) times higher odds of surviving the challenge than the AT and WM stocks. All survivors were harboring viral RNA in the brain, as demonstrated by RT-qPCR. However, viral RNA levels were in average lower in survivors from the EM population in both challenges, though only significantly lower in the challenge with RG/SJNNV (p <0.01). The survival results combined with the RT-qPCR results indicate that the EM sea bass population has a natural resistance to disease caused by RGNNV, possibly asso-ciated with limited viral entry into and/or replication in the brain

This deliverable (DL) provides an introduction to fish welfare in aquaculture and results from the systematization of knowledge for sea bass and sea bream, evaluating risk factors and welfare indicators. A comparison of the main certification schemes and standards production and good practices used in SBB and SBG companies is further assessed with respect to health and welfare principles and indicators applied. The DL reports on the process of selection and validation of OWIs by the PerformFISH Consortium. The methodology to assess and score fish welfare at different life stage and farming system is provided. A first benchmarking of welfare status of farmed bass and bream for MMFF is given based on OWIs data collection on farm and from PerformFISH Gateway D4Science(W-KPIs from WP7). Most part of the work is completed and the list of OWIs is consolidated (task 3.5.1, 3.5.2). However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, activities related to OWIs implementation on farm and elaboration of welfare scoring (task 3.5.3) have been suspended on February 15th. The present DL is thus submitted as a draft version. It is estimated that the DL3.6 will be finalized within 6 months after pandemic restrictions are lifted.