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In the Northern Alboran Sea, artisanal small-scale fisheries using trammel nets suffer economic losses, and local fishermen see their way-of-life endangered, due to interactions with wildlife species such as alien species and dolphins. On the one hand, the alien seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae, which was first recorded in the Alboran Sea in 2015, has undergone an intensive expansion in the sub-region, monopolizing the available seabed, causing radical changes in the underwater seascape and clogging the trammel nets. On the other hand, the damage caused to the fishing nets by dolphin fish predation is an ancient problem worldwide, but it is intensifying in the last years. The main objective of this study is to understand the main environmental and technical conditions that favor damages of fishing trammel nets in the Alboran Sea, which entails an important loss of catchability, due to (i) the clogging of the artisanal fishing trammel nets by invasive seaweed, and (ii) the breaking of the nets by dolphin predation. Through close monitoring of fishermen in port, we obtained direct information of 548 sets. Our results indicate that approximately 30% of trammel sets suffered a damage due to unwanted interaction with alien seaweeds and dolphins. As seaweeds invasion is a global problem while dolphin-fishing gear interaction is more local, we concluded that only a large-scale management of exotic algae, together with the involvement of local fishermen, could solve the economic problems of this activity., This study has been financed by MAVA Foundation through an agreement between ACCOBAMS (Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area) and the Spanish Herpetological Society (AHE, Asociación Herpetológica Española), under the project: “CETAFISHBE, Interactions between air breathing marine vertebrates, particularly cetaceans, and artisanal fisheries in northern` Alboran Sea”. We thank the fishermen, skippers and shipowners who have helped us during this study. We also recognize the support provided by the fishermen’s associations from the ports of Caleta de Vélez and Fuengirola (Southern Spain). We are grateful for the comments of anonymous reviewers who improved a previous paper version. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature.

A review of the non-native Kyphosus species historically recorded in Galician waters (north-western Spain) based on morphological and molecular characteristics is carried out. The list is composed of 15 specimens recorded from 2002 to 2022, showing a clearly unbalanced ratio in favour of K. vaigiensis with respect to K. sectatrix (6.5:1). A similar analysis was performed by consulting ichthyological literature on the Kyphosus species reported in the subtropical–temperate Northeast Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The results seem to reflect a more recent and conspicuous appearance of K. vaigiensis in the Northeast Atlantic–Mediterranean area, suggesting a higher invasive capacity than that of its congener K. sectatrix, perhaps related to its greater mobility. DNA barcoding supports the morphological identification of K. vaigiensis from Galicia and confirms the Atlantic–Mediterranean and Indo–Pacific distribution of the species. In addition, the main distinctive morphological characters found in the ichthyological literature have been revised and the taxonomic status of one published record has been changed. The results indicate the need to monitor non-indigenous marine species in the current global warming scenario of the Anthropocene era. Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2019/28

A new species of rockling fish genus Gaidropsarus is described based on six specimens collected in Galicia and Porcupine Banks, in Atlantic European waters. An analysis of morphological characters has confirmed the specific status of specimens of a previously described clade by comparison of DNA sequences. Gaidropsarus gallaeciae sp. nov. it is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: 43–44 vertebrae; 54–60 third dorsal fin rays; 44–52 anal fin rays; 21–23 pectoral fin rays; head length 21.1–25.2% of standard length (SL); length of the pelvic fin 16.2–19% SL; length of the first dorsal fin ray 15.8–27% of head length (%HL); eye diameter 15.8–20.5% HL; and interorbital space 21.7–28% HL. Using the nucleotide sequence of the 5’ end of the mitochondrial COI gene as a molecular marker, the genetic p-distance between the new species and its congeners far exceeds the usual 2%, granting the former the status of an independent taxon, which is in accordance with the morphological identification. A comparison with the other 12 valid species of the genus is presented. The study also highlights the morphological diversity resulting from the meristic and biometric variability of Gaidropsarus species and lays the groundwork for future taxonomic studies on this genus., SI

[ES] La incorporación del noroeste ibérico al marco administrativo y económico romano dio lugar a importantes cambios en los sistemas de distribución de bienes de consumo. De manera concreta, este estudio se enfoca en el aprovechamiento de los recursos marinos, influido tanto por la significación social que adquiere el consumo de ciertos productos como por la demanda generada ante los nuevos gustos alimenticios. El nuevo escenario socioeconómico se manifiesta mediante modificaciones significativas en los modelos de explotación, estableciéndose factorías litorales para el procesado de peces y moluscos que, a su vez, requieren de un desarrollo de la distribución comercial. En este trabajo realizamos una evaluación del comercio y consumo de los productos marinos en los asentamientos romanos de nueva creación en el noroeste de la península ibérica a partir del registro zooarqueológico. [EN] The incorporation of the Iberian northwest into the Roman administrative and economic network brought about important changes in the distribution systems of consumer products. In particular, this study focuses on the exploitation of marine resources, influenced both by the social significance acquired by the consumption of certain products and by the demand generated by new food tastes. The new socio-economic scenario manifests itself in important modifications of the exploitation models, establishing factories on the coast for the transformation of fish and molluscs which, in turn, require the development of commercial distribution. In this paper we evaluate the trade and consumption of marine products in the newly created Roman settlements in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula based on the zooarchaeological record.

One specimen of the shortfin neoscopelid Neoscopelus microchir Matsubara, 1943, has been recorded for the first time on the Porcupine Bank, southwestern Ireland, providing a new northern limit of distribution for the eastern Atlantic. Morphometric and meristic parameters confirm the taxonomic identification. However, DNA barcoding shows deficiencies in current taxonomy and the potential occurrence of cryptic species. On this basis, the specimen is cautiously reported as Neosopelus cf. microchir pending a taxonomic revision of the genus., SI

This study combined morphological and molecular approaches to the species assignment of several rare or poorly known deep-water fishes caught between 549 and 1371 m depth during a Spanish bottom trawl survey in the Porcupine Bank, west of Ireland. The following fish species were identified: Nessorhamphus ingolfianus (Schmidt, 1912), Borostomias antarcticus (Lönnberg 1905), Scopelosaurus lepidus (Krefft and Maul 1955), Bathypterois dubius Vaillant, 1888, Evermannella balbo (Risso, 1820), Antimora rostrata (Günther, 1878), Melanonus zugmayeri Norman, 1930, Lyconus brachycolus Holt and Byrne, 1906, Paraliparis hystrix Merrett, 1983, Neocyttus helgae (Holt and Byrne, 1908), Platyberyx opalescens Zugmayer, 1911, Howella atlantica Post and Quéro, 1991, Lycodes terraenovae Collett, 1896 and Pseudoscopelus altipinnis Parr, 1933. The presence of L. brachycolus, P. opalescens and P. altipinnis is reported for the first time in the Bank. The DNA barcoding results were largely consistent with morphological identification in 10 species but four did not fit the current taxonomy, indicating cases of potential cryptic speciation, misidentification, synonymy or recent diversification. Among them, the results strongly suggest that P. garmani and P. hystrix are conspecific, making P. hystrix a junior synonym of P. garmani.

The aim of the present study was to predict future changes in biodiversity attributes (richness, rarity, heterogeneity, evenness, functional diversity and taxonomic diversity) of freshwater fish species in river basins around the world, under different climate scenarios. To do this, we use a new methodological approach implemented within the ModestR software (NOO3D) which allows estimating simple species distribution predictions for future climatic scenarios. Data from 16,825 freshwater fish species were used, representing a total of 1,464,232 occurrence records. WorldClim 1.4 variables representing average climate variables for the 1960¿1990 period, together with elevation measurements, were used as predictors in these distribution models, as well as in the selection of the most important variables that account for species distribution changes in two scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 6.0). The predictions produced suggest the extinction of almost half of current freshwater fish species in the coming decades, with a pronounced decline in tropical regions and a greater extinction likelihood for species with smaller body size and/or limited geographical ranges., We acknowledge institutional support from the Unit of Information Resources for Research at the Unit of Information Resources for Research at the "Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas" (CSIC) for the article-processing charges contribution.

Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is a teleost fish that has experienced an increase in Mediterranean aquaculture production in recent years. To improve productivity, it is necessary to establish a genetic selection program, but the generational interval in meagre is very high (2 and 3 years in males and females respectively). The objective of this survey is to evaluate the effect of specific A. regius single-chain recombinant gonadotropins (rGths) in prepubertal and sexually undifferentiated meagre. For this, 8 treatment groups were established, in which doses of 6, 12 or 18 μg / kg of rFSH or rLH were injected weekly for 3 weeks. Results did not show significant differences in GSI, but they did in plasma E2. Furthermore, early gonadal development was induced with the appearance of oocytes and spermatids in localized regions, while 100% of the fish in the saline group remained sexually undifferentiated. Our results on sexual differentiation show that with rGths therapy 1) males sexually differentiate earlier than females; 2) there is a higher proportion of males; 3) there are intersex fish. This is the first report of the presence of intersex fish and a male skewed ratio in this species. In conclusion, rGths therapy represent a potential solution to reduce the generation interval in prepubertal meagre, but more studies are needed to know how its administration affects during the period of sexual differentiation. Ciencias del Mar

Current methods for biomonitoring marine environments are aggressive, costly and time-consuming. DNA barcoding and metabarcoding offers a more accurate solution to this framework, but for this to be implemented, reliable reference sequences need to be available. The present study aimed to complete the reference database for metabarcoding studies. From an original list of 141 marine fish individuals, a total of 50 fish species were barcoded by PCR amplification of the 12s rRNA gene and sanger sequencing. A genetic analysis was additionally performed. Sequences are submitted to public access. Overall, DNA barcoding has shown to be a means by which marine resources could be surveyed without causing any negative impact. Ciencias del Mar

En la última década, ha crecido la preocupación por la presencia de micropartículas plásticas en los ecosistemas marinos, principalmente, por su capacidad de adsorber otros contaminantes químicos sirviendo como vectores para la entrada en organismos acuáticos. En el presente estudio se investigaron los efectos in vitro causados sobre la actividad fagocítica en hemocitos de mejillón (Mytilus galloprovincialis) mediante exposición, individual y simultánea en el medio extracelular a mercurio (Hg) y a tres tipos de microplásticos de polietileno (MPP 635 XF, AQUAMATTE 26HD y AQUATEX 325). Las suspensiones de microplásticos (MPs) utilizadas se caracterizaron (tamaño y número de partículas por mililitro) mediante un contador de partículas Coulter y se determinaron las concentraciones de Hg antes y después de cada experimento. La eficacia fagocítica (EF) se determinó mediante microscopía de fluorescencia. Los resultados mostraron que en ausencia de MPs en el medio extracelular, son necesarias concentraciones de Hg ≥ 10-6 M para causar un efecto inhibitorio sobre la EF (p 200.000 partículas por mililitro y en presencia de Hg a concentraciones de 10-8 M si causaron efectos inhibitorios significativos (p 200,000 particles per milliliter caused significant inhibitory effects (p

La estrella de mar Echinaster sepositus (Echinodermata, Asteroidea) ha sido estudiada desde mediados del siglo XIX y aún no se conoce todo el potencial que este asteroideo puede ofrecer. Algo tan habitual como la biometría no ha sido estandarizado para esta especie y en la actualidad, la investigación sobre el proceso de regeneración tras la amputación de los brazos en esta especie es escaso. En este estudio se ha analizado la obtención de una variable de medición poco invasiva como método de estimación del tamaño de la especie. La medida significativa obtenida fue la longitud de un brazo, pudiendo estimarse el peso y longitud totales con valores de R2 de 0.79 y 0.71, respectivamente. El estudio de regeneración mediante técnicas histológicas analiza la primera fase de la regeneración, la cual se da independientemente de la altura a la que el brazo ha sido amputado. Todos los cortes de los brazos mostraron un estadio de regeneración similar. Los resultados muestran que la estimación del tamaño y biometría de Echinaster sepositus a partir de la longitud de brazo, es una medida poco invasiva y eficaz. Por otra parte, se constató que, tras la amputación traumática de uno de los brazos, la regeneración tisular sucede de forma independiente de la longitud de brazo perdida. Starfish Echinaster sepositus (Echinodermata, Asteroidea) has been studied since the second half of 19th century and the potential this asteroid has to offer is yet to be discovered. Although biometry is a common procedure in biology, it has still not been standardized for this species and, up to date, the investigation about of the regeneration process after arm amputation of this species is scarce. This study has analyzed and developed a non-invasive measuring variable as an estimation method of the species size. The significant measure was found to be the variable arm length, through it it can be determined the total length and total weight of an individual, with R2 values of 0.79 and 0.71, respectively. The histological evaluation of the regeneration process studies the first phase of this phenomenon, which occurs regardless of the length at which the arm was excised. Every histological section analyzed showed a similar regeneration status. Results show that the size estimation and biometry of Echinaster sepositus through the measurement of the length of the arm, is a non-invasive and effective measurement. Moreover, it can be confirmed that tissue regeneration after a traumatic amputation occurs regardless the length of the lost fragment of the arm Ciencias del Mar