Arquipelago - Life and Marine Sciences

An account on the marine Heterobranchia gastropods collected during the Mission “GAMPA Graciosa 2014” (Archipelago of the Azores, mid-north Atlantic)

Manuel António E. Malaquias — 2023-05-30

In the current account we report on the species of marine heterobranchs collected during the coastal monitoring mission “GAMPA Graciosa 2014” (20–26 July 2014). Sampling was carried out by SCUBA diving down to 30 m depth on 10 sampling locations. Animals were collected by hand after direct observation, and later in the laboratory separated by morpho-species, photographed, databased, and preserved after relaxation in 96% ethanol. Fourteen species were collected, of which 13 represent new records for the fauna of Graciosa Island (~93%), highlighting the need for additional sampling efforts across the whole Archipelago.

Why do Bulwer’s Petrels Bulweria bulwerii change nest?

Joël Bried — 2023-02-08

Owning a nest is a prerequisite for breeding in Procellariiform seabirds, which can leave their single egg and/or chick unattended for long periods and show high nest fidelity. However, the determinants of nest fidelity vary among species. Amongst them, Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii lays the biggest egg relative to body size within the Family Procellariidae. Therefore, individuals should choose their nests carefully and change essentially if they can improve their reproductive performances. This study conducted on Vila islet, Azores, aimed to determine why Bulwer’s Petrels actually change nest. Nest fidelity exceeded 85%. Nest changes were most likely to occur after a breeding failure or a non-breeding year, but they did not allow improving breeding success and they often resulted in missed breeding years. On average, the new nests were not of higher quality than the old ones, except for the individuals whose first breeding attempt in the new nest was successful. In addition, the quality of the new nest was unrelated to the number of skipped years and to the distance moved. Almost half of changes occurred towards neighbouring nests. They were associated with a lower probability to skip years. Therefore Bulwer’s Petrels might prioritize proximity over nest quality to reduce the costs of nest changes.

First record of the Starry Weever Trachinus radiatus (Cuvier, 1829) from the Madeira archipelago

Ashlie J. McIvor — 2023-02-08

The Starry Weever (Trachinus radiatus Cuvier, 1829) is one of nine extant species of the Trachinidae family which typically inhabit sandy-bottomed environments. This species is wide-spread throughout the Mediterranean Sea and in the Eastern Atlantic from continental Portugal to Angola, including the Canary Islands (Seret & Opic 2011, Smith 2016). It has, however, not yet been recorded from the Azores, Madeira, and the Cabo Verde Islands. Carneiro et al. (2019) mentioned a museum specimen allegedly from Madeira Island in the Paris Natural History Museum (MNHN-IC-2005-2436,1925) but this specimen is not from Madeira, it is from Casablanca fish market (Iglesias pers. comm. to the second author).

We herein provide the first true record of T. radiatus from the Madeira archipelago, in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean.

First record of the starfish Goniaster tesselatus at Madeira Island

Peter — 2023-01-11

Numerous new records of marine species, mostly with tropical affinities, have been made at Madeira Island in recent years (e. g. Ramalhosa et al. 2014 and 2017, Wirtz 2020 a, Wirtz & Araujo 2021). Some of these species appear to have extended their range northwards (e. g. Wirtz & Berenger 2017, Schäfer et al. 2019, Wirtz 2021), possibly due to global warming (Siemer et al. 2021).

Eleven shallow-water starfish species are known from Madeira Island (Wirtz 2020 b). We report here on one more species previous unrecorded for Madeiran waters.

Whale-watching contributions for the study of cetacean-cephalopod interactions

STÉPHANIE SUCIU — 2021-12-29

Cephalopods are the primary source of food for several species of odontocetes. The unstable nature of this trophic resource is likely to affect the ecology of their cetacean predators. This can be reflected in whale conservation status but also in the tourist activities which focus on cetacean observation. However, the study of cetacean-cephalopod interactions is limited by the complicated and heavy logistics of dedicated scientific campaigns. Fortunately, this limitation can be overcome by coupling modern molecular tools with indirect sampling methods. In this note we present the first results of a project to involve whale watching companies, which represent an intense observation effort worldwide, in the collection of biological material and information for studies of cetacean-cephalopod interactions and cephalopod distribution. In early 2020 we contacted all whale watching companies on São Miguel Island, Azores. All of them welcomed the invitation and received training and a sampling kit. Nine cephalopod tissue samples were collected, most of them in close association with sperm whales. All samples were determined by DNA barcoding (confirmed in a few cases by morphological observation) to belong to the gelatinous giant octopod Haliphron atlanticus (Octopoda, Alloposidae). We believe that, although the Azores may have particularly favourable conditions for participatory science, similar programs can be replicated elsewhere.

Applicability of the current stock assessment models to the priority azorean fishery resources

Wendell Medeiros-Leal — 2022-04-19

This work presents a guidance to conduct stock assessment based on ICES Maximum Sustainable Yield framework. A cross-analysis based on the models’ assumptions and inputs and data available for 22 Azorean priority stocks was performed to assess the applicability of each model to each stock. Information currently available for coastal and some demersal/deep-water stocks limits the use of most models validated by ICES. Only four demersal/deep-water stocks (Pagellus bogaraveo, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Phycis phycis, and Pontinus kuhlii) have data availability and quality enough to perform trend analysis, length-based and catch and survey-based methods. The next steps involve validating life-history parameters, evaluating model performances, and applying alternative tools for data-deficient stocks. Additional monitoring programs are of utmost importance, which must collect missing information and clarify stock delimitation to improve assessment quality. This study guides future stock assessment actions and highlights data gaps where future research should focus.

First record of the marine snail Xenophora crispa (Gastropoda: Xenophoridae) from Madeira Island (Northeastern Atlantic Ocean)

Magno N.B. Freitas — 2022-04-19

The marine snail Xenophora crispa (d' Orbigny, 1847) is recorded for the first time in Madeira Island (NE Atlantic). This species is currently distributed throughout the central and western Mediterranean, western Atlantic from France (Gulf of Biscay) to North Africa (up to Morocco), including the Archipelagos of the Azores, Canary Islands, and now Madeira.

Notes on some newly recorded bryophytes in human or anthropogenic habitats from Azores

Cecília Sérgio — 2023-08-01

The distribution area of 12 bryophyte species, five liverworts and seven mosses, is extended in the Azores islands, based on recent field observations, as well as a revision of herbarium material. All the species are typical of areas and habitats with anthropogenic land use and indicate human activities including touristic pressure.