Invitation to Ph.D. Thesis Defence

Ph.D. thesis title: Individual Circadian Behaviour Variation in Wild Fish: Global Assessment, Environmental-Related effects, and Socio-Ecological Consequences.

Ph.D. Student: Martina Martorell, Department of Marine Ecology, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB)

Supervisor: Dr Josep Alós, Department of Marine Ecology, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB)

The defence will take place on monday February, 5^th at 11:00 at Sala de Grados B, Edificio Jovellanos, Universidad de les Illes Balears (UIB)

Abstract:

This thesis aims to comprehensively investigate the existence of chronotypes across different fish species and examines how environmental factors modulate them using cutting-edge fish tracking technologies. The thesis first investigates the presence of chronotypes in free-living fish species, clearly identifying these individual temporal patterns in several marine species. Fish behavior is known to be influenced by environmental factors. However, individuals within the same population can exhibit different responses to environmental gradients, referred to as behavioral reaction norms. Subsequently, the thesis describes a large-scale tracking experiment conducted to explore how those environmental gradients affect the expression of chronotypes in the pearly razorfish, Xyrichtys novacula. Behavioral traits typically covary, forming behavioral syndromes, yet few studies have explored chronotype-personality syndromes. This thesis proposes a novel methodological approach that combines laboratory and field experiments to quantitatively assess both classical and circadian-related behavioral traits in the pearly razorfish. Finally, it is well-established today that fishing exerts selective pressures on fish behavior. The final chapter of this thesis proposes a modeling approach to investigate whether exploitation by fishing may lead to directional selection on fish chronotypes. This PhD thesis introduces the field of marine eco-chronobiology, bridging gaps among three traditionally distinct disciplines: marine ecology, fisheries science, and chronobiology.

Link to zoom:

postgrau.uib.es/doctor.....tente

Abstract

In rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) aquaculture a significant portion of the fish die (around 10%) or experience growth stunting (GS; around 10%), which represents an important profitability and welfare issue. In the presented study, we aimed at characterising the GS phenotype in seawater-transferred rainbow trout using untargeted and targeted molecular biology methods, discovering the implication of a variety of pathways. During this talk, each method used will be explained in detail, showcasing the capabilities of each one.

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Seagrass meadows provide essential ecosystem functions and services. They serve as nursery habitats for fish, and the structural complexity is a key factor influencing this function. Despite their ecological importance, seagrasses are being degraded worldwide at an alarming rate, leading to a significant loss of habitat structure. In response to this trend, restoration projects have been developed in recent years, aiming to recover both habitat structure and associated functions We assessed the recovery of habitat structure and the associated nursery function within a restored Posidonia oceanica meadow. Additionally, we conducted habitat selection experiments with two species, Diplodus annularis and Symphodus tinca, to evaluate if they actively select seagrass habitats based on structural complexity. Our results revealed that, despite the presence of some fish species in the restored area, neither the structural complexity nor the nursery function had fully recovered. In the choice experiments, both species exhibited a clear affinity for seagrass habitats over unvegetated areas, demonstrating their ability to actively selected habitats based on visual cues. However, the response in occupancy patterns to increasing seagrass complexity was species-specific.Understanding how juvenile fish respond to changes in seagrass habitat features is crucial for quantifying the nursery service provision and for identifying effective measures to accelerate the restoration process.

Amb motiu de la celebració de la Diada de les Illes Balears, es durà a terme una sèrie d'entrevistes a diferents investigadors de les Balears, entre ells, a Jorge Terrados, de l'IMEDEA. A continuació, us deixem el programa complet:

Divulgació de la recerca sobre Posidonia oceànica

Dia: 2 de març de 2024

Lloc: Carpa Govern a Parc de la Mar

Presenta i modera: Enric Culat

12h: Nona Sheila Agawin (UIB)

Temes: ecologia de Posidonia oceànica; ecologia de microorganismes associats a Posidonia oceanica que tenen funcions importants (pe fixadors de nitrogen); l'efecte dels factors del canvi climàtic (canvis de temperatura, CO2 a Posidònia oceànica); l'efecte dels contaminants (plàstics i components de cremes solars) sobre P. oceanica i microogranismes associats.

12:15h Jorge Terrados (IMEDEA)

Temes: Una investigació de l’IMEDEA i altres centres de recerca aplica un nou enfocament més eficient a través de models matemàtics de simulació i l'anàlisi de xarxes de connexió per avançar així en la comprensió de la Posidònia oceànica i poder restaurar-la. L'impacte que té la pèrdua de les praderies de posidònia a la biodiversitat local. El paper específic de la Posidònia oceànica a l'ecosistema marí de les Pitiuses. Els avenços tecnològics i les eines innovadores que s'estan utilitzant per monitoritzar i estudiar les praderies de posidònia. Els beneficis econòmics i socials de conservar les praderies de posidònia a Mallorca a llarg termini. La forma per involucrar els sectors turístic i empresarial en la conservació de les praderies de posidònia a Mallorca.

12:30h Damià Gomila (IFISC)

Temes: Un nou estudi impulsat des de l'IFISC i altres centres de recerca mostra que els patrons espacials a les praderies de posidònia, com la Posidònia oceànica, es poden explicar per la interacció del creixement de la posidònia i la reflexió de les onades oceàniques. Els investigadors proposen que aquest mecanisme podria millorar la capacitat d’aquests ecosistemes costaners per reflectir l’energia de les onades, protegint així les costes d’inundacions i de l’erosió. Els autors creuen que la formació de patrons espacials permet que les praderies de posidònia reflecteixin més fortament l'energia de les onades entrants. Això afegeix al seu valor com a formes naturals de protecció costanera contra l’augment del poder de les onades oceàniques induït pel canvi global. Aquest estudi emfatitza encara més la necessitat de protegir aquests crucials ecosistemes costaners, i podria inspirar els gestors costaners a emprar millor les praderies de posidònia com a defenses contra inundacions basades en la natura.

12:45h Joaquim Tintoré (SOCIB)

Temes: Les simulacions numèriques i les capacitats de predicció de corrents del SOCIB i les noves oportunitats dels bessons digitals de l'oceà. Les seves moltes aplicacions, des de temes operacionals com l'optimització del rescat de nàufrags que realitza el SOCIB amb SASEMAR, fins a les rissages amb AEMET i PortsIB. La conservació de la Posidònia oceànica. Una investigació del SOCIB i altres centres de recerca aplica un nou enfocament més eficient a través de models matemàtics de simulació i l'anàlisi de xarxes de connexió per avançar així en la comprensió de la Posidònia oceànica i poder restaurar-la. El disseny d'Àrees Marines Protegides. El paper de l'oceà al canvi climàtic, els canvis en la circulació de retorn meridional de l'Atlàntic (AMOC).

13:00h a 13:20h: Tertúlia amb tots els participants.   Tema:  la necessitat de fer arribar a la societat la divulgació que se fa sobre recerca marina, conservació dels oceans, sostenibilitat...

Abstract

Warming can have dramatic effects on plant phenology and reproduction, with important consequences for reproductive output, plant survivorship, or species dispersal. In seagrasses, vegetative growth through clonal expansion is generally the dominant strategy for meadow maintenance, expansion and recovery, with sexual reproduction strongly differing amongst species, being rare for some, and some times associated with disturbance. Even rarer is the occurrence of pseudovivipary, an uncommon phenomenon in the plant realm, which has only been reported twice before in the marine environment as highly localized phenomena associated with environmental stress. Pseudovivipary is an asexual reproduction strategy whereby plantlets replace sexual reproductive structures, leading to the maintenance of the maternal clones. In summer of 2022, the Mediterranean Sea underwent unprecedented warming, and, associated with it, we observed extensive flowering (100% of sites) as well as pseudovivipary across numerous (>85 % of 36 sites) Posidonia oceanica meadows along the Balearic Islands. Our results support the notion that P. oceanica flowering is triggered under high warming but also, and importantly, this is the first time ever that pseudovivipary is reported across so many locations in a marine plant, and the fate of these plantlets is being monitored by assessing development, survivorship and dispersal through time. Considering the negative impacts that warming can have on seagrass ecosystems, the discovery of widespread pseudovivipary is a critical aspect to consider for understanding mechanisms of resilience in seagrasses.

TREC: a scientific voyage to address environmental challenges

Dr Kiley West Seitz - EMBL

TREC (TRaversing European Coastlines) is the European Molecular Biological Laboratory’s flagship Scientific expedition to study coastal ecosystems at molecular level. The expedition studies coastal regions which are known for their extremely rich biodiversity and plays a critical role in the stability and sustainability of ecosystems at planetary scale. These ecosystems are drastically affected by global changes & local human impacts making the study of them critical to understanding the climate crisis. For the TREC expedition, we employ a holistic cross sectional sampling approach along the land-sea gradient using highly standardized protocols. This systematic approach allows us to study the coastal ecosystems at the molecular level across pollution gradients, organismal scales, life complexity and time scales. 

The TREC expedition started in April 2023 and is expected to last until end of July 2024. During that time, the researchers will be gathering biological samples and environmental data along the European coastline at more than 120 land-sea transects. Mallorca is one of the sampling sites of the expedition, and IMEDEA is hosting and supporting the TREC team during their campaign on the island.

As part of this seminar you will learn about the project and you will visit the traveling labs parked at IMEDEA.

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Innovación a través de Datos: Bienvenida al Data Lab" tiene como objetivo presentar el Data Lab del IMEDEA, un nuevo servicio diseñado para apoyar a nuestros equipos de investigación mediante el análisis avanzado de datos y la Inteligencia Artificial. En esta sesión, exploraremos las motivaciones detrás de la creación del Data Lab, detallaremos los servicios y prestaciones que ofrece, y compartiremos ejemplos concretos de proyectos en los que el Data Lab ya está marcando una diferencia significativa. Además, proporcionaremos información sobre cómo los investigadores pueden acceder a estos recursos y colaborar con nosotros para potenciar sus investigaciones.

Link to the video here

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Geothermal energy is the cleanest and the most reliable source of renewable energy when compared to other options like solar or wind. From lighting up 5 bulbs in Italy in 1904, electricity generation from geothermal energy sources has come a long way to a total capacity of 16,355 MW (0.5% of total) by the end of 2023, most of which coming from hydrothermal reservoirs. In order to accelerate the scaling of electricity generation, Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) in non-volcanic areas need to be developed. Creating these EGS requires enhancing the permeability of natural fractures through a process called hydraulic stimulation. A natural outcome of this process is microseismicity (usually Mw<2), but in a few occasions, there have been earthquakes of greater magnitude (e.g., Mw 3.4 and Mw 5.5 at Basel (Switzerland) and Pohang (Korea Republic), respectively) which were very disturbing and ended up with project cancellation. Hydraulic stimulation operations are usually designed making use of a scaling law which states that the maximum magnitude of induced earthquakes is linearly proportional to the total volume of water injected into the system. Our numerical studies on hydraulic stimulation in EGS show that the injection protocol has a stronger contribution to the maximum magnitude earthquake over the total volume of injected water.

Cuenta cuentos científico para peques: Celebramos Sant Jordi en la Biblioteca Municipal de Esporles