Abstract

Understanding the extent of animal mortality, the where and when mortality occurs, is paramount to implement effective conservation actions and secure the persistence of animal populations. Unfortunately, so far our understanding of animal survival (which is the inverse of mortality) is very limited, even for well-studied species such as vultures. Project SURVIVALIST has the ambitious objective of filling this knowledge gap for three European vultures (Griffon, Cinereous and Bearded vulture). Based on a large collaborative network, SURVIVALIST collated a uniquely large dataset (including >1400 vulture individuals across the three species) of high-resolution vulture tracking data. These data are analysed using novel approaches to quantify survival in time across the species annual cycle (e.g. during the breeding and non-breeding season) and life-stages (juvenile, immature, adults; Objective 1). Survival variation for each species is then mapped across space by integrating survival modeling with space use from the tracking data, to identify hotspots of vulture mortality (Objective 2).

El Centro Balear de Biodiversidad es una iniciativa que pretende generar conocimiento acerca de la rica diversidad biológica y el excepcional entorno natural del archipiélago Balear. Esta información es crucial para establecer políticas de gestión y conservación en un contexto de cambio global y que permitan mantener los servicios ecosistémicos que la biodiversidad provee a la sociedad. Los objetivos del CBB son: 1) fortalecer el potencial y la capacidad de la comunidad científica de la región, generando conocimiento y estableciendo colaboraciones y sinergias; 2) dar apoyo científico-técnico a gestores gubernamentales y el sector privado, y 3) establecer colaboraciones estratégicas, servicios, asesoramiento y formación en cuestiones relacionadas con la biodiversidad. El CBB está compuesto por cuatro unidades que responden a sus objetivos científicos, formativos y de apoyo técnico a la comunidad científica interesada en la biodiversidad de las Islas Baleares, estos son: la Unidad de colecciones de historia natural, la Unidad de genómica, la unidad de gestión de datos y la unidad de formación y divulgación científica. El equipo humano lo componen un equipo multidisciplinar de investigadores y técnicos. En este seminario parte del equipo del CBB hablará de los objetivos, composición y estructura del centro, de los equipos y servicios que ofrece y de cómo establecer contacto con nosotros.

Abstract

Mangrove deforestation and land subsidence have led to significant challenges such as coastal floods and retreat in northern Java. To address these issues, a large-scale Building with Nature (BwN) solution is being implemented by re-establishing a mangrove forest that acts as a coastal defence. Large semi-permeable bamboo dams are being built to facilitate natural mangrove recruitment by accumulating sediments and creating a habitat for the trees. The ecosystem that grows on these bamboo artificial structures and its effect on the surrounding ecosystem has not yet been fully studied. Within this context, we set up a three-month field experiment in which we looked at the development of a macrofouling community on bamboo poles and mangrove Avicennia marina trees, and the effect of the BwN structure on the development of such communities. We observed that bamboo poles get colonized faster and support a different community than mangrove trunks. Mangrove trees were colonized mostly by Ostreidae whereas bamboo poles by Amphibalanus. Percentage coverage was consistently higher on bamboo poles. Additionally, we observed lower coverage in the location affected by the semi-permeable barrier compared to locations that were not, potentially due to the sediments trapped by the barrier which may impede larval settlement. Lastly, we discuss the idea that the structure and its ecosystem may have a nutrient enrichment effect, potentially influencing mangrove tree resilience to strong winds. Our findings contribute insights into the ecological functions and implications of these BwN structures in the marine environment, emphasizing the importance of considering their broader impacts on mangrove ecosystems. 

Abstract

Monitoring hydrodynamic and morphological features in coastal areas, as well as their evolution, is a key task to support coastal management, of upmost importance in the current context of sea-level rise. In-situ sampling is commonly used to monitor the nearshore; however, they are time-consuming, spatially-limited and scarce, especially during large wave or strong current events. In contrast, remote sensing measurements are able to estimate hydrodynamics and morphology at higher sampling rates and over broader coastal areas. However, some remote sensing technologies, like satellite, and video cameras, are not able to measure continuously, as opposed to shore-based X-band radars. Pulsed radar has been used for this purpose over 20 years now, but continuous wave radars, which are safer and cheaper than their pulsed counterpart, have been virtually unexplored for this purpose. In this talk I will present our current work on the adaptation of a continuous X-band radar system to measure ocean wave spectra, aiming to complement and improve video camera systems for nearshore monitoring.

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

Visita del Director de la Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Domènec Espriu

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.

Asbtract

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.

Abstract

In this presentation, we will explore the various tasks undertaken by the Fish Ecology Lab at the Palma Fish Market since 2018. Our focus lies in automating the processes employed for extracting fish length measurements. The dynamic distribution of fish lengths plays a crucial role, not only in making informed short-term operational decisions within a fishery co-management framework but also in providing input for traditional fishery models that illuminate mid- and long-term trends in exploited stocks. Traditionally, the estimation of fish length in most fisheries has been a manual endeavor, resulting in precise measurements at the individual fish level. However, due to the high cost and inefficiency associated with supervised sampling, the sample size tends to be limited. Consequently, the precision of population-level estimates often falls short, and biases may arise, especially when adequately stratified sampling programs are economically unfeasible. Conversely, the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence in fisheries science presents a promising avenue for large-scale, unbiased sampling of fish catches. The Fish Ecology Lab has been working with the daily images recived from the auction of the fish market to extract information on various commercial species such as hake, dolphinfish, and red shrimp. This presentation will specifically focus into the deep learning techniques employed for each of these cases.