Departament de Ciències Ambientalshttp://hdl.handle.net/10256/15172024-03-28T16:22:41Z2024-03-28T16:22:41ZThe Argentine ant, Linepithema humile: natural history, ecology and impact of a successful invaderAngulo, ElenaGuénard, BenoitBalzani, ParideBang, AlokFrizzi, FilippoMasoni, AlbertoMeléndez, Sílvia AbrilSuárez, Andrew V.Hoffmann, BenjaminBenelli, GiovanniAonuma, HitoshiLach, LoriMothapo, Palesa NatashaWossler, TheresaSantini, Giacomohttp://hdl.handle.net/10256/245962024-03-11T13:33:51Z2024-02-25T00:00:00ZThe Argentine ant, Linepithema humile: natural history, ecology and impact of a successful invader
Angulo, Elena; Guénard, Benoit; Balzani, Paride; Bang, Alok; Frizzi, Filippo; Masoni, Alberto; Meléndez, Sílvia Abril; Suárez, Andrew V.; Hoffmann, Benjamin; Benelli, Giovanni; Aonuma, Hitoshi; Lach, Lori; Mothapo, Palesa Natasha; Wossler, Theresa; Santini, Giacomo
The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, is one of the world's worst invasive species, with established populations in at least 40 countries on six continents. In this review, we synthesise the vast literature on this species in four areas, concentrating on its introduction to natural systems. The first section reviews its distribution, habitat preferences, and the factors promoting its invasion success. Second, we review current knowledge of its ecological impacts on invertebrates, vertebrates and ecosystem functions. The third section deals with behaviour and genetics, particularly traits promoting invasiveness. Finally, we address applied issues, emphasising the quantification of the economic costs and eradication strategies associated with L. humile invasion. Despite tremendous research efforts, especially over the past 40 years, numerous knowledge gaps remain in the understanding of the distribution, ecology, impacts, management, and economic costs of this species. We conclude by highlighting the most critical gaps and propose a research agenda to tackle the future challenges in the study of L. humile biology
2024-02-25T00:00:00ZDisclosing the effects of climate, land use, and water demand as drivers of hydrological trends in a Mediterranean river basinCórdoba-Ariza, Paula GabrielaBatalla, Ramon J.Sabater, SergiMas-Pla, Josephttp://hdl.handle.net/10256/245252024-03-01T08:18:18Z2024-01-01T00:00:00ZDisclosing the effects of climate, land use, and water demand as drivers of hydrological trends in a Mediterranean river basin
Córdoba-Ariza, Paula Gabriela; Batalla, Ramon J.; Sabater, Sergi; Mas-Pla, Josep
Mediterranean basins face significant water scarcity which demands examining long-term data to prospect their trends in water availability and quality. This study focuses on The Onyar River (Inner Catalan basins, NE Spain), to explore its historical streamflow changes, the influencing climatic and land-use factors, and the consequential impacts on water quality. We analyse key hydro-climatic variables streamflow, precipitation, temperature, and evapotranspiration (both PET and AET) across a 60-year span (1960 -2020) and their relationship with recent stream water chemistry data (2007-2020). We compare these patterns to the changes in land use, and to the variations in water demand according to urban use, livestock, and crop production estimates. Our findings highlight a consistent decline in streamflow, most pronounced over the last two decades, accompanied by an increase in PET, and a probable decrease in groundwater recharge. Notably, these changes co-occurred with higher concentrations of river water ammonium and nitrate. We attribute these patterns to changes in land use such as afforestation and intensive fertilization, as well as increased groundwater withdrawal, particularly during irrigation seasons. Additional factors include growing urban water demand and the discharges of treated wastewater back into the river system. This study offers a comprehensive overview of the declining water quantity and quality in the Onyar River, attributing these trends to an interplay of climatic and anthropogenic factors. The findings underscore the need for integrated water resource management strategies to mitigate the implications of these changes
2024-01-01T00:00:00ZThe vulnerability of fish and macroinvertebrate species with bioactive potential in a Mediterranean marine protected areaCarreño, ArnauLloret Romañach, Josephttp://hdl.handle.net/10256/241612024-01-29T11:33:04Z2021-06-01T00:00:00ZThe vulnerability of fish and macroinvertebrate species with bioactive potential in a Mediterranean marine protected area
Carreño, Arnau; Lloret Romañach, Josep
A high percentage of marine animals produce bioactive compounds that may play a leading role in the discovery of future compounds and drugs of marine origin. However, commercial fishing and other human activities leading to sea warming and pollution may affect these marine animals, even putting them in danger of extinction. To date, no comprehensive studies have evaluated the conservation status of Mediterranean species with bioactive potential, which is crucial to better understanding of how these species cope with the impacts of human activity. The study reviewed the bioactive potential and vulnerability of 833 fish and macro‐invertebrate species inhabiting the marine protected area of Cap de Creus and surrounding areas. The most active taxa found were Porifera (49 out of 59 species; 83.0%) and Tunicata (17 out of 27 species; 63.0%). The most vulnerable species were Chondrichthyes (eight out of nine species) and Porifera (nine out of 12 species), which together account for over 75% of species classified as such. Results emphasize the need to introduce specific management measures that protect vulnerable species with bioactive potential as this is a valuable component of marine ecosystems, as well as a potential source of molecules with pharmacological properties beneficial for human health. Marine protected areas can contribute to preserving marine species of medical interest and achieving their sustainable use in the marine biotechnology industry
2021-06-01T00:00:00ZReproduction, condition and abundance of the Mediterranean bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) in the context of sea warmingVillegas Hernández, Harold O.Lloret Romañach, JosepMuñoz Frigola, Martahttp://hdl.handle.net/10256/241592024-01-29T11:23:54Z2015-01-01T00:00:00ZReproduction, condition and abundance of the Mediterranean bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) in the context of sea warming
Villegas Hernández, Harold O.; Lloret Romañach, Josep; Muñoz Frigola, Marta
This study evaluates the link between sea warming and three important aspects of the population dynamics of bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, in the NW Mediterranean: condition (health measures), reproduction and abundance (as reflected in catch per unit effort, CPUE). We compared the bluefish populations from two areas with different thermal regimes: the Gulf of Roses and the Ebre Delta. First, in order to compare the condition and reproduction parameters of the two populations, specimens were collected from the commercial catch landed in two ports located in these areas. Several indicators of fish condition and reproduction such as hepatosomatic index, gonadosomatic index, maturation timing, length-at-first maturity, fecundity, egg quality and atresia (ovarian follicle resorption) were analysed and compared between study areas. Secondly, time series analyses of sea surface temperatures (SST) and monthly bluefish CPUEs in the two study areas were assessed using Box-Jenkins transfer function models. Our results indicate that bluefish benefit from sea warming in the NW Mediterranean, particularly in the northernmost zone, as evidenced by increasing fish condition in these waters. Sea warming may favour the changes in spawning phenology and the northward expansion of this species. This study provides evidence that a marine fish species that is able to expand or it is forced to shift its distribution due to sea warming, may take advantage of other environmental conditions of new habitats, contributing to the enhancement of the population's productivity in these areas
2015-01-01T00:00:00Z