http://hdl.handle.net/10256/4396 Sat, 17 May 2025 18:26:21 GMT 2025-05-17T18:26:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26669 Evaluating success in macroalgal forest restoration: indicators for biodiversity and functional recovery Galobart , Cristina ENG- Centuries of human activity have degraded Earth’s ecosystems. In response, ecological restoration has been increasingly practised to reverse this decline by re-establishing fully healthy, self-sustaining ecosystems where both biodiversity and functioning are repaired. Surprisingly, in the field of marine restoration, particularly for macroalgal forests, the knowledge related to the indicators to assess functional recovery remains limited. Most evaluations have been based on parameters related to the structural species, such as species survival and cover. Moreover, these assessments are often limited to short-term monitoring (typically less than two years), while full ecosystem recovery generally requires much longer timeframes. Therefore, one of the current gaps in the macroalgal restoration framework is the lack of long-term evaluations that incorporate indicators reflecting different components of biodiversity and functional recovery. In the Mediterranean Sea, shallow macroalgal forests are dominated by Cystoseira, Gongolaria and Ericaria species, being highly productive habitats that sustain rich biodiversity. In this thesis, we used as a case study a restoration action that reintroduced the structural species Gongolaria barbata in the Bay of Maó, Menorca (NW Mediterranean). We assessed biodiversity and ecosystem functioning a decade post-restoration. Our objectives were to evaluate the recovery of the associated macroalgal and invertebrate species, as well as key ecosystem functions and processes, such as habitat provisioning and primary production. Overall, our work provides practical examples to help identify which indicators are most useful to determine when, and to what extent, current restoration actions are effective. Importantly, we observed significant differences in ecosystem functioning between healthy (either mature or restored) and degraded habitats, therefore, we advocate for precautionary initiatives to conserve and protect existing well-preserved marine macroalgal forests; CAT- Al llarg dels últims segles, els ecosistemes de la Terra han patit modificacions que han provocat alteracions ecològiques i pèrdues de biodiversitat. En resposta, l’ecologia de la restauració ha sorgit amb l’objectiu de recuperar aquests ecosistemes degradats. En el camp de la restauració marina, i especialment pel que fa als boscos de macroalgues, hi ha poca recerca que abordi com avaluar la recuperació tant de la biodiversitat com del funcionament dels ecosistemes. Les avaluacions actuals solen centrar-se en indicadors relacionats amb l’espècie estructural (com supervivència i cobertura) i es limiten a períodes curts, mentre que recuperar completament aquests hàbitats sol requerir períodes de temps més llargs. Així doncs, una de les limitacions en relació a la restauració de macroalgues és la manca d’avaluacions a llarg termini que considerin la recuperació funcional i de biodiversitat. En el Mar Mediterrani, els boscos de macroalgues estan formats per espècies del gènere Cystoseira, Gongolaria i Ericaria, i són hàbitats molt productius i amb molta biodiversitat. Aquesta tesi pretén estudiar la idoneïtat d’alguns indicadors per avaluar la recuperació funcional dels boscos de macroalgues després d’una acció de restauració. Per això, ens hem centrat en una restauració on es va reintroduir l’espècie estructural Gongolaria barbata a la Badia de Maó (Menorca). Els objectius principals eren determinar, una dècada després de la restauració, la recuperació de les comunitats de macroalgues i invertebrats, i de diferents funcions i processos de l’ecosistema (com ara la creació d’hàbitat i la producció primària). Aquest treball presenta exemples pràctics per identificar quins indicadors poden ajudar-nos a determinar si les nostres accions de restauració contribueixen (o no) a recuperar els ecosistemes degradats. És important destacar que aquests també reflecteixen diferències en el funcionament ecològic entre hàbitats sans (tant restaurats com ben preservats) i hàbitats degradats. Per tant, és prioritari, més efectiu i més escalable evitar la degradació mitjançant iniciatives que conservin i protegeixin els boscos marins de macroalgues que actualment es troben en bon estat Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26669 2025-02-26T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26041 The effect of shoreline habitats on native and non-native fish species in a set of Neotropical reservoirs Franco, Ana Clara Sampaio; Petry, Ana Cristina; García-Berthou, Emili; Santos, Luciano Neves dos Biodiversity is declining worldwide due to anthropogenic impacts, especially noxious for freshwater ecosystems, considering their close relationship with human activities. Damming is one of the most harmful human impacts that leads to the loss of several riverine fish through habitat loss or change. Herein, we aimed to assess the relationship between the composition of fish assemblages in reservoirs and the availability of littoral habitats, and whether these patterns differ between native and non-native species. Fish assemblages of fifteen reservoirs from up to downstream the Paraíba do Sul river basin were evaluated. Habitat availability was more important for native than for non-native species, after controlling for the influence of reservoir features. Local drivers were crucial for the occurrence of non-native species which thrived in the absence of complex habitats. Macrophytes seemed to play two key but quite antagonistic roles for fish species. They were positively related to native small characids, probably acting as shelter against predation, but they were also related to hypoxic conditions in eutrophic reservoirs. These findings stress the importance of preserving or restoring physically complex habitats as beneficial for native fish species through providing grounds for feeding (catfishes on leaves) and recruitment (juveniles of characids in macrophytes banks) Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26041 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/25836 Assessing the potential impacts of floating Offshore Wind Farms on policy-relevant species: A case study in the Gulf of Roses, NW Mediterranean Wawrzynkowski, Paul; Molins, Climent; Lloret Romañach, Josep Our study investigates for the first time how floating Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs) technologies could impact policy-relevant Mediterranean species, focusing on planned OWFs in the Cape Creus/Gulf of Roses (Spain, NW Mediterranean). Using the Generalized Impact Assessment framework, we identified pressure on diverse taxonomic groups. Our species selection prioritized species under European policy (Birds and Habitats Directives) and international/local conventions protecting flora and fauna, as they are vital biodiversity indicators. Our analysis identified 135 policy-relevant species susceptible to OWF-induced stressors, notably marine mammals, seabirds, elasmobranchs, and benthic macroinvertebrates at the highest risk. Among the different stressors, noise and vibration, along with habitat loss, pose the greatest potential impacts. While decarbonizing energy production is crucial for addressing climate change, preserving ocean biodiversity is equally vital. Our study pioneers the assessment of emerging OWFs potential impacts on Mediterranean species, offering valuable insights for decision-makers during OWF planning Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10256/25836 2025-02-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10256/25830 Tilapia venturing into high-salinity environments: A cause for concern? Franco, Ana Clara Sampaio; Azevedo-Santos, Valter M.; Mattos de Paula Nogueira, Marluce Aparecida; Giarrizzo, Tommaso; Hauser-Davis, Rachel Ann; Guimarães, Erick Cristofore; Dalcin, Roger Henrique; Soeth, Marcelo; Oliveira Freitas, Matheus; Bertoncini, Áthila A.; Abilhoa, Vinícius; Cunico, Almir Manoel; Adelir-Alves, Johnatas; Bentes, Bianca; Costa Novaes, José Luís; Hostim-Silva, Mauricio; Rodrigues Leite, Jonas; Macêdo dos Santos, Vagner Leonardo; Simões Vitule, Jean Ricardo Invasive species are continuously introduced in several ecosystems from human activities. Aquaculture activities are noteworthy among the many different species introduction vectors currently in place, generating a pattern of constant, frequent or massive release of propagules into aquatic ecosystems, increasing species establishment success rates. Reported cases in marine or brackish ecosystems, however, are still scarce. As aquaculture constantly generate propagules with the ability to employ these facilities as corridors to further spread to interconnected brackish and freshwater ecosystems, colonising high salinity systems, this study aimed to compile evidence of Tilapiines detected in Brazilian coastal marine and brackish ecosystems. Nineteen records were obtained, with the presence of this invader suggested as higher following rainfall seasons. The widespread distribution of Tilapiines is relatively well-known in Brazilian freshwater ecosystems but, up to now, its potential to use brackish and marine ecosystems as ecological corridors has been described only experimentally. Our findings highlight the potential for a typically freshwater invader to spread through marine ecosystems, raising concerns regarding the licensing of aquaculture projects within rivers and estuaries, as tilapia may significantly affect native Brazilian biota Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10256/25830 2024-03-01T00:00:00Z