34 results on '"Martínez-Crego, Begoña"'
Search Results
2. Temporal variation in diatom communities associated to sediments of impacted versus non-impacted seagrass meadows of an estuarine lagoon
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Da Rosa, Vanessa C., Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Santos, Rui O.P., Odebrecht, Clarisse, and Copertino, Margareth S.
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- 2023
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3. Influence of seagrass meadows on nursery and fish provisioning ecosystem services delivered by Ria Formosa, a coastal lagoon in Portugal
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Erzini, Karim, Parreira, Filipe, Sadat, Zineb, Castro, Margarida, Bentes, Luís, Coelho, Rui, Gonçalves, Jorge M.S., Lino, Pedro G., Martinez-Crego, Begoña, Monteiro, Pedro, Oliveira, Frederico, Ribeiro, Joaquim, de los Santos, Carmen B., and Santos, Rui
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- 2022
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4. Altered epiphyte community and sea urchin diet in Posidonia oceanica meadows in the vicinity of volcanic CO2 vents
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Nogueira, Patricia, Gambi, Maria Cristina, Vizzini, Salvatrice, Califano, Gianmaria, Tavares, Ana Mafalda, Santos, Rui, and Martínez-Crego, Begoña
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- 2017
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5. Drivers of variation in seagrass-associated amphipods across biogeographical areas
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Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada, Navarro-Mayoral, Sandra, Tuya, Fernando, Prado, Patricia, Marco-Méndez, Candela, Fernandez-Gonzalez, Victoria, Fernández-Torquemada, Yolanda, Espino, Fernando, de-la-Ossa-Carretero, Jose Antonio, Mateu Vilella, David, Machado, Margarida, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada, Navarro-Mayoral, Sandra, Tuya, Fernando, Prado, Patricia, Marco-Méndez, Candela, Fernandez-Gonzalez, Victoria, Fernández-Torquemada, Yolanda, Espino, Fernando, de-la-Ossa-Carretero, Jose Antonio, Mateu Vilella, David, Machado, Margarida, and Martínez-Crego, Begoña
- Abstract
Amphipods are one of the dominant epifaunal groups in seagrass meadows. However, our understanding of the biogeographical patterns in the distribution of these small crustaceans is limited. In this study, we investigated such patterns and the potential drivers in twelve Cymodocea nodosa meadows within four distinctive biogeographical areas across 2000 Km and 13° of latitude in two ocean basins (Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean). We found that species abundances in the assemblage of seagrass-associated amphipods differed among areas following a pattern largely explained by seagrass leaf area and epiphyte biomass, while the variation pattern in species presence/absence was determined by seagrass density and epiphyte biomass. Seagrass leaf area was also the most important determinant of greater amphipod total density and species richness, while amphipod density also increased with algal cover. Overall, our results evidenced that biogeographical patterns of variation in amphipod assemblages are mainly influenced by components of the habitat structure, which covary with environmental conditions, finding that structurally more complex meadows harboring higher abundance and richness of amphipods associated.
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- 2023
6. Effects of nutrient enrichment on seagrass population dynamics: evidence and synthesis from the biomass-density relationships
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Cabaço, Susana, Apostolaki, Eugenia T., García-Marín, Patricia, Gruber, Renee, Hernández, Ignacio, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Mascaró, Oriol, Pérez, Marta, Prathep, Anchana, Robinson, Cliff, Romero, Javier, Schmidt, Allison L., Short, Fred T., van Tussenbroek, Brigitta I., and Santos, Rui
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- 2013
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7. Selection of multiple seagrass indicators for environmental biomonitoring
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Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Vergés, Adriana, Alcoverro, Teresa, and Romero, Javier
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- 2008
8. Composition of epiphytic leaf community of Posidonia oceanica as a tool for environmental biomonitoring
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Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Prado, Patricia, Alcoverro, Teresa, and Romero, Javier
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- 2010
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9. Biodiversity consequences of Caulerpa prolifera takeover of a coastal lagoon
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Parreira, Filipe, primary, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, additional, Lourenço Afonso, Carlos Manuel, additional, Machado, Margarida, additional, Oliveira, Frederico, additional, Manuel dos Santos Gonçalves, Jorge, additional, and Santos, Rui, additional
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- 2021
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10. Driving factors of biogeographical variation in seagrass herbivory
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Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Prado, Patricia, Marco-Méndez, Candela, Fernández-Torquemada, Yolanda, Espino, Fernando, Sánchez-Lizaso, José Luis, de-la-Ossa-Carretero, Jose Antonio, Vilella, David Mateu, Machado, Margarida, Tuya, Fernando, Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Prado, Patricia, Marco-Méndez, Candela, Fernández-Torquemada, Yolanda, Espino, Fernando, Sánchez-Lizaso, José Luis, de-la-Ossa-Carretero, Jose Antonio, Vilella, David Mateu, Machado, Margarida, and Tuya, Fernando
- Abstract
Despite the crucial role of herbivory in shaping community assembly, our understanding on biogeographical patterns of herbivory on seagrasses is limited compared to that on terrestrial plants. In particular, the drivers of such patterns remain largely unexplored. Here, we used a comparative-experimental approach in Cymodocea nodosa meadows, across all possible climate types within the seagrass distribution, 2000 km and 13° of latitude in two ocean basins, to investigate biogeographical variation in seagrass herbivory intensity and their drivers during July 2014. Particularly, the density and richness of herbivores and their food resources, seagrass size, carbon and nitrogen content, as well as latitude, sea surface temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, and sediment grain size, were tested as potential drivers. We found that shallow meadows can be subjected to intense herbivory, with variation in herbivory largely explained by fish density, seagrass size, and annual sea temperature range. The herbivorous fish density was the most important determinant of such variation, with the dominant seagrass consumer, the fish Sarpa salpa, absent at meadows from regions with low herbivory. In temperate regions where herbivorous fish are present, annual temperature ranges drive an intense summer herbivory, which is likely mediated not only by increased herbivore metabolic demands at higher temperatures, but also by higher fish densities. Invertebrate grazing (mainly by sea urchins, isopods, amphipods, and/or gastropods) was the dominant leaf herbivory in some temperate meadows, with grazing variation mainly influenced by seagrass shoot size. At the subtropical region (under reduced annual temperature range), lower shoot densities and seagrass nitrogen contents contributed to explain the almost null herbivory. We evidenced the combined influence of drivers acting at geographic (region) and local (meadow) scales, the understanding of which is critical for a clear prediction of variat
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- 2021
11. Driving factors of biogeographical variation in seagrass herbivory
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Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Prado, Patricia, Marco-Méndez, Candela, Fernández-Torquemada, Yolanda, Espino, Fernando, Sánchez Lizaso, José L., de la Ossa, Jose Antonio, Mateu Vilella, David, Machado, Margarida, Tuya, Fernando, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Prado, Patricia, Marco-Méndez, Candela, Fernández-Torquemada, Yolanda, Espino, Fernando, Sánchez Lizaso, José L., de la Ossa, Jose Antonio, Mateu Vilella, David, Machado, Margarida, and Tuya, Fernando
- Abstract
Despite the crucial role of herbivory in shaping community assembly, our understanding on biogeographical patterns of herbivory on seagrasses is limited compared to that on terrestrial plants. In particular, the drivers of such patterns remain largely unexplored. Here, we used a comparative-experimental approach in Cymodocea nodosa meadows, across all possible climate types within the seagrass distribution, 2000 km and 13° of latitude in two ocean basins, to investigate biogeographical variation in seagrass herbivory intensity and their drivers during July 2014. Particularly, the density and richness of herbivores and their food resources, seagrass size, carbon and nitrogen content, as well as latitude, sea surface temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, and sediment grain size, were tested as potential drivers. We found that shallow meadows can be subjected to intense herbivory, with variation in herbivory largely explained by fish density, seagrass size, and annual sea temperature range. The herbivorous fish density was themost important determinant of such variation,with the dominant seagrass consumer, the fish Sarpa salpa, absent atmeadows from regionswith lowherbivory. In temperate regionswhere herbivorous fish are present, annual temperature ranges drive an intense summer herbivory, which is likelymediated not only by increased herbivore metabolic demands at higher temperatures, but also by higher fish densities. Invertebrate grazing (mainly by sea urchins, isopods, amphipods, and/or gastropods) was the dominant leaf herbivory in some temperate meadows, with grazing variation mainly influenced by seagrass shoot size. At the subtropical region (under reduced annual temperature range), lower shoot densities and seagrass nitrogen contents contributed to explain the almost null herbivory.We evidenced the combined influence of drivers acting at geographic (region) and local (meadow) scales, the understanding of which is critical for a clear prediction of variation in s
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- 2021
12. Driving factors of biogeographical variation in seagrass herbivory
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Martínez-Crego, Begoña, primary, Prado, Patricia, additional, Marco-Méndez, Candela, additional, Fernández-Torquemada, Yolanda, additional, Espino, Fernando, additional, Sánchez-Lizaso, Jose Luis, additional, de la Ossa, Jose Antonio, additional, Vilella, David Mateu, additional, Machado, Margarida, additional, and Tuya, Fernando, additional
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- 2021
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13. A multivariate index based on the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (POMI) to assess ecological status of coastal waters under the water framework directive (WFD)
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Romero, Javier, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Alcoverro, Teresa, and Pérez, Marta
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- 2007
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14. A review of common parameters and descriptors used in studies of the impacts of heavy metal pollution on marine macroalgae: identification of knowledge gaps and future needs
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Costa, Giulia Burle, primary, Koerich, Gabrielle, additional, Ramos, Bruna de, additional, Ramlov, Fernanda, additional, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, additional, Costa, Monya M., additional, Jesus, Dora, additional, Santos, Rui O.P., additional, and Horta Jr., Paulo A., additional
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- 2020
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15. Resistance of seagrass habitats to ocean acidification via altered interactions in a tri-trophic chain
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Martínez-Crego, Begoña, primary, Vizzini, Salvatrice, additional, Califano, Gianmaria, additional, Massa-Gallucci, Alexia, additional, Andolina, Cristina, additional, Gambi, Maria Cristina, additional, and Santos, Rui, additional
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- 2020
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16. Using seagrasses to identify local and large-scale trends of metals in the Mediterranean Sea
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Roca, Guillem, Romero, Javier, Farina, Simone, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Alcoverro, Teresa, Roca, Guillem, Romero, Javier, Farina, Simone, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, and Alcoverro, Teresa
- Abstract
To manage trace metal pollution it is critical to determine how much temporal trends can be attributed to local or large-scale sources. We tracked changes in metal content in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica, along the NW Mediterranean from 2003 to 2010. While Cu, Cd and Ni showed a large inter-site variation, likely due to local factors, Fe, Mn and Pb showed little local variation and synchronous interannual variability across sites, most likely due to large-scale sources. Zn showed equal importance of local and large-scale sources of variation. Temporal trends of Ni, Zn, Cd, Cu remained almost stable. In contrast, Fe, Mn and Pb slightly increased in the last decade. These trends suggest that metals like Cu, Cd, Ni can be effectively managed at local scale. Whereas, elements like Fe, Mn and Pb have an important large-scale component that needs to be managed across the frontiers of national jurisdictions.
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- 2017
17. Using seagrasses to identify local and large-scale trends of metals in the Mediterranean Sea
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Roca, Guillem, primary, Romero, Javier, additional, Farina, Simone, additional, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, additional, and Alcoverro, Teresa, additional
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- 2017
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18. The role of seagrass traits in mediating Zostera noltei vulnerability to mesograzers
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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal), European Commission, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Arteaga, Pedro, Tomàs, Fiona, Santos, Rui, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal), European Commission, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Arteaga, Pedro, Tomàs, Fiona, and Santos, Rui
- Abstract
Understanding how intra-specific differences in plant traits mediate vulnerability to herbivores of relevant habitat-forming plants is vital to attain a better knowledge on the drivers of the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Such studies, however, are rare in seagrass-mesograzer systems despite the increasingly recognized relevance of mesograzers as seagrass consumers. We investigated the role and potential trade-offs of multiple leaf traits in mediating the vulnerability of the seagrass Zostera noltei to different mesograzer species, the amphipod Gammarus insensibilis and the isopod Idotea chelipes. We worked with plants from two different meadows for which contrasting chemical and structural traits were expected based on previous information. We found that plants with high vulnerability to mesograzers (i.e. those preferred and subjected to higher rates of leaf area loss) had not only higher nitrogen content and lower C:N, fibre, and phenolics, but also tender and thinner leaves. No trade-offs between chemical and structural traits of the seagrass were detected, as they were positively correlated. When leaf physical structure was removed using agarreconstituted food, amphipod preference towards high-susceptibility plants disappeared; thus indicating that structural rather than chemical traits mediated the feeding preference. Removal of plant structure reduced the size of isopod preference to less than half, indicating a stronger contribution of structural traits (> 50%) but combined with chemical/nutritional traits in mediating the preference. We then hypothesized that the high environmental nutrient levels recorded in the meadow exhibiting high susceptibility modulate the differences observed between meadows in seagrass traits. To test this hypothesis, we exposed low-vulnerability shoots to eutrophic nutrient levels in a 6-week enrichment experiment. Nutrient enrichment increased Z. noltei nitrogen content and lowered C:N, fibre, and phenolics, but had no
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- 2016
19. The Role of Seagrass Traits in Mediating Zostera noltei Vulnerability to Mesograzers
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Martínez-Crego, Begoña, primary, Arteaga, Pedro, additional, Tomas, Fiona, additional, and Santos, Rui, additional
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- 2016
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20. Specificity in mesograzer-induced defences in seagrasses
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Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Arteaga, Pedro, Ueber, Alexandra, Engelen, A. H., Santos, R., Molis, Markus, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Arteaga, Pedro, Ueber, Alexandra, Engelen, A. H., Santos, R., and Molis, Markus
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Grazing-induced plant defences that reduce palatability to herbivores are widespread in terrestrial plants and seaweeds, but they have not yet been reported in seagrasses. We investigated the ability of two seagrass species to induce defences in response to direct grazing by three associated mesograzers. Specifically, we conducted feeding-assayed induction experiments to examine how mesograzer-specific grazing impact affects seagrass induction of defences within the context of the optimal defence theory. We found that the amphipod Gammarus insensibilis and the isopod Idotea chelipes exerted a low-intensity grazing on older blades of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa, which reflects a weak grazing impact that may explain the lack of inducible defences. The isopod Synischia hectica exerted the strongest grazing impact on C. nodosa via high-intensity feeding on young blades with a higher fitness value. This isopod grazing induced defences in C. nodosa as indicated by a consistently lower consumption of blades previously grazed for 5, 12 and 16 days. The lower consumption was maintained when offered tissues with no plant structure (agarreconstituted food), but showing a reduced size of the previous grazing effect. This indicates that structural traits act in combination with chemical traits to reduce seagrass palatability to the isopod. Increase in total phenolics but not in C:N ratio and total nitrogen of grazed C. nodosa suggests chemical defences rather than a modified nutritional quality as primarily induced chemical traits. We detected no induction of defences in Zostera noltei, which showed the ability to replace moderate losses of young biomass to mesograzers via compensatory growth. Our study provides the first experimental evidence of induction of defences against meso-herbivory that reduce further consumption in seagrasses. It also emphasizes the relevance of grazer identity in determining the level of grazing impact triggering resistance and compensatory response
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- 2015
21. Responses of seagrass to anthropogenic and natural disturbances do not equally translate to its consumers
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European Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), Tomàs, Fiona, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Hernán, Gema, Santos, Rui, European Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España), Tomàs, Fiona, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Hernán, Gema, and Santos, Rui
- Abstract
Coastal communities are under threat from many and often co-occurring local (e.g., pollution, eutrophication) and global stressors (e.g., climate change), yet understanding the interactive and cumulative impacts of multiple stressors in ecosystem function is far from being accomplished. Ecological redundancy may be key for ecosystem resilience, but there are still many gaps in our understanding of interspecific differences within a functional group, particularly regarding response diversity, that is, whether members of a functional group respond equally or differently to anthropogenic stressors. Herbivores are critical in determining plant community structure and the transfer of energy up the food web. Human disturbances may alter the ecological role of herbivory by modifying the defense strategies of plants and thus the feeding patterns and performance of herbivores. We conducted a suite of experiments to examine the independent and interactive effects of anthropogenic (nutrient and CO2 additions) and natural (simulated herbivory) disturbances on a seagrass and its interaction with two common generalist consumers to understand how multiple disturbances can impact both a foundation species and a key ecological function (herbivory) and to assess the potential existence of response diversity to anthropogenic and natural changes in these systems. While all three disturbances modified seagrass defense traits, there were contrasting responses of herbivores to such plant changes. Both CO2 and nutrient additions influenced herbivore feeding behavior, yet while sea urchins preferred nutrient-enriched seagrass tissue (regardless of other experimental treatments), isopods were deterred by these same plant tissues. In contrast, carbon enrichment deterred sea urchins and attracted isopods, while simulated herbivory only influenced isopod feeding choice. These contrasting responses of herbivores to disturbance-induced changes in seagrass help to better understand the ecological
- Published
- 2015
22. Detecting water quality improvement along the Catalan coast (Spain)using stress-specific biochemical seagrass indicators
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Roca, Guillem, Alcoverro, Teresa, Torres, Mariona de, Manzanera, Marta, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Farina, Simone, Pérez, Marta M., Romero, Javier, Roca, Guillem, Alcoverro, Teresa, Torres, Mariona de, Manzanera, Marta, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Farina, Simone, Pérez, Marta M., and Romero, Javier
- Abstract
Evaluating the efficacy of management actions to improve environmental quality is often difficult becausethere may be considerable lags before ecosystem management actions translate into measurable indi-cator responses. These delays make it difficult to justify often-expensive remedial actions to preventeutrophication. Therefore, it is critical to identify reliable, rapid and sensitive indicators to detect degra-dation and environmental quality improvement. We evaluate the efficacy of a set of indicators basedon the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to reliably and quickly detect ecosystem improvements using a 7-year (2003–2010) dataset of 10 stations along the Catalan coast (north-western Mediterranean Sea). Inthe Catalan region, environmental agencies have invested heavily on wastewater treatment, resultingin significant reductions (ca. 75%) in the BOD5discharged to coastal waters from 2003 to 2010. Theseimprovements were clearly reflected at the regional level (i.e. for all the stations averaged) in six bio-chemical seagrass indicators from our dataset. These indicators were directly related to eutrophication(nitrogen, 15N, phosphorus and total non-structural carbohydrates content in rhizomes, 34S and 13C inseagrass rhizomes and N content in epiphytes). In contrast, seagrass structural indicators, related to sea-grass abundance or meadow structure (density, cover) did not show any sign of overall recovery duringthe monitored period. These results confirm that biochemical seagrass indicators are the most sensitiveto water quality improvements within management time-scales (7–10 years) for slow-growing specieslike P. oceanica. Given the budgetary restrictions under which most management actions operate, theavailability of decision-support tools that function at appropriate time-scales is crucial to help managersvalidate the relative success of their remedial efforts. Our results indicate that low inertia, biochemicalseagrass indicators fit this task, and can be a robust
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- 2015
23. Specificity in Mesograzer-Induced Defences in Seagrasses
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Martínez-Crego, Begoña, primary, Arteaga, Pedro, additional, Ueber, Alexandra, additional, Engelen, Aschwin H., additional, Santos, Rui, additional, and Molis, Markus, additional
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- 2015
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24. Responses of seagrass to anthropogenic and natural disturbances do not equally translate to its consumers
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Tomas, Fiona, primary, Martínez‐Crego, Begoña, additional, Hernán, Gema, additional, and Santos, Rui, additional
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- 2015
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25. Detecting water quality improvement along the Catalan coast (Spain) using stress-specific biochemical seagrass indicators
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Roca, Guillem, primary, Alcoverro, Teresa, additional, de Torres, Mariona, additional, Manzanera, Marta, additional, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, additional, Bennett, Scott, additional, Farina, Simone, additional, Pérez, Marta, additional, and Romero, Javier, additional
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- 2015
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26. The seagrass Posidonia oceanica as indicator of coastal water quality: Experimental intercalibration of classification systems
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López y Royo, C., Pergent, G., Alcoverro, Teresa, Buia, M. C., Casazza, G., Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Pérez, M., Silvestre, F., Romero, Javier, López y Royo, C., Pergent, G., Alcoverro, Teresa, Buia, M. C., Casazza, G., Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Pérez, M., Silvestre, F., and Romero, Javier
- Abstract
The pervasive use of ecological indices is increasingly requiring actions of harmonisation. Specifically, within the EU Water Framework Directive, an important effort in methods intercalibration is being done. However, a significant limitation in comparability assessment arises from the datasets used, which have different geographic origins. The purpose of our study was to perform an experimental intercalibration, where data were collected specifically on a set of common sites and following all the requirements of the methods being assessed. Three indices based on the marine angiosperm Posidonia oceanica, the POMI, the BiPo and the PoSte, were applied to sites in three different geographical areas of the western Mediterranean: Catalonia, Corsica and Southern Italy (Ischia), distant between hundreds and more than thousands of kilometers. Two indices, POMI and BiPo, showed not only a very good relationship with human pressures (measured on a common scale for all sites) but also a high comparability, in all aspects investigated. The differences found for the third one (PoSte) are hypothesised as being due to a different rationale used to define reference conditions, the different metrics used in the index, and in particular to a different definition of ecological status in relation to the time scale of the response to anthropogenic pressures. Our study demonstrates that indices with very different approaches can provide fully reliable and comparable results.
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- 2011
27. Biotic indices for assessing the status of coastal waters: a review of strengths and weaknesses
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Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Alcoverro, Teresa, Romero Martinengo, Javier, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Alcoverro, Teresa, and Romero Martinengo, Javier
- Abstract
Biotic indices have become key assessment tools in most recent national and trans-national policies aimed at improving the quality of coastal waters and the integrity of their associated ecosystems. In this study we analyzed 90 published biotic indices, classified them into four types, and analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of each type in relation to the requirements of these policies. We identified three main type-specific weaknesses. First, the problems of applicability, due to practical and conceptual difficulties, which affect most indices related to ecosystem function. Second, the failure of many indices based on structural attributes of the community (e.g. taxonomic composition) to link deterioration with causative stressors, or to provide an early-detection capacity. Third, the poor relevance to the ecological integrity of indices based on attributes at the sub-individual level (e.g. multi-biomarkers). Additionally, most indices still fail on two further aspects: the broad-scale applicability and the definition of reference conditions. Nowadays, the most promising approach seems to be the aggregation of indices with complementary strengths, and obtained from different biological communities.
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- 2010
28. Macrograzers strongly influence patterns of epiphytic assemblages in seagrass meadows.
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Prado, Patricia, Alcoverro, Teresa, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Vergés, Adriana, Pérez, Marta M., Romero, Javier, Prado, Patricia, Alcoverro, Teresa, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Vergés, Adriana, Pérez, Marta M., and Romero, Javier
- Abstract
The influence of factors, both abiotic (light and nutrients) and biotic (meadow structure, herbivory and seagrass shoot length) in the abundance and distribution of epiphytes on the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica was investigated by means of a correlational approach over a spatial scale of ca. 500 km and at two different depths (5 and 15 m). Variability was examined from the double perspective of integrative community measures (biomass, species richness and alpha-diversity) and species composition. We assessed the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on integrative community measures using multiple correlation analyses. The influence of these factors in the structure of the whole community was investigated using a distance-based RDA for a linear model. A total of 129 taxa, mostly epiphytic algae, were recorded across all sites and depths. A large part of the variability in species composition (51%) was explained by the variables investigated. In particular, variability caused by differences in grazing pressure was the most important (25%), followed by variables related to nutrient availability (11%), meadow structure (6%), light (5%) and seagrass shoot length (4%). Among integrative community variables investigated, species richness was also best explained by grazing and nutrients.
- Published
- 2007
29. The use of surface alkaline phosphatase activity in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica as a biomarker of eutrophication
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Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Romero, Javier, Alcoverro, Teresa, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, Romero, Javier, and Alcoverro, Teresa
- Abstract
Eutrophication is one of the most relevant man-induced changes occurring in coastal waters. The identification and assessment of specific responses to eutrophication in seagrasses can provide a useful tool for the detection of changes in the water quality in coastal zones, given the wide range of distribution of these organisms. In this study, we combine a correlational (across-sites comparison) and a manipulative (fertilization experiment) approach to evaluate the usefulness and potential of alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) in the endemic Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica as an eutrophication biomarker. Our results showed that APA decreases promptly following nutrient additions, the response being maintained except during the winter period. APA also varies across natural meadows under different levels of nutrient discharges at scales relevant for monitoring purposes. AP activity seems to be an optimal ‘physiological biomarker’ that responds promptly and reliably to a pulse of eutrophication exposure. However, other considerations, such as the seasonality (the response disappears in winter), suggest its use with some caution and, as far as possible, as a complement of other bio-indicators.
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- 2006
30. Biotic indices for assessing the status of coastal waters: a review of strengths and weaknesses
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Martínez-Crego, Begoña, primary, Alcoverro, Teresa, additional, and Romero, Javier, additional
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- 2010
- Full Text
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31. Corrigendum to “A multivariate index based on the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (POMI) to assess ecological status of coastal waters under the framework directive (WFD)” [Marine Pollution Bulletin 55 (2007) 196–204]
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Romero, Javier, primary, Martínez-Crego, Begoña, additional, Alcoverro, Teresa, additional, and Pérez, Marta, additional
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- 2007
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32. The use of surface alkaline phosphatase activity in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica as a biomarker of eutrophication
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Martínez‐Crego, Begoña, primary, Romero, Javier, additional, and Alcoverro, Teresa, additional
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- 2006
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33. Potential for a consumer control on the takeover of the Ria Formosa lagoon by the invasive seaweed
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Vital, Sara de Agrela and Martínez-Crego, Begoña
- Subjects
Controlo top-down ,Enemy release hypothesis ,Caulerpa prolifera ,Invasive species ,Herbivoria ,Herbivory ,Ciências Naturais::Ciências Biológicas [Domínio/Área Científica] ,Espécie não indígena ,Top-down control - Abstract
Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no Ispa – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Biologia Marinha e Conservação A herbivoria é fundamental no controlo de algas marinhas invasoras. A enemy release hypothesis prevê a propagação de algas marinhas invasoras devido à falta de inimigos coevoluídos (ex., herbívoros) enquanto a biotic resistance hypothesis suporta que alguns podem ser capazes de consumir plantas invasoras e, portanto, controlar a sua propagação. Caulerpa prolifera é uma alga marinha verde que está a ter um comportamento invasor sem precedentes na Ria Formosa, estando a expandir-se rapidamente pela lagoa desde o ano 2015. Esta rápida expansão pode ter várias causas, sendo a falta de controlo top-down realizado por herbívoros uma causa muito provável, a qual permanece, em grande parte, inexplorada. Neste estudo, realizamos ensaios alimentares para caracterizar as interações entre macroherbívoros nativos, nomeadamente o ouriço-do-mar Paracentrotus lividus e o peixe Sarpa salpa, e a alga C. prolifera para compreender os mecanismos do controlo top-down face a sua expansão. Ambos herbívoros foram capazes de se alimentar de C. prolifera. Embora as taxas de consumo de P. lividus tenderam a ser maiores na alga nativa Ulva sp. do que na invasora C. prolifera, apenas S. salpa apresentou diferenças significativas, consumindo em média o dobro da quantidade de Ulva sp. do que C. prolifera. Além disso, S. salpa preferiu claramente a alga nativa Ulva sp. quando foi oferecida junto da invasora C. prolifera. Os nossos resultados fornecem evidências experimentais a favor da enemy release hypothesis sendo que os principais herbívoros presentes na Ria Formosa parecem estar a exercer um controlo top-down limitado sobre C. prolifera. Esta falta de controlo pode estar a favorecer a rápida expansão desta alga invasora pela lagoa. ABSTRACT: Herbivory plays an important role in controlling non-native seaweeds. The enemy release hypothesis predicts the success of invasive plants due of a lack of co-evolved enemies (i.e., herbivores), while the biotic resistance hypothesis states that some may be able to feed on invasive, controlling its spread. The opportunistic green seaweed Caulerpa prolifera is drastically and unprecedently spreading in the Ria Formosa since 2015. The quick spread of C. prolifera on the Ria Formosa may have several causes, among which the top-down control by native herbivores remains largely unexplored. In this study we performed a suite of feeding assays to characterize novel interactions between native macroherbivores, namely the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the fish Sarpa salpa, and the invasive C. prolifera, in order to better understand the mechanisms behind the expansion of the seaweed across the lagoon. Both herbivores were able to feed on C. prolifera. Even though P. lividus consumption rates tended to be higher on native seaweed Ulva sp. than on C. prolifera, only S. salpa showed significant differences, consuming on average twice the amount of Ulva sp. than C. prolifera. Moreover, S. salpa clearly preferred the native seaweed Ulva sp. to C. prolifera. Our findings provide experimental evidence in favor of the enemy release hypothesis, as main herbivores appear to exert a limited top-down control in terms of consumption rate and feeding preference on C. prolifera in the Ria Formosa lagoon. This might be favoring the spread of this opportunistic seaweed across the lagoon.
- Published
- 2022
34. Effects of the seaweed Caulerpa prolifera establishment on the biodiversity of Ria Formosa Lagoon
- Author
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Parreira, Filipe Biscaia Gonçalves, Santos, Rui, and Martínez-Crego, Begoña
- Subjects
Caulerpa prolifera ,Biodiversidade ,Espécies comerciais ,Funções de berçário ,Fauna associada ,Ervas marinhas ,Ciências Naturais::Outras Ciências Naturais [Domínio/Área Científica] - Abstract
Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskål) J. V. Lamouroux is an opportunistic green seaweed that is establishing on the unvegetated bottoms of Ria Formosa, often where seagrass meadows took place in the past. Ria Formosa is a coastal lagoon that extends along the southern Portuguese coast, place for a wealth of commercial and leisure activities. Such activities are supported, in the subtidal, by the important dominant seagrass communities which rank among the most valuable ecosystems on earth. The bottom of the lagoon is mainly constituted by unvegetated areas, seagrass meadows and C. prolifera meadows. For over than 170 years since the first report of this seaweed in Ria Formosa, its effect on the biodiversity has never been studied. In this study we aimed to understand how the establishment of C. prolifera on bare sediment in Ria Formosa affect the lagoon’s biodiversity. To do so we compare the plant and fauna assemblage between three habitats, one dominated by a continuous C. prolifera meadow, one dominated by a Cymodocea nodosa and Zostera marina mix meadow and one unvegetated bed. We address three main questions: 1) Does fauna and plant assemblages differ in abundance, biomass, species richness and diversity between habitats?, 2) Do the three habitats differ in the fauna assemblages of commercial valued species?, and 3) do they differ in nursery functions? Similar fauna diversity was found within vegetated habitats (C. prolifera and C. nodosa/Z. Marina dominated habitats), followed by unvegetated sediments. Bittium reticulatum and Loripes orbiculatus revealed to be good indicators for the differences found in the fauna assemblage and nursery function, where seagrass showed the highest nursery role. Differences in the assemblage of commercial valued species were marked by Upogebia spp. (“ralos”) presence in C. prolifera meadow, where the highest provision of habitat for commercial species was found. Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskål) J. V. Lamouroux é uma alga verde oportunista que se está a estabelecer nas áreas não vegetadas da Ria Formosa, por vezes em áreas previamente colonizadas por comunidades de ervas marinhas. Esta alga tem uma grande capacidade de propagação e vantagem competitiva relativamente a outras macrófitas proveniente da sua reprodução através do alongamento do estolho e de fragmentação, da produção de metabolitos que impedem a herbivoria e da sua capacidade de prevalecer em áreas enriquecidas em nutrientes, fraca renovação de água e elevada turvação. A Ria Formosa é um sistema lagunar costeiro que cobre 55km ao largo da costa sul de Portugal, lugar para um vasto conjunto de atividades comerciais e de lazer. Atividades como estas, são suportadas na zona subtidal por importantes comunidades de ervas marinhas que se colocam entre os ecossistemas mais valiosos na Terra. Os fundos deste sistema lagunar são maioritariamente caracterizados por áreas não vegetadas, pradarias de ervas marinhas e de C. prolifera. Ao longo de mais de 170 anos, desde que a existência desta alga foi primeiro relatada na Ria Formosa, os seus efeitos na biodiversidade nunca foram estudados. Plantas hospedeiras (e.g. ervas e algas marinhas) são conhecidas pela sua capacidade de providenciar habitat para muitas espécies e assim influenciar a agregação de fauna e a biodiversidade. Têm sido feitas associações entre a cobertura vegetal e a fauna associada onde os habitats não vegetados estão regularmente associados a uma menor abundância e diversidade. Neste trabalho pretendemos compreender de que forma o estabelecimento de C. prolifera em zonas de sedimento afetam a biodiversidade da Ria Formosa. Para tal, comparamos aqui a associação de fauna e plantas entre os três habitats, um dominado por uma pradaria contínua de C. prolifera, um dominado por uma pradaria mista de Cymodocea nodosa e Zostera marina e uma área de fundo não vegetado. Avaliamos também a provisão de berçário e de espécies de interesse comercial de cada habitat. Abordamos aqui três questões principais: 1) A associação da fauna e plantas difere na abundância, biomassa, riqueza específica e diversidade entre habitats? 2) Os habitats diferem na associação da fauna de espécies de interesse comercial? E 3) diferem nas funções de berçário? Definimos três habitats-tipo (Sediment, Caulerpa e Seagrass) e três unidades de habitat (SED 1 – 3; CAUL 1 - 3; SG 1 - 3) para cada habitat-tipo. Foram utilizadas duas técnicas de recolha diferentes com espécies alvo específicas. Uma técnica (cores de PVC com um saco de rede) dedicada à coleta de material vegetal e macrofauna de mobilidade reduzida e fraca capacidade de dispersão (i.e. Gastropoda) e outra (arrasto de vara sem corrente) dedicada à coleta de macrofauna de maior mobilidade e capacidade de dispersão (i.e. Pisces). A abundância e biomassa resultantes das colheitas e triagens foram transformadas em valores por unidade de área e os dados das duas técnicas foram unificados. Os organismos foram separados em classes de tamanho e classificados em juvenis e não juvenis com base numa extensiva pesquisa bibliográfica e na opinião de especialistas. O interesse comercial foi também atribuído com base na publicação da DGRM (2018). Várias análises estatísticas foram executadas com o fim de entender as relações entre habitats e a contribuição da composição faunística para essas relações. Para a diversidade foi utilizado um dos índices mais comuns (Shannon & Wiener Index) que tem em conta não só a riqueza específica, mas também a abundância relativa de cada espécie. Foram encontradas diferenças diferenças estatísticas significativas na associação de fauna e plantas, funções de berçário e nas espécies de valor comercial. Os moluscos Bittium reticulatum e Loripes orbiculatus revelaram-se bons indicadores para as diferenças na associação de fauna e nas funções de berçário. O habitat Seagrass revelou os valores mais altos de riqueza específica e de funções de berçário (praticamente 50% da fauna coletada eram juvenis), enquanto que o Sedimento mostrou a maior abundância. A alta provisão de habitat para espécies de interesse comercial encontrada na Caulerpa deve-se maioritariamente ao abundante crustáceo Upogebia spp., (“rallo”) que é comummente utilizado como isco para a pesca. O habitat dominado pela alga oportunista revelou o menor número de associações específicas com apenas 20% do total de espécies com associações a um único habitat. Os restantes 80% estavam similarmente divididos entre Sediment e Seagrass. Os resultados foram consistentes a nível espacial sugerindo que a composição dos fundos tem um papel importante na agregação de fauna associada. Concluímos que o estabelecimento de C. prolifera em fundos não vegetados tem um efeito na abundância e diversidade da Ria Formosa. O habitat dominado por C. prolifera revelou-se o mais instável, sendo mais heterogéneo do que os restantes e com afinidades específicas muito inferiores que advêm de um habitat recente e de rápida propagação, limitando assim o tempo para as espécies se adaptarem. A rápida proliferação desta alga oportunista em áreas de sedimento não só tem o potencial para alterar as comunidades aí existentes, mas também inibe a progressão ou mesmo o repovoamento de comunidades de ervas marinhas. Comunidades estas largamente estudadas e caracterizadas como de grande importância para a biodiversidade e com importantes funções de berçário. Assim, o estabelecimento de C. prolifera tem o potencial para aumentar a diversidade numa área que foi previamente não vegetada, mas este aumento pode ter efeito negativo na medida em que põe em causa as associações específicas de espécies de áreas não vegetadas podendo oprimir importantes comunidades de ervas marinhas com potenciais consequências a longo prazo. Este estudo cobriu um intervalo de tempo curto deixando em aberto questões que devem ser abordadas em estudos futuros para uma melhor compreensão de como a proliferação desta alga oportunista está a afetar os ecossistemas em que se estabelece, em particular a Ria Formosa: Quais são as variações sazonais e anuais na estrutura das comunidades entre os três habitats? Quais são os efeitos a longo prazo que estas alterações na cobertura dos fundos terão na estrutura ecológica da Ria Formosa? Que efeitos terá limitação da progressão das comunidades de ervas marinhas, provocada por esta alga? A que taxa está C. prolifera a expandir-se na Ria Formosa?
- Published
- 2018
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