Scientia Insularum - Islands Science

TFC Herbarium Seed Preserved Collection (SEGAI): dusting off a small but valuable treasure

Cristina González Montelongo — 2024-01-13

The seed library (“seminoteca”) of the Herbarium TFC, belonging to the General Research Support Service (SEGAI) of the University of La Laguna, is an accessory collection started in 1974 at the initiative of Dr. W. Wildpret. Until 1985, it carried out exchanges through an Index Seminum (Department of Botany, 1974-1976 and 1978-1985). Subsequently, its activity ceased to focus the activity of the herbarium on the conservation of its main collections, and the seed collection was left unused, except for some taxonomic queries. Now, we have undertaken the improvement of the general conservation of the collection, and we want to make it known to the scientific community. Taxonomic, spatial, and temporal coverage of the seed collected in the Canary Archipelago has been analyzed, and an analysis of the quality of the samples data has been carried out.

Invertebrates found at the intertidal of Lobos Islet

Marina Aliende Hernandez — 2024-01-24

The islet of Lobos (Canary Islands) located in the Bocaina Strait, between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, has unique characteristics due to its location. Our work consisted of sampling the abundance of invertebrate species on the three intertidal zones on different sides of the islet as well as analyzing the sizes of the most representative species. Sampling was carried out using 10 x 2-meter transects, and 1 x 1-meter quadrats only for crabs. A total of 26 species belonging to 6 different phyla were recorded. The analysis of species richness and abundance of invertebrate communities revealed a significant influence of tidal zones on species distribution. Furthermore, the abundance and size results show that some commercially important species, such as limpets, are in a worrying state of conservation.

Early life stages of common brachyuran species found in Tenerife Island

Aitor Ugena — 2024-01-22

Brachyurans are known to play an important economic and ecological role worldwide, due to their relevance role in marine ecosystems, acting as preys, predators, herbivores, and scavengers among other functions. In the Canary Islands, several species of crustaceans are also considered as important marine resources, especially for fishing purposes. Despite this, little is known about their early life ecology and its taxonomical descriptions, with near zero articles describing this stage. For this study, artificial larval collectors were employed to study juvenile settlement of the main brachyuran species that inhabit the rocky shallow areas in the Canary Islands. In total, juvenile stages of six important species of the archipelago, belonging to five different families of the infraorder brachyura, were described, in addition, representative measures of their main body parts as well as high detailed photography’s of these crustaceans were taken to provide useful information for the identification of these species at its early life stages. Furthermore, we provided the first evidence of the reproduction success of Cronius ruber throughout direct observation of juveniles of this species in the archipelago.

Presence and temporal residence of green turtle individuals (Chelonia mydas) in Abades bay (Tenerife)

Marc Martín Solà — 2024-05-15

The presence and temporary residence of green turtle individuals (Chelonia mydas) in Abades Bay, located in the southeast of Tenerife (Canary Islands), are demonstrated for the first time. Over a period of three years (2020-2023), a visual monitoring of the individuals inhabiting the area was conducted, identifying 5 juvenile specimens that have been recurrently recorded during this time frame. The primary behavior of the individuals in the bay is the feeding on seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa); however, other relevant behaviors such as resting or interaction among individuals have also been observed. This extended residency highlights the high conservation significance of Abades bay and its seagrass meadows for this emblematic and protected species of sea turtle.

Identifying perspectives and framing attitudes on spearfishing in The Canary Islands (Spain)

Pablo Martín-Sosa — 2024-01-29

Q-methodology is used to explore existing perceptions, or lines of thought, towards spearfishing in the CIs of five spearfishing-related key-stakeholder groups (recreational fishers-including spearfishers-, commercial fishers, regional administration, scientists, and representatives of civil society with a connection to the sea). The 30 participants were asked to sort 33 statements on environmental, socioeconomic, and regulatory aspects. The factor analysis identified four distinct factors, each representing a different perception, accounting for a variability of 61%. The results show that the main perception is made up of opposing positions, either for or against recreational underwater fishing, and between the spearfishers and the non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The second line of perception, formed basically by the administration and scientists, embodies an environmental aspect. Perception factor 3 emphasizes the direct, or indirect damage, caused to the commercial sector. Finally, factor 4 identifies a perception that contemplates spearfishing as a subsistence fishery rather than a recreational one, considering it legitimate to regulate recreational fishing in a discriminatory manner, despite it having a lower impact on ecosystems than other fisheries.

Characterization of Intertidal Pool Fish Communities in Tenerife Island

Alberto Gayá Vilar — 2024-01-29

The island of Tenerife has experienced significant population growth and urban development in coastal areas, resultingin a negative impact on the ichthyic communities associated with its intertidal pools, which act as a refuge and nursery for a large number of species, many of them of fishing interest. In order to characterize these populations and know their conservation status, sampling was carried out using baited remote underwater video (BRUV) in four areas in Tenerife located on the north coast, Punta del Hidalgo and Finca El Apio, and on the south, Las Galletas and Punta Rasca. A total of 13 fish species were found throughout the sampling, 7 of them of fishing interest in the Canary Islands. According to the results obtained, a significant variation can be seen between the communities of the sampled localities. Specifically, it was observed that Punta del Hidalgo has the highest fish abundance and richness. On the other hand, it was found that the locality of Las Galletas differs significantly from the rest, presenting a low abundance of species, especially those of fishing interest.

Uso de los Sistemas de Vídeo Estereoscópico Submarino Remoto Pelágico (stereo-BRUVs) para el estudio de las tortugas marinas en aguas Atlánticas

Claudia Hurtado Pampín — 2024-01-24

The pelagic oceanic zone is one of the largest ecosystems on the planet, which is exposed to different anthropogenic pressures. In order to study and promote biodiversity conservation measures on these ecosystems, it is necessary to know the distribution of the species, the use of the habitat, the degree of connectivity and the status of populations. Carrying out such monitoring for pelagic and migratory species is complicated due to the fact that their distribution is not homogeneous and they can be widely distributed in different habitats, as is the case of sea turtles. In recent years, Baited Remote Underwater Stereo-Video (BRUVS) have become a popular tool to assess the distribution, diversity and abundance of marine life in a non-intrusive way. This innovative technique can provide us with important new information on pelagic ecosystems. In particular for the conservation of sea turtle populations by providing strategic knowledge about areas that have not been thoroughly studied, such as feeding areas and migration corridors in pelagic-coastal zones.

Preliminary study on the effect of natural acidification on meiofaunal communities in sandy substrates

Sara González-Delgado — 2024-01-13

In recent years, research on ocean acidification in naturally acidified systems (CO₂ vents) has increased, but very few have taken into account the meiofaunal communities living in sandy substrates, despite their importance as bioindicators. Therefore, the aim of this work is to carry out a preliminary study of the meiofauna associated with sandy substrates in the acidified system of Fuencaliente (La Palma, Canary Islands), which includes coastal lagoons with very extreme environments. The results obtained on the basis of meiofaunal abundance confirm a significant change in the meiofaunal communities in these coastal lagoons. We found an increase in bioindicator taxa of altered environments: oligochaetes, nematodes, copepods and, to a lesser extent, ostracods and acarids, with xenacelomorphs being the only group with a clear decrease in abundance, the most affected by natural acidification. All this indicates a clear alteration in the composition of the meiofaunal communities due to the extreme acidification of the seawater in the coastal environment of La Palma.

First record of the Atlantic torpedo (Tetronarce nobiliana) in the Tenerife coast

Antonio Sabuco Blaya — 2024-01-22

First observation of a mature female of the Atlantic Torpedo, Tetronace nobiliana (Bonaparte 1835) in the south coast of Tenerife, Canarian archipelago. Previously it had been registered an specimen that was entangle in fishing nets off Lanzarote coast. We would like to highlight the presence of an parasit isopod in the dorsal side of the specimen.

Passive trans-Atlantic dispersal of the pearl-oyster Pinctada imbricata Röding, 1798 to the Canaries

José Carlos Hernández — 2024-01-13

First observation of the green algae Codium bursa at the Natural Park Islote de Lobos, Fuerteventura (Canary Islands)

Beatriz Alfonso — 2024-01-13