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- Marine algal flora of Santa Maria Island, AzoresPublication . Neto, Ana I.; Parente, Manuela I.; Cacabelos, Eva; Costa, Ana C.; Botelho, Andrea Z.; Ballesteros, Enric; Monteiro, Sandra; Resendes, Roberto; Afonso, Pedro; Prestes, Afonso L.; Patarra, Rita F.; Álvaro, Nuno V.; Milla-Figueras, David; Neto, Raul M. A.; Azevedo, José M. N.; Moreu, IgnacioBACKGROUND: The algal flora of the Island of Santa Maria (eastern group of the Azores archipelago) has attracted interest of researchers on past occasions (Drouët 1866, Agardh 1870, Trelease 1897, Schmidt 1931, Ardré et al. 1974, Fralick and Hehre 1990, Neto et al. 1991, Morton and Britton 2000, Amen et al. 2005, Wallenstein and Neto 2006, Tittley et al. 2009, Wallenstein et al. 2009a, Wallenstein et al. 2010, Botelho et al. 2010, Torres et al. 2010, León-Cisneros et al. 2011, Martins et al. 2014, Micael et al. 2014, Rebelo et al. 2014, Ávila et al. 2015, Ávila et al. 2016, Machín-Sánchez et al. 2016, Uchman et al. 2016, Johnson et al. 2017, Parente et al. 2018). Nevertheless, the Island macroalgal flora is not well-known as published information reflects limited collections obtained in short-term visits by scientists. To overcome this, a thorough investigation, encompassing collections and presence data recording, was undertaken at both the littoral and sublittoral levels down to a depth of approximately 40 m, covering an area of approximately 64 km2. The resultant taxonomic records are listed in the present paper which also provides information on species ecology and occurrence around the Island, improving, thereby, the knowledge of the Azorean macroalgal flora at both local and regional scales. NEW INFORMATION: A total of 2329 specimens (including some taxa identified only to genus level) belonging to 261 taxa of macroalgae are registered, comprising 152 Rhodophyta, 43 Chlorophyta and 66 Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae). Of these, 174 were identified to species level (102 Rhodophyta, 29 Chlorophyta and 43 Ochrophyta), encompassing 52 new records for the Island (30 Rhodophyta, 9 Chlorophyta and 13 Ochrophyta), 2 Macaronesian endemics (Laurencia viridis Gil-Rodríguez & Haroun; and Millerella tinerfensis (Seoane-Camba) S.M.Boo & J.M.Rico), 10 introduced (the Rhodophyta Acrothamnion preissii (Sonder) E.M.Wollaston, Antithamnion hubbsii E.Y.Dawson, Asparagopsis armata Harvey, Bonnemaisonia hamifera Hariot, Melanothamnus harveyi (Bailey) Díaz-Tapia & Maggs, Scinaia acuta M.J.Wynne and Symphyocladia marchantioides (Harvey) Falkenberg; the Chlorophyta Codium fragile subsp. fragile (Suringar) Hariot; and the Ochrophyta Hydroclathrus tilesii (Endlicher) Santiañez & M.J.Wynne, and Papenfussiella kuromo (Yendo) Inagaki) and 18 species of uncertain status (11 Rhodophyta, 3 Chlorophyta and 4 Ochrophyta).
- Gastropods with different development modes respond differently to habitat fragmentationPublication . Cacabelos, Eva; Neto, Ana I.; Martins, Gustavo M.The role of the human-made structures in coastal ecosystems can determine the spatial distribution or patterns of spatial abundances of marine organisms. To contribute to the understanding of linkages between different components of habitats (i.e. natural and artificial structures), we explored the role of type of larval development (planktotrophic vs. non-planktotrophic) on patterns of spatial variation of gastropods on rocky shores, elucidating the possible responsibility of habitat fragmentation on their distribution. Obtained results suggest that habitat fragmentation affects differently the patterns of variability of species with different types of larval development. Namely, fragmentation caused by artificial structures mostly influence variability of species with non-planktotrophic development. Moreover, although abundance of the species with non-planktotrophic development varied at small spatial scales, suggesting that processes operating at this scale are likely the main drivers of their distribution, changes in species variability were not associated with differences in species abundance among habitats.
- New records of marine macroalgae for the AzoresPublication . Neto, Ana I.; Cacabelos, Eva; Prestes, Afonso L.; Díaz-Tapia, Pilar; Moreu, IgnacioThe present study adds 19 species (15 Rhodophyta, one Chlorophyta and three Ochrophyta) to the Azorean marine macroalgal flora, increasing the current total of species recorded in this region to 521 (349 Rhodophyta, 76 Chlorophyta and 96 Ochrophyta), and showing that this isolated island group supports a relatively rich marine macroalgal flora. Some species fall within their known overall distributional range, whereas other found here represent a northern or southern extension to their known distribution in the Atlantic. Three species (Antithamnionella elegans, Gymnophycus hapsiphorus and Scytosiphon dotyi) are probable introductions to the Azores, whereas Melanothamnus pseudoforcipatus has an uncertain status. Six of the newly reported species were found as components of the intertidal algal turf samples, which justifies the need for continuing to examine turf samples as new discoveries can be anticipated.
- Dramatic changes in the structure of shallow-water marine benthic communities following the invasion by Rugulopteryx okamurae (Dictyotales, Ochrophyta) in Azores (NE Atlantic)Publication . Faria, João; Prestes, Afonso L.; Moreu, Ignacio; Cacabelos, Eva; Martins, Gustavo M.Biological invasions are considered one of the most important drivers of biodiversity loss. Here we use a before-after-control-impact (BACI) design to investigate the impact of Rugulopteryx okamurae on the structure of shallow-water marine benthic communities in São Miguel island, Azores. After its first appearance in 2019, R. okamurae has rapidly invaded much of the southern coast of the island, where it became the dominant algae. This was followed by significant changes in the structure of shallow-water marine benthic communities, with substantial losses of natural variability and species richness. Compared to before, there has been dramatic reductions in the abundances of articulated coralline algae, corticated algae and corticated foliose algae in invaded locations. These results highlight its highly invasive character, not seen with other, more well-known, invasive species. It remains to be investigated if its impacts persist throughout time and to quantify the functional consequences of such dramatic changes.
- Marine algal flora of São Miguel Island, AzoresPublication . Neto, Ana I.; Moreu, Ignacio; Rosas-Alquicira, Edgar; León-Cisneros, Karla; Cacabelos, Eva; Botelho, Andrea Z.; Micael, Joana; Costa, Ana C.; Neto, Raul M. A.; Azevedo, José M. N.; Monteiro, Sandra; Resendes, Roberto; Afonso, Pedro; Prestes, Afonso L.; Patarra, Rita F.; Álvaro, Nuno V.; Milla-Figueras, David; Ballesteros, Enric; Fletcher, Robert L.; Farnham, William F.; Tittley, Ian; Parente, Manuela I.BACKGROUND The macroalgal flora of the Island of São Miguel (eastern group of the Azores Archipelago) has attracted the interest of many researchers in the past, the first publications going back to the nineteenth century. Initial studies were mainly taxonomic, resulting in the publication of a checklist of the Azorean benthic marine algae. Later, the establishment of the University of the Azores on the Island permitted the logistic conditions to develop both temporal studies and long-term research and this resulted in a significant increase on research directed at the benthic marine algae and littoral communities of the Island and consequent publications. Prior to the present paper, the known macroalgal flora of São Miguel Island comprised around 260 species. Despite this richness, a significant amount of the research was never made public, notably Masters and PhD theses encompassing information regarding presence data recorded at littoral and sublittoral levels down to a depth of approximately 40 m around the Island and the many collections made, which resulted in vouchers deposited in the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha and the LSM- Molecular Systematics Laboratory at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of the Azores. The present publication lists the macroalgal taxonomic records, together with information on their ecology and occurrence around São Miguel Island, improving the knowledge of the Azorean macroalgal flora at local and regional scales. NEW INFORMATION A total of 12,781 specimens (including some identified only to genus) belonging to 431 taxa of macroalgae are registered, comprising 284 Rhodophyta, 59 Chlorophyta and 88 Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae). Of these, 323 were identified to species level (212 Rhodophyta, 48 Chlorophyta and 63 Ochrophyta), of which 61 are new records for the Island (42 Rhodophyta, 9 Chlorophyta and 10 Ochrophyta), one an Azorean endemic (Predaea feldmannii subsp. azorica Gabriel), five are Macaronesian endemisms (the red algae Botryocladia macaronesica Afonso-Carrillo, Sobrino, Tittley & Neto, Laurencia viridis Gil-Rodríguez & Haroun, Millerella tinerfensis (Seoane-Camba) S.M.Boo & J.M.Rico, Phyllophora gelidioides P.Crouan & H.Crouan ex Karsakoff and the green alga Codium elisabethiae O.C.Schmidt), 19 are introduced species (15 Rhodophyta, two Chlorophyta and two Ochrophyta) and 32 are of uncertain status (21 Rhodophyta, five Chlorophyta and six Ochrophyta).
- Limited effects of marine protected areas on the distribution of invasive species, despite positive effects on diversity in shallow-water marine communitiesPublication . Cacabelos, Eva; Martins, Gustavo M.; Faria, Joao; Prestes, Afonso L.; Costa, Tarso; Moreu Badia, Ignacio; Neto, Ana I.Marine protected areas (MPAs) can be an effective tool for the conservation and management of marine coastal habitats. MPAs have been shown to halt habitat degradation, enhance the biomass of exploited species and diversity in general. Yet, we still know little about its role in halting the spread of non-native species. In this study, we assessed the role of MPAs in the structure of shallow subtidal communities around Sao Miguel Island, in general, and particularly on distribution of the two species of genus Asparagopsis: A. armata and A. taxiformis. In the Azores, the former is a well-established invasive species, whereas the status of A. taxiformis is still questionable. Overall, there was a significant greater diversity in terms of both species richness and number of macroalgal functional groups within MPAs. However, when considering the relative abundance of the various macroalgal functional groups, or the assemblage as a whole (multivariate analysis), there was no significant difference between areas within and outside MPAs. The cover of A. taxiformis was significantly greater within MPAs but not its biomass, whereas no significant variation was observed for A. armata. Overall, results suggest that surveyed MPAs had a positive effect on the diversity of shallow-water macroalgal communities. However, they have a limited role on the distribution of both Asparagopsis spp. and negligible effects when considering the relative abundances of macroalgal functional groups.