The genus Patella (Patellogastropoda, Mollusca) is represented by a group of species exclusive to the Northeast Atlantic Ocean (including Macaronesian archipelagos) and Mediterranean Sea. The species Patella ulyssiponensis and Patella aspera are common in European waters, with the first inhabiting continental coast, and the second endemic to Macaronesian archipelagos. However, the acceptance of these two lineages as separate species is still highly debated. The red coralline species algae Lithophyllum hibernicum, distributed from Northeast Atlantic to the Mediterranean, is usually found as epilithic crusts or unattached forms (named rhodolith beds), although it also forms epizoic crusts on other organisms, e.g., shell surfaces. In order to study the historic dispersal and migration routes of the Patella ulyssiponensis-aspera complex, taxonomic, genetic and biogeographic approaches were employed based on haplotype network analyses and estimations for the most common recent ancestor (TMRCA), using Cytochrome Oxydase I. A synonymy for these two species is proposed, with the presence of a shared haplotype between the continental (P. ulyssiponensis) and insular (P. aspera) lineages, and with basis of morphological and nomenclatural data. We propose an evolutionary scenario for its dispersal based on a high haplotype diversity for the Mediterranean regions, indicating its possible survival during the Messinian Salinity Crisis (6–5.3 Mya), followed by a colonization of the Proto-Macaronesian archipelagos. The epizoic association of L. hibernicum on P. ulyssiponensis shell adult surface is recorded in this study, likewise the promotion of settlement conditions provided by these coralline algae to P. ulyssiponensis larvae, may explain the reach of P. ulyssiponensis distribution through rhodolith transportation.
This study focuses on aquatic mites from the Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, including the mainland area, and Madeira and Azores archipelagos, aiming at compiling all existing information and generating a list of species and all their data on collecting sites. For the present work, we consider aquatic species, those that inhabit the marine, deep sea, intertidal, freshwater, transition water or brackish environments, with life-cycle occurring entirely at water habitats or their vicinity. Furthermore, breeding should take place in water aquatic lifestyles. The dataset search for this checklist started with the first descriptions of water acarids from the Azores Archipelago performed by Théodore Barrois. Primary sources for occurrence confirmation were Süßwasserfauna von Mitteleuropa book collection, The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), complemented with an extensive Portuguese literature review and data biodiversity websites, e.g., European Water Mite Research (Watermite.org). In total, 102 valid species were found belonging to 41 genera, and 19 families, nested in the orders Mesostigmata, Sarcoptiformes and Trombidiformes. This is the first work compiling all the species of aquatic mites found in Portuguese territory, as well as data of collection, serving as the basis for future studies.
To evaluate the establishment of the emerged species Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the international section of the Minho River (Iberian Peninsula) the abundance was analysed for 7 years. This study also describes the world's first record of parasitism between the leech Myzobdella lugubris Leidy, 1851 and L. gibbosus. The earliest record of species L. gibbosus, also known as pumpkinseed sunfish, was in the Spanish area of the Minho River basin, in the beginning of the 2000s. It is considered an established species in the estuary, due to its ecological release capacity, which has been increasing over the last few years. Physical condition, age, feeding patterns, and reproduction habits were analysed from July 2014 to October 2015. Individuals sampled appear in a good physical condition (b>3). The oldest individual captured was 4 years old, with L max =18.6cm. Females have a higher gonadosomatic investment than males (F 1;585 =150.43, p<0.01), particularly in July (F=7.39%; M=1.4%), which comply with the values of the hepatosomatic index (F 2;300 =34.23, p<0.01). Breeding season occurs between July/August and sexual maturity is reached at age of 1. Regarding the feeding regime, 18 taxa were identified from gut content. In the first year of life, the pumpkinseed has a preference for insects and crustaceans. In adult age, gastropods are the preference, which can cause trophic competition with native species. Therefore, monitoring studies should continue to follow the population dynamics.
Isopods are a common, diverse, and abundant group of the littoral and estuarine invertebrate fauna. This study presents a survey on the species of isopods found on the Minho River estuary, Iberian Peninsula, using plankton net, glass eel fishing bycatch, grab sampler, and sein net sampling methods. A total of 248 specimens were analysed belonging to five families with 13 species in 10 genera. Brief diagnosis, ecological notes, species distributions, figures and a key to species identifications are provided aiming to provide taxonomic support on future projects on this area.
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