Ineffective conservation threatens Patella candei, an endangered limpet endemic to the Macaronesian islands

González-Lorenzo, Gustavo; Hernández, Eduardo Mesa; Pérez-Dionis, Gustavo; Hernández, Alberto Brito; Santos, Bertila Galván; Díez, Jacinto Barquín

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2015.11.005

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The intertidal community around Selvagens was noteworthy for its abundance of large sun limpets ( Patella candei ), particularly on Selvagem Pequena ( Fig 10 ). This species has become rare throughout much of its range due to overfishing and is listed as in danger of extinction in the Canary Islands [ 40 ]. In addition, top-shell snails ( Phorcus atratus ) and other limpets, mainly Patella aspera and Siphonaria pectinata , were also common.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasts in the marine ecosystem of two Macaronesian islands: A comparison between the remote Selvagens Reserve and Madeira Island

et al. 2017

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The islands of Madeira and Selvagens are less than 300 km apart but offer a clear contrast between a densely populated and highly developed island (Madeira), and a largely uninhabited and remote archipelago (Selvagens) within Macaronesia in the eastern Atlantic. The Madeira Archipelago has ~260,000 inhabitants and receives over six million visitor days annually. The Selvagens Islands Reserve is one of the oldest nature reserves in Portugal and comprises two islands and several islets, including the surrounding shelf to a depth of 200 m. Only reserve rangers and a small unit of the maritime police inhabit these islands. The benthic community around Selvagens was dominated by erect and turf algae, while the community at Madeira was comprised of crustose coralline and turf algae, sessile invertebrates, and sea urchin barrens. The sea urchin Diadema africanum was 65% more abundant at Madeira than at Selvagens. Total fish biomass was 3.2 times larger at Selvagens than at Madeira, and biomass of top predators was more than 10 times larger at Selvagens. Several commercially important species (e.g., groupers, jacks), which have been overfished throughout the region, were more common and of larger size at Selvagens than at Madeira. Important sea urchin predators (e.g., hogfishes, triggerfishes) were also in higher abundance at Selvagens compared to Madeira. The effects of fishing and other anthropogenic influences are evident around Madeira. This is in stark contrast to Selvagens, which harbors healthy benthic communities with diverse algal assemblages and high fish biomass, including an abundance of large commercially important species. The clear differences between these two island groups highlights the importance of expanding and strengthening the protection around Selvagens, which harbors one of the last intact marine ecosystems in the North Atlantic, and the need to increase management and protection around Madeira.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasts in the marine ecosystem of two Macaronesian islands: A comparison between the remote Selvagens Reserve and Madeira Island

et al. 2017

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“…In fact, allopatric speciation under restrictive gene flow is believed to be one of the most common modes of speciation in nature (Schluter, ). Yet, providing that reproductive isolation is complete, secondary events of colonization followed by the weakening of physical/ geographical barriers are not to be excluded and, for instance, may have contributed to the coexistence of P. candei candei (the Selvagens ecotype) and P. candei crenata in Canaries islands; although isolated specimens of P. candei candei were identified in El Hierro and Tenerife islands, this co‐occurrence is now mainly restricted to a single island: Fuerteventura (González‐Lorenzo et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within the P. candei complex, P. candei candei is considered in danger of extinction under the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species and is now mainly restricted to one single island: Fuerteventura (Canary Islands). This is likely a consequence of overexploitation (Núñez, Brito, Riera, Docoito, & Monterroso, ), but selective and evolutionary‐related processes may have also been involved (González‐Lorenzo et al., ). Recently, a forced ban to its capture and a conservational plan has been put in place by regional authorities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disentangling the genetic and morphological structure of Patella candei complex in Macaronesia (NE Atlantic)

Faria

Martins

Pita

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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The uptake of natural living resources for human consumption has triggered serious changes in the balance of ecosystems. In the archipelagos of Macaronesia (NE Atlantic), limpets have been extensively exploited probably since islands were first colonized. This has led to profound consequences in the dynamics of rocky shore communities. The Patella candei complex includes various subspecies of limpets that are ascribed to a particular archipelago and has been the focus of several taxonomic surveys without much agreement. Under a conservational perspective, we apply morphometric and genetic analyses to test subspecies boundaries in P. candei and to evaluate its current population connectivity throughout Macaronesia (Azores, Madeira, and Canaries). A highly significant genetic break between archipelagos following isolation by distance was detected (F ST = 0.369, p < .001). Contrastingly, significant genetic differentiation among islands (i.e., Azores) was absent possibly indicating ongoing gene flow via larval exchange between populations. Significant shell‐shape differences among archipelagos were also detected using both distance‐based and geometric morphometric analyses. Adaptive processes associated with niche differentiation and strong barriers to gene flow among archipelagos may be the mechanisms underlying P. candei diversification in Macaronesia. Under the very probable assumption that populations of P. candei from each archipelago are geographically and/or ecologically isolated populations, the various subspecies within the P. candei complex may be best thought of as true species using the denomination: P. candei in Selvagens, Patella gomesii in Azores, Patella ordinaria in Madeira, and Patella crenata for Canaries. This would be in agreement with stock delimitation and units of conservation of P. candei sensu latu along Macaronesia.

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“…These islands are all the result of volcanic activity and have never been connected to continents, thus their biota are believed to have resulted from colonization and in situ evolution. Across that region, Patellid limpets represent an important socioeconomic resource and have likely been exploited since the islands were first colonized (Hawkins et al, 2000), which, in the case of Canaries, goes back to around the middle of the 1st millennium B.C.E with recognized effects on the abundance of P. candei, at least in one island of the archipelago (Gonzalez-Lorenzo et al, 2015) (the human colonization of the Azores and Madeira goes back to the 15th century). The high levels of exploitation have contributed to severe declines in limpet abundance with many populations considered to be overexploited (Martins et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Congruent Molecular and Morphological Diversity of Macaronesian Limpets: Insights into eco-evolutionary Forces and Tools for Conservation

Carreira¹,

Shaw

Gonçalves

et al. 2017

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Combined analysis of genetic and morphological variation can provide synergistic insights into eco-evolutionary forces shaping biodiversity, as well as tools for conservation and management. Macaronesian limpets are undergoing severe declines due to overexploitation which calls for an evaluation of the evolutionary significance and taxonomic status of populations. This study details the analysis of genetic (mtDNA sequencing) and morphological (geometric analysis of shell shape) variation among Macaronesian populations of Patella aspera, P. rustica, and P. candei. In the case of P. aspera and P. rustica, this also included analysis of mainland conspecifics. mtDNA revealed distinct phylogeographic patterns for the three species. For both P. aspera and P. rustica Macaronesian and continental samples were reciprocally monophyletic, with shallower, and distinct, phylogeographic structure within both clades. For P. candei, the Macaronesian endemic, three reciprocally monophyletic groups corresponding to (i) the Azores, (ii) Madeira and (iii) Selvagens and Canary Islands were resolved. The different patterns for each species are compatible with independent processes of colonization and demographic processes. Morphological differentiation matched the major phylogeographic groupings (i.e., Macaronesian v Continent for P. aspera and P. rustica; Azores/Madeira/Selvagens and Canary Islands for P. candei) compatible with such variation being shaped by genetic drift associated with distinct demographic histories of lineages as well as historical/recurrent selection pressures. The genetic/morphological congruence supports the formal recognition of at least three described P. candei subspecies. Moreover, the data prompt recommendation of the separate management of limpets from each archipelago. At present management efforts are hampered by illegal harvesting of limpets. From an applied viewpoint, this study confirms that morphology retains useful information on genetic status and thus represents a potentially cheap method applicable to limpet conservation.

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Ineffective conservation threatens Patella candei, an endangered limpet endemic to the Macaronesian islands

Cited by 13 publications

References 31 publications

Contrasts in the marine ecosystem of two Macaronesian islands: A comparison between the remote Selvagens Reserve and Madeira Island

Contrasts in the marine ecosystem of two Macaronesian islands: A comparison between the remote Selvagens Reserve and Madeira Island

Disentangling the genetic and morphological structure of Patella candei complex in Macaronesia (NE Atlantic)

Congruent Molecular and Morphological Diversity of Macaronesian Limpets: Insights into eco-evolutionary Forces and Tools for Conservation

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