Browsing by Author "Froufe, Elsa"
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- Bioecologia dos mexilhões de água doce (Unionidae) nos rios Sabor, Tua e Tâmega (Bacia do Douro, Portugal): principais ameaças e medidas de conservaçãoPublication . Teixeira, Amílcar; Varandas, Simone; Sousa, Ronaldo; Froufe, Elsa; Lopes-Lima, ManuelForam avaliadas as condições ambientais das populações de náiades (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Unionidae) em diferentes troços dos rios Tâmega, Tua e Sabor, na proximidade de grandes empreendimentos hidroelétricos em fase de construção. No verão dos anos 2010, 2011 e 2012 foi caracterizado o habitat e microhabitat disponível e usado pelas espécies Unio delphinus, Anodonta anatina e Potomida littoralis. Recorreu-se à metodologia do River Habitat Survey (RHS) para a avaliação do habitat aquático e ribeirinho. Para avaliação do microhabitat, foram realizados transectos paralelos (próximo das margens) e perpendiculares ao fluxo de água. Em cada microhabitat amostrado (0,25 m2) procedeu-se à medição das variáveis profundidade, substrato dominante, velocidade no leito e coluna de água, cobertura e distância à margem. Os unionídeos demonstraram uma distribuição espacial agregada em zonas específicas, tendo-se detetado densidades superiores na proximidade das margens e especialmente em braços laterais dos rios com fluxo permanente de água. Foram construídas curvas de preferência para cada espécie. Assim, Unio delphinus e Anodonta anatina colonizam preferencialmente pools com substrato fino, com núcleos populacionais situados entre raízes submersas, próximo de margens escavadas. Por sua vez, a espécie Potomida littoralis apresenta densidades superiores em zonas de maior corrente (riffles) e substrato mais grosseiro (seixos e pedras). Foram ainda realizadas experiências laboratoriais para determinação da íctiofauna hospedeira das 3 espécies de unionídeos, do qual se realça a afinidade quase exclusiva destas náiades com a fauna piscícola autóctone (nomeadamente com ciprinídeos endémicos e salmonídeos). Face às ameaças detetadas, caso da poluição, sedimentação e especialmente da regularização que conduzirá a uma redução do habitat disponível e da íctiofauna nativa nos rios Sabor, Tua e Tâmega, é fundamental a conservação de habitats e ecossistemas prioritários e a requalificação ambiental de troços degradados de modo a preservar as espécies de invertebrados e vertebrados autóctones fortemente ameaçadas
- Biology and conservation of freshwater bivalves: past, present and future perspectivesPublication . Lopes-Lima, Manuel; Teixeira, Amílcar; Froufe, Elsa; Lopes, Anabela; Varandas, Simone; Sousa, RonaldoFreshwater bivalves have been highly threatened by human activities, and recently their global decline has been causing conservational and social concern. In this paper, we review the most important research events in freshwater bivalve biology calling attention to the main scientific achievements. A great bias exists in the research effort, with much more information available for bivalve species belonging to the Unionida in comparison to other groups. The same is true for the origin of these studies, since the publishing pattern does not always correspond to the hotspots of biodiversity but is concentrated in the northern hemisphere mainly in North America, Europe and Russia, with regions such as Africa and Southeast Asia being quite understudied. We also summarize information about past, present and future perspectives concerning the most important research topics that include taxonomy, systematics, anatomy, physiology, ecology and conservation of freshwater bivalves. Finally, we introduce the articles published in this Hydrobiologia special issue related with the International Meeting on Biology and Conservation of Freshwater Bivalves held in 2012 in Bragança, Portugal.
- Can invasive alien fish species act as effective hosts of native freshwater mussels (Unionidae) in Iberia?Publication . Teixeira, Amílcar; Dias, Ana Rita; Miranda, Fernando Jorge Veloso; Lopes-Lima, Manuel; Varandas, Simone; Froufe, Elsa; Filipe, Ana Filipa; Beja, Pedro; Sousa, RonaldoThe freshwater biodiversity of Mediterranean areas is severely threatened by several human activities, including habitat loss and fragmentation, river regulation, pollution, overexploitation, climate change and introduction of invasive alien species (IAS). These human disturbances drastically affect native fish and mussel populations and possibly conservation measures are needed to implement to revert major problems. Particularly at risk may be affiliate species such as freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Unionoida) that have an obligatory parasitic phase of a short-term larval stage on fish host gills and fins. In Iberia, the identification of effective fish hosts for unionid species and the impact of IAS remain unclear. In this study, field and laboratorial studies were performed to assess the fish hosts for Anodonta anatina, Unio delphinus and Potomida littoralis. For in situ monitoring done in Douro basin (Northern Portugal), results showed an effective infestation for native (Luciobarbus bocagei, Squalius carolitertii, Squalius alburnoides and Pseudochondrostoma duriense) but also for non-native (Lepomis gibbosus, Alburnus alburnus, Gambusia holbrooki and Gobio lozanoi) fishes. The highest infestation rate and prevalence were observed for L. bocagei and S. carolitertii, but also for L. gibbosus. However, in laboratorial experiments significant differences were found. In fact, for U. delphinus and P. littoralis only native fishes (mainly endemic cyprinids) showed to be effective hosts, since viable juveniles were produced. A. anatina exhibited a more generalist behavior, with a wide range of native (endemic cyprinids of north and south Iberia) and non-native (Australoheros facetus, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Esox lucius, Phoxinus phoxinus, A. alburnus and G. lozanoi) fish host species. Overall, our results showed: 1) the importance of native fish species for the maintenance of a good conservation status of native unionids; 2) some invasive fish species can also function as hosts of A. anatina and 3) basic ecological data using field monitoring and laboratorial experiments are fundamental to design future conservation measures such as reproduction in captivity and propagation of threatened unionids.
- Complete mitochondrial genomes of the freshwater mussels Amblema plicata (Say, 1817), Pleurobema oviforme (Conrad, 1834), and Popenaias popeii (Lea, 1857) (Bivalvia: Unionidae: Ambleminae)Publication . Teiga-Teixeira, João; Froufe, Elsa; Gomes-dos-Santos, André; Bogan, Arthur E.; Karatayev, Alexander Y.; Burlakova, Lyubov E.; Aldridge, David C.; Bolotov, Ivan N.; Vikhrev, Ilya V.; Teixeira, Amílcar; Varandas, Simone; Zanatta, David T.; Lopes-Lima, ManuelFreshwater mussels are a critically imperiled group of mollusks that play key ecological roles and provide important services to humans. The Ambleminae is the only subfamily of these mussels, endemic to North America. Complete mitogenomes have only been sequenced for two of five tribes of the subfamily. Pleurobema oviforme, Amblema plicata, and Popenaias popeii each belong to tribes Pleurobemini, Amblemini, and Popenaidini, respectively, and have not had published mitogenomes. Thus, this study aims to present the complete mitogenomes for these species, to provide a phylogeny of the Ambleminae and confirm the gene arrangements with representation from each of its tribes. The newly sequenced mitogenomes range from 15,852 to 15,993 nucleotides, are composed of 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, and two rRNAs and all share the same (UF1) gene order.
- CONBI: Biodiversidade e conservação de bivalves – informação ecogeográfica, genética e fisiológica.Publication . Teixeira, Amílcar; Varandas, Simone; Sousa, Ronaldo; Froufe, Elsa; Lopes-Lima, ManuelUm dos grupos faunísticos mais ameaçados a nível mundial e em declínio global são os Unionidae (Mollusca), a maior de seis famílias de mexilhões de agua-doce. Para muitas espécies (independentemente do seu estatuto de conservação) no mundo inteiro, incluindo a Península Ibérica, são escassos, e em muitos casos inexistentes, os dados mais básicos sobre o seu ciclo de vida, dimensão e estrutura populacional, bem como a sua estrutura genética populacional. O presente projeto pretende preencher a lacuna de conhecimento sobre o estatuto da família Unionidae na Península Ibérica num contexto mais amplo da conservação da biodiversidade, sendo os principais objetivos: 1) compreender tanto a dinâmica atual das populações como a biogeografia histórica destes bivalves; 2) clarificar a sua diversidade taxonómica e afinidades filogenéticas; 3) compreender os mecanismos fundamentais da evolução do mtDNA dessas espécies; 4) descrever as suas principais características biológicas como a distribuição, estrutura populacional, época de reprodução, período larvar e peixes hospedeiros; 5) elucidar, do ponto de vista ecológico, os padrões de distribuição e os principais fatores bióticos e abióticos responsáveis pela sua distribuição. Sob uma perspetiva de gestão e conservação, pretende-se que os resultados obtidos possam ser usados para o desenvolvimento de estratégias futuras de conservação através da identificação de Unidades Evolutivas Significativas (ESUs) e de Unidades de Gestão (MUs). No presente trabalho são realçados aspetos da bioecologia de unionídeos no Nordeste Transmontano. E apresentada uma caracterização ecológica de populações das bacias do Sabor, Tua e Tâmega, assim como os ciclos de reprodução e peixes hospedeiros das espécies Anodonta anatina, Potomida littoralis e Unio delphinus.
- Conbiomics: the missing approach for the conservation of freshwater bivalvesPublication . Froufe, Elsa; Fonseca, Miguel M.; Teixeira, Amílcar; Varandas, Simone; Gonçalves, Duarte V.; Hinzmann, Mariana; Arenas-Arenas, Francisco José; Gan, Han Ming; Breton, Sophie; Prié, Vincent; Zieritz, Alexandra; Bogan, Arthur E.; Razgour, Orly; Vikhrev, Ilya V.; Bolotov, Ivan N.; Pfeiffer, John; Lopes-Lima, ManuelThe decline of freshwater biodiversity hás reached alarming proportions. The extinction rate of freshwater biodiversity is predicted to be five times faster than ali other groups of species. The Unionidae, being the largest of the freshwater bivalve families, is among the most endangered group in the world. They are important providers of aquatic ecosystem services and are characterized by an unusual pattem of mtDNA inheritance. However, phylogeny, population genetic structure and species-level diversity remains unclear for much of the group. With an experienced and well-qualified team, the present proposal aims to define the most important freshwater mussel taxa and most criticai áreas for conservation, at European and Global leveis, to inform the most relevant policy niakers. This will be achieved by integrating a genomics approach with available distribution data, in order to determine and map global species richness, phylogenetic diversity, and weighted endemism. This complementary approach will not only help conserve this vulnerable group but will offer wider benefits to freshwater ecosystems whose billions of people depend globally. Additionally, as these animals have an extraordinary unusual pattern of mtDNA inheritance, they will be used as model-taxa to study the evolution of mtDNA and life in general.
- Conbiomics: the missing approach for the conservation of freshwater bivalvesPublication . Froufe, Elsa; Fonseca, Miguel M.; Teixeira, Amílcar; Varandas, Simone; Gonçalves, Duarte V.; Hinzmann, Mariana; Arenas-Arenas, Francisco José; Gan, Han Ming; Breton, Sophie; Prié, Vincent; Zieritz, Alexandra; Bogan, Arthur E.; Razgour, Orly; Vikhrev, Ilya; Bolotov, Ivan N.; Pfeiffer, John; Lopes-Lima, ManuelThe decline of freshwater biodiversity hás reached alarming proportions. The extinction rate of freshwater biodiversity is predicted to be five times faster than ali other groups of species. The Unionidae, being the largest of the freshwater bivalve families, is among the most endangered group in the world. They are important providers of aquatic ecosystem services and are characterized by an unusual pattem of mtDNA inheritance. However, phylogeny, population genetic structure and species-level diversity remains unclear for much of the group. With an experienced and well-qualified team, the present proposal aims to define the most important freshwater mussel taxa and most criticai áreas for conservation, at European and Global leveis, to inform the most relevant policy niakers. This will be achieved by integrating a genomics approach with available distribution data, in order to determine and map global species richness, phylogenetic diversity, and weighted endemism. This complementary approach will not only help conserve this vulnerable group but will offer wider benefits to freshwater ecosystems whose billions of people depend globally. Additionally, as these animals have an extraordinary unusual pattern of mtDNA inheritance, they will be used as model-taxa to study the evolution of mtDNA and life in general.
- Conservation status of freshwater mussels in Europe: state of the art and future challengesPublication . Lopes-Lima, Manuel; Sousa, Ronaldo; Geist, Juergen; Aldridge, David C.; Araujo, Rafael; Bergengren, Jakob; Bespalaya, Yulia V.; Bódis, Erika; Burlakova, Lyubov E.; Van Damme, Dirk; Douda, Karel; Froufe, Elsa; Georgiev, Dilian; Gumpinger, Clemens; Karatayev, Alexander Y.; Kebapçi, Ümit; Killeen, Ian; Lajtner, Jasna; Larsen, Bjørn M.; Lauceri, Rosaria; Legakis, Anastasios; Lois, Sabela; Lundberg, Stefan; Moorkens, Evelyn A.; Motte, Gregory; Nagel, Karl Otto; Ondina, Paz; Outeiro, Adolfo; Paunovic, Momir; Prié, Vincent; Proschwitz, Ted von; Riccardi, Nicoletta; Rudzīte, Mudīte; Rudzītis, Māris; Scheder, Christian; Seddon, Mary; Şereflişan, Hülya; Simić, Vladica; Sokolova, Svetlana; Stoeckl, Katharina; Taskinen, Jouni; Teixeira, Amílcar; Thielen, Frankie; Trichkova, Teodora; Varandas, Simone; Vicentini, Heinrich; Zajac, Katarzyna; Zając, Tadeusz; Zogaris, StamatisFreshwater mussels of the Order Unionida provide important ecosystem functions and services, yet many of their populations are in decline. We comprehensively review the status of the 16 currently recognized species in Europe, collating for the first time their life-history traits, distribution, conservation status, habitat preferences, and main threats in order to suggest future management actions. In northern, central, and eastern Europe, a relatively homogeneous species composition is found in most basins. In southern Europe, despite the lower species richness, spatially restricted species make these basins a high conservation priority. Information on freshwater mussels in Europe is unevenly distributed with considerable differences in data quality and quantity among countries and species. To make conservation more effective in the future, we suggest greater international cooperation using standardized protocols and methods to monitor and manage European freshwater mussel diversity. Such an approach will not only help conserve this vulnerable group but also, through the protection of these important organisms, will offer wider benefits to freshwater ecosystems.
- Conservation status of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera in PortugalPublication . Sousa, Ronaldo; Amorim, Ângela; Froufe, Elsa; Varandas, Simone; Teixeira, Amílcar; Lopes-Lima, ManuelBased on new information, the current conservation status of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758) in Portugal is revised. Between 2010 and 2013 surveys were conducted in eight different rivers to assess distribution, abundance, size-frequency and preferential habitat of this species. Rivers Neiva, Cávado and Terva presented very low abundances (in the Cávado no specimens were found) and showed acute signs of ageing, calling into question the future survival of these populations. Although abundances were low in Rivers Beça, Paiva and Mente, juveniles were present and populations may improve their conservation status in the future, if appropriate management measures are applied. Rivers Rabaçal and Tuela presented the highest abundances of adults and juveniles and these two rivers have the highest potential for the conservation of freshwater pearl mussels in Portugal. However, these two populations have suffered severe declines in several stretches due to the construction of dams in recent years. Given that the Portuguese pearl mussel populations are at the southern range of the species distribution, their conservation should be a priority. This current description of the conservation status of M. margaritifera in Portugal can be used as a reference, and guide future research and management initiatives to better conserve this species.
- The crown pearl: a draft genome assembly of the European freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758)Publication . Gomes-dos-Santos, André; Lopes-Lima, Manuel; Machado, André M.; Ramos, António Marcos; Usié, Ana; Bolotov, Ivan N.; Vikhrev, Ilya V.; Breton, Sophie; Castro, L. Filipe C.; Fonseca, Rute R. da; Geist, Juergen; Österling, Martin E.; Prié, Vincent; Teixeira, Amílcar; Gan, Han Ming; Simakov, Oleg; Froufe, ElsaSince historical times, the inherent human fascination with pearls turned the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758) into a highly valuable cultural and economic resource. Although pearl harvesting in M. margaritifera is nowadays residual, other human threats have aggravated the species conservation status, especially in Europe. This mussel presents a myriad of rare biological features, e.g. high longevity coupled with low senescence and Doubly Uniparental Inheritance of mitochondrial DNA, for which the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly known. Here, the first draft genome assembly of M. margaritifera was produced using a combination of Illumina Paired-end and Mate-pair approaches. The genome assembly was 2.4 Gb long, possessing 105,185 scaffolds and a scaffold N50 length of 288,726 bp. The ab initio gene prediction allowed the identification of 35,119 protein-coding genes. This genome represents an essential resource for studying this species' unique biological and evolutionary features and ultimately will help to develop new tools to promote its conservation.