Spatial and seasonal patterns of European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus distribution in island coastal environments
This study represents the first report on seahorses in the Macaronesian islands (North-East Atlantic), determining the spatial and seasonal abundance, population structure and physical appearance of European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus. Animals were surveyed off Gran Canaria Islan...
Published in: | African Journal of Marine Science |
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10553/45386 https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2015.1083476 |
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ftunivlaspalmas:oai:https://accedacris.ulpgc.es:10553/45386 2023-05-15T17:38:30+02:00 Spatial and seasonal patterns of European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus distribution in island coastal environments Otero-Ferrer, F. Herrera, R. Tuset, V. M. Socorro, J. Molina, L. 36198777000 36652588600 6602940460 7004114822 36470856600 2015 http://hdl.handle.net/10553/45386 https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2015.1083476 eng eng African Journal of Marine Science 1814-232X http://hdl.handle.net/10553/45386 doi:10.2989/1814232X.2015.1083476 84945121584 404 3 395 37 African Journal of Marine Science [ISSN 1814-232X], v. 37 (3), p. 395-404 2510 Oceanografía 251005 Zoología marina Biodiversity management Flagship species Gran Canaria island Macaronesian islands Marine conservation Population assessment 2015 ftunivlaspalmas https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2015.1083476 2019-09-08T16:42:16Z This study represents the first report on seahorses in the Macaronesian islands (North-East Atlantic), determining the spatial and seasonal abundance, population structure and physical appearance of European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus. Animals were surveyed off Gran Canaria Island in two bays, Melenara and Sardina del Norte, within three habitats: rocky bottom, artificial substrata and seagrass. Populations were monitored over a 5-year period (spring 2006–winter 2011) using 15-minute visual fast count (VFC) surveys. Seahorses were characterised by low abundances, small proportions of subadults and roughly equal sex ratios at each site. We aimed to determine whether environmental conditions and geographical position could explain differences in seahorse abundance and population structure between the study sites. Melenara Bay (mean sighting rate = 0.44 individuals VFC–1; SD 0.72) offered protected environments where seahorse distribution varied with substratum type, irrespective of season. Strong hydrodynamic forces in winter affected abundance and size at exposed locations in Sardina del Norte Bay (mean sighting rate=0.21 individuals VFC−1; SD 0.52). Our findings contribute to the scarce available knowledge about this Data Deficient species (IUCN Red List), helping to establish future conservation strategies and management recommendations for the preservation of H. hippocampus populations around Gran Canaria Island and other localities with similar coastal environments. Other/Unknown Material North East Atlantic Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Acceda Seahorse ENVELOPE(163.300,163.300,-78.017,-78.017) African Journal of Marine Science 37 3 395 404 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Acceda |
op_collection_id |
ftunivlaspalmas |
language |
English |
topic |
2510 Oceanografía 251005 Zoología marina Biodiversity management Flagship species Gran Canaria island Macaronesian islands Marine conservation Population assessment |
spellingShingle |
2510 Oceanografía 251005 Zoología marina Biodiversity management Flagship species Gran Canaria island Macaronesian islands Marine conservation Population assessment Otero-Ferrer, F. Herrera, R. Tuset, V. M. Socorro, J. Molina, L. Spatial and seasonal patterns of European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus distribution in island coastal environments |
topic_facet |
2510 Oceanografía 251005 Zoología marina Biodiversity management Flagship species Gran Canaria island Macaronesian islands Marine conservation Population assessment |
description |
This study represents the first report on seahorses in the Macaronesian islands (North-East Atlantic), determining the spatial and seasonal abundance, population structure and physical appearance of European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus. Animals were surveyed off Gran Canaria Island in two bays, Melenara and Sardina del Norte, within three habitats: rocky bottom, artificial substrata and seagrass. Populations were monitored over a 5-year period (spring 2006–winter 2011) using 15-minute visual fast count (VFC) surveys. Seahorses were characterised by low abundances, small proportions of subadults and roughly equal sex ratios at each site. We aimed to determine whether environmental conditions and geographical position could explain differences in seahorse abundance and population structure between the study sites. Melenara Bay (mean sighting rate = 0.44 individuals VFC–1; SD 0.72) offered protected environments where seahorse distribution varied with substratum type, irrespective of season. Strong hydrodynamic forces in winter affected abundance and size at exposed locations in Sardina del Norte Bay (mean sighting rate=0.21 individuals VFC−1; SD 0.52). Our findings contribute to the scarce available knowledge about this Data Deficient species (IUCN Red List), helping to establish future conservation strategies and management recommendations for the preservation of H. hippocampus populations around Gran Canaria Island and other localities with similar coastal environments. |
author2 |
36198777000 36652588600 6602940460 7004114822 36470856600 |
author |
Otero-Ferrer, F. Herrera, R. Tuset, V. M. Socorro, J. Molina, L. |
author_facet |
Otero-Ferrer, F. Herrera, R. Tuset, V. M. Socorro, J. Molina, L. |
author_sort |
Otero-Ferrer, F. |
title |
Spatial and seasonal patterns of European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus distribution in island coastal environments |
title_short |
Spatial and seasonal patterns of European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus distribution in island coastal environments |
title_full |
Spatial and seasonal patterns of European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus distribution in island coastal environments |
title_fullStr |
Spatial and seasonal patterns of European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus distribution in island coastal environments |
title_full_unstemmed |
Spatial and seasonal patterns of European short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus distribution in island coastal environments |
title_sort |
spatial and seasonal patterns of european short-snouted seahorse hippocampus hippocampus distribution in island coastal environments |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10553/45386 https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2015.1083476 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(163.300,163.300,-78.017,-78.017) |
geographic |
Seahorse |
geographic_facet |
Seahorse |
genre |
North East Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North East Atlantic |
op_source |
African Journal of Marine Science [ISSN 1814-232X], v. 37 (3), p. 395-404 |
op_relation |
African Journal of Marine Science 1814-232X http://hdl.handle.net/10553/45386 doi:10.2989/1814232X.2015.1083476 84945121584 404 3 395 37 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2015.1083476 |
container_title |
African Journal of Marine Science |
container_volume |
37 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
395 |
op_container_end_page |
404 |
_version_ |
1766138976650919936 |