The Large Marine Ecosystem Concept: Research and Management Strategy for Living Marine Resources

Abstract An extensive review of cephalopod fauna in the Central and North Atlantic coast of Africa was performed based on material collected during 10 research cruises in these waters. In the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) area, a total of 378,377 cephalopod specimens was collected from 1247 bottom trawl stations. Of those specimens, 300 were sampled for subsequent identification in the laboratory and found to belong to 65 different species and 23 families. After an exhaustive review of the existing literature on the cephalopods and new data obtained from the surveys, an updated checklist of 138 species was generated for the CCLME area. Our knowledge of the known geographic distribution ranges of several species has been expanded: Muusoctopus januarii has been sighted from Guinea–Bissau waters, passing through Western Sahara, to Morocco waters for the first time; Lepidoteuthis grimaldii and Octopus salutii have been sighted off Morocco waters for the first time; Austrorossia mastigophora, Abralia (Heterabralia) siedleckyi, Abralia (Pygmabralia) redfieldi and Sepiola atlantica have been cited off Western Sahara waters for the first time; Magnoteuthis magna, Abralia (Asteroteuthis) veranyi and Octopoteuthis megaptera have been sighted off Moroccan and Western Sahara waters for the first time; Ancistroteuthis lichtensteinii, Opisthoteuthis grimaldii, Onykia robsoni, Muusoctopus levis and Bathypolypus valdiviae have been cited in the Guinea–Bissau coast for the first time; the northern geographic limit of Bathypolypus ergasticus has been expanded to Morocco, Western Sahara and Mauritania and southward to Guinea–Bissau waters. The presence of Muusoctopus johnsonianus in Senegalese waters has been reported for the first time. A Chtenopteryx sicula specimen was reported in Western Sahara waters. A specimen belonging to the poorly known Cirrothauma murrayi species was found in South Moroccan waters. Amphitretus pelagicus, a probably cosmopolitan species, has been reported in the Western Sahara and Guinea–Bissau waters. Some species that were previously recorded in the area, Sepia angulata, Sepia hieronis, Heteroteuthis dagamensis, Helicocranchia joubini and Tremoctopus gelatus, were removed from the final checklist and considered to be not present in the CCLME area. Cycloteuthis akimushkini was substituted with Cycloteuthis sirventi, its senior synonym, in the final checklist. Similarly, Mastigoteuthis flammea and Mastigoteuthis grimaldii were substituted with Mastigoteuthis agassizii.

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On the robustness of an eastern boundary upwelling ecosystem exposed to multiple stressors

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81549-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ndague Diogoul ◽

Patrice Brehmer ◽

Hervé Demarcq ◽

Salaheddine El Ayoubi ◽

Abou Thiam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Stressors ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Relative Index ◽

Upwelling System ◽

The North ◽

Latitudinal Shift ◽

Large Marine Ecosystem ◽

North And South

AbstractThe resistance of an east border upwelling system was investigated using relative index of marine pelagic biomass estimates under a changing environment spanning 20-years in the strongly exploited southern Canary Current Large marine Ecosystem (sCCLME). We divided the sCCLME in two parts (north and south of Cap Blanc), based on oceanographic regimes. We delineated two size-based groups (“plankton” and “pelagic fish”) corresponding to lower and higher trophic levels, respectively. Over the 20-year period, all spatial remote sensing environmental variables increased significantly, except in the area south of Cap Blanc where sea surface Chlorophyll-a concentrations declined and the upwelling favorable wind was stable. Relative index of marine pelagic abundance was higher in the south area compared to the north area of Cap Blanc. No significant latitudinal shift to the mass center was detected, regardless of trophic level. Relative pelagic abundance did not change, suggesting sCCLME pelagic organisms were able to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Despite strong annual variability and the presence of major stressors (overfishing, climate change), the marine pelagic ressources, mainly fish and plankton remained relatively stable over the two decades, advancing our understanding on the resistance of this east border upwelling system.

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An Integrated Mathematical Model of the Large Marine Ecosystem of the Barents Sea and the White Sea as a Tool for Assessing Natural Risks and Efficient Use of Biological Resources

Doklady Earth Sciences ◽

10.1134/s1028334x19080117 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 487 (2) ◽

pp. 963-968

Author(s):

S. V. Berdnikov ◽

V. V. Kulygin ◽

V. V. Sorokina ◽

L. V. Dashkevich ◽

I. V. Sheverdyaev

Keyword(s):

Mathematical Model ◽

Barents Sea ◽

White Sea ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

The White Sea ◽

Biological Resources ◽

The Barents Sea ◽

Large Marine Ecosystem

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Critical In-Water Habitats for Post-Nesting Sea Turtles from the Southern Gulf of Mexico

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse9080793 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 793

Author(s):

Abigail Uribe-Martínez ◽

María de los Angeles Liceaga-Correa ◽

Eduardo Cuevas

Keyword(s):

Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

Satellite Telemetry ◽

Marine Turtle ◽

Home Ranges ◽

The Bahamas ◽

Turtle Species ◽

Southern Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Large Marine Ecosystem ◽

Physical Features

Marine turtles are globally endangered species that spend more than 95% of their life cycle in in-water habitats. Nevertheless, most of the conservation, recovery and research efforts have targeted the on-land habitats, due to their easier access, where adult females lay their eggs. Targeting the large knowledge gaps on the in-water critical habitats of turtles, particularly in the Large Marine Ecosystem Gulf of Mexico, is crucial for their conservation and recovery in the long term. We used satellite telemetry to track 85 nesting females from their beaches after they nested to identify their feeding and residency habitats, their migratory corridors and to describe the context for those areas. We delimited major migratory corridors in the southern Gulf of Mexico and West Caribbean and described physical features of internesting and feeding home ranges located mainly around the Yucatan Peninsula and Veracruz, Mexico. We also contributed by describing general aggregation and movement patterns for the four marine turtle species in the Atlantic, expanding the knowledge of the studied species. Several tracked individuals emigrated from the Gulf of Mexico to as far as Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Bahamas. This information is critical for identifying gaps in marine protection and for deciphering the spatial connectivity in large ocean basins, and it provides an opportunity to assess potential impacts on marine turtle populations and their habitats.

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