Role of Upwelling on Larval Dispersal and Productivity of Gooseneck Barnacle Populations in the Cantabrian Sea: Management Implications

Abstract

The effect of coastal upwelling on the recruitment and connectivity of coastal marine populations has rarely been characterized to a level of detail to be included into sound fishery management strategies. The gooseneck barnacle (Pollicipes pollicipes) fishery at the Cantabrian Coast (Northern Spain) is located at the fringes of the NW Spanish Upwelling system. This fishery is being co-managed through a fine-scale, interspersed set of protected rocks where each rock receives a distinct level of protection. Such interspersion is potentially beneficial, but the extent to which such spacing is consistent with mean larval dispersal distances is as yet unknown. We have simulated the spread of gooseneck barnacle larvae in the Central Cantabrian Coast using a high-resolution time-series of current profiles measured at a nearshore location. During a year of high upwelling activity (2009), theoretical recruitment success was 94% with peak recruitment predicted 56 km west of the emission point. However, for a year of low upwelling activity (2011) theoretical recruitment success dropped to 15.4% and peak recruitment was expected 13 km east of the emission point. This is consistent with a positive correlation between catch rates and the Integrated Upwelling Index, using a 4-year lag to allow recruits to reach commercial size. Furthermore, a net long-term westward larval transport was estimated by means of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences for five populations in the Cantabrian Sea. Our results call into question the role of long distance dispersal, driven by the mesoscale processes in the area, in gooseneck barnacle populations and point to the prevalent role of small-scale, asymmetric connectivity more consistent with the typical scale of the co-management process in this fishery.

Contrasting seasonal and spatial distribution of native and invasive Codium seaweed revealed by targeting species‐specific eDNA

“…Similar coexisting acclimatization of two native and invasive kelp species in the same environment has been previously evidenced, where habitat preferences were identified through specific gene expression in correlation with temperature shifts (Henkel & Hofmann, 2008). The results show that C. fragile was the predominant species during autumn sampling, whereas previously it had been predominantly found in the summer period (Rojo et al, 2014 (Rivera et al, 2013). High chlorophyll concentration levels in summer have also been observed to have a positive effect on settlement of another invasive seaweed, the Asian kelp Undaria pinnatifida along the Cantabrian coast (Báez et al, 2010).…”

“…With the increasing temperatures along the N Spanish coast (Gómez‐Gesteira, Decastro, Alvarez, & Gómez‐Gesteira, ), a range shift in the relative abundance of seaweed species (Duarte et al, ; Voerman, Llera, & Rico, ) and the potential increase of C. fragile toward the west could be expected. Years with increased coastal upwelling at the Central Cantabrian Coast could potentially increase the seaweed distribution, as observed for the planktonic phase of local barnacle populations (Rivera et al, ). High chlorophyll concentration levels in summer have also been observed to have a positive effect on settlement of another invasive seaweed, the Asian kelp Undaria pinnatifida along the Cantabrian coast (Báez et al, ).…”

Seascape genetics of the spiny lobster Panulirus homarus in the Western Indian Ocean: Understanding how oceanographic features shape the genetic structure of species with high larval dispersal potential

“…Migrations and spawning behavior of adult spiny lobsters may mitigate the influence of the Agulhas Current on the downstream dispersal of larvae (Groeneveld & Branch, ; Santos, Rouillard, & Groeneveld, ), through determining the location and timing of larval release. Vertical migration of larvae in the water column has been shown to favor larval retention close to local shores (Phelps, Polton, Souza, & Robinson, ; Rivera et al, ). Teske, Sandoval‐Castillo, Sebille, Waters, and Beheregaray (), Teske, Sandoval‐Castillo, Sebille, Waters, and Beheregaray () showed that larvae can remain close to the shore and be dispersed by inshore counter‐currents.…”

“…Migrations and spawning behavior of adult spiny lobsters may mitigate the influence of the Agulhas Current on the downstream dispersal of larvae (Groeneveld & Branch, 2002;Santos, Rouillard, & Groeneveld, 2014), through determining the location and timing of larval release. Vertical migration of larvae in the water column has been shown to favor larval retention close to local shores (Phelps, Polton, Souza, & Robinson, 2015;Rivera et al, 2013 (2016) showed that larvae can remain close to the shore and be dispersed by inshore counter-currents. We suggest that P. homarus larvae can position themselves to avoid being caught up in the main Agulhas Current, and are instead dispersed by inshore counter-currents.…”

The clam Neilonella sulculata in San Jorge Gulf (Argentina, Southwest Atlantic): spatial distribution pattern and inverse relationship between size and density

“…Poulin et al 2002;Lagos et al 2007;Tapia et al 2009;Pfaff et al 2011;and references therein). For instance, an upwelling system in the Cantabrian Sea may not only define the spatial scale and direction of the dispersal of a gooseneck barnacle, but also the genetic structure of its metapopulation (Rivera et al 2013).…”