http://hdl.handle.net/10174/14297 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:59:20 GMT 2026-08-27T11:59:20Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42495 Title: European stranding networks as a tool for monitoring marine mammal populations (Part II): assessing their utility to monitor bycatch mortality Authors: Fariñas-Bermejo, A; Petitguyot, M; Jacinto, D; Neves, F; et al. Abstract: Fisheries bycatch is an important source of direct human-induced mortality for marine mammals worldwide. Despite its significance, monitoring and quantifying bycatch mortality remains challenging. The examination of stranded animals can provide key information to assess the importance of bycatch mortality, contributing to understanding its impact on populations, and identifying the fisheries responsible. However, the utility of data from strandings remains underexplored. Based on an expert consultation using a questionnaire carried out under the auspices of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Working Group on Marine Mammal Ecology, this study assessed the potential of stranding networks in Western Europe to support the assessment of marine mammal population status and impacts of stressors. The present paper (the second of two) focuses on information on bycatch collected from strandings, and its utility for monitoring and assessing bycatch mortality. Responses from 45 organizations in 19 countries indicated that extensive information on marine mammal bycatch mortality is collected and can sometimes be used to identify the species or populations most affected by bycatch, reveal spatio-temporal trends in bycatch mortality, and determine the fisheries and/or fishing gear involved. However, the survey identified several limitations that hinder the contribution of stranding data to bycatch impact monitoring and assessment. There is a need to strengthen data collection and reporting, especially for certain taxa and regions, and for wider adoption and harmonization of best practise protocols for diagnosing causes of mortality and understanding its context, e.g. by determining health status, estimating demographic parameters, helping to identify the fishing gears responsible for bycatch mortality, and appropriately communicating the degree of uncertainty associated with interpretations. Carcass drift models could enable stranding data to be used to estimate total bycatch mortality and contribute to assessing the impact on populations. The need for adequate baseline funding for stranding networks to carry out their activities and for streamlined data reporting was widely recognized. Achieving coordinated, harmonized, large-scale and long-term data and samples collection following best practices will be essential to ensure that data from strandings on bycatch mortality can be integrated into bycatch impact assessments to inform management. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42495 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42493 Title: Global patterns and regional insights into kelp forest protection, restoration, and stewardship Authors: Eger, A; Verges, A; Jacinto, D; et al Abstract: Kelp forests are among the most extensive and productive coastal ecosystems, yet they remain underrepresented in global conservation policy despite widespread declines driven by interacting global- (i.e., ocean warming, marine heatwaves) to local-scale stressors. At the same time, kelp conservation and restoration efforts are expanding rapidly across regions, but measures of success and syntheses tend to primarily focus on ecological conditions and trends, not on conservation and restoration actions. To fill this gap, we developed a comparative global dataset of kelp conservation initiatives based on expert-derived regional narratives from 209 participants spanning 35 regions with kelp forests. We applied a structured presence–absence scoring framework across six domains: conservation actions, restoration approaches, governance actors, conservation objectives, social dimensions, and funding structures, supplemented by regional expert knowledge to enable cross-regional comparison. Across regions, conservation was characterised by strong emphasis on monitoring (86% of regions), multi-actor governance (scientific institutions 94%, government agencies 86%), and protecting existing forests (66%), while active restoration was undertaken in half of the regions. Social engagement (66%) and links to fisheries and livelihoods (69%) were widespread, whereas explicit climate adaptation objectives were less common (17%). We identify a set of conservation profiles that describe how kelp forest conservation is advancing in different ecological and governance contexts worldwide. These findings highlight that scaling kelp conservation is as dependent on the social, financial, institutional, and policy systems that govern implementation, as it is on ecological knowledge and technical capacity. By bridging regional knowledge with global analysis, this study provides a framework for aligning locally grounded conservation action with global biodiversity targets. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42493 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42330 Title: Occurrence and morphometric analysis of sorted bedforms on the Alentejo continental shelf, Southwestern Portugal. Authors: Noiva, João; Brito, Pedro; Rosa, Marcos; Ribeiro, Carlos; Terrinha, Pedro Abstract: The distribution of detrital sediments across continental shelves can provide important information on mineral concentrations, geological processes, and ecosystem substrates. On the southwestern Portuguese continental shelf, this distribution is governed by a complex interplay of hydrodynamic energy gradients, seafloor morphology, and eustatic sea-level changes. In particular, the strong energy gradient from the coastline to the shelf break, combined with open-ocean-wave dynamics, tidal regimes, and active continental uplift, determines the specific nature and grain size of submarine deposits. To better understand these dynamics, this study employed continuously recording geophysical methods, including multibeam echosounder bathymetry and backscatter, complemented by ultra-high-resolution seismic profiling and sediment sampling. Our results reveal four distinct depositional environments: homogeneous fine-grained sediments near the shelf break, sorted bedforms on the flat outer shelf, isolated sorted bedforms on the mid-shelf, and a homogeneous sand sheet near the coast. Notably, the presence of isolated bedforms at depths exceeding 80 meters suggests they are generated by wave action, reflecting the long-term impact of the Holocene sea-level rise over the last 8,000 years and possibly active mobilization under modern hydrodynamic conditions. Consequently, these findings highlight how high-resolution mapping can reveal sediment patterns and environmental histories that remain hidden through traditional discrete sampling. Sun, 31 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42330 2026-05-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/40752 Title: Preliminary observations of hunting behaviour by a freshwater threatened Leuciscidae Authors: Soares, Marta; Cardoso, S.C.; Anastácio, P.M.; Banha, F. Abstract: Freshwater ecosystems host diverse fish species that employ various foraging strategies, including hunting, a behaviour more commonly documented in marine environments. This study focuses on the threatened Iberian chub, Squalius pyrenaicus, in the Vascão River, Portugal, a species known for its opportunistic feeding. Using an underwater camera, we observed 45 predatory events in which S. pyrenaicus employed two tactics: solitary pursuit and group hunting. In group hunting, individuals coordinated attacks, encircling and taking turns pursuing prey. While all attacks seem unsuccessful, one feeding event was recorded where two S. pyrenaicus individuals interacted to capture a prey fish. Our findings suggest that S. pyrenaicus may rely on rudimentary social behaviors during solitary and group hunting, potentially influenced by environmental factors. This is the first report of such behaviour in this species, underscoring the need for further research into social and cognitive aspects of freshwater fish predation, particularly in light of ecosystem threats like invasive species and climate change. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/40752 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z