Abstract Chondrichthyans are a vulnerable group that has been overexploited for almost half century in the Mediterranean. Since this area most chondrichthyans rarely incorporated into international statistics, impact of fishing on their populations is difficult to assess. Here, we evaluate temporal trends order understand recent history western Fishery-independent data were obtained from scientific surveys carried out 1994 2015 three geographical sub-areas. Our results reflect fairly stable...

Exploited fish species may have or are experiencing declines in population sizes coupled with changes their environmental conditions owing to global change. Declining populations might lead a decrease genetic diversity, which turn produce losses of adaptive potential face current and future changes. Thus, this study aims answer simple, even naive question, given the complexity subject: Could we use simple method obtain information on loss diversity exploited species? We investigated levels...

The composition and structure of demersal chondrichthyan assemblages the biological parameters their main species were compared in four geographical subareas (GSAs) established by General Fisheries Commission for Mediterranean western Mediterranean:northern Alboran Sea (GSA01) Island (GSA02), Balearic Islands (GSA05) northern Spain (GSA06), with first two being considered jointly. Data obtained from 199 hauls undertaken May to June 2013 during Spanish International Bottom Trawl Survey...

Fisheries management involves a broad and complex set of tasks that are necessary to prevent overfishing help the recovery overfished stock. Monitoring fishing activities based on two main sources, landings data scientific surveys, is challenging task. collection often limited, which compromises accuracy results obtained. Therefore, several emerging applications molecular methods have potential provide unique understanding ecological processes in marine environments build stronger empirical...

ABSTRACT Aim To describe and analyse phylogeographical patterns in the endangered endemic lizard Podarcis lilfordi from across its remaining range thereby establish baseline information on genetic diversity that will help determine conservation priorities assist future reintroduction programs. Location Balearic Islands, Spain. Methods We analysed mitochondrial DNA (2382 bp sequence eight genes) 118 individuals characterized relationships among haplotypes using parsimony networks, as well...

The association between polymorphism at the mc1r locus and colour variation was studied in two wall lizard species (Podarcis lilfordi P. pityusensis) from Balearic archipelago. Podarcis comprises several deep mitochondrial lineages, oldest of which originated Pliocene, while much shallower lineages are found pityusensis. Here, we examined whether specific substitutions were associated with melanic colouration islet populations these species. Homologous nuclear sequences covering most gene...

Abstract Two monophyletic sister species of wall lizards inhabit the two main groups B alearic I slands: P odarcis lilfordi from islets and small islands around M allorca enorca pityusensis biza, F ormentera associated islets. Genetic diversity within endangered . has been well characterized, but not studied in depth. Here, 2430 bp mt DNA 15 microsatellite loci were analysed populations across its natural range. genetic groupings identified, although geographical structuring differed...

Abstract Aims To characterize the genetic and morphological diversification of endangered Balearic lizard Podarcis lilfordi to assess relevance this diversity, how it is described, conservation measures. Location This study covers all populations lizard, , present in its range distribution at coastal islets Menorca, Mallorca Cabrera Archipelago. Methods We analysed variation across 43 known extant using mitochondrial nuclear markers. examined morphometric scalation characters using, some...

The present study confirms the presence of Norwegian skate Dipturus nidarosiensis (Storm, 1881) in Mediterranean Sea, by means morphological traits and molecular markers providing first record this species Alboran Sea. Cannas et al. (2010) reported D. for time from specimens captured central western basin, but Ebert & Stehmann (2013) (2015) considered these records "likely refer to smaller morphotype, sp.", a not yet described. Eight genus (Rajiformes: Rajidae) were caught off Island...

Abstract Batoidea (rays, skates and their relatives) is the largest group included in subclass Elasmobranchii. Mediterranean fauna relatively diverse, characterised by a history of isolation connectivity resulting from tectonic movements changes ocean circulation. The evolutionary histories species were estimated two mitochondrial markers (COI NADH2) through dating Bayesian analyses. Additionally, delimitation analyses (Poisson Tree Process General Mixed Yule Coalescent) conducted to...

Podarcis tiliguerta is a wall lizard endemic to the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia. Previous findings high mtDNA morphological diversity have led suggestion that it may represent species complex. Here, we analysed mitochondrial nuclear markers (mtDNA, 3110 bp; 6 nDNA loci, 3961 bp) in P. sampled from thirty-two localities across We find much greater intraspecific genetic divergence than between sister other island Podarcis, i.e., lilfordi pityusensis. detected three clusters...

Abstract The poorly known sponge species Axinella vellerea (Topsent, 1904), Acarnus levii (Vacelet, 1960) and Haliclona poecillastroides 1969) are reported from bottom-trawl samples off the Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean. A re-description is provided for all three Folmer fragment of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) obtained A. H. . This second report in Mediterranean, first time that outside Corsica documented Gulf Lion, France. systematic allocation discussed based on a COI...

Abstract The phylogenetic relationships among the wall lizards of Podarcis hispanicus complex that inhabit south‐east (SE) Iberian Peninsula and other lineages remain unclear. In this study, four mitochondrial two nuclear markers were used to study genetic within complex. analyses based on mtDNA gene trees constructed with ML BI, a species tree using *BEAST support three divergent clades in region: Valencia, Galera Albacete/Murcia lineages. These also corroborated delimitation bPTP, mPTP,...

Abstract Podarcis lilfordi is an endemic lizard found on islands and islets off the coast of Mallorca Menorca (including Cabrera archipelago) in Balearic Islands, which extinct two main themselves. Analyses mtDNA revealed four unconnected parsimony networks. These represented (I) all Menorcan populations, (II) Dragonera, Malgrats Toro (Western Mallorca), (III IV) remaining populations from Mallorca. We applied NCPA to evaluate its utility understanding genetic sub-structure. Within network...

The Ibizan wall lizard, Podarcis pityusensis, was the subject of several documented translocations by German vertebrate zoologist Martin Eisentraut, in 1930. He aimed to initiate long-term experiments into evolution melanism and other morphological traits accordingly he designed introductions five islets that (he believed) contained no lizards. In this study, we analyzed genetic characteristics individuals found there. We lizards on two islets, namely Escull de Tramuntana Galera, but for...

Abstract Exploited fish species may have or are experiencing declines in population sizes coupled with a decrease genetic diversity. This can lead to the loss of adaptive potential face current and future environmental changes. However, little is known about this subject while research on it urgently needed. Thus, study aims answer simple, even naive question, given complexity subject: Could we use simple method obtain information diversity exploited species? We investigated levels widely...