Clarifying species identity in Aphanopus using wavelet-based otolith shape analysis.
Accurate species identification is crucial for effective fisheries management, particularly for cryptic species with overlapping ranges and similar morphologies. This study explores the coexistence and distribution of Aphanopus carbo and Aphanopus intermedius in the northeastern Atlantic over four d...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326199 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849329558022520832 |
|---|---|
| author | Joana Vasconcelos Javier Martinez Airam Guerra-Marrero José Otero-Ferrer Alba Jurado-Ruzafa Ricardo Sousa Carlos Hernández-González Mafalda Freitas Víctor M Tuset |
| author_facet | Joana Vasconcelos Javier Martinez Airam Guerra-Marrero José Otero-Ferrer Alba Jurado-Ruzafa Ricardo Sousa Carlos Hernández-González Mafalda Freitas Víctor M Tuset |
| author_sort | Joana Vasconcelos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Accurate species identification is crucial for effective fisheries management, particularly for cryptic species with overlapping ranges and similar morphologies. This study explores the coexistence and distribution of Aphanopus carbo and Aphanopus intermedius in the northeastern Atlantic over four decades using otolith contour analysis. Otolith samples were collected from Madeira and the African coast between 1990 and 2021 and analyzed using a wavelet-based method, which improves species discrimination by capturing finer morphological details. The analysis revealed stable species proportions over time, with A. carbo generally dominating the catches ([Formula: see text]55-60%), except in 2010 when a decline was observed. A higher presence of A. intermedius in offshore areas may be associated with increased salinity near Madeira Island during the spawning season (October-December). Environmental changes, including variations in temperature and salinity at depths greater than 800 m, and the progressive expansion of the drifting longline fishery to new grounds, likely influenced these patterns. This study demonstrates that combining otolith contour analysis with genetically identified reference specimens enhances species discrimination and provides valuable insights into population dynamics and habitat use. These findings contribute to more effective fisheries management and stock assessments for these economically important scabbardfish in the northeastern Atlantic. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a9b6056c10cb4472aa35eee02caa735a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-a9b6056c10cb4472aa35eee02caa735a2025-08-20T03:47:13ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01206e032619910.1371/journal.pone.0326199Clarifying species identity in Aphanopus using wavelet-based otolith shape analysis.Joana VasconcelosJavier MartinezAiram Guerra-MarreroJosé Otero-FerrerAlba Jurado-RuzafaRicardo SousaCarlos Hernández-GonzálezMafalda FreitasVíctor M TusetAccurate species identification is crucial for effective fisheries management, particularly for cryptic species with overlapping ranges and similar morphologies. This study explores the coexistence and distribution of Aphanopus carbo and Aphanopus intermedius in the northeastern Atlantic over four decades using otolith contour analysis. Otolith samples were collected from Madeira and the African coast between 1990 and 2021 and analyzed using a wavelet-based method, which improves species discrimination by capturing finer morphological details. The analysis revealed stable species proportions over time, with A. carbo generally dominating the catches ([Formula: see text]55-60%), except in 2010 when a decline was observed. A higher presence of A. intermedius in offshore areas may be associated with increased salinity near Madeira Island during the spawning season (October-December). Environmental changes, including variations in temperature and salinity at depths greater than 800 m, and the progressive expansion of the drifting longline fishery to new grounds, likely influenced these patterns. This study demonstrates that combining otolith contour analysis with genetically identified reference specimens enhances species discrimination and provides valuable insights into population dynamics and habitat use. These findings contribute to more effective fisheries management and stock assessments for these economically important scabbardfish in the northeastern Atlantic.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326199 |
| spellingShingle | Joana Vasconcelos Javier Martinez Airam Guerra-Marrero José Otero-Ferrer Alba Jurado-Ruzafa Ricardo Sousa Carlos Hernández-González Mafalda Freitas Víctor M Tuset Clarifying species identity in Aphanopus using wavelet-based otolith shape analysis. PLoS ONE |
| title | Clarifying species identity in Aphanopus using wavelet-based otolith shape analysis. |
| title_full | Clarifying species identity in Aphanopus using wavelet-based otolith shape analysis. |
| title_fullStr | Clarifying species identity in Aphanopus using wavelet-based otolith shape analysis. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clarifying species identity in Aphanopus using wavelet-based otolith shape analysis. |
| title_short | Clarifying species identity in Aphanopus using wavelet-based otolith shape analysis. |
| title_sort | clarifying species identity in aphanopus using wavelet based otolith shape analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0326199 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joanavasconcelos clarifyingspeciesidentityinaphanopususingwaveletbasedotolithshapeanalysis AT javiermartinez clarifyingspeciesidentityinaphanopususingwaveletbasedotolithshapeanalysis AT airamguerramarrero clarifyingspeciesidentityinaphanopususingwaveletbasedotolithshapeanalysis AT joseoteroferrer clarifyingspeciesidentityinaphanopususingwaveletbasedotolithshapeanalysis AT albajuradoruzafa clarifyingspeciesidentityinaphanopususingwaveletbasedotolithshapeanalysis AT ricardosousa clarifyingspeciesidentityinaphanopususingwaveletbasedotolithshapeanalysis AT carloshernandezgonzalez clarifyingspeciesidentityinaphanopususingwaveletbasedotolithshapeanalysis AT mafaldafreitas clarifyingspeciesidentityinaphanopususingwaveletbasedotolithshapeanalysis AT victormtuset clarifyingspeciesidentityinaphanopususingwaveletbasedotolithshapeanalysis |