MARBENA

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MARBENA
Electronic conference on Genetic Biodiversity
in Marine Ecosystems Measurement, Understanding
and Management
Keith Hiscock
vliz
Supported by the European Commission under the
Fifth Framework Programme and contributing to the
implementation of the key action Sustainable
Marine Ecosystems within Energy, Environment
and Sustainable Development.
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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
Some MARBENA objectives

• to create a long-term infrastructure for marine
  biodiversity research in Europe

• to create visibility for marine biodiversity
  issues in Europe, including

• to organize electronic conferences on selected
  themes providing relevant information on the
  marine biodiversity issues for use in the
  meetings of EPBRS

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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
MARBENA E-conference themes

• European heritage under threat Marine
  Biodiversity in Mediterranean Ecosystems
• Marine Biodiversity in the Baltic and the
  European context
• Marine Biodiversity in the Mediterranean and the
  European context
• Newly Associated States and Marine Biodiversity
  Research
• The Future of Marine Biodiversity Research in
  Europe

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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
Making the link to
Genetic biodiversity in natural and agricultural
systems.
Main marine issues chosen

• emphasizing the impact of human activities on
  genetic biodiversity in the marine environment

• emphasizing aquaculture as closest analogy to
  agriculture

• emphasizing fisheries as closest analogy to
  hunting.

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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
Key facts for genetic biodiversity in the sea
1. 35 phyla are represented in the sea, only 15
on land.
2. Of the 1.5 1.8 million named species on
earth only 15 are found in the sea.
3. There is greater connectivity in the sea
than on land,
or is there?
4. There are significant barriers to spread in
the sea

• physical, e.g. unsuitable habitats, adverse
  currents

• biological, e.g. larval biology - short lived.

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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
Topic 1 Natural marine systems
(Chaired by Ferruccio Maltagliati Thierry
Backeljau)
Some issues from the Chairs

• Most of marine biodiversity at species and
  intraspecific levels is still unknown.

• There is a belief that biodiversity in marine
  systems is much less vulnerable to extinction by
  humans than on land.

• How to measure/monitor biodiversity?

The great auk - the only marine species known to
have been made extinct by humans in the NE
Atlantic.

• What concepts can be used to conserve marine
  biodiversity?

• (See www.eumar.tmbl.gu.se)

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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
Topic 1 Natural marine systems
Some issues from the discussion

• Need for species lists to identify marine
  biodiversity hotspots.

• Morphospecies preferred to genetic typing to
  chart biodiversity.

• Do terrestrial concepts of habitat fragmentation
  apply in the sea (connectivity issue)?

• Understanding life history traits is important
  for conservation science.

Keith Hiscock
Maerl beds - marine biodiversity hotspots

• Genetic survey/monitoring is important for
  conservation science.

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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
Topic 2 Fisheries Aquaculture
(Chaired by Richard Law Brendan McAndrew)
Fisheries issues (R. Law)

• Natural populations are being selectively culled.

• Human activities are enhancing fragmentation of
  populations.

• Genetic changes are occurring in fish stocks as
  a result of fisheries-induced selection.

Catching big fish in small numbers. Stanhope A.
Forbes 1885.

• Over-exploitation may lead to extinction of some
  at least local stocks.

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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
Topic 2 Fisheries Aquaculture
Some issues from the discussion Fisheries

• Danger of complete destruction of the gene pool
  (extinction) is of concern.

• Preferentially taking-out larger fish is
  altering the gene pool.

• Designate substantial parts of the marine realm
  as No-Take marine protected areas to maintain
  stocks?

MBA archives

• Do we need a new (Darwinian) fisheries science?

Fish harvesting - catching fewer and smaller fish.
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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
Topic 2 Fisheries Aquaculture
(Chaired by Richard Law Brendan McAndrew)
Aquaculture issues (B. McAndrew)

• Genetic variability is reduced in farmed stock.

• Escapees (fin fish) that interbreed with wild
  stocks may weaken adaptation and survival of wild
  stocks.

Keith Hiscock

• Continued decline in wild stocks is encouraging
  farming of species such as cod and haddock.

Trays of non-native Pacific oyster Crassostrea
gigas.
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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
Topic 2 Fisheries Aquaculture
Some issues from the discussion Aquaculture

• Inability of politicians to manage wild stocks
  will lead to expansion of farmed fish.

• Use of only indigenous salmon strains is being
  considered for a particular area.

• Could population genetics provide early warning
  tools for conservation?

www.aquafact.ie
(If there are extensive concerns about
aquaculture impacts on genetic biodiversity,
there was little expression in the discussion.)
Atlantic salmon production is now 1.2 million
tonnes worldwide. European wild catch is lt5,000
tonnes.
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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
Topic 3 Effects of human activities
(Chaired by Frédérique Viard Marco Abbiati)
Some issues from the Chairs

• Biological invasions are a threat to marine
  biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

• Recent molecular tools can assist in discovering
  dispersal routes of non-native invaders.

Keith Hiscock

• Human activities are enhancing fragmentation of
  habitats

The invasive non-native slipper limpet Crepidula
fornicata -imported with shellfish.

• Human activities are connecting previously
  fragmented habitats.

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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
Topic 3 Effects of human activities
Some issues from the discussion

• Human activities may increase habitat and
  therefore genetic diversity .

• Genetic studies are important in informing
  conservation action including understanding
  degree of connectiveness of populations to assess
  recovery potential.

• There is a need to develop more practical tools
  to assess genetic diversity for management as
  well as extending basic knowledge about marine
  biodiversity.

Arun District Council
Hard sea defences may bridge existing barriers
to species range extension.
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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
Final conclusions

• Phyletic diversity is much higher in the sea
  than on land, although only 15 of recorded
  species are found in the sea.

• The concerns that pre-occupy agriculture on land
  - especially genetic manipulation/modification -
  do not seem to over-worry marine biologists (at
  the moment).

• However, there are many ways in which human
  activities are reducing genetic diversity in
  marine species through

• connecting previously fragmented habitats
• over-exploitation of fish stocks
• selective breeding for aquaculture (and
  escapees)
• deliberate and accidental introduction of
  non-native species.

• Molecular genetics offers some powerful tools to
  inform decision-making about human activities and
  how to reduce adverse effects (conservation).

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Genetic biodiversity in marine ecosystems
And, finally, thanks especially to
Co-chairs Ferruccio Maltagliati, University of
Pisa, Italy Thierry Backeljau, Royal Belgian
Institute of Natural Sciences Richard Law,
University of York, UK Brendan McAndrew,
University of Stirling, UK Frédérique Viard,
Biological Station Roscoff, France Marco Abbiati,
University of Bologna, Italy
Web site and Proceedings editor Ward Appeltans,
Flanders Marine Institute, Belgium
BioPlatform Conference organizers,
especially Federica Pannacciulli and Isabel
Sousa Pinto