Alfredo López Fernandez

University of Aveiro | UA · Department of Biology

Diet studies on the endangered and genetically distinct Iberian population of the southern harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena are scarce. The present study provides updated information on the feeding ecology of this cetacean along the Galician coast (NW Spain) over the last 3 decades (1990-2018). The stomach contents of 72 stranded harbour porpoise...

Abstract: In the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps, Blainville 1838), vibrissae are present in neonates, but within a few months the hairs are lost, and the structures remain as empty vibrissal crypts (VCs). In this work, we have studied histologically the facial vibrissal follicles of two juveniles and one adult specimens stranded dead. A few VCs...

Fishery bycatch mortality is generally considered to be the main threat to cetaceans in European Atlantic waters. The marine waters in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula are among the richest in fishery resources in Europe and, consequently, they are also very important for fisheries. Analysis of cause of death and life history data from strand...

The Iberian harbour porpoise population is small and fisheries bycatch has been described as one of its most important threats. Data on harbour porpoise strandings collected by the Portuguese and Galician stranding networks between 2000 and 2020 are indicative of a recent mortality increase in the western Iberian coast (particularly in northern Por...

In oceanic ecosystems, the nature of barriers to gene flow, and the processes by which populations may become isolated are different from the terrestrial environment, and less well understood. In this study we investigate a highly mobile species (the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus) that is genetically differentiated between an open North Atlan...

Cetaceans play an important role in maintaining the health and stability of marine ecosystems. To understand the trophic relationships of these top predators in waters off the Northwest Iberian Peninsula, and to determine their possible competition with fisheries, the stomach contents of 751 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), 60 striped dolphins...

Parasite biodiversity in cetaceans represents a neglected component of the marine ecosystem. This study aimed to investigate the distribution and genetic diversity of anisakid nematodes of the genus Anisakis sampled in cetaceans from the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. A total of 478 adults and pre-adults of Anisakis spp. was id...

The Iberian porpoise population is small and under potentially unsustainable removal by fisheries bycatch. Recently, a marine Site of Community Importance (SIC) was legally approved in Portugal, but no measures ensued to promote porpoise conservation. Information about porpoise abundance and distribution is fundamental to guide any future conservat...

Several recent studies have suggested that the Iberian harbour porpoise is genetically and morphologically distinct and may represent a separate subspecies. The main threat facing this population is fishery bycatch. Recent data on porpoise bycatch are available from strandings and on-board observations. Generally, more bycaught porpoises are record...

The Columbus crab (Planes minutus) is a small pelagic species that lives on floating material, both natural and artificial, and that can be found associated with sea turtles. In Galicia they had never been observed on more than 100 turtles examined in rehabilitation centre since 1990. In 2017 the first crab was found, and in 2021 crabs were found i...

The neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a non-proteinogenic amino acid produced by several species of both prokaryotic (cyanobacteria) and eukaryotic (diatoms) microorganisms, has been proposed to be associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases. At first, BMAA appeared to be ubiquitously present worldwide in various organi...

In this work, the fetal and newborn anatomical structures of the dolphin oropharyngeal cavities were studied. The main technique used was endoscopy, as these cavities are narrow tubular spaces and the oral cavity is difficult to photograph without moving the specimen. The endoscope was used to study the mucosal features of the oral and pharyngeal c...

Our goal was to analyze the main anatomical structures of the dolphin external nose and nasal cavity from fetal developmental stages to adult. Endoscopy was used to study the common development of the external nose and the melon, and nasal mucosa. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and anatomical sections were correlated with anatomical sections. Com...

Do 26 de febreiro ao 14 de marzo de 2020 ao menos 248 aves mariñas manchadas dunha substancia oleaxinosa de cor laranxa foron atopadas en praias da fachada occidental galega. Neste artigo analízase a diversidade específica e temporalidade da arribada destas aves ás praias galegas, concluíndose que a maioría (78%) eran araos papagaios (Fratercula ar...

Harbour porpoises in the Iberian Peninsula form a genetically distinct, small (around 2900 animals) and isolated population. Their main prey are commercially important fish, hence overlap between porpoise occurrence and fishing activity is almost inevitable. We compile information on bycatch mortality, mainly collected over the last 15 years, based...

Highly migratory marine species pose a challenge for the identification of management units due to the absence of clear oceanographic barriers. The population structure of North Atlantic fin whales has been investigated since the start of whaling operations but is still the subject of an ongoing scientific debate. Here we measured stable isotopes o...

Species of Anisakis typically infect the stomach of cetaceans worldwide, often causing ulcerative lesions that may compromise the host's health. These nematodes also cause anisakiasis or allergic reactions in humans. To assess the risks of this emerging zoonosis, data on long-term changes in Anisakis infections in cetaceans are necessary. Here, we...

Our objective was to analyze the main anatomical structures of the dolphin head during its developmental stages. Most dolphin studies use only one fetal specimen due to the difficulty in obtaining these materials. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) of two fetuses (younger and older) and a perinatal specimen cadaver of str...

The composition of mammalian microbiota has been related with the host health status. In this study, we assessed the oral microbiome of 3 cetacean species most commonly found stranded in Iberian Atlantic waters (Delphinus delphis, Stenella coeruleoalba and Phocoena phocoena), using 16S rDNA-amplicon metabarcoding. All oral microbiomes were dominate...

The basking shark Cetorhinus maximus is a plankton feeding shark (Lamniformes: Cetorhinidae) distributed worldwide in boreal to warm temperature waters. The presence in Spanish and Portuguese Iberian waters is poor documented although this species occurs and it is well-known by fishermen. In this work we present data on basking shark presence in 30...

For millennia, whales have been used as a food source, initially probably opportunistically, with the use of stranded animals on beaches, and later by active hunting. The Basques pioneered commercial whaling first in the neighbouring Cantabrian Sea (11th century) and then in Newfoundland and Labrador (16th century). The North Atlantic right whale (...

The incidence of cetacean strandings is expected to depend on a combination of factors, including the distribution and abundance of the cetaceans, their prey, and causes of mortality (e.g. natural, fshery bycatch), as well as currents and winds which afect whether carcasses reach the shore. We investigated spatiotemporal patterns and trends in the...

Global changes, and particularly the massive release of CO2 to the atmosphere and subsequent global warming, have altered the baselines of carbon and oxygen stable isotopic ratios. Temporal shifts in these baselines can be advantageously monitored through cetacean skin samples because these animals are highly mobile and therefore integrate in their...

The incidence of cetacean strandings is expected to depend on a combination of factors, including the distribution and abundance of the cetaceans, their prey, and causes of mortality (e.g. natural, fishery bycatch), as well as currents and winds which affect whether carcasses reach the shore. We investigated spatiotemporal patterns and trends in th...

Infanticide is considered a conspicuous expression of sexual conflict amongst mammals, including bottlenose dolphins. Although reported previously in this species, confirmed cases of infanticide and associated epimeletic behaviour are very rare and their socio-behavioural context remains poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence of epimeletic an...

Concentrations of thirty two polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in the blubber of five sympatric species of odontocetes stranded or by-caught along the Northwest coast of the Iberian Peninsula: common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), striped dolphin (Stene...

Background The critically endangered Kemp’s ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) has a reduced distribution range concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico and only a few pelagic stage juveniles occasionally strand on European coasts. In the study area only three individuals have been recorded previously, most recently in 2001. ResultsFour new records of K...

The goblin shark Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan, 1898 (Chondrichthyes: Lamniformes:Mitsukurinidae) is a poorly known deepwater shark. The species is distributed worldwide in deep waters down to 1500 m and most records are at upper slopes, submarine canyons and ridges. This shark is very characterized by a long and well depressed paddle-like snout, slen...

Background Screening Atlantic cetacean populations for Cetacean Morbillivirus (CeMV) is essential to understand the epidemiology of the disease. In Europe, Portugal and Spain have the highest cetacean stranding rates, mostly due to the vast extension of coastline. Morbillivirus infection has been associated with high morbidity and mortality in ceta...

Determining how intra-specific genetic diversity is apportioned among natural populations is essential for detecting local adaptation and identifying populations with inherently low levels of extant diversity which may become a conservation concern. Sequence polymorphism at two adaptive loci (MHC DRA and DQB) was investigated in long-finned pilot w...

Romay, C. D.; Covelo, P.; López, A.; Ferreiro, G. & González, E. 2016. Vertebrados mecos. III: mamíferos e réptiles mariños da contorna do municipio do Grove. Aunios, 21: 43-45. > Records of cetaceans, seals and marine chelonians around O Grove (SW Galicia, NW Spain) are summarized.

In several parts of the NE Atlantic cetacean strandings monitoring has been ongoing for the last two and a half decades, providing long series of stomach contents data, especially for harbour porpoise and common dolphin but also to a lesser extent for several other small cetacean species. Interpretation of such data can be challenging due to hetero...

The coastal preferences of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) intensify their exposure to human activities. The harbour porpoise Iberian population is presently very small and information about the threats it endures is vital for the conservation efforts that are being implemented to avoid local extinction. The present study explored the possible...

Abend AG, Smith TD (1995) Differences in ratios of stable isotopes of nitrogen in long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) in the western and eastern North Atlantic. ICES J Mar Sci 52: 837−841. Aguilar A, Borrell A, Pastor T (1999) Biological factors affecting variability of persistent pollutant levels in cetaceans [special issue]. J Cetac Res...

El objetivo de las Estrategias Marinas es permitir el uso sostenible del medio marino mediante la gestión de las actividades y presiones humanas siguiendo un enfoque ecosistémico. La evaluación del estado de conservación de las especies marinas y su monitorización para determinar si alcanza el Buen Estado Ambiental (BEA) son sus pilares básicos. Pa...

Integration of ecological and genetic approaches is a particularly powerful strategy to identify natural population diversity and structure over different timescales. To investigate the potential occurrence of population differentiation in long-finned pilot whales Globicephala melas in the North Atlantic, both biogeochemical (fatty acids and stable...

Assistance and study of marine mammals and sea turtles in Galicia, NW Spain. A field guide for species identification and strandings protocol. Asistencia y estudio de los mamíferos marinos y tortugas marinas en Galicia. Guía de campo para la identificación de especies y protocolos de actuación en casos de varamiento.

In the coast of Galicia an average of 200 stranded cetaceans are reported annually. From 1990 to 2013, 21 individuals of four species of the family Ziphiidae were found: 15 Cuvier's beaked whales ( Ziphius cavirostris), two Sowerby's beaked whales (Mesoplodon bidens), one True's beaked whale (Mesoplodon mirus) and one Blainville's beaked whale (Mes...

In order to improve our knowledge on the feeding ecology of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) in Northeast Atlantic waters, skin samples of 68 long-finned pilot whales stranded in Northwest Iberia (n = 22) and Scotland (n = 46) were analysed using stable isotopes of δ13C and δ15N. Isotopic mixing models were applied to obtain a quantita...

más importante que poseemos es aquella proveniente de los varamientos, ya que por motivos obvios no podemos muestrear a los individuos directamente. A partir del examen de los ejemplares varados y la toma de muestras se obtiene la talla de los individuos, el peso, la edad, la madurez, y se derivan estimas poblacionales (a partir de nuestra muestra)...

Several studies have shown the importance of specific habitats and foraging grounds in the Iberian Peninsula for loggerheads from the Mediterranean and North Atlantic populations and for leatherbacks from the Western Atlantic population. The present study assesses spatial and temporal trends of sea turtle records in Continental Portugal and Galicia...

Strandings provide valuable information on the presence and relative abundance of cetaceans in an area. The spatial, inter-annual and seasonal variation in the number of strandings may reflect the variability in cetacean abundance. However, this signal can be masked by other factors which are responsible both for the mortality of the dolphins and t...

Single-species models have been commonly used to assess fish stocks in the past. Since these models have relatively simple data requirements, they sometimes provide the only tool available to assess the status of a stock when data are not enough to develop more complex models. However, these models have been criticized for several reasons since the...

BODY PROPORTIONS AND SEXUAL IDENTIFICATION OF LEATHERBACK TURTLE, Dermochelys coriacea, IN GALICIA. Based on the examination of 72 specimens of leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) stranded or captured in Galicia, with an average total length-LT of 176.4cm, the biometric corporal ratios are obtained. 19 females and one male were identified, c...

SEA TURTLES IN THE GALICIAN COAST BETWEEN XVIII CENTURY AND 2013. A review of sea turtles recorded on the Galician coast until 2013 is performed, totalling 582 records: 303 Dermochelys coriacea, 245 Caretta caretta, 12 Chelonia mydas, 3 Eretmochelys imbricata, 2 Lepidochelys kempii and 17 unidentified. For the first two species the annual, monthly...

One of the main constraints to the enlargement of the Natura 2000 network to marine environments is the lack of information on the marine environment and on species far off the coast. Therefore, it is important to refine the information on target species populations and implement standardized census methodologies that allow for a constant long-term...

(Globicephala melas) in the northeast Atlantic. The present study analyzed stomach contents of pilot whales stranded in Portugal (n = 6), Galicia (northwest Spain) (n = 32), and Scotland (United Kingdom) (n = 10), from 1990 to 2011. These animals ranged from 213 to 555 cm in length (24 females, 19 males and 5 of unknown sex). The main prey identifi...

This study aims to assess niche segregation among the five main toothed whales that frequent the NW Iberian Peninsula waters: the common dolphin, the harbour porpoise, the bottlenose dolphin, the striped dolphin and the long-finned pilot whale. We used cadmium (Cd) and stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) as ecological tracers to assess degree of...

The tooth histology of a total 22 and 95 short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) from Scottish (UK) and Galician (Spain) waters, respectively, was examined to determine whether the incidence of mineralization anomalies could be related to certain stressful conditions linked with life-history events or to exposure to anthropogenic pollutant...

Understanding the effects of changes in prey abundance on predators is essential to predict responses of marine ecosystems to perturbation and ensure sustainable fishing. As abundant top predators feeding largely on commercially exploited fish, common dolphins Delphinus delphis are expected to be affected by fluctuations in fish abundance. Previous...

The feeding ecology and habitat use of the most frequently sighted and/or regularly reported stranded or by-caught toothed whale species of the North Western Iberian Peninsula (NWIP) were examined, with a special focus on their trophic position (TP) and relationships with their prey. With this aim, the stable isotope ratios of carbon (delta C-13) a...

BASIS FOR THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ENDANGERED CETACEAN SPECIES IN THE ATLANTIC AND CANTABRIAN SPANISH WATERS. - Bases para la conservación y gestión de las especies de cetáceos amenazadas en las aguas Atlánticas y Cantábricas. Entre 2006 y 2007 se realizó un esfuerzo de investigación conjunta en todo el norte España para el estudio de las...

Skin and muscle from 43 bottlenose dolphins (38 juveniles/adults, 5 calves) stranded in NW Spain were analysed to determine whether stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) could be used to assess dietary variation, habitat segregation and population substructure. Results were compared with published stomach contents data. Stable isotope ratios from 1...

In the NE Atlantic, evidence has been found of genetic discontinuities between Iberian bottlenose dolphins and those of Scotland and the Mediterranean. Here, we explored the genetic relationships between resident populations of dolphins from southern Galicia (NW Spain) and the Sado estuary (S Portugal), and their relationship with dolphins inhabiti...

Since mid-2003, systematic monthly sightings surveys for cetaceans have been carried out in Galicia (north-west Spain) from observation points around the coastline, with the aim of providing baseline data on cetacean distribution and habitat use to underpin future conservation measures. Here we summarize results for September 2003 to October 2007....

Assessing the effect of persistent organic pollutants on reproductive activity in common dolphins and harbour porpoises. Abstract As top predators, marine mammals can provide information on the accumulation of anthropogenic toxins which present the greatest risk to consumers. We assessed the impacts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on two ce...

Short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis in the eastern North Atlantic (ENA) Eire subject to mortality due to entanglement in various types of fishing gear. However, for this region, there is no population-level information available on trends in abundance, (incidental) mortality rates or even the actual distributional range. Working under th...

We examined the tooth ultra-structure of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Scottish waters to determine whether the incidence of mineralization anomalies could be related to certain life history events (e.g. the achievement of sexual maturation) as well as other factors that affect the general health of the individual (e.g. persistent orga...

Short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis in the eastern North Atlantic (ENA) are subject to mortality due to entanglement in various types of fishing gear. However, for this region, there is no population-level information available on trends in abundance, (incidental) mortality rates or even the actual distributional range. Working under the...

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in blubber of female common dolphins and harbour porpoises from the Atlantic coast of Europe were frequently above the threshold at which effects on reproduction could be expected, in 40% and 47% of cases respectively. This rose to 74% for porpoises from the southern North Sea. PCB concentrations w...

Selected trace elements (Cd, Cu, Hg, Se, Zn) were measured in the kidneys and the liver of 104 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded along the coasts of France, Galicia (Spain), Ireland, Scotland (UK), and the Netherlands. Generally, relatively low concentrations of toxic elements were encountered in the tissues of European porpoises, exce...

Since 1990, it has been carried out several studies about strandings of marine mammals in Galician coast (northwest of Spain). These studies mainly investigate the trends of these strandings depend on a variety of variables such as area, period of the year, species, by-catch. This study was carried out in order to investigate if in there is enviro...

We describe the diet of bottlenose dolphins Tursiopstruncatus in Galician waters, north-western Spain, based on 82 non-empty stomachs recovered and analysed from stranded animals between 1990 and 2005, quantifying interannual and seasonal variation in the diet, as well as dietary variation related to sex and size. The most important prey species (i...

We investigated whether toothed whales consume prey in relation to their availability in the local environment based on the fact that availability of potential prey is likely to decrease exponentially with increasing size, reflecting the usual size-abundance relationships found in marine communities. We calculated relative prey size frequency spect...

Lead concentrations and isotopic composition have been measured in bone and teeth of small cetaceans belonging to three species (Delphinus delphis, Phocoena phocoena and Stenella coeruleoalba), to evaluate the toxicological risk and to determine sources of lead in the European waters. Lead concentrations, far lower than threshold value inducing tox...

Little is known about the feeding ecology of pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) in the Northeast Atlantic. Results are presented on the stomach contents of five whales stranded on the Galician coast (NW Spain) between 1995 and 2002 and seven whales stranded on the French Atlantic coast between 1984 and 2001. These results are compared with those...

An analysis of marine mammal strandings (1996-2004) was carried out for the ATLANCETUS project area which includes European Atlantic coasts: from the English Channel (France) to the entrance to the Mediterranean, as well as the Canary Islands (Spain), Madeira and the Azores (Portugal). A total of 5349 marine mammals belonging to 35 species was repo...

Bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, are common and resident in Galician waters with a population of at least 600 animals. Studies of bottlenose dolphin diet in Galicia have been carried out over the last 15 years with a total of 82 non-empty stomachs analysed from stranded individuals between 1990-2005. We describe dolphin diet and, as an alte...

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are widely distributed and a high degree of morphometric and genetic differentiation has been found among both allopatric and parapatric populations. We analysed 145 samples along a contiguous distributional range from the Black Sea to the eastern North Atlantic for mitochondrial and nuclear genetic diversit...

Cetacean sightings are reported from opportunistic deployment of observers on fishing boats during 1998–1999 in Galician waters (north-west Spain), a region of high biodiversity, intensive fishing activity and an important cetacean habitat. During 111 trips, a total track length of 8128 km and estimated area of approximately 9840 km2 was surveyed,...

From 1996, data about cetacean abundance and distribution in Galician waters was collected in opportunistic records obtained on board of fishing vessels and coastal observations. During 2002 a project with a systematic shipments was programmed to confirm the data obtained. 1012 tracts were carried out along the Galician coast in 147 days. 229 tract...

Strandings of marine mammals on the north-western Spanish coast (Galicia) have been systematically recorded since 1990. A total of 1433 marine mammals belonging to 15 species was recorded from 1990 to 1999. The most frequently recorded species stranded were common dolphin (47%), bottlenose dolphin (11%) and harbour porpoise (7%). The number of stra...

Serum samples from 288 cetaceans representing 25 species and originating from 11 different countries were collected between 1995 and 1999 and examined for the presence of dolphin morbillivirus (DMV)-specific antibodies by an indirect ELISA (iELISA) (N=267) or a plaque reduction assay (N=21). A total of 35 odontocetes were seropositive: three harbou...

European Research on Cetaceans-14 (eds.) PGH Evans, R. Pitt-Aiken and E. Rogan. December 2000, nº14: 270-271.

The elemental composition of both healthy and eroded cetacean skulls associated with nematode infections was evaluated. A total of 27 samples of eroded and non-eroded prepared museum cetacean skulls were characterised by elemental (CHN), X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray diffraction methods. The inorganic composition and crystal line structure (hydroxy...

An extensive parasitological survey was carried out during autopsy of 80 cetaceans representing 8 species within 4 families (Delphinus delphis, Stenella coeruleoalba, Tursiops truncatus, Grampus griseus, Globicephala melas, Kogia breviceps, Phocoena phocoena and Megaptera novaeangliae) collected on the northwestern Spanish Atlantic coast from Febru...

Long-term (1991–1997) information on parasitic infection by anisakid nematodes in cephalopods and top predators (marine mammals) of the south-eastern area of the North Atlantic underlines the important role of small cetaceans as final hosts for A. simplex. The ommastrephid squid Illex couidetii, Todaropsis eblanae and Todarodes sagittatus are the m...

Long-term (1990-1996) results of recording gastric ulcers in the common dolphin are presented for the NW Spanish Atlantic coast. The occurrence and abundance of cetacean carcasses (belonging to 10 species) with gastric ulcers are also given and discussed. Ulcerations were detected in 17.2% of the animals examined, with 15% for common dolphins and 0...

Stomach contents from 59 marine mammals, 28 Delphinus delphis, 14 Tursiops truncatus, three Grampus griseus, four Stenella coeruleoalba, three Globicephala melas, one Ziphius cavirostris, four Phocoena phocoena, one Physeter macrocephalus and one Balaenoptera acutorostrata stranded on the northwestern Spanish Atlantic coast from December 1990 to Ma...