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When natural history collections reveal secrets on data deficient threatened species: Atlantic seahorses as a case study

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Abstract

Natural history collections from museums and private institutions can play an important role supporting decisions in biodiversity conservation. Seahorse populations have suffered a worldwide decline, while many areas remain data deficient including areas subjected to heavy commercial trading, such as the coasts of West Africa. In this work, seahorse collections from museums and public institutions in Macaronesia (Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands) were initially reviewed (1) to identify specimens not previously determined, and (2) to correct species determinations from Macaronesia and adjacent West African coasts. The morphological data (3) were tested for phenotypic variation of seahorses within and between Macaronesia and adjacent West African coasts. The presence of Hippocampus hippocampus (short-snouted seahorse) and Hippocampus algiricus (West African seahorse) was confirmed for the area, including new sightings along previous geographical distribution ranges. Morphological analyses partitioned seahorse species and several morphotypes within and between Macaronesia and adjacent West African coasts. This phenotypic plasticity was associated with cranial morphology. Such differences are a useful tool for tracking seahorse populations of varying species and origins. New information presented here, is valuable for improving the management and conservation of seahorses, particularly in areas threatened by illegal trading or other anthropogenic activities.

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Acknowledgements

To the ‘Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Tenerife’, especially to Dr. M.F. Hernández and A. de Vera, the ‘Instituto Canario de Ciencias Marinas’ at Gran Canaria, especially to J.I. Santana, and the ‘Instituto Español de Oceanografía’ at Tenerife, especially to Dr. S. Jiménez, for the information concerning their seahorse collections. The EcoAqua Project (GA621341) gave support to this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo en Biodiversidad y Conservación, IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Crta. Taliarte s/n, 35214, Telde, Spain

    Francisco Otero-Ferrer, Fernando Tuya & Ricardo Haroun

  2. Applied Marine Ecology and Fisheries Group, i-UNAT, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus Universitario de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

    José A. González

  3. Estação de Biologia Marinha do Funchal, Cais do Carvão, 9000-107, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

    Mafalda Freitas

  4. Museu de História Natural do Funchal, Rua da Mouraria 31, 9000-047, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

    Ricardo Araújo

  5. GBA-Ce3C, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Mãe de Deus, 9500-321, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal

    José M. N. Azevedo

  6. Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield, S10 2SF, UK

    William V. Holt

Authors
  1. Francisco Otero-Ferrer
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  2. José A. González
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  3. Mafalda Freitas
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  6. William V. Holt
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  7. Fernando Tuya
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  8. Ricardo Haroun
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francisco Otero-Ferrer.

Additional information

Communicated by Angus Jackson.

This article belongs to the Topical Collection: Coastal and marine biodiversity.

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Otero-Ferrer, F., González, J.A., Freitas, M. et al. When natural history collections reveal secrets on data deficient threatened species: Atlantic seahorses as a case study. Biodivers Conserv 26, 2791–2802 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1385-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1385-x

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