Zamora Marín, José Manuel

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Zamora Marín, José Manuel

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Zamora Marín, José Manuel

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Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física

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Open Access
Unauthorized translocations of threatened fauna in freshwater ecosystems: insights from the Iberian southeast
(Wiley, 2025-07-22) Zamora Marín, José Manuel; Guerrero Gómez, Adrián; Zamora López, Antonio; Torralva, Mar; Oliva Paterna, Francisco José; Sánchez Fernández, David; Zoología y Antropología Física
Unauthorized translocations of native and threatened wildlife are widely conducted for conservation purposes. This illegal practice remains understudied and is poorly considered by wildlife managers despite its important socioecological implications. By focusing on the southeastern Iberian Peninsula as a case study, we combined data from freshwater biodiversity monitoring programs, published records and local expert knowledge to provide a comprehensive assessment of the magnitude of unauthorized translocations in freshwater ecosystems. A total of 14 cases of covertly translocated populations were recorded, involving 10 freshwater vertebrate species (six fish and four amphibians). All these species are classified as threatened taxa (i.e., critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable) at a global, national or regional level, seven of them being Iberian endemisms. At least nine out of these unauthorized translocations have resulted in self-sustaining populations, but their impact on local biodiversity and recipient ecosystems' functioning remains to be assessed. This case study suggests that unauthorized translocations could be an emerging conservation issue in freshwater ecosystems, highlighting the need for implementing integrative management approaches to halt this illegal practice at source. These management approaches should include a more proactive attitude by environmental authorities towards official conservation translocation programs and increased social awareness of the potential impacts of unauthorized translocations.
Open Access
Non-indigenous aquatic fauna in transitional waters from the Spanish Mediterranean coast: A comprehensive assessment
(2023) Zamora Marín, José Manuel; Herrero Reyes, Antonio A.; Ruiz Navarro, Ana; Oliva Paterna, Francisco José; Zoología y Antropología Física
Open Access
Outcomes of the LIFE INVASAQUA project: an integrated approach for the prevention and awareness of aquatic invasive species in the Iberian Peninsula
(Pensoft Publishers, 2025-10-07) López Cañizares, Celia; Olivo del Amo, Rosa; Guillén Beltrán, Antonio; Torralva, Mar; Anastácio, Pedro; Banha, Filipe; Brandão, Pedro; Barca, Sandra; Cobo, Fernando; Vieira-Lanero, Rufino; Casals, Frederic; Sánchez-González, Jorge R.; Perdices, Anabel; Machordom, Annie; Miranda, Rafael; Oscoz, Javier; Numa, Catherine; Clavero-Sousa, Helena; Ribeiro, Filipe; Oficialdegui Aladren, Francisco Javier; Zamora Marín, José Manuel; Oliva Paterna, Francisco José; Zoología y Antropología Física
Invasive alien species (IAS) pose a growing threat to biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being, particularly in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. These species lead to severe environmental and economic impacts by altering habitats, disrupting ecological processes and outcompeting native species. In the Iberian Peninsula, IAS represent a major risk to its unique freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, which are particularly vulnerable to biological invasions due to their connection to human activities and high number of endemic species. Awareness of IAS and their impacts among the general public and stakeholders in Spain and Portugal remains limited, hindering effective management strategies and policies. The LIFE INVASAQUA project (2018–2023), co-funded by the LIFE Programme of the European Commission (LIFE17 GIE/ES/000515), aimed to support management, communication and the dissemination of information on aquatic IAS in the Iberian Peninsula. To achieve this, diverse partners were involved, including universities, research institutions, an environmental news agency and NGOs. Key actions included the production of governance tools such as strategic recommendations and IAS priority lists and communication resources such as a traveling exhibition for the public and codes of conduct for stakeholders. The project delivered 98 training activities to over 2,900 participants and engaged more than 430 institutions and 246,000 people through 598 public events in Spain and Portugal. LIFE INVASAQUA significantly enhanced public awareness and transnational collaboration, evidenced by improved communication, increased social media engagement, and positive shifts in public perception, as revealed by 7,078 records of a survey based on a questionnaire on the Iberian public’s perspectives. These outcomes foster strengthened IAS management frameworks and support implementation of relevant European and national regulations. The project’s long-term efforts focus on developing and replicating actions with the greatest audience reach and the highest impact on public perception of IAS issues. Lessons learned include the importance of sustained public engagement, the need for continued stakeholder collaboration, and the effectiveness of integrating educational campaigns with policy enforcement for sustained success in IAS management.
Open Access
Population dynamics, habitat use and trapping efficiency of the invasive crab Callinectes sapidus in a Mediterranean hypersaline coastal lagoon
(Pensoft Publishers, 2025-10-07) Herrero Reyes, Antonio A.; Guerrero Gómez, Adrián; Zamora López, Antonio; Torralva, Mar; Zamora Marín, José Manuel; Oliva Paterna, Francisco José; Zoología y Antropología Física
The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) has rapidly invaded several coastal lagoons along the Western Mediterranean. However, there are still no comprehensive assessments of its population biology, habitat use and trapping efficiency in critical habitats. A two-year study (November 2021 – September 2023) was conducted in a natural corridor zone placed between the hypersaline Mar Menor coastal lagoon and the Mediterranean Sea. Our main goal was to assess the population structure, habitat use and trapping efficiency (four types of traps) of the blue crab. The blue crab shows a population dynamic and structure that reflects its full settlement and reproductive movements across the study area. Most captures corresponded to adults and subadults, peaking in summer, and largest crabs were recorded in November. A significant relationship was found between crab size, habitat type (Cymodocea nodosa meadows, Caulerpa prolifera meadows and bare substrates) and trap effectiveness. Trapping efficiency varied with both habitat characteristics and crab size, showing a positive relationship of juveniles and adults with muddy substrates, while water depth had a negative influence on juveniles and subadults. However, results supported great plasticity at the microhabitat scale. Fyke nets were identified as the most effective trapping method. Trap type significantly affected the number of captures as a function of crab size and sex, with subadults and females being predominantly captured in fyke nets. These findings provide novel insights into the species’ population biology in invaded regions and cost-efficient control methods, enabling the design of priority management strategies in shallow waters to minimize impacts from crab invasions and to ensure ecological integrity.
Open Access
Non-indigenous aquatic fauna in transitional waters from the Spanish Mediterranean coast: A comprehensive assessment
(Elsevier, 2023-04-06) Zamora Marín, José Manuel; Herrero Reyes, Antonio A.; Ruiz Navarro, Ana; Oliva Paterna, Francisco José; Zoología y Antropología Física
Understanding drivers of spatial variation in non-indigenous species (NIS) is a key goal in invasion biology, but comprehensive assessments providing high-resolution data are extremely scarce. Anthropogenic modifications to transitional waters facilitate the invasion of NIS where they cause both ecological and economic important damage. By screening validated data sources, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of non-indigenous aquatic fauna in Spanish Mediterranean transitional waters (30 sites), as well as assessed introduction pathways, native regions, NIS assemblage patterns and temporal introduction rate. One hundred and twenty-nine NIS were inventoried, with 72 % established and more than half listed before 1980. Two intentional (release, escape) and two unintentional (contaminant, stowaway) introduction pathways were dominant. Recorded NIS originated mostly from North America and Asia. A clear nested pattern in NIS assemblages was observed across sites, suggesting secondary spread from the most invaded waters placed in the northern regions. Our updated inventory should be pivotal for designing prevention protocols and informing specific management plans on non-indigenous fauna in transitional waters.
Open Access
Shallow waters as critical habitats for fish assemblages under eutrophication-mediated events in a coastal lagoon
(Elsevier, 2023-07-24) Zamora López, Antonio; Guerrero Gómez, Adrián; Torralva Forero, María del Mar; Zamora Marín, José Manuel; Guillén Beltrán, Antonio; Oliva Paterna, Francisco José; Zoología y Antropología Física
Eutrophication is a major driver of the degradation of transitional waters worldwide, especially in environments with a restricted connection to the sea, such as coastal lagoons. In recent decades, intensive agriculture and urban water inputs around the Mar Menor coastal lagoon (Western Mediterranean) have disturbed this originally oligotrophic aquatic system. The nutrient input into the lagoon has triggered its eutrophication, leading to dystrophic crises and mass mortality events for aquatic biota, transforming it into one of the most eutrophication- impacted transitional waters in the Mediterranean basin. In this study, we applied a fish-based indicator to assess the ecological quality of shallow waters under different eutrophication-mediated environmental stress scenarios (from pre-eutrophic reference periods to critical eutrophic periods), as well as to explore the role of confinement (i.e., water renewal time) and shoreline anthropogenic pressure as factors modulating the indicator response. Despite the high magnitude of the eutrophication impact on the lagoon, the ecological quality of the shallow waters decreased only slightly after the mass mortality events. The level of confinement also had slight effects on the ecological quality of the most confined shallow areas in the summer during eutrophic periods. Hence, shallow waters could play a critical role as refuge habitats, both for fish assemblages and other aquatic taxa, by buffering euxinic conditions during eutrophication processes.”. In fact, shallow waters could act as critical habitats, allowing for the recolonisation of aquatic biota from more impacted areas in the lagoon. This attribute further reinforces the need to properly manage and protect the shoreline areas of transitional waters, particularly under eutrophication scenarios.
Open Access
Population dynamics of resident fish in a coastal lagoon under eutrophication-mediated habitat changes
(Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 2024-10-09) Guerrero Gómez, Adrián; Zamora López, Antonio; Torralva Forero, María del Mar; Zamora Marín, José Manuel; Guillén Beltrán, Antonio; Oliva Paterna, Francisco José; Zoología y Antropología Física
Coastal lagoons, as transitional ecosystems, are crucial for providing ecosystem services and preserving fish communities, yet they face increasing pressures from anthropogenic activities. The Mar Menor coastal lagoon in the western Mediterranean exemplifies this challenge, as it suffers from severe eutrophication driven by agricultural and urban influences. In this study, we assess changes in the population dynamics of three resident fish species (Apricaphanius iberus, Pomatoschistus marmoratus, and Syngnathus abaster) in the context of human-induced impacts in the Mar Menor. Using long-term monitoring data (the reference period of 2002-2004 vs. the eutrophication period of 2015-2019), we analyze temporal variations in their population dynamics and their relationships with eutrophication-mediated structural changes in shallow waters. Our results suggest that these resident species, which are closely associated with shallow areas, show population dynamics that reflect habitat alterations, underscoring their potential as indicators of eutrophication impacts. This study enhances our understanding of the dynamics within transitional ecosystems and provides a basis for integrated management strategies aimed at promoting effective fish conservation