Ichthyofauna of the Selvagens Islands. Do small coastal areas show high species richness in the northeastern Atlantic?

Abstract

The Selvagens Islands are located in the northeastern Atlantic between the Canary Islands and Madeira Island. As a result of their small size, remote location and harsh sea conditions only a few studies have been conducted to describe their marine species diversity. We were able to identify 29 new coastal fish species, an increase of 33% in the ichthyofauna described for these islands (n = 88). There is a prevalence of species with tropical affinities and only 2.3% (n = 2) are endemic to Macaronesia. Considered a stepping-stone colonization vector from the nearest continental shore, as proposed by other authors for this region, the Selvagens Islands host 34.1% of the ichthyofauna described for the much larger Canary Islands (n_species = 258, submerged area n_SelvagensIs. = 2.3%) and 47.3% of the ichthyofauna described for the more distantly located Madeira Island (n_species = 186, submerged area n_SelvagensIs. = 17.9%). Interestingly, 6.8% (n = 6) of the species failed to bridge the gap between the Selvagens Islands and Madeira Island. Data collected so far showed no trend toward an increasing number of species with high dispersal capability. The Selvagens Islands are an example of a high coastal species diversity occurring even in very small areas of the northeastern Atlantic Ocean.

Key words:

• Biogeography
• dispersal capability
• ichthyofauna
• Macaronesia
• Selvagens Islands

Funding

The EMEPC/M@rbis/Selvagens 2010 oceanographic expedition was funded by EMEPC, Task Group for the Extension of the Continental Shelf under the Portuguese Ministry of National Defence, Eco-Ethology Research Unit (331/94) pluriannual financing programme (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, partially FEDER funded). The research of FA (SFRH/BPD/63170/2009), DA (SFRH/BD/46286/2008), SH (SFRH/BD/47034/2008), MP (SFRH/BD/46639/2008), MB (SFRH/BD/64395/2009), BHC (SFRH/BD/41262/2007), HA (BD/47055/2008) and PC (PTDC/MAR/71927/2006) was supported by grants from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) and DVR was partially financed by a FPU scholarship from the Spanish Minister of Science and Technology. Thanks are also due to the Parque Natural da Madeira and their wardens who provided crucial logistic support during the expedition.

Editorial responsibility: Franz Uiblein

Additional information

Funding

Funding: The EMEPC/M@rbis/Selvagens 2010 oceanographic expedition was funded by EMEPC, Task Group for the Extension of the Continental Shelf under the Portuguese Ministry of National Defence, Eco-Ethology Research Unit (331/94) pluriannual financing programme (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, partially FEDER funded). The research of FA (SFRH/BPD/63170/2009), DA (SFRH/BD/46286/2008), SH (SFRH/BD/47034/2008), MP (SFRH/BD/46639/2008), MB (SFRH/BD/64395/2009), BHC (SFRH/BD/41262/2007), HA (BD/47055/2008) and PC (PTDC/MAR/71927/2006) was supported by grants from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) and DVR was partially financed by a FPU scholarship from the Spanish Minister of Science and Technology. Thanks are also due to the Parque Natural da Madeira and their wardens who provided crucial logistic support during the expedition.