Fausto Tinti | Università di Bologna (original) (raw)

Papers by Fausto Tinti

<p>Temperature is described in colour gradient (from 14.5°C to 23.5°C) while salinity throu... more <p>Temperature is described in colour gradient (from 14.5°C to 23.5°C) while salinity through contour map (each isoline shows a change of 1 psu). Sampling data are described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0080105#pone.0080105.s006" target="_blank">Text S1</a> and Tab S1(1 = SAR, 2 = ADR, 3 = LIG, 4 = ALG, 5 = ALB, 6 = STY, 7 = CYP).</p

The Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, is a commercially important species that has been sev... more The Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, is a commercially important species that has been severely over-exploited in the recent past. Although the eastern Atlantic and Mediter-ranean stock is now showing signs of recovery, its current status remains very uncertain and as a consequence their recovery is dependent upon severe management informed by rigorous scientific research. Monitoring of early life history stages can inform decision makers about the health of the species based upon recruitment and survival rates. Misiden-tification of fish larvae and eggs can lead to inaccurate estimates of stock biomass and pro-ductivity which can trigger demands for increased quotas and unsound management conclusions. Herein we used a molecular approach employing mitochondrial and nuclear genes (CO1 and ITS1, respectively) to identify larvae (n = 188) collected from three spawning areas in the Mediterranean Sea by different institutions working with a regional fisheries management organizati...

Nature Communications, 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the pa... more An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Mediterranean Marine Science, 2017

Morphological analysis, molecular characterization, and information on distribution and density o... more Morphological analysis, molecular characterization, and information on distribution and density of Anadara kagoshimensis (Tokunaga, 1906) specimens collected in the Adriatic Sea were here carried out as based on various material and data from five surveys conducted from 2010 to 2014, for a total of 329 bottom trawl hauls. The morphological and molecular analyses allowed to clarify the confused taxonomy regarding the biggest ark clam alien species invading the Italian waters and the Mediterranean Sea. The analysis on distribution and density revealed that A. kagoshimensis mostly occurs along the Italian coast at depths from 8 to 50 m, with a catch frequency of more than 98% in all hauls performed on silty-clay sediment at 8-30 m depth. The hotspot map clearly shows a reduction of its distribution area from 2010 to 2012.

Mediterranean Marine Science, 2020

The Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring (MEDLEM) database contains over 3000 records (mo... more The Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring (MEDLEM) database contains over 3000 records (more than 4000 individuals) of large elasmobranch species from 20 different countries around the Mediterranean and Black seas, observed from 1666 to 2017. The main species included in the archive are the devil fish (1 813 individuals), the basking shark (939 individuals), the blue shark (585 individuals) and the great white shark (337 individuals).In the last decades other species such as the shortfin mako (166 individuals), the spiny butterfly ray (138) and the thresher shark (174 individuals) were reported with an increasing frequency. This was possibly due to an increased public awareness on the conservation status of sharks, and a consequent development of new monitoring programmes. MEDLEM does not have a homogeneous reporting coverage throughout the Mediterranean and Black seas and it should be considered as a database of observed species presence. Scientific monitoring efforts in the...

Journal of Sea Research, 2018

In the Adriatic Sea two cryptic species of sole coexist, the common and Egyptian sole. Soles are ... more In the Adriatic Sea two cryptic species of sole coexist, the common and Egyptian sole. Soles are one of the most valuable demersal fishery resources in the Adriatic Sea, so a correct species identification is crucial in order to perform stock assessment and implement effective management measures based on reliable and accurate data. In this study specimens collected during fishery-independent and fishery-dependent activities in the Adriatic were analyzed and identified coupling morphological and genetic approaches. A comparison of these two methods for the sole species identification was carried out to assess the most effective, accurate and practical diagnostic morphological key-character(s). Results showed that external characters, in particular features of the posterior dorsal and anal fins, are valid and accurate morphological markers. Based on these traits, a practical identification key of the two sibling species was proposed. Moreover, it was possible to estimate the extent of the error due to species misidentification introduced in the common sole stock assessment carried out in the Northerncentral Adriatic Sea (GSA17). A 5% bias in the correct identification of common sole specimens was detected. However, this bias was shown not to affect the common sole stock assessment. Moreover, the genetic profiling of the Adriatic common sole allowed estimating genetic diversity and assessing population structure. Significant divergence between common soles inhabiting the eastern part of the Southern Adriatic Sea and those collected from the other areas of the basin was confirmed. Therefore, the occurrence of genetically differentiated subpopulations supports the need to implement independent stock assessments and management measures.

Fisheries Research, 2017

The Atlantic Bluefin tuna (BFT, Thunnus thynnus), one of the largest top-predator fish inhabiting... more The Atlantic Bluefin tuna (BFT, Thunnus thynnus), one of the largest top-predator fish inhabiting the pelagic ecosystems of the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, has been extensively overexploited in recent decades. However, in the Mediterranean Sea, the mixing rates between the eastern, central and western basins have not yet been fully and finally resolved. To date electronic tagging, otolith and genetic markers cannot still disentangle the pattern of tuna movements and population structuring in the basin, essential background for a proper management of BFT fisheries. Here, we used Expressed Sequence Tag-linked (EST-linked) microsatellites to explore population dynamics and adaptive evolution of Mediterranean T. thynnus. For this purpose, 16 EST-linked microsatellites were genotyped in 177 tuna individuals from the Mediterranean Sea and several methods were used to explore population genetic structuring and estimate/detect signals of local adaptation. Bayesian clustering results indicated the presence of a single cluster, corroborated also by the Correspondence Analysis and pairwise F STs. Similarly, the two methods used for the detection of outlier loci (LOSITAN and BayeScan), did not reveal any pattern suggesting the presence of selective pressure on the EST Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) used. Our results suggest that the low level of polymorphism detected in this study could be ascribed to the presence of relatively conserved regions flanking these microsatellites. These genomic regions are probably not involved in physiological responses to local adaptation.

It is presented the analyses on the MEDLEM (Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring) databas... more It is presented the analyses on the MEDLEM (Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring) database that, up to now, contains more than 2000 records and over 2700 individuals of large elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean coming from 20 different countries. The main species represented in the archive are devil rays (736 individuals), basking sharks (about 636 individuals), blue sharks (524 individuals), and white sharks (258 individuals). Regarding the devil ray it is important underlining that about 500 individuals were recently captured off the coasts of Gaza. In the last decades other species such as shortfin mako (137 individuals), thresher shark (122 individuals), and bluntnose six-gill shark (74 individuals) are reported with a greater intensity, possibly due to a higher public awarness on the conservation status of sharks, and consequent development of monitoring programs. Unfortunately, MEDLEM does not cover with equal sampling effort all mediterranean sectors. Scientific monito...

Molecular Ecology, 2013

Shallow population structure is generally reported for most marine fish and explained as a conseq... more Shallow population structure is generally reported for most marine fish and explained as a consequence of high dispersal, connectivity and large population size. Targeted gene analyses and more recently genome-wide studies have challenged such view, suggesting that adaptive divergence might occur even when neutral markers provide genetic homogeneity across populations. Here, 381 SNPs located in transcribed regions were used to assess large- and fine-scale population structure in the European hake (Merluccius merluccius), a widely distributed demersal species of high priority for the European fishery. Analysis of 850 individuals from 19 locations across the entire distribution range showed evidence for several outlier loci, with significantly higher resolving power. While 299 putatively neutral SNPs confirmed the genetic break between basins (F(CT) = 0.016) and weak differentiation within basins, outlier loci revealed a dramatic divergence between Atlantic and Mediterranean populations (F(CT) range 0.275-0.705) and fine-scale significant population structure. Outlier loci separated North Sea and Northern Portugal populations from all other Atlantic samples and revealed a strong differentiation among Western, Central and Eastern Mediterranean geographical samples. Significant correlation of allele frequencies at outlier loci with seawater surface temperature and salinity supported the hypothesis that populations might be adapted to local conditions. Such evidence highlights the importance of integrating information from neutral and adaptive evolutionary patterns towards a better assessment of genetic diversity. Accordingly, the generated outlier SNP data could be used for tackling illegal practices in hake fishing and commercialization as well as to develop explicit spatial models for defining management units and stock boundaries.

Collect. Vol. Sci. Pap. …, 2010

Geometric morphometrics was used to explore body shape morphology in 120 bluefin tuna specimens c... more Geometric morphometrics was used to explore body shape morphology in 120 bluefin tuna specimens captured in a traditional trap in the western Mediterranean during the years 2008 and 2009. The shape of each individual was captured by recording the 2-D coordinates of 10 ...

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 2015

The international effort to prevent the collapse of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT, Thunnus thynnus, ... more The international effort to prevent the collapse of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT, Thunnus thynnus, Scombridae) stocks exemplifies the challenges associated with modern marine resource conservation. Rampant mismanagement, under-reporting and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing led to decades of over-exploitation in the BFT fishery. Surveys of larval abundance in the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea have been used as a proxy for both spawning biomass and recruitment by researchers working to improve estimates of stock abundance. Recent genetic barcoding studies have revealed that species identification errors are common among larvae surveys that use morphology-based taxonomy alone. Misidentification of larvae can lead to uncertainty about the spatial distribution of a species, confusion over life history traits and population dynamics, and potentially disguise the collapse or recovery of localized spawning sites. In an effort to identify the source of these errors, we review several weaknesses in modern morphology-based taxonomy including demographic decline of expert taxonomists, flawed identification keys, reluctance of the taxonomic community to embrace advances in digital communications and a general scarcity of modern user-friendly materials. Recent advances in molecular techniques useful for specimen identification and population studies are discussed at length. We advocate a more constructive integration of morphology-based taxonomy and barcoding in order to add confidence to larval surveys and to strengthen associated fisheries management.

Scientific Reports, 2021

Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; BFT) abundance was depleted in the late 20th and early 21... more Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; BFT) abundance was depleted in the late 20th and early 21st century due to overfishing. Historical catch records further indicate that the abundance of BFT in the Mediterranean has been fluctuating since at least the 16th century. Here we build upon previous work on ancient DNA of BFT in the Mediterranean by comparing contemporary (2009–2012) specimens with archival (1911–1926) and archaeological (2nd century BCE–15th century CE) specimens that represent population states prior to these two major periods of exploitation, respectively. We successfully genotyped and analysed 259 contemporary and 123 historical (91 archival and 32 archaeological) specimens at 92 SNP loci that were selected for their ability to differentiate contemporary populations or their association with core biological functions. We found no evidence of genetic bottlenecks, inbreeding or population restructuring between temporal sample groups that might explain what has drive...

Scientific Reports, 2018

Yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, is one of the most important seafood commodities in the world.... more Yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, is one of the most important seafood commodities in the world. Despite its great biological and economic importance, conflicting evidence arises from classical genetic and tagging studies concerning the yellowfin tuna population structure at local and global oceanic scales. Access to more powerful and cost effective genetic tools would represent the first step towards resolving the population structure of yellowfin tuna across its distribution range. Using a panel of 939 neutral Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), and the most comprehensive data set of yellowfin samples available so far, we found genetic differentiation among the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. The genetic stock structure analysis carried out with 33 outlier SNPs, putatively under selection, identified discrete populations within the Pacific Ocean and, for the first time, also within the Atlantic Ocean. Stock assessment approaches that consider genetic differences at neutral and adaptive genomic loci should be routinely implemented to check the status of the yellowfin tuna, prevent illegal trade, and develop more sustainable management measures. Tunas are highly valued species. The tuna fishing industry accounts for up to 8% of all fish and shellfish products in international seafood markets. The large demand from international markets and the overcapacity of the global tuna fleet have led to the overexploitation of many stocks. Thirty-seven percent of tuna stocks worldwide are fully exploited, while 33.5% are already overexploited 1. Despite the growing evidence that ignoring population genetic structure in fisheries management may result in local depletion through overexploitation 2 , data on genetic differentiation of tuna species were not yet fully incorporated in the assessment process for most tuna Regional Management Fisheries Organisations (tRM-FOs) 3-5. Information on tuna population structure gathered by recent more comprehensive sampling and more powerful genomic approaches offer the possibility that RFMOs may need to revise previous perceptions of stock structure. The misspecification of genetically different populations may lead to management that negatively affects productivity and long-term stability of tuna populations, as well as the capacity of populations to respond to the variability of oceanic conditions and fishing pressures 5,6. Designing stock-specific management plans and conservation policies tailored to life history traits, genetic structure and ecological dynamics would mitigate the risk of stock decline and irreversible collapse 1,7,8. Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares, YFT) is among the most valued wild-caught fishes of the world 9. Over the last 60 years, YFT have been caught across large areas of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans, with the majority of catch coming from the inter-tropical zone 5. YFT is patchily distributed in all oceans and seas in tropical

Invertebrate DNA chip: opportunities and challenges in the development and application of microar... more Invertebrate DNA chip: opportunities and challenges in the development and application of microarrays for marine biodiversity studies. In: Rogers JV (ed) Microarrays: principles, applications and technologies. Genetics-research and issues.