Environmental drivers of lesser weever stings on the northeast Atlantic coast (A Lanzada beach, Spain)

• Published in: Ecological indicators Vol. 95; pp. 242 - 249
• Main Authors: Padin, X.A., Alonso-Fernández, A., Lijó, A., Otero, V., Otero, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2018
• Subjects: A Lanzada beach; air temperature; bites and stings; climate; coasts; corals; death; Echiichthys vipera; environmental factors; environmental indicators; fish; fish behavior; Fish sting; humans; Lesser weever; Northeast Atlantic coast; Poisonous fish; Scyphozoa; seawater; sediments; snails; Spain; statistical models; summer; Warning services; wind; Spain; Poisonous fish; Fish sting; Warning services; Lesser weever; Northeast Atlantic coast; A Lanzada beach; Echiichthys vipera
• ISSN: 1470-160X; 1872-7034
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.07.018

•Unique database of 1005 lesser weever stings on a beach in the summer of 2014.•The 0.3% of bathers stung shows a more common problem than reported by the literature.•Ecological factors explained 45.5% of the variability of lesser weever stings.•An empirical model provides precautionary advice to minimise the risk for beachgoers. Many marine species, including anemones, snails, jellyfish, coral and fish, are venomous to humans, causing serious injuries or even death. Most of these animals live in warm, shallow waters, which increase the chances of an encounter with them. The majority of these interactions with humans are accidental; however, it is not well known under which circumstances (if any) these encounters are more likely to happen. A smart-city initiative was launched for A Lanzada beach (NW Spain) in the summer of 2014. As part of this initiative, lifeguards collated data on all incidents occurring on the beach, including the stings of Echiichthys vipera, the lesser weever. Additionally, a number of environmental parameters were monitored. Using this unique information, statistical models were developed to evaluate under which environmental conditions beach users would be more prone to be stung by lesser weevers. The optimal model showed that stings were more likely at the southern end of this 2.7 km long beach, pointing to differences in sediment composition along the beach as a key factor. Moreover, warmer seawater and higher air temperature increased the chances of being stung. Furthermore, stings increased at low tide and decreased under strong meridional wind conditions. Finally, the number of stings increased with beach occupation up to a levelling-off point. These outcomes suggest that a combination of fish behaviour and favourable climate conditions for beachgoers increases the chances of suffering an accidental encounter with E. vipera. Our results, based on basic environmental information, constitute a simple tool that could be used to provide precautionary advice to beach users to avoid accidental encounters with the lesser weever.