Article
Environmental Sciences
Torstein Pedersen
Summary: The study compared trophic position estimates from stable isotopes and a mass-balance food web model for the Barents Sea, finding that estimates from the mass-balance model were slightly higher than those from stable isotopes, and that trophic positions calculated using a linear model better matched the Ecopath model than those from a scaled fractionation approach.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hubert du Pontavice, Didier Gascuel, Gabriel Reygondeau, Charles Stock, William W. L. Cheung
Summary: Our study examines the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems, projecting a decrease in total consumer biomass and a reduction in predator abundance due to faster and less efficient biomass transfers and declining primary production. These changes are expected to have direct repercussions on the future of world fisheries and other services provided by the ocean.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christopher J. Henderson, Ben L. Gilby, Andrew D. Olds, Jesse Mosman, Rod M. Connolly, Glenn Hyndes, Brendan Kelaher, Brooke Maslo, Alan Williams, Thomas A. Schlacher
Summary: Habitat complexity and connectivity have implications for the number of species and their diversity. This study focused on surf zones of ocean-exposed beaches, where the low structural complexity of sandy seafloor habitats was expected to lead to low taxonomic and functional diversity. However, the proximity to nearby subtidal rocky reefs was found to be a key factor shaping functional diversity and functional niche space in surf zone fishes. These findings highlight the importance of conserving these highly connected ecosystems.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Baoming Ge, Jing Zhou, Ruiping Yang, Senhao Jiang, Li Yang, Boping Tang
Summary: Land reclamation, an ancient practice, has evolved over time due to population growth and societal changes. This study focused on a reclaimed area on the coast of the Yellow Sea in Jiangsu, China, approximately 100 years ago, revealing that lower-intensity land use conversion can increase soil macrofaunal biodiversity.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hafiz Sohaib Ahmed Saqib, Ye Yuan, Syed Shabi Ul Hassan Kazmi, Muhammad Tayyab, Zifei Xiang, Mhd Ikhwanuddin, Hongyu Ma
Summary: By using DNA-based techniques, this study examines the impact of salinity gradients on the trophic networks of mud crabs in marine ecosystems. The results reveal the dietary spectrum of mud crabs and the influence of salinity gradients on their prey items. Additionally, mud crabs exhibit adaptive feeding behavior according to environmental constraints.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Li Bi, Dan-Ting Yu, Li-Li Han, Shuai Du, Cheng-Yu Yuan, Ji-Zheng He, Hang-Wei Hu
Summary: Viruses are abundant and important in soil ecosystems, but the complexity of their ecology poses challenges due to technological limitations in characterizing their abundance, diversity, and interactions with other organisms. Current studies describe the diversity of soil viromes, but often do not explore their ecological roles.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Stacey A. McCormack, Jessica Melbourne-Thomas, Rowan Trebilco, Gary Griffith, Simeon L. Hill, Carie Hoover, Nadine M. Johnston, Tomas I. Marina, Eugene J. Murphy, Evgeny A. Pakhomov, Matt Pinkerton, Eva Plaganyi, Leonardo A. Saravia, Roshni C. Subramaniam, Anton P. Van de Putte, Andrew J. Constable
Summary: Southern Ocean ecosystems play a crucial role in supporting globally important ecosystem services through their complex and regionally distinctive food webs. However, our current understanding of the structure, function, status, and trends of these food webs is limited, and the impact of climate change and human activities is expected to drive significant changes. Further development of assessment methods and management strategies is needed to conserve Southern Ocean food webs in the face of ongoing environmental challenges.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Xiaodong Zhang
Summary: This study investigates the challenges of university students with web-based learning over one semester using a qualitative case study method. The findings reveal limitations in web-based learning due to individual negative factors and their interactions, which hinder student and instructor engagement and adaptation to changing circumstances. However, the efforts of both the instructor and the students can mitigate these challenges.
EDUCATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Yuval R. R. Zelnik, Stefano Manzoni, Riccardo Bommarco
Summary: Ecosystems worldwide receive nutrients from both natural processes and human activities. While the direct effects of subsidies on primary production are well-known, the indirect effects on producers mediated by the brown food web and predators are often overlooked. Using a model, researchers found that nutrient subsidies increase net primary production, with the effect saturating at higher subsidies. Changing the subsidy quality from inorganic to organic tends to increase net primary production in terrestrial ecosystems, but has less impact in aquatic ecosystems.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rebecca M. McMullin, Stephen R. Wing, Amandine JM. Sabadel, Kimberley J. Hageman
Summary: Careful selection of appropriate model parameters is necessary to construct robust biogeochemical models for marine-based aquaculture settings. This study used an experimental approach to establish biomarkers of organic matter from both farms and the marine environment, and derived isotopic turnover rates and trophic discrimination factors specific to aquaculture food webs. The results showed that construction of robust models requires the use of specific parameters for different species and tissue types, and turnover rates have applications in understanding assimilation capacity and managing populations.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
G. Boldrocchi, D. Spanu, M. Mazzoni, M. Omar, I Baneschi, C. Boschi, L. Zinzula, R. Bettinetti, D. Monticelli
Summary: The study investigated the presence and organotropism of trace elements in three tissues of 12 elasmobranch species. Results showed similar TE loads in different shark species, but different tissues had varying levels of different trace elements, illustrating the need for caution when selecting tissues for sampling.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Peilong Ju, Mingru Chen, William W. L. Cheung, Yongjun Tian, Shengyun Yang, Peng Sun, Chengpu Jiang, Zhenbin Lu
Summary: A first mass balance food web model was developed to characterize the upwelling ecosystem in the Southern Taiwan Strait. Analysis of the model revealed structuring groups, keystone groups, maturity indicators, and control mechanisms within the ecosystem. The model provides basic information for stakeholders and policy-makers to implement ecosystem-based management.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Camille Leclerc, Nathalie Reynaud, Pierre-Alain Danis, Florentina Moatar, Martin Daufresne, Christine Argillier, Philippe Usseglio-Polatera, Valerie Verneaux, Nicolas Dedieu, Victor Frossard, Arnaud Sentis
Summary: This study analyzed biodiversity inventories of 67 French lakes and found that temperature, productivity, and habitat characteristics have significant influences on food web structure. The size and complexity of habitats have a greater impact on overall trophic diversity, while water thermal seasonality and habitat depth have a greater impact on vertical structure. The study highlights the importance of considering temperature, productivity, and habitat characteristics, especially in the context of global change, as these factors can lead to significant structural changes in aquatic food webs.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Daniel. J. J. Pondella, Jeremy. T. T. Claisse, Chelsea. M. M. Williams
Summary: Increasing fish production in the ocean is achievable and beneficial for both the economy and the ecosystem. Artificial reef deployments have been successful in restoring these services, and understanding the mechanisms and design considerations is important for future structures. maximising ecological processes and considering habitat use are critical in creating productive reefs. We propose a general theory for optimizing these variables.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoxiao Li, Wei Yang, Xu Ma, Zhenchang Zhu, Tao Sun, Baoshan Cui, Zhifeng Yang
Summary: The invasive Spartina spp. colonizes bare tidal flats and promotes local ecosystem productivity. This study investigated the energy fluxes, stability, and net trophic effects in an invasive Spartina alterniflora habitat and two adjacent native habitats in China's Yellow River Delta. Results showed that the invasive habitat had comparable energy fluxes but lower trophic transfer efficiencies and food web stability compared to native habitats.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
