Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Auriane Virgili, Valentin Teillard, Ghislain Doremus, Timothy E. Dunn, Sophie Laran, Mark Lewis, Maite Louzao, Jose Martinez-Cedeira, Emeline Pettex, Leire Ruiz, Camilo Saavedra, M. Begona Santos, Olivier Van Canneyt, Jose Antonio Vazquez Bonales, Vincent Ridoux
Summary: Species Distribution Models are commonly used to characterize the habitats of marine top predators using surface dynamic environmental variables as proxies for prey distribution. However, for oceanic species that spend a lot of time at depth, surface variables may not be relevant. This study found that descriptors of deep-water layers better predicted the distribution of deep-diving cetaceans, suggesting differences in foraging strategies and prey targeting between species. Increasing the use of variables describing the deep-water layers would provide a better understanding of oceanic species distribution and assist in the planning of human activities in these habitats.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Harold L. Pratt, Theo C. Pratt, Ryan J. Knotek, Jeffrey C. Carrier, Nicholas M. Whitney
Summary: Understanding the mating dynamics and site use of sharks is crucial for species management. A 30-year study in the Dry Tortugas revealed long-term site fidelity of nurse sharks to a mating ground, with males and females exhibiting different arrival and departure patterns and variation in mating cycles. This research highlights the importance of identifying and protecting mating sites for the conservation of sharks and other elasmobranch species.
Article
Ecology
Thomas A. Morrison, Jerod A. Merkle, J. Grant C. Hopcraft, Ellen O. Aikens, Jeffrey L. Beck, Randall B. Boone, Alyson B. Courtemanch, Samantha P. Dwinnell, W. Sue Fairbanks, Brad Griffith, Arthur D. Middleton, Kevin L. Monteith, Brendan Oates, Louise Riotte-Lambert, Hall Sawyer, Kurt T. Smith, Jared A. Stabach, Kaitlyn L. Taylor, Matthew J. Kauffman
Summary: Site fidelity, the tendency for animals to return to previously visited locations, is influenced by environmental factors and varies among species. Environmental predictability and success in resource tracking play a role in shaping site fidelity, which can strengthen with age and experience. Differences between species in memory and attraction to sites contribute to variations in site fidelity expression.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Wenjia Hu, Dian Zhang, Bin Chen, Xinming Liu, Xiaomin Ye, Qutu Jiang, Xinqing Zheng, Jianguo Du, Shiquan Chen
Summary: This study proposed a framework for prioritizing conservation and restoration objectives in seagrass meadows, modeling suitable habitats and estimating anthropogenic pressures in the Southern bioregion of China. The results identified a large conservation gap and priority sites for seagrass management, aiming to promote the sustainability of seagrass habitats.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luca Bisanti, Giulia Visconti, Gianfranco Scotti, Renato Chemello
Summary: During the summer of 2022, a significant die-off of marine organisms, including Dendropoma cristatum, was observed in the western Mediterranean Sea. The high mortality rate was found to coincide with prolonged desiccation events, indicating the impact of extreme climatic conditions on vermetid reefs.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Jerod A. Merkle, Briana Abrahms, Jonathan B. Armstrong, Hall Sawyer, Daniel P. Costa, Anna D. Chalfoun
Summary: Site fidelity, the behavior of returning to previously visited locations, provides benefits in stable environments. However, rapid environmental change in the Anthropocene can result in maladaptive site fidelity and the occurrence of ecological traps. Understanding the mechanisms enabling species to persist with site fidelity is crucial for conservation efforts.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Max L. E. Grafnings, Laura L. Govers, Jannes H. T. Heusinkveld, Brian R. Silliman, Quirin Smeele, Stephanie R. Valdez, Tjisse van der Heide
Summary: The study found that macrozoobenthos can be used as an indicator for seagrass habitat suitability, and can explain the differing seagrass recovery rates between the Northern and Southern regions of the Wadden Sea. Seagrass presence or absence could be reliably predicted with only four variables: chlorophyll a, bivalve, ragworm, and mudsnail biomass. Higher chlorophyll concentrations and ragworm biomass were found in the South compared to the Northern Wadden Sea, suggesting that eutrophication and associated community shifts might still inhibit seagrass recovery in the South.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jonathan P. Townsend, Jared Aldstadt
Summary: Bat species have global ecological importance but are experiencing a decline in their worldwide population. Understanding bat-habitat interactions is crucial for effective conservation plans. This study used long-term bioacoustic bat data to analyze the relationship between bat calling behavior and land cover, finding a significant association with forested habitat and negative interactions with agricultural environments. The results provide a model that can be used globally to evaluate bat habitat needs and echolocation behavior patterns, with the potential for further improvement using more comprehensive data.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup, Charlotte Bie Thostesen, Peter Teglberg Madsen, Heidi Huus Petersen, Tim Kare Jensen, Morten Tange Olsen, Carl Chr Kinze
Summary: This study describes the biometrics, body condition, and veterinary findings of a Cuvier's beaked whale that stranded in Denmark for the first time. The whale was found to have various illnesses and infections, ultimately leading to its stranding and death, with extensive autopsy results. Furthermore, the study suggests that climate change may have caused a northerly shift in the species' distribution.
Article
Environmental Studies
Khaleel Muhammed, Aavudai Anandhi, Gang Chen
Summary: Habitat suitability refers to the ability of a habitat to support living organisms. This study compares three methods for estimating habitat suitability and provides guidelines for choosing the appropriate method for conservation. The multiple habitat suitability maps created using these methods shed light on the suitability of the Choctawhatchee River Watershed.
Article
Zoology
Daniel Escoriza, Axel Hernandez
Summary: This study investigated habitat utilization patterns of Mediterranean salamanders and found that vegetation cover has similar influences on terrestrial and aquatic species, with important differences identified for lotic and lentic aquatic species. The aquatic lotic, terrestrial, and small-body species were also found to deviate significantly from the expected range of variation.
INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Ori Galili, Oz Goffman, Mia Roditi-Elasar, Yaly Mevorach, Eyal Bigal, Yotam Zuriel, Yaron Haitovich, Nir Hadar, Meytal Markovich, Dror Vardimon, Dana Reininger, Shlomi Marco, Danny Morick, Eliana Ratner, Dan Tchernov, Aviad Scheinin
Summary: In the Mediterranean Sea near the coast of Israel, researchers have observed two dolphin species over the past 20 years: the common bottlenose dolphin and the common dolphin. These two species have different habitat preferences, with the common bottlenose dolphins occupying the entire coast and the common dolphins inhabiting only the southern section. The common bottlenose dolphins adapt to human presence while the preferences of the common dolphins are still not fully understood.
Article
Fisheries
Iole Di Capua, Roberta Piredda, Maria Grazia Mazzocchi, Adriana Zingone
Summary: Metabarcoding of environmental DNA provided insights into the diversity and seasonal patterns of metazoan assemblages at the Long-Term Ecological Research site MareChiara in the Gulf of Naples, revealing copepods and annelids as dominant taxa, with implications for the importance of DNA metabarcoding in LTER sites.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Flavio Picone, Renato Chemello
Summary: Vermetid reefs in the Mediterranean Sea play a crucial role in modifying coastal seascapes by forming platforms on rocky coasts. They support high biodiversity levels and provide important ecological functions and services. This study provides a structural characterization of a vermetid reef seascape and quantitatively assesses its contribution to the complexity of the coastal seascape.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Simonetta Bagella
Summary: Mediterranean Temporary Ponds (MTPs) are valuable habitats for rare organisms, yet they are at risk of disappearing. This study examines the focus and gaps in research on MTPs, as well as the distribution and components of the ecosystem. The results show a strong scientific interest in MTPs, but also reveal problems such as lack of attention to certain aspects and geographical gaps. Practical conservation actions should be improved for long-term preservation of this habitat.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Antonella Arcangeli, Roberto Crosti, Ilaria Campana, Lara Carosso, Martina Gregorietti, Giulia Mainardi, Veronica Mazzucato, Alberto Castelli
Summary: The pilot study using the dataset from FLT Med Net assessed common bottlenose dolphin range and population trends, revealing a decrease in range and population while no change in group sizes.
MEDITERRANEAN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sara Martino, Daniela Silvia Pace, Stefano Moro, Edoardo Casoli, Daniele Ventura, Alessandro Frachea, Margherita Silvestri, Antonella Arcangeli, Giancarlo Giacomini, Giandomenico Ardizzone, Giovanna Jona Lasinio
Summary: This study proposed a new protocol for presence-only data fusion, incorporating information sources such as social media platforms to reduce uncertainty in species distribution modeling. By analyzing spatial data on two dolphin species with different ecological characteristics and applying different detection functions and thinning methods, the study revealed the impact on ecological findings. The findings provide insights into species distribution in the study area and demonstrate the method's broad applicability.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elena Valsecchi, Antonella Arcangeli, Roberto Lombardi, Elizabeth Boyse, Ian M. Carr, Paolo Galli, Simon J. Goodman
Summary: This study demonstrates the feasibility of sampling marine eDNA from commercial vessels as they sail, providing a new approach for replicable and systematic surveys in typically hard-to-reach locations. Using metabarcoding markers, diverse marine vertebrate MOTUs were detected from teleost fish, elasmobranchs, and cetaceans, showing sample heterogeneity and known species occurrences patterns.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lea David, Antonella Arcangeli, Paola Tepsich, Nathalie Di-Meglio, Marine Roul, Ilaria Campana, Martina Gregorietti, Aurelie Moulins, Massimiliano Rosso, Roberto Crosti
Summary: The Mediterranean Sea, especially the Pelagos Sanctuary, is a high-density maritime traffic area where fin whales are at risk of ship strikes. Near miss events (NMEs) have been observed on several ferry routes in the region, with many whales surfacing in front of the vessels and little time for avoidance maneuvers. The speed of the ferries seems to play a role in the occurrence of NMEs.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
I Campana, D. Angeletti, G. Giovani, M. Paraboschi, A. Arcangeli
Summary: The establishment of marine protected areas is crucial for the conservation of marine species and ecosystem processes. This study investigated the Bonifacio Bouches area and found gaps in spatial protection measures for certain species, as well as identified priority areas and seasons for enhanced conservation efforts. The findings provide valuable guidance for improving protection measures.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Arianna Zampollo, Antonella Arcangeli, Matteo Costantino, Chiara Mancino, Roberto Crosti, Guido Pietroluongo, Cristina Giacoma, Marta Azzolin
Summary: This study investigates the habitat selection and distribution of loggerhead turtles in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. It concludes that the Adriatic Sea is an important foraging ground year-round, while the suitable areas in the Ionian Sea are limited and patchy. Sea surface temperatures play a significant role in loggerhead distribution, particularly in winter and breeding-nesting seasons. The findings emphasize the importance of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas for loggerhead turtle conservation and the need for seasonal investigations to establish effective conservation measures.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniela Silvia Pace, Greta Panunzi, Antonella Arcangeli, Stefano Moro, Giovanna Jona-Lasinio, Sara Martino
Summary: Assessing the distribution of marine apex-predators is crucial for understanding community interactions and setting management goals. This study investigated the distribution patterns of the common bottlenose dolphin in the Mediterranean Sea using different data sources and statistical models. The results showed that depth, slope, and temperature significantly influenced the encounters with dolphins, while chlorophyll-a concentration had no significant effect. The study also revealed the persistent presence of dolphins in the study area throughout winter and summer, indicating their adaptability to different seasonal conditions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fanny Girard, Alexandre Girard, Jonathan Monsinjon, Antonella Arcangeli, Eduardo Belda, Luis Cardona, Paolo Casale, Sidonie Catteau, Lea David, Florence Dell'Amico, Delphine Gambaiani, Marc Girondot, Imed Jribi, Giancarlo Lauriano, Paolo Luschi, David March, Antonios D. Mazaris, Claude Miaud, Andreas Palialexis, Jacques Sacchi, Ricardo Sagarminaga, Paola Tepsich, Jesus Tomas, Frederic Vandeperre, Francoise Claro
Summary: This study aims to provide indicators and assessment methods for European Union Member States to evaluate the status of marine turtle populations under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. It highlights the importance of international collaboration for the conservation of vulnerable species.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Ilaria Campana, Ivan Farace, Miriam Paraboschi, Antonella Arcangeli
Summary: This study investigates the influences of environmental parameters, social factors, and anthropogenic disturbance on breaching behavior in fin whales. The results show that breaching events in fin whales are more frequent in summer and fall, while rare in winter. The distance from the observation platform and the distance between whales are found to be significant factors affecting breaching behavior.
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonella Arcangeli, Fabrizio Atzori, Marta Azzolin, Lucy Babey, Ilaria Campana, Lara Carosso, Roberto Crosti, Odei Garcia-Garin, Martina Gregorietti, Arianna Orasi, Alessia Scuderi, Paola Tepsich, Morgana Vighi, Lea David
Summary: This study evaluates the distribution and habitat trends of G.griseus, G.melas, and Z.cavirostris using data collected from FLT-Net program. The results show changes in the distribution extent for these species, possibly due to exploitation of new areas or avoidance of more impacted ones. It is valuable to use complementary indicators and analyze multiple species with similar ecology to assess the significance of these changes.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonios D. Mazaris, Charalampos Dimitriadis, Maria Papazekou, Gail Schofield, Aggeliki Doxa, Anastasia Chatzimentor, Oguz Turkozan, Stelios Katsanevakis, Aphrodite Lioliou, Sara Abalo-Morla, Mustapha Aksissou, Antonella Arcangeli, Vincent Attard, Hedia Attia El Hili, Fabrizio Atzori, Eduardo J. Belda, Lobna Ben Nakhla, Ali A. Berbash, Karen A. Bjorndal, Annette C. Broderick, Juan A. Caminas, Onur Candan, Luis Cardona, Ilija Cetkovic, Nabigha Dakik, Giuseppe Andrea de Lucia, Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos, Salih Diryaq, Costanza Favilli, Caterina Maria Fortuna, Wayne J. Fuller, Susan Gallon, Abdulmaula Hamza, Imed Jribi, Manel Ben Ismail, Yiannis Kamarianakis, Yakup Kaska, Kastriot Korro, Drosos Koutsoubas, Giancarlo Lauriano, Bojan Lazar, David March, Adolfo Marco, Charikleia Minotou, Jonathan R. Monsinjon, Nahla M. Naguib, Andreas Palialexis, Vilma Piroli, Karaa Sami, Bektas Sonmez, Laurent Sourbes, Dogan Sozbilen, Frederic Vandeperre, Pierre Vignes, Michail Xanthakis, Vera Kopsel, Myron A. Peck
Summary: As climate-related impacts threaten marine biodiversity globally, it is important to adjust conservation efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. Translating scientific knowledge into practical management is often complicated due to resource, economic and policy constraints, generating a knowledge-action gap. However, this study in the Mediterranean region demonstrates successful convergence of perceptions among key actors regarding prioritizing adaptation and mitigation measures for marine turtle conservation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Instruments & Instrumentation
Marta Azzolin, Sebastien Saintingan, Matteo Costantino, Arianna Zampollo, Antonella Arcangeli, Irida Maina, Stefanos Kavvadas, Roberto Carlucci, Cristina Giacoma
Summary: The study investigated the predicted distribution of striped dolphins in the Gulf of Corinth, Greece for two periods under the MSFD. It found that while the distribution was similar for both periods, there was a small reduction in suitable areas in the North due to fish farm expansion. The MSFD and its management actions did not seem to have improved the protection of striped dolphins in the area.
2021 IEEE INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON METROLOGY FOR THE SEA (METROSEA 2021)
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Fabrizio Atzori, Lara Carosso, Nicoletta Cadoni, Francesca Frau, Maria Leonor Garcia Gutierrez, Giuseppe Andrea De Lucia, Martina Gregorietti, Giuliana Pellegrino, Svitlana Liubartseva, Rita Lecci, Giovanni Coppini, Fulvio Maffucci, Sandra Hochscheid, Antonella Arcangeli
Summary: The research conducted in the Sardinia Channel and Strait of Sicily, key areas of the central Mediterranean Sea, revealed that the distribution of loggerhead turtles is heterogeneous and influenced by surface circulation patterns. Summer sighting rates were significantly higher in the Sardinia Channel compared to the Strait of Sicily. Moreover, a priority risk area for co-occurrence of floating marine macro litter and loggerhead turtles was identified in the central Sardinian channel.
MEDITERRANEAN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
