Article
Environmental Sciences
Marina F. M. Santana, Amanda L. Dawson, Cherie A. Motti, Lynne van Herwerden, Carine Lefevre, Frederieke J. Kroon
Summary: This study investigated microplastic ingestion and depuration kinetics in the planktivorous damselfish using environmentally relevant exposure conditions. The results showed that damselfish ingested both polypropylene (PP) particles and polyester (PET) fibers, with PET fibers having larger body burden and longer depuration rates than PP particles. Higher concentrations of microplastics led to increased body burden and decreased depuration rates. These findings are crucial for improving protocols for future microplastics research and understanding patterns of microplastic contamination in marine organisms.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Brittany Arvizu, Bridie J. M. Allan, Justin R. Rizzari
Summary: The 6-week laboratory experiment showed that the presence of a predator did not affect the morphology of the prey, but significantly impacted their behavior. Interestingly, the presence of a herbivore also had a similar effect on prey behavior as the predator, indicating that non-predators may also play a crucial role in the development of prey species.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kayla Cayemitte, Nadege Aoki, Sophie R. Ferguson, T. Aran Mooney, Amy Apprill
Summary: The settlement of coral larvae is crucial for the success and longevity of coral reefs. However, the proliferation of Ramicrusta sp., a red-brown encrusting alga, poses a serious threat to coral recruitment by overgrowing corals and causing high mortality rates in larvae compared to crustose coralline algae (CCA) and control groups.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joana Figueiredo, Christopher J. Thomas, Eric Deleersnijder, Jonathan Lambrechts, Andrew H. Baird, Sean R. Connolly, Emmanuel Hanert
Summary: The study demonstrates that a 2-degree Celsius warming will reduce the dispersal distance of coral larvae and connectivity between reefs, impacting coral reef recovery and the spread of warm-adapted genes.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peter L. Harrison, Dexter W. dela Cruz, Kerry A. Cameron, Patrick C. Cabaitan
Summary: Loss of foundation reef-corals is damaging reef communities globally, leading to a decline in ecosystem function. Active intervention and effective coral restoration techniques are needed to enhance coral recruitment and density. Enhancing larval supply significantly increases settlement on reefs, facilitating rapid re-establishment of breeding coral populations and enhancing fish abundance.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Fisheries
Andre L. R. Lima, Linda M. Eggertsen, Jessyca L. S. Teixeira, Alexandre Schiavetti, Fabiana C. Felix-Hackradt, Carlos W. Hackradt
Summary: The settlement and recruitment of reef fish are influenced by spatial and temporal processes and variables, which can be explained by biotic and abiotic factors. The effects of marine protected areas on these processes are still unclear. This study reviews the factors that influence settlement and recruitment of reef fish, with a focus on the role of protected areas.
REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Colleen Rodd, Steve Whalan, Craig Humphrey, Peter L. Harrison
Summary: Anthropogenic stressors have led to declines in reef-building corals. This study found that providing extra nutrients to coral larvae can increase settlement and survival rates, which is crucial for coral restoration.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ian M. McLeod, Margaux Y. Hein, Russ Babcock, Line Bay, David G. Bourne, Nathan Cook, Christopher Doropoulos, Mark Gibbs, Peter Harrison, Stewart Lockie, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen, Neil Mattocks, Cathie A. Page, Carly J. Randall, Adam Smith, Hillary A. Smith, David J. Suggett, Bruce Taylor, Karen J. Vella, David Wachenfeld, Lisa Bostrom-Einarsson
Summary: Australia has been implementing innovative intervention and restoration actions to address the decline in coral cover in its reefs. This article outlines the various approaches taken, including in-water programs, research to enhance coral resilience, and investigations into socio-economic perspectives. The progress in coral restoration in Australia demonstrates the increasing urgency to confront the coral reef crisis and the development of new tools for reef management.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Coline Monchanin, Rahul Mehrotra, Elouise Haskin, Chad M. Scott, Pau Urgell Plaza, Alyssa Allchurch, Spencer Arnold, Kirsty Magson, Bert W. Hoeksema
Summary: Research in Thailand's Koh Tao revealed significant differences in coral community structure between artificial and natural reefs, with diversity not solely explained by coral spawning dynamics. This suggests that these reefs play distinct ecological and functional roles in the marine environment.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. I. Blandford, K. B. Hillcoat, M. S. Pratchett, A. S. Hoey
Summary: The combined effects of global climate change and local anthropogenic stressors are leading to loss and fragmentation of habitats, which in turn influence the survival of coral reef fish populations. The degree of habitat fragmentation affects the early post-settlement survival of reef fish, with moderate levels having the greatest influence.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Juan Shi, Chunhou Li, Teng Wang, Jinfa Zhao, Yong Liu, Yayuan Xiao
Summary: Coral reefs, known as tropical rainforests in the ocean, have a rich diversity of fish species. China has 2855 species of coral reef fishes, which can be categorized into nearshore and offshore. The diversity of coral reef fish species has a significant positive correlation with coral species diversity.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Peter J. Edmunds
Summary: Research on coral recruitment in Moorea, French Polynesia, found that recruitment is influenced by seasonal variations and environmental factors such as seawater clarity, flow speeds, coral cover, and temperature. These effects highlight the importance of understanding how early life stages of corals are affected by annual environmental conditions, and the opportunities for acclimatization to impact successful coral recruitment.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dor Shefy, Gabrielle Guerrini, Nir Marom, Nadav Shashar, Baruch Rinkevich
Summary: This study investigates the settlement patterns of the brooding coral Stylophora pistillata, showing that larval settlement is mainly influenced by the number of larval donors and tends to aggregate. Aggregated settlement carries disadvantages but can also have benefits such as enhanced fertilization and ecological advantages.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biology
Kleyton M. Cantalice, Jesus Alvarado-Ortega, David R. Bellwood, Alexandre C. Siqueira
Summary: The discovery of fossils in Mayan tombs has fundamentally altered our understanding of the earliest origins of coral reef fishes and reconciled the conflict between fossil and phylogenetic evidence. These fossils indicate that the origins of reef fishes can be traced back to Mexico, just 3 million years after an asteroid impact, and reveal new insights into their early biogeography.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
David J. Booth, Giglia A. Beretta
Summary: In this study, spatial differences in growth, body condition, survivorship, and movement of lemon damselfish Pomacentrus moluccensis were evaluated over a decade in the southern and northern Great Barrier Reef regions. The study found high within-site variation in mortality, unrelated to density, likely influenced by local conditions, and showed no clear relationship between sea temperature and growth. Additionally, at smaller scales of variation, individuals exhibited high site fidelity, indicating both population stability and dynamics.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Laurence Dugal, Luke Thomas, Abinaya Meenakshisundaram, Tiffany Simpson, Rose Lines, Jamie Colquhoun, Simon Jarman, Mark Meekan
Summary: By applying eDNA metabarcoding, this study explored the differences in community profiles between different habitats in the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area in Western Australia. The results showed distinct clustering of samples by habitat type, and the differences were largely driven by spatial turnover. Additionally, a pattern of spatial stratification within the slope samples was detected.
Article
Ecology
Karina Vanadzina, Sally E. Street, Susan D. Healy, Kevin N. Laland, Catherine Sheard
Summary: The size of a bird's nest plays a crucial role in reproductive success and is influenced by various factors. The primary function of the nest is to protect offspring from the environment and predators. Studies have shown that bird species in colder habitats at higher latitudes build larger nests with thicker walls, but these larger nests are more vulnerable to predation. Nest size can also be influenced by sexual selection as it signals parental quality. This study also found that nest size is associated with environmental factors, geographical factors, and life-history traits.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Vinay Udyawer, Charlie Huveneers, Fabrice Jaine, Russell C. Babcock, Stephanie Brodie, Marie-Jeanne Buscot, Hamish A. Campbell, Robert G. Harcourt, Xavier Hoenner, Elodie J. I. Ledee, Colin A. Simpfendorfer, Matthew D. Taylor, Asia Armstrong, Adam Barnett, Culum Brown, Barry Bruce, Paul A. Butcher, Gwenael Cadiou, Lydie I. E. Couturier, Leanne Currey-Randall, Michael Drew, Christine L. Dudgeon, Ross G. Dwyer, Mario Espinoza, Luciana C. Ferreira, Anthony Fowler, David Harasti, Alastair R. Harborne, Nathan A. Knott, Kate Lee, Matt Lloyd, Michael Lowry, Teagan Marzullo, Jordan Matley, Jaime D. McAllister, Rory McAuley, Frazer McGregor, Mark Meekan, Kade Mills, Bradley M. Norman, Beverly Oh, Nicholas L. Payne, Vic Peddemors, Toby Piddocke, Richard D. Pillans, Richard D. Reina, Paul Rogers, Jayson M. Semmens, Amy Smoothey, Conrad W. Speed, Dylan van der Meulen, Michelle R. Heupel
Summary: A study found that ectothermic marine species exhibit allometric scaling for activity space, although the relationship is weaker compared to terrestrial species. Body mass alone can only explain 35% of the variation, with trophic position and latitude being stronger predictors for marine species. The study highlights the importance of using large-scale animal biotelemetry networks to address evolutionary and ecological questions across different taxa.
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Steven E. Campana, Szymon Smolinski, Bryan A. Black, John R. Morrongiello, Stella J. Alexandroff, Carin Andersson, Bjarte Bogstad, Paul G. Butler, Come Denechaud, David C. Frank, Audrey J. Geffen, Jane Aanestad Godiksen, Peter Gronkjaer, Einar Hjorleifsson, Ingibjorg G. Jonsdottir, Mark Meekan, Madelyn Mette, Susanne E. Tanner, Peter van der Sleen, Gotje von Leesen
Summary: Large-scale climate-induced synchrony in fish populations' productivity is increasing in the world's oceans. The costs and benefits of trait synchronization, such as growth rate, depend on the context. Contrary to prevailing views, synchrony among individuals could actually be beneficial for populations, especially during favorable conditions. To study this, century-scale time series of annual otolith growth were used to test for changes in growth synchronization among individuals within multiple populations of Atlantic cod. The results showed increasing conformity in long-term growth rates within northeast Atlantic cod populations, indicating adaptive trait optimization in response to climate variability.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Louise A. A. Rutterford, Stephen D. D. Simpson, Bjarte Bogstad, Jennifer A. A. Devine, Martin J. J. Genner
Summary: Climate change has had a strong impact on the distribution and abundance of marine fish species, raising concerns about its effects on commercially harvested stocks in the future. Analysis of standardized abundance data for 198 marine fish species across the Northeast Atlantic revealed temperature as the primary driver of fish community structure in the region, followed by salinity and depth. Modeling the effects of climate change using key environmental variables showed that projected climate change will result in shifts in species communities throughout the region, with the most significant changes occurring in locations with higher warming, particularly at higher latitudes. These findings suggest that future climate-driven warming will bring about widespread changes in commercial fisheries opportunities across the region.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Louise A. Rutterford, Martin J. Genner, Georg H. Engelhard, Stephen D. Simpson, Ewan Hunter
Summary: Using size-at-age data from field surveys, we examined how European plaice respond to spatial differences in environmental variables in the North Sea. We found that northern and southern migrating groups of males and females exhibited different growth patterns. However, these patterns were not supported by otolith-based estimates.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Colin A. Simpfendorfer, Michael R. Heithaus, Michelle R. Heupel, M. Aaron MacNeil, Mark Meekan, Euan Harvey, C. Samantha Sherman, Leanne M. Currey-Randall, Jordan S. Goetze, Jeremy J. Kiszka, Matthew J. Rees, Conrad W. Speed, Vinay Udyawer, Mark E. Bond, Kathryn I. Flowers, Gina M. Clementi, Jasmine Valentin-Albanese, M. Shiham Adam, Khadeeja Ali, Jacob Asher, Eva Aylagas, Oceane Beaufort, Cecilie Benjamin, Anthony T. F. Bernard, Michael L. Berumen, Stacy Bierwagen, Chico Birrell, Erika Bonnema, Rosalind M. K. Bown, Edward J. Brooks, J. Jed Brown, Dayne Buddo, Patrick J. Burke, Camila Caceres, Marta Cambra, Diego Cardenosa, Jeffrey C. Carrier, Sara Casareto, Jennifer E. Caselle, Venkatesh Charloo, Joshua E. Cinner, Thomas Claverie, Eric E. G. Clua, Jesse E. M. Cochran, Neil Cook, Jessica E. Cramp, Brooke M. D'Alberto, Martin de Graaf, Mareike C. Dornhege, Mario Espinoza, Andy Estep, Lanya Fanovich, Naomi F. Farabaugh, Daniel Fernando, Carlos E. L. Ferreira, Candace Y. A. Fields, Anna L. Flam, Camilla Floros, Virginia Fourqurean, Laura Gajdzik, Laura Garcia Barcia, Ricardo Garla, Kirk Gastrich, Lachlan George, Tommaso Giarrizzo, Rory Graham, Tristan L. Guttridge, Valerie Hagan, Royale S. Hardenstine, Stephen M. Heck, Aaron C. Henderson, Patricia Heithaus, Heidi Hertler, Mauricio Hoyos Padilla, Robert E. Hueter, Rima W. Jabado, Jean-Christophe Joyeux, Vanessa Jaiteh, Mohini Johnson, Stacy D. Jupiter, Muslimin Kaimuddin, Devanshi Kasana, Megan Kelley, Steven T. Kessel, Benedict Kiilu, Taratau Kirata, Baraka Kuguru, Fabian Kyne, Tim Langlois, Frida Lara, Jaedon Lawe, Elodie J. I. Ledee, Steve Lindfield, Andrea Luna-Acosta, Jade Q. Maggs, B. Mabel Manjaji-Matsumoto, Andrea Marshall, Lucy Martin, Daniel Mateos-Molina, Philip Matich, Erin McCombs, Ashlie McIvor, Dianne McLean, Llewelyn Meggs, Stephen Moore, Sushmita Mukherji, Ryan Murray, Stephen J. Newman, Josep Nogues, Clay Obota, Domingo Ochavillo, Owen O'Shea, Kennedy E. Osuka, Yannis P. Papastamatiou, Nishan Perera, Bradley Peterson, Caio R. Pimentel, Fabian Pina-Amargos, Hudson T. Pinheiro, Alessandro Ponzo, Andhika Prasetyo, L. M. Sjamsul Quamar, Jessica R. Quinlan, Jose Amorim Reis-Filho, Hector Ruiz, Alexei Ruiz-Abierno, Enric Sala, Pelayo Salinas-de-Leon, Melita A. Samoilys, William R. Sample, Michelle Schaerer-Umpierre, Audrey M. Schlaff, Kurt Schmid, Sara N. Schoen, Nikola Simpson, Adam N. H. Smith, Julia L. Y. Spaet, Lauren Sparks, Twan Stoffers, Akshay Tanna, Ruben Torres, Michael J. Travers, Maurits van Zinnicq Bergmann, Laurent Vigliola, Juney Ward, Joseph D. Warren, Alexandra M. Watts, Colin K. Wen, Elizabeth R. Whitman, Aaron J. Wirsing, Aljoscha Wothke, Esteban Zarza-Gonzalez, Demian D. Chapman
Summary: A global survey of coral reefs highlights the alarming decline in resident shark species due to overfishing, leading to a decrease in diversity among reef elasmobranch assemblages. The study reveals a significant decline of 60 to 73% in population for five common resident reef shark species, with shark absence detected in 34 to 47% of surveyed reefs. As shark populations decline, rays become the dominant species in these assemblages. However, shark-dominated assemblages are still found in wealthy nations with strong governance and highly protected areas, while impoverished regions with weak governance and inadequate shark management have depleted assemblages mainly composed of rays.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
A. Asunsolo-Rivera, E. Lester, T. Langlois, B. Vaughan, M. I. McCormick, S. D. Simpson, M. G. Meekan
Summary: Both sharks and humans pose a threat to mesopredatory fishes in coral reef systems, affecting population dynamics and the role of these fishes in reef ecosystems. This study investigates the antipredator responses of mesopredatory fishes towards blacktip reef shark models and snorkelers, finding that they exhibited similar predator avoidance behavior. These findings have implications for researchers monitoring fish behavior and estimating reef fish abundance using underwater census techniques.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Veterinary Sciences
Becca Franks, Susan Healy, Felicity Huntingford
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Brendon James Osorio, Grzegorz Skrzypek, Mark Meekan
Summary: Understanding the diet of whale sharks is crucial for conservation strategies, and this study suggests that parasitic copepods can be used as a proxy to infer the short-term foraging habitats and trophic positions of whale shark hosts. The study found a strong correlation between the nitrogen isotope compositions of the parasites and whale shark hosts, indicating consistent trophic positions over time. However, the carbon isotope compositions showed a weak correlation, suggesting differences in physiology and lifecycle between the copepod parasite and the host.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Christine Barry, Adrian C. Gleiss, Luciana C. Ferreira, Michele Thums, Randall W. Davis, Lee A. Fuiman, Naomi R. Roche, Mark G. Meekan
Summary: Videos from Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia show trevally consuming baitfishes swimming with whale sharks, refuting the hypothesis that whale sharks provide protection for baitfishes. The association between whale sharks and baitfishes appears to confer other advantages such as reduced costs of locomotion and enhanced feeding opportunities.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Altynay Kaidarova, Nathan R. Geraldi, Rory P. Wilson, Juergen Kosel, Mark G. Meekan, Victor M. Eguiluz, Muhammad Mustafa Hussain, Atif Shamim, Hanguang Liao, Mani Srivastava, Swapnil Sayan Saha, Michael S. Strano, Xiangliang Zhang, Boon S. Ooi, Mark Holton, Lloyd W. Hopkins, Xiaojia Jin, Xun Gong, Flavio Quintana, Adylkhan Tovasarov, Assel Tasmagambetova, Carlos M. Duarte
Summary: Human societies rely on marine ecosystems, which are still experiencing degradation. This article discusses the adaptation of sensors and wearable technology developed for humans to improve marine monitoring. It highlights the barriers to transitioning this technology from land to sea, updates on sensor developments for ocean observation, and advocates for wider use of wearables on marine organisms. The authors propose that widespread use of wearables could contribute to an 'internet of marine life' and inform strategies for marine conservation and restoration.
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Catherine Sheard, Sally E. Street, Caitlin Evans, Kevin N. Lala, Susan D. Healy, Shoko Sugasawa
Summary: The evolution of behavior can both influence and be influenced by morphology. This study investigates the relationship between beak shape and nest building materials in birds using a global database and random forest models. The results show that beak morphology, diet, and access to materials can predict nest material use with moderate to high accuracy, although the relationship is influenced by phylogenetic signal and sampling biases.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biology
Susan D. D. Healy, Maria Cristina Tello-Ramos, Marie Hebert
Summary: Successful reproduction in birds relies on 'good' nest building. The diversity of nests among the 10,000 bird species suggests that nest design depends on microhabitat, life history, and behavior. Understanding the driving factors behind nest diversity is a research priority, aided by museum collections and field and laboratory data. Phylogenetic analyses and datasets of nest traits are shedding light on nest evolution, but there are still unanswered functional questions. The next major challenge is to analyze the developmental and mechanistic aspects of nest building itself, rather than just nest morphology.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
