Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chris Roelfsema, Eva M. Kovacs, Kathryn Markey, Julie Vercelloni, Alberto Rodriguez-Ramirez, Sebastian Lopez-Marcano, Manuel Gonzalez-Rivero, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Stuart R. Phinn
Summary: This paper presents the use of machine learning and deep learning techniques to derive benthic coral reef community composition data from photoquadrats, supporting the understanding of coral reef biology and ecology. The approach is globally applicable for various submerged and benthic community ecological applications and provides a basis for further studies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marites M. Canto, Katharina E. Fabricius, Murray Logan, Stephen Lewis, Lachlan I. W. McKinna, Barbara J. Robson
Summary: The article highlights the weak correlation between current water quality metrics and ecological outcomes in the Great Barrier Reef, and introduces a new water quality index based on benthic irradiance. This index is sensitive to changes in light availability and has the potential to complement existing water quality metrics.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jenny A. Angarita-Baez, Caio J. Carlos
Summary: This study compared the feeding behavior and prey of Calidris alba, C. fuscicollis, and Charadrius semipalmatus during their stopover in Lagoa do Peixe National Park. The results showed marked differences in feeding strategies and prey captured between the shorebird species. C. semipalmatus employed a visual-run-stop strategy with surface pecking, while the two Calidris species utilized a tactile-continuous hunting strategy with some variations observed between the beach and the lagoon. Visual searching led to a more diverse prey selection, particularly in the lagoon.
Article
Fisheries
Raven M. Wright, Robin J. Beaman, James Daniell, Tom C. L. Bridge, Jodie Pall, Jody M. Webster
Summary: This study provides the first investigation of mesophotic reefs at the southern extremity of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), revealing similar benthic communities at depths of 80-110 m, with a decline in sessile benthos abundance below 110 m. The study highlights the variation in mesophotic coral ecosystems on the One Tree shelf edge depending on depth and substrate.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
A. Tagliafico, M. S. Rangel, N. R. Ehemann, N. E. Rago, M. K. Broadhurst
Summary: The study found that the waters surrounding Margarita Island in Venezuela may represent an important nursery area for elasmobranchs, but historical and ongoing harvest rates may pose a threat to regional populations of these species.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mary Wakeford, Marji I. Puotinen, William Nicholas, Jamie Colquhoun, Brigit Vaughan, Steve Whalan, Iain Parnum, Ben J. Radford, Mark Case, Ronen Galaiduk, Karen J. Miller
Summary: This study investigates the Ancient Coastline at around 125m depth, which is a key ecological feature in Australia's Commonwealth marine environment. The study found that if the distinct coastline exists, it is now largely buried and does not provide a unique hard substrate habitat.
Article
Geography, Physical
Colin Murray-Wallace, John H. Cann, Yusuke Yokoyama, William A. Nicholas, Terry J. Lachlan, Tsun-You Pan, Anthony Dosseto, Antonio P. Belperio, Victor A. Gostin
Summary: This study focuses on accurately defining palaeosea-levels during Late Pleistocene interstadials, using sediment records from a stable, remote far-field setting in southern Australia. Analysis of amino acid racemization in foraminifer Elphidium macelliforme shows correlation with Marine Isotope Stages, highlighting its utility in geochronology. Foraminiferal faunal assemblages indicate millennial-scale sea level variability, consistent with records from other regions, suggesting Sub-Milankovitch interstadial sea level variability noted in ice cores.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Davide Di Franco, Katrin Linse, Huw J. Griffiths, Angelika Brandt
Summary: The benthic communities in the Southern Ocean continental shelf and deep sea are driven by different factors, with depth being the main driver shaping the structure of peracarid assemblages. The differences in peracarid community structures between the continental shelf and deep sea in the Southern Ocean may be due to the different driving forces in these environments.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mathilde Chevallay, Pauline Goulet, Peter T. Madsen, Julieta Campagna, Claudio Campagna, Christophe Guinet, Mark P. Johnson
Summary: Toothed whales have the ability to detect and classify prey at long ranges, which enables them to efficiently search for and stalk sparse prey. However, deep-diving seals such as elephant seals rely on visual and hydrodynamic cues that can only be detected at short ranges. A study on female elephant seals using high-resolution sonar and movement tags found that they have a sensory advantage over their prey, allowing them to potentially detect prey 5 to 10 seconds before striking. The prey detection range of 7 to 17 meters enables stealthy approaches and prey-specific capture tactics.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Sabrina Harris, Klemens Puetz, Thomas Mattern, Gabriela Scioscia, Andrea Raya Rey
Summary: This study found that both Magellanic penguins and Gentoo penguins forage with conspecifics. Magellanic penguins traveled in groups to the feeding grounds but did not stay together during prey capture. Contrary to predictions, Gentoo penguins foraged in small groups and coordinated their actions to hunt for prey.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael Weinert, Ingrid Kroencke, Julia Meyer, Moritz Mathis, Thomas Pohlmann, Henning Reiss
Summary: Climate change affects benthic bioturbation in the southern North Sea, with temperature increase being the main factor. While overall bioturbation potential remains relatively stable, some species are projected to increase their bioturbation potential, leading to a change in relative contribution to bioturbation in the southern North Sea. This may have an impact on the biochemical cycling in sedimentary areas.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Berhanu Gebo, Serekebirhan Takele, Simon Shibru
Summary: Understanding the relationship between prey abundance and carnivore abundance is crucial for conservation efforts in the Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of prey species on multiple carnivore species in a human-dominated landscape. Camera traps were used to monitor the abundance of carnivores and prey in 15 grid cells over four seasons. The results showed that the abundance of carnivores varied with the abundance of potential prey, and medium ungulates and large birds were the most important prey groups contributing to carnivore abundance. The findings highlight the importance of prey abundance for carnivore conservation in this area.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Erik Wolfgring, Maria Rose Petrizzo, Brian T. Huber, David K. Watkins, Kenneth G. MacLeod
Summary: Through studying core samples from Site U1513, this research reveals changes in benthic foraminiferal communities during the Santonian period, inferring that cooling of bottom waters is accompanied by changes in the bottom water environment.
MARINE MICROPALEONTOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Erik Wolfgring, Maria Rose Petrizzo, Kenneth G. MacLeod, Brian T. Huber, David K. Watkins
Summary: This study investigates the changes in benthic foraminiferal communities during the Santonian period at Site U1513 on the Naturaliste Plateau. It reveals a decline in taxonomic richness and changes in relative abundance, indicating a shift from oligotrophic to eutrophic conditions in the bottom water despite a cooling trend.
MARINE MICROPALEONTOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luciano Lorenzi, Devon Gebauer Mayer, Bruna Conte Reginato, Paulo Roberto Pagliosa, David Valenca Dantas, Eduardo Gentil, Vladimir G. Toro Valencia
Summary: Urban expansion in Brazilian coastal zones has had various negative impacts on coastal marine ecosystems due to unorganized land use and lack of infrastructure projects. Improper disposal of domestic and industrial wastewater in coastal waterbodies has caused significant environmental problems. This study aimed to understand the relationship between the contamination of groundwater with domestic sewage and the density and composition of benthic infauna on sandy beaches. The findings revealed that higher concentrations of nutrients in water percolating through sediment in the summer, increased domestic wastewater discharge, and intense precipitation led to surface and groundwater contamination. Moreover, the study showed an increase in the population density of Thoracophelia furcifera, indicating its potential as an indicator of groundwater eutrophication. This research provides valuable insight for monitoring and improving the environmental quality of sandy beaches.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Aintzane Santaquiteria, Alexandre C. Siqueira, Emanuell Duarte-Ribeiro, Giorgio Carnevale, William T. White, John J. Pogonoski, Carole C. Baldwin, Guillermo Orti, Dahiana Arcila, Ricardo Betancur-R
Summary: The Syngnatharia group, which includes charismatic fish species like trumpetfishes, goatfishes, seahorses, and pipefishes, is widely distributed in tropical and warm-temperate regions, with a large portion of its diversity found in the Indo-Pacific. By applying an integrative phylogenomic approach, researchers were able to elucidate the evolutionary biogeography of syngnatharians, revealing their origins in the ancient Tethys Sea and subsequent expansion into the Indo-Pacific region. The study highlighted the importance of considering factors generating uncertainty in macroevolutionary and biogeographic inferences.
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Dahiana Arcila, Lily C. Hughes, Bruce Melendez-Vazquez, Carole C. Baldwin, William T. White, Kent E. Carpenter, Jeffrey T. Williams, Mudjekeewis D. Santos, John J. Pogonoski, Masaki Miya, Guillermo Orti, Ricardo Betancur-R
Summary: The study of genome-scale data sets generated by high-throughput sequencing technologies reveals limitations in the application of branch support metrics and species tree estimation when resolving controversies at deep time scales. Exploring phylogenetic uncertainty and discordance in phylogenomic data sets of ancient evolutionary radiations requires alternative measurements.
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
William T. White, Ronald Fricke
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
William T. White, Sirachai Arunrugstichai, Gavin J. P. Naylor
Summary: The study revised and described the species of Mustelus in the northern Indian Ocean, identifying a new species. Mustelus andamanensis sp. nov. shows differences in morphology and molecular characteristics compared to related species.
MARINE BIODIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leontine Baje, Andrew Chin, William T. White, Colin A. Simpfendorfer
Summary: Research conducted in Papua New Guinea found that one-third of elasmobranch species are taken as bycatch in the trawl fishery. Three species, including two endemic to New Guinea and northern Australia, face the highest level of risk. The potential increase in vessels in the fishery may elevate the risk for more elasmobranch species in the future.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michael I. Grant, William T. White, Yolarnie Amepou, Leontine Baje, Amy Diedrich, Dotty Ibana, Dick J. Jogo, Stanley Jogo, Peter M. Kyne, Owen Li, Ralph Mana, Nigel Mapmani, Anthony Nagul, Darcy Roeger, Colin A. Simpfendorfer, Andrew Chin
Summary: Sawfish populations in southern Papua New Guinea are still encountered, but face major threats. Most fishers that catch sawfish retain them for various uses, while negative population trends were reported by the majority of interviewees, particularly in the Kikori River.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Sushmita Mukherji, Jonathan Smart, Brooke D'Alberto, Leontine Baje, Andrew Chin, William White, Colin A. Simpfendorfer
Summary: Blue sharks are recognized as one of the five key pelagic shark species in the Western Central Pacific Ocean. A study was conducted to investigate the life history of blue sharks in Papua New Guinea and provide preliminary age and growth estimates for the species. Results showed that the asymptotic length parameter estimate for the male P. glauca population from Papua New Guinea was the largest reported.
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Alifa Bintha Haque, William T. White, Rachel D. Cavanagh, Aparna Riti Biswas, Nazia Hossain
Summary: A study was conducted in the southeast coastal region of Bangladesh to evaluate the species diversity and strengthen the taxonomic identification of elasmobranchs in the Bay of Bengal. This study identified 22 species, with 13 new records and several potential new records requiring further taxonomic investigation.
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
S. A. Appleyard, W. T. White, S. Vieira, B. Sabub
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Brooke M. D'Alberto, William T. White, Andrew Chin, Dharmadi, Colin A. Simpfendorfer
Summary: Research found that in the Indonesian tangle net fishery, multiple species of rays and sharks were caught, with the bottlenose wedgefish being the main target species. The fishery demonstrated high selectivity for larger individuals, leading to variations in catch composition depending on species catchability.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
William T. White, Helen L. O'Neill, Jaimie Cleeland, Tim D. Lamb
Summary: This study provides a more detailed anatomical description of the Kerguelen sandpaper skate, including the use of adult and juvenile specimens, egg cases and embryos. The results show a relatively high level of intraspecific variation in this species, mostly related to size. Additionally, the study describes the egg cases for the first time and reveals their variation in color and fouling based on the time spent in the marine environment.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily M. Troyer, Ricardo Betancur-R, Lily C. Hughes, Mark Westneat, Giorgio Carnevale, William T. White, John J. Pogonoski, James C. Tyler, Carole C. Baldwin, Guillermo Orti, Andrew Brinkworth, Julien Clavel, Dahiana Arcila
Summary: This study examines body size evolution in tetraodontiform fishes using Bergmann's rule and Cope's rule. By combining phylogenomic data with paleoclimate and body size data, the study finds strong support for a temperature-driven model, where increasing body size over time is correlated with decreasing oceanic temperatures. Extant tetraodontiforms are, on average, two to three times larger than their fossil counterparts, which evolved during periods of warmer ocean temperatures.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Zoology
William T. White, Javier Guallart, David A. Ebert, Gavin J. P. Naylor, Ana Verissimo, Charles F. Cotton, Mark Harris, Fabrizio Serena, Samuel P. Iglesias
Summary: Centrophorus uyato (Rafinesque, 1810) is a deep-sea shark species with a complicated nomenclatural history and multiple scientific names. This study redescribes the problematic species and provides a detailed synonymy. To maintain nomenclatural stability within the genus, the name Centrophorus uyato is retained.
Article
Fisheries
Kylie Maguire, Helen O'Neill, Franziska Althaus, William White, Alan Williams
Summary: Egg case nurseries of the boreal skate and Richardson's skate were identified and mapped in the bathyal seascape off the coast of Tasmania, Australia. The majority of egg cases were found on seamounts at depths of 1100-1400 m, associated with living stony coral. The coral zone provides a more favorable environment for embryonic development due to warmer water temperatures.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
William T. White, Helen L. O'Neill, Floriaan Devloo-Delva, Kazuhiro Nakaya, Samuel P. Iglesias
Summary: A new species of deepwater catshark, Apristurus ovicorrugatus, is discovered in northwestern Australia. The unique egg cases belonging to an unknown species prompted further investigation, and it was found that the previously identified A. sinensis specimen from Dampier Archipelago was gravid with a single egg case. The egg cases of this new species have distinct T-shaped ridges on the dorsal and ventral surfaces.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2023)