Article
Environmental Sciences
Fabio Pereira, David Pilo, Andre N. Carvalho, Marta Rufino, Paula Moura, Paulo Vasconcelos, Miguel B. Gaspar
Summary: Limpet shells can harbor a diverse range of species, with Patella ulyssiponensis showing the highest epibiont species diversity. Basibiont species is the key factor determining the epibiotic community.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Anabelle Dece A. Espadero, Yohei Nakamura, Wilfredo H. Uy, Masahiro Horinouchi
Summary: Tropical intertidal seagrass beds are important foraging grounds for multiple fish species and provide a permanent habitat for resident species. Recognizing the importance of these habitats is crucial for the management and protection of coastal fish biodiversity and fishery resources.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gil Rilov, Niv David, Tamar Guy-Haim, Dar Golomb, Reuma Arav, Sagi Filin
Summary: Sea level rise driven by human-induced climate change poses a major threat to coastal ecosystems, with rocky shores being particularly vulnerable. However, the specific impacts on biodiversity, community structure, and ecosystem functions of rocky shores are still largely understudied.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Romina Vanessa Barbosa, Marion Jaud, Cedric Bacher, Yann Kerjean, Fred Jean, Jerome Ammann, Yoann Thomas
Summary: In this study, drone surveys were used to characterize the distribution of mussel aggregations and evaluate the role of topographic features in determining their distribution. The results showed that topographic features and intertidal height were the main factors influencing mussel distribution. The study highlights the advantage of using high-resolution drone images to study ecological processes in intertidal ecosystems.
Article
Ecology
Joseph Elsherbini, Christopher Corzett, Chiara Ravaglioli, Laura Tamburello, Martin Polz, Fabio Bulleri
Summary: Temperate rocky reefs support diverse habitats including macroalgal forests, algal turfs, and sea urchin barrens. The composition of epilithic microbial biofilms (EMBs) plays a crucial role in macroalgal recruitment, but their role in regulating the stability of alternative habitats remains unknown. A study on shallow rocky reefs in the Mediterranean compared EMB structure in different habitats under ambient and enhanced nutrient levels. Results showed distinct microbial communities in different habitats, with moderate nutrient enhancement having minimal effects on EMBs. Understanding the role of EMBs in habitat stability and reverse shifts is important.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peter Houk, Fran Castro, Andrew McInnis, Michael Rucinski, Christy Starsinic, Teddy Concepcion, Storm Manglona, Edwin Salas
Summary: A ridge-to-reef framework was developed to examine 26 watersheds around Guam. The study found that when the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) exceeds 0.10 mg/l, it negatively impacts water quality and coral reefs. Additionally, DIN negatively affects coral diversity, but increases the cover of some stress-tolerant corals. It was also observed that DIN predicts increased biomass of food-fish, while fishing pressure reduces biomass.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
M. J. Kingsford, M. Byrne
Summary: Rocky reefs in NSW consist of kelp forests and urchin-grazed barrens, which support a diverse range of species. The presence of barrens habitat is determined by the feeding activities of herbivorous invertebrates, especially the black sea urchin. This habitat has remained stable for decades and is crucial for reef-based organisms. However, in Tasmania, the situation regarding the black sea urchin differs from that in NSW, and this should be considered in the management approach for this species in both states.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
P. Elias Speelman, Michael Parger, Verena Schoepf
Summary: This study investigated changes in benthic cover and coral community composition after a mass bleaching event in the Kimberley region of Australia. The findings showed that coral communities in the intertidal area with less temperature variability recovered well, while those in the subtidal area with greater variability experienced significant changes in community composition, dominated by less heat-tolerant corals. This highlights the importance of coral heat tolerance in bleaching resilience and community reassembly.
Article
Ecology
Katja J. Geiger, Julio Arrontes, Antonella Rivera, Consolacion Fernandez, Jorge Alvarez, Jose Luis Acuna
Summary: A two-year experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of Pollicipes pollicipes harvest on intertidal community structure and ecological diversity. The study found that intensive exploitation resulted in a decrease in P. pollicipes and Mytilus spp. coverage, while Chthamalus spp. and Corallina spp. increased. The recovery of P. pollicipes aggregations was slow and variable, but their coverage increased under non-extracted conditions.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Thomas Burel, Gauthier Schaal, Jacques Grall, Michel Le Duff, Erwan Ar Gall
Summary: Physical constraints, particularly hydrodynamics, play a significant role in shaping macroalgal canopy-dominated rocky shore communities. This study examines the structure of benthic communities along a hydrodynamic gradient and the impact of wave height on the transition from macroflora to macrofauna dominance. The results challenge the commonly accepted paradigm of a gradual shift and reveal the presence of a wave height threshold that influences the dominance of different organisms.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yugreisy Polanco, Ricardo D. Otaiza, Florence Tellier, Karla Perez-Araneda
Summary: Morphological variability is common among macroalgae, and this study compares the morphology of Mazzaella laminarioides blades from different conditions. The blades in sand-influenced sites are longer and wider than in sites without sand influence. The restriction of large blades to sand-influenced sites may be related to the healing processes of basal holdfasts after suffering sand abrasion.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nokubonga Mbandzi, Motebang Dominic Vincent Nakin, Adebola Omowunmi Oyedeji
Summary: This study investigated the concentrations and biomagnification of heavy metals from macro-algae to limpet species using a short food web. The results showed significant differences in metal concentrations between species and variability across seasons and sites. Some metals showed biomagnification while others exhibited biodilution effects.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hyun Je Park, Changseong Kim, Chang-Keun Kang
Summary: Large-scale oil spills can impact the structure of food webs. This study analyzed stable isotope ratios of macrobenthic consumers and their potential food sources in oil-impacted and non-impacted sites. The results showed similar trophic structures between the polluted and reference sites, indicating that the oil-impacted sites have regained their trophic functions.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Kringpaka Wangkulangkul, Phuripong Meksuwan, Milica Stankovic
Summary: We investigated the impacts of oceanographic variables on the recruitment patterns of two intertidal rocky shore species in tropical areas. Recruitment data and environmental variables were collected at regional and local scales, and the relationships between recruitment and environmental variables were modeled. Our findings suggested that temperature was positively related to recruitment for both species, while salinity had opposite effects on barnacle and oyster recruitment. Wind patterns during the southwest monsoon influenced barnacle recruitment, but the effect on oysters was unclear. Our study highlights the importance of monsoon-influenced oceanographic processes in predicting recruitment patterns of intertidal species in tropical systems.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Justin M. Pflug, Yiwen Fang, Steven A. Margulis, Ben Livneh
Summary: Thresholds can be useful for interpreting environmental data, but they may vary when applied to different datasets or time periods. This study examines the impact of different spatial discretizations of snow on estimates of wolverine denning opportunities. The results show that snow thresholds are important but may not capture the full variability in snow-adapted wildlife denning opportunities.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2023)
