Article
Environmental Sciences
Fahad Al Senafi
Summary: The Arabian Gulf is one of the world's most unique and fragile marine ecosystems, vulnerable to climate change due to its shallow depth and arid location. This study analyzes sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the Gulf using empirical orthogonal function (EOF) decomposition analysis from 1982 to 2020. The results indicate that SST variability in the Gulf is influenced by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO), and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) climate modes. Additionally, the study reveals a warming trend in the average SST in the Gulf over the past four decades, despite indications of overall heat loss at the air-sea interface.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Fisheries
Abdulrahman Ben-Hasan, Moslem Daliri
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive account of artisanal fisheries in the Arabian/Persian Gulf. It reveals that artisanal fisheries contribute to around 71% of the total catch in the Gulf and gillnets, traps, and lines are the most commonly used fishing gears. The artisanal catch mainly consists of medium to large demersal, pelagic, and reef-associated fish. Fisheries management relies on gear restrictions, minimum size of capture, seasonal closures, and spatial restrictions, but weak enforcement is a core issue. Mismanaged fisheries, coastal development, and climate change are the primary threats to fish abundance and essential habitats.
REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jassim A. Al-Khayat, S. Veerasingam, V. M. Aboobacker, P. Vethamony
Summary: This study examined the assemblages of encrusting organisms on different types of stranded floating marine debris (FMD) along the west coast of Qatar, and found 18 fouling species belonging to 5 phyla. Larger size FMD had more taxa, and some barnacle rafting types were non-indigenous species.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Aleke Stofen-O'Brien, Abolfazl Naji, Amy L. Brooks, Jenna R. Jambeck, Farhan R. Khan
Summary: In recent years, there has been increasing attention on the amount of plastic waste entering the marine environment globally, with certain areas remaining relatively undocumented. Research findings on this topic within the countries adjacent to the Arabian/Persian Gulf are sparse, with significant gaps in precise details on plastic marine debris and management responses. This article addresses these shortcomings from a transdisciplinary perspective, highlighting the need for dedicated cooperative efforts within the region to tackle the issue effectively.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alain de Verneil, John A. Burt, Matthew Mitchell, Francesco Paparella
Summary: The Arabian Gulf is the warmest sea during summer with high salinity and extreme temperature fluctuations. Research showed recurrent summer hypoxia events in southern Gulf reefs, although currently they are short enough to prevent mass mortality. Future predictions require further study of the causes of oxygen fluctuations in the Gulf.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shreya Yadav, Ty N. F. Roach, Michael J. J. McWilliam, Carlo Caruso, Mariana Rocha de Souza, Catherine Foley, Corinne Allen, Jenna Dilworth, Joel Huckeba, Erika P. P. Santoro, Renee Wold, Jacquelyn Simpson, Spencer Miller, Joshua R. R. Hancock, Crawford Drury, Joshua S. S. Madin
Summary: This study used structure-from-motion photogrammetry to track coral bleaching, mortality, and changes in community composition during the 2019 marine heatwave in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The results showed that spatial and taxonomic heterogeneity in coral bleaching and mortality were influenced by environmental variation, habitat complexity, and differences in assemblage composition.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ivonne Bejarano, Victor Orenes-Salazar, Rita Bento, Jose Antonio Garcia-Charton, Daniel Mateos-Molina
Summary: This study documents the decline of coral reefs in the southern Arabian Gulf, specifically the loss of Acropora corals. It found that the last remaining large stands of Acropora are located on an offshore island with less extreme environmental conditions. The study provides essential information for the management and conservation of these valuable and vulnerable corals.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Mustafa Omerspahic, Hareb Al-Jabri, Simil Amir Siddiqui, Imen Saadaoui
Summary: With worldwide water shortage increasing, seawater desalination is gaining popularity as an inexhaustible source of freshwater. However, the brine produced during the desalination process has negative effects on the marine environment. Efforts are being made to improve desalination technology and develop effective brine management methods to minimize these impacts.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francesco Paparella, Daniele D'Agostino, John A. Burt
Summary: The nations on the Arabian/Persian Gulf are the largest users of desalination technologies, but concerns have been raised about the long-term effects of increased salinity on marine ecosystems. Current desalinated freshwater production is relatively small, but projections suggest it could reach 10% of net evaporation by the end of the century. However, climate scenarios indicate that increased air temperature and potential changes in precipitation could mitigate the effects of desalination. Additionally, the circulation of high-salinity waters through the Strait of Hormuz limits basin-wide salinity increases.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Diego Bruciaferri, Marina Tonani, Isabella Ascione, Fahad Al Senafi, Enda O'Dea, Helene T. Hewitt, Andrew Saulter
Summary: This study explores the sensitivity of a shelf sea model to changes in various factors and introduces two new high-resolution models. The results show that the new models have higher accuracy in representing sea surface temperature and water column stratification compared to the existing model. However, high-resolution models may be prone to the double-penalty effect in certain situations.
GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu-Jia Lin, Ruben H. Roa-Ureta, Abdu Rahiman Kambrath Pulikkoden, Panickan Premlal, Zahid Nazeer, Mohammad A. Qurban, Lotfi Rabaoui
Summary: This study used multiple surveys and analysis methods to determine essential fish habitats of several fish species inhabiting Saudi territorial waters in the western Arabian Gulf. The results showed that fish nursery areas were generally located in nearshore locations while spawning areas were located in offshore waters, with different species using different locations as nursery and spawning grounds.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
S. Andrefouet, O. Bionaz
Summary: This study reviews the use of MCRMP products in 62 representative studies since 2004, showcasing their application in coral reef inventories, conservation planning, biodiversity mapping, and connectivity and climate change modeling. The products have also been utilized for mapping other ecosystems, highlighting their versatility and potential impact in global-scale mapping projects.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Parisa Alidoost Salimi, Pargol Ghavam Mostafavi, Chaolun Allen Chen, Michel Pichon, Mahsa Alidoost Salimi
Summary: This study compared the phylogenetic relationships of coral species from the Persian Gulf with those from the Indo-Pacific, revealing that some previously thought to be widespread species in the IP actually belong to distinct lineages. Morphological convergence has led to an underestimation of coral species diversity in the Persian Gulf.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maral Khosravi, Dakeishla M. Diaz-Morales, David W. Thieltges, Martin Wahl, Jahangir Vajedsamiei
Summary: Global warming can impact the transmission of infectious diseases by affecting the release of cercarial stages from their hosts in trematode parasites. However, we have limited knowledge about the emergence patterns of cercariae from high temperature environments. This study investigated the effect of temperature on cercarial emergence of two trematode species from mud snails in the Persian Gulf, finding that they have the warmest recorded thermal optima among aquatic trematodes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mary K. Donovan, Deron E. Burkepile, Chelsey Kratochwill, Tom Shlesinger, Shannon Sully, Thomas A. Oliver, Gregor Hodgson, Jan Freiwald, Robert van Woesik
Summary: Climate change poses a serious threat to coral reefs, leading to coral bleaching and mortality, and global mass coral mortality events highlight the importance of mitigating climate change to protect coral reefs. Local stressors such as high abundance of macroalgae or urchins intensify coral loss and in combination with increasing heat stress, exacerbate coral mortality. Effective local management practices, combined with global efforts to mitigate climate change, offer hope for the survival of coral reefs in the Anthropocene era.
Article
Geology
Alexander F. Humphreys, Jochen Halfar, Fernando Rivera, Derek Manzello, Claire E. Reymond, Hildegard Westphal, Bernhard Riegl
Article
Fisheries
Meixia Zhao, Kefu Yu, Qi Shi, Hongqiang Yang, Bernhard Riegl, Qiaomin Zhang, Hongqiang Yan, Tianran Chen, Guohui Liu, Ziyun Lin
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2016)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dawood Shuail, Jorg Wiedenmann, Cecilia D'Angelo, Andrew H. Baird, Morgan S. Pratchett, Bernhard Riegl, John A. Burt, Peter Petrov, Carl Amos
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2016)
Article
Geology
Claire E. Reymond, Konny-Sebastian Zihrul, Jochen Halfar, Bernhard Riegl, Alexander Humphreys, Hildegard Westphal
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andia Chaves-Fonnegra, Bernhard Riegl, Sven Zea, Jose V. Lopez, Tyler Smith, Marilyn Brandt, David S. Gilliam
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Bernhard Riegl, Matthew Johnston, Sam Purkis, Emily Howells, John Burt, Sascha C. C. Steiner, Charles R. C. Sheppard, Andrew Bauman
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Niklas A. Kornder, Bernhard M. Riegl, Joana Figueiredo
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meixia Zhao, Bernhard Riegl, Kefu Yu, Qi Shi, Qiaomin Zhang, Guohui Liu, Hongqiang Yang, Hongqiang Yan
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2016)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Bernhard Riegl, Peter W. Glynn, Stuart Banks, Inti Keith, Fernando Rivera, Mariana Vera-Zambrano, Cecilia D'Angelo, Joerg Wiedenmann
Correction
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Bernhard Riegl, Peter W. Glynn, Stuart Banks, Inti Keith, Fernando Rivera, Mariana Vera-Zambrano, Cecilia D'Angelo, Joerg Wiedenmann
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bernhard Riegl, Matthew Johnston, PeterW Glynn, Inti Keith, Fernando Rivera, Mariana Vera-Zambrano, Stuart Banks, Joshua Feingold, Peter J. Glynn
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Peter W. Glynn, Brian Coffman, Karim Primov, D. Abigail Renegar, Julie Gross, Patricia Blackwelder, Nicolas Martinez, Joshua Dominguez, Jeongran Vanderwoude, Bernhard M. Riegl
INVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Peter W. Glynn, Brian Coffman, Kyle Dettloff, Joshua Dominguez, Phillip R. Gillette, Nicholas Martinez, Nicholas P. Jones, Bernhard M. Riegl
Summary: The non-native eastern Pacific ophiuroid brittle star Ophiothela mirabilis has established widespread and large populations in southeastern Florida, negatively affecting the local endemic benthic ctenophore population and potentially becoming an invasive species.
Article
Archaeology
P. W. Glynn, T. D. Dillehay, P. J. Netherly, B. M. Riegl
Summary: The discovery of a late Pleistocene coral species in the prehistoric Huaca Prieta settlement in Peru raises questions about its origin. Research suggests that it is likely that humans introduced the coral to northern Peru through overland transport.
JOURNAL OF ISLAND & COASTAL ARCHAEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Bernhard Riegl, Anna Walentowitz, Christian Sevilla, Rafael Chango, Heinke Jager
Summary: Island florae globally face threats from habitat loss and competition with introduced species. In the Galapagos Islands, the native tree daisy Scalesia pedunculata is being impacted by the invasive blackberry Rubus niveus. A study conducted in Santa Cruz Island evaluated the effects of Rubus niveus removal on Scalesia pedunculata and found that its growth, survival, and recruitment were negatively affected by the presence of the invasive species.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Atefeh Zendehboudi, Azam Mohammadi, Sina Dobaradaran, Gabriel E. De-la-Torre, Bahman Ramavandi, Seyed Enayat Hashemi, Reza Saeedi, Emran Moradpour Tayebi, Ahmad Vafaee, Amirhossein Darabi
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics and ecological risks of microplastics (MPs) in ballast water for the first time, and found high levels of MP pollution. These findings contribute to our understanding of the sources and risks of microplastics in marine ecosystems.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rose Boahemaa Pinto, Linda Bogerd, Martine van der Ploeg, Kwame Duah, Remko Uijlenhoet, Tim H. M. van Emmerik
Summary: Catchment-scale plastic pollution assessments provide insights into the sources, sinks, and pathways of plastic pollution. We propose an approach to quantify macroplastic transport and density in the Odaw catchment, Ghana, and find that the urban riverine zone has the highest transport, while the urban tidal zone has the highest riverbank and land macroplastic density.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aliya Baidourela, Qian Sun, Gongxin Yang, Umut Halik, Zhongkai Dong, Kaixu Cai, Guili Sun, Wenya Zhang, Sisi Cheng
Summary: The study focused on heavy metal pollution in the green vegetation of a suburban industrial area in Tuokexun County, Xinjiang, China. The results showed that the overall level of heavy metal pollution in the soil was minor, with mercury (Hg) being the most severe contamination, likely caused by human activities. The composition of heavy metal elements in trees was more stable compared to grass and shrubs, with varying concentrations across different vegetation. Shrubbery was found to be the most effective in heavy metal restoration, and there were disparities in heavy metal enrichment among different vegetation types.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
James H. Bridson, Hayden Masterton, Beatrix Theobald, Regis Risani, Fraser Doake, Jessica A. Wallbank, Stefan D. M. Maday, Gavin Lear, Robert Abbel, Dawn A. Smith, Joanne M. Kingsbury, Olga Pantos, Grant L. Northcott, Sally Gaw
Summary: Plastic pollution has significant environmental impacts, largely due to chemical additives. However, the behavior of plastic additives in marine environments is not well understood. A marine deployment experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of weathering on the extractables profile of four types of plastics in New Zealand over a period of nine months. The concentration of additives in polyethylene and oxo-degradable polyethylene was strongly influenced by artificial weathering, while polyamide 6 and polyethylene terephthalate showed minimal change. These findings emphasize the importance of considering leaching and weathering effects on plastic composition when assessing the potential impact and risk of plastic pollution in receiving environments.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alan G. Scarlett, Francis D. Spilsbury, Steven J. Rowland, Marthe Monique Gagnon, Kliti Grice
Summary: This study used diamondoid hydrocarbon distributions to identify the sources of environmental oil contamination. A suite of 20 diamondoids was found to accumulate in fish adipose tissue. The scatter plots of indices between fish and exposure oils showed a close to ideal 1:1 relationship, which can be used to determine the origin of the oil.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shan Jiang, Mengmeng Wan, Kun Lin, Yanshan Chen, Rui Wang, Liju Tan, Jiangtao Wang
Summary: In this study, the concentration, composition, distribution, and sources of PCBs in surface seawater of the Bohai Bay were analyzed. The results showed that PCBs in the Bohai Bay had high concentrations and were primarily derived from land-based sources such as port activities and river inputs. The PCBs in the Bohai Bay may come from commercial PCBs and their incineration products, municipal landfills, wood and coal combustion, and industrial activities, etc.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Icaro S. A. Porto, Saulo V. A. Dantas, Caio S. A. Felix, Francisco A. S. Cunha, Jailson B. de Andrade, Sergio L. C. Ferreira
Summary: This study evaluated the risks of mercury levels in sardines consumed by low-income population in Salvador, Brazil. The results showed that the mercury content in the sampled sardines posed no risks to human health. This study is significant as most sardines in Salvador come from Todos os Santos Bay, which has a history of mercury contamination.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiahui Chen, Chengyu Yuan, Guanqun Zhai, Guangcheng Chen, Heng Zhu, Jun Liu, Yong Ye
Summary: This study investigated the combined influences of species selection and site elevation on greenhouse gas fluxes from restored mangrove soils. The results suggest that Avicennia marina should be selected for mangrove restoration to minimize carbon release and reduce the influence of greenhouse gas fluxes on the global greenhouse effect.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emmanuel Onyeabor, Uju Obuka
Summary: The Gulf of Guinea region in Africa is a significant area for coastal countries, playing a vital role in their economic and environmental development. This study aims to reduce marine plastic pollution in the region by utilizing legal instruments.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuanli Liu, Stephan Luttjohann, Alvise Vianello, Claudia Lorenz, Fan Liu, Jes Vollertsen
Summary: Large area attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (LAATR-FTIR) is a novel technique for detecting small microplastics, with limited accuracy for large microplastics. However, it shows promise in homogeneous matrices. The spectra quality is comparable between transmission mode and LAATR mode.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Phuc T. D. Le, Andrew M. Fischer, Britta D. Hardesty, Heidi J. Auman, Chris Wilcox
Summary: This study explores the relationship between ocean currents and the accumulation of floating marine debris (FMD) and finds that higher concentrations of FMD are associated with frontal frequencies (FF). FMD is primarily trapped in accumulation zones between fronts and the coastline, which have high biodiversity value.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rosa Sawan, Perine Doyen, Florence Viudes, Rachid Amara, Celine Mahfouz
Summary: Few studies have examined the impact of urbanization and meteorological events on microplastics discharged into the sea through rivers. Surface water samples were collected from two Lebanese rivers, with differing degrees of urbanization, during dry and wet periods. The results showed that the most industrialized river had a significantly higher abundance of microplastics compared to the less-industrialized river. There was also a correlation between particle contamination and the season at each site, with microplastic concentrations highest on the first day of the wet season. These findings highlight the importance of considering meteorological events in accurately assessing plastic pollution influx into coastal waters.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Katherine R. Shaw, Jonathan L. Whitney, Eileen M. Nalley, Madeline C. Schmidbauer, Megan J. Donahue, Jesse Black, Raquel N. Corniuk, Kellie Teague, Rachel Sandquist, Catherine Pirkle, Rachel Dacks, Max Sudnovsky, Jennifer M. Lynch
Summary: This study examines the ingestion of plastic in reef fish in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Plastic particles were found in the gastrointestinal tracts of multiple fish species. However, further analysis revealed that these particles were actually natural materials and posed no threat to human consumers.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Revati Hardikar, C. K. Haridevi, Shantaj Deshbhratar
Summary: This study investigated the variability in phytoplankton functional structure using a trait-based approach and explored the relationship between species traits and environmental factors, as well as their impact on ecosystem functioning. The results revealed that morphological traits, temperature, and ammonia played a decisive role in the seasonal succession of phytoplankton species. It was found that certain traits favored higher biomass production but might hinder energy transfer efficiency. The strong correlation between environmental variables and phytoplankton functional structure supports the practical implementation of a trait-based approach in studying phytoplankton community dynamics under different environmental conditions.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Engki A. Kisnarti, Nining Sari Ningsih, Mutiara R. Putri, Nani Hendiarti, Bernhard Mayer
Summary: This study examines the movement patterns of plastic marine debris in Indonesian waters, revealing that Indonesia contributes significantly to transboundary marine debris in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the South China Sea. Most of the debris remains in Indonesian waters and moves back and forth due to the influence of monsoon currents.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)