Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Eugenio Di Franco, Antonio Di Franco, Antonio Calo, Manfredi Di Lorenzo, Luisa Mangialajo, Simona Bussotti, Carlo Nike Bianchi, Paolo Guidetti
Summary: The study assessed the impacts of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on benthic assemblages, habitat complexity, and fish populations, showing that protection did not significantly affect overall benthic assemblages but helped protect important erect algae species. Additionally, the research found that protection positively influenced fish biomass independently of habitat complexity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Darren S. du Plessis, Deena Pillay
Summary: The study on time-dependent effects of foraging plasticity by Greater Flamingos in sedimentary assemblages of Langebaan Lagoon revealed that flamingo foraging behavior can impact basal trophic resource levels, community structure, and spatio-temporal heterogeneity.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yibang Wang, Cui Liang, Zhaomin Chen, Shude Liu, Hui Zhang, Weiwei Xian
Summary: This study collected 1,291 ichthyoplankton individuals in the Yangtze Estuary from 2013 to 2020, identifying 26 species with dominant species including Coilia mystus, Chelidonichthys spinosus, and others. The ichthyoplankton assemblage showed significant changes over time and was influenced by temperature and chlorophyll a.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michel Marengo, Laura Iborra, Michele Leduc, Pierre Lejeune, Pierre Boissery, Sylvie Gobert
Summary: This study analyzed changes in coastal fish communities along the Mediterranean coast, finding a significant shift in fish community structure with a general decline of calculated indices. Part of the observed variability in fish assemblage structure could be due to different factors such as site location and sampled year. The changes in fish assemblages associated with inter-annual fluctuations observed in this study provide important insights into how fish communities may change under environmental and anthropogenic influences.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ayeon Choi, Tae Kwon Lee, Hyeyoun Cho, Won-Chan Lee, Jung-Ho Hyun
Summary: The study investigated the changes in bacterial communities across different farming stages to assess the impact of aquaculture on sediment conditions related to sulfur cycles. It was found that the sulfate reduction rate (SRR), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and H2S concentrations were significantly higher in the mid-and post-farming stages compared to the early stage, indicating persistent effects of aquaculture even after harvest. Different groups of bacteria dominated at different stages, reflecting anoxic and sulfidic conditions in the sediment. The Sulfurovum-like sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB) showed a strong positive correlation with H2S, AVS, and SRR, suggesting their potential as microbiological indicators for assessing sulfidic conditions in farm sediment.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chen Yi-Ron, Hou Wen-Shang, Huang Chen-Kang, Chou Chu-Yang
Summary: Reservoirs are artificial ecosystems that affect nearby hydrological and environmental components. Long-term monitoring of fish assemblages in reservoirs is important for understanding fish population fluctuations and developing conservation strategies. A study of the Feitsui Reservoir over 14 years showed that fish assemblages differed between cold and warm seasons, with higher algal counts in the warm season. Before and after 2010, there was partial overlap in fish assemblages, indicating some impact of nonnative fish species on native fish composition.
Article
Agronomy
Agnieszka Wolna-Maruwka, Aleksandra Grzyb, Remigiusz Lukowiak, Jakub Ceglarek, Alicja Niewiadomska, Dariusz Kayzer
Summary: Understanding the spatial-temporal variability of soil enzymatic activity and its relationship with nitrogen resources and crop yield is crucial for rational management practices. This study revealed spatial and temporal variability in soil parameters, with higher values observed in July. The southern part of the field exhibited considerable enzyme activity and high N-NO3 application, indicating separate production zones and higher crop yield. There was a negative interaction between N-NH4 and N-NO3 and urease in the soil. The findings emphasize the importance of enzymatic and chemical parameters in soil for crop yield and lay the foundations for precision agriculture.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Joshua Nitschke, Ian Knuckey, Matt Koopman, Russell Hudson, Charlie Huveneers, Gretchen Grammer, Tim M. Ward
Summary: This study examined the spatial and temporal variations in demersal fish assemblage in the central Great Australian Bight and found that the composition and abundance of the assemblage are influenced by both fishing and environmental gradients. Recent declines in the abundance indices of target species highlight the need for continued fishery-independent monitoring. The relative importance of fishing pressure, environmental variability, and other human activities in driving these changes warrant further investigation.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Juan F. Espinola-Novelo, Marcelo E. Oliva
Summary: The study evaluated the potential spatial and temporal variability of parasite communities affecting three marine fish species collected between 1993 and 2017. The results showed differences in the prevalence of most taxa at spatial and temporal scales, with some larval endoparasites remaining constant over time. Spatial stability was observed in samples from different localities, while temporal variability was noted in samples from different years. Temporal variability must be taken into account in studies regarding parasites as a tool for stock identification.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tim J. Langlois, Corey B. Wakefield, Euan S. Harvey, Dion K. Boddington, Stephen J. Newman
Summary: In 1998, a large offshore targeted fisheries closure area was implemented on the North West Shelf of Australia as part of management controls. After 12 years, significant differences were found between the closed area and adjacent fished areas in terms of benthic biota and fish assemblages, driven by slower growing, longer lived fishery target species.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
A. Sturbois, G. Cormy, G. Schaal, O. Gauthier, A. Ponsero, P. Le Mao, P. Riera, N. Desroy
Summary: The study found that some species exhibit significant temporal and spatial changes, impacting the composition of benthic assemblages, but this does not necessarily lead to significant changes in functional properties. Considering local changes and variations at the species level explains the differences in composition observed at the scale of assemblages.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Kara J. Gadeken, Grant Lockridge, Kelly M. Dorgan
Summary: In shallow coastal systems, sediment oxygen demand (SOD) is an important metric for aquatic ecosystem functioning. Traditional measurement techniques, such as batch-style benthic chambers, cannot capture the high temporal variability in SOD, nor link changes in SOD to specific sediment features. This study presents a new in situ semi-flow through instrument that can repeatedly measure SOD in discrete areas of sediment and directly link it to environmental conditions.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY-METHODS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Nothabo Elizabeth Ndebele, Stefan Grab, Herbert Hove
Summary: This study investigates the characteristics of wet seasons in Cape Town, including the frequency of wet-dry days, duration of wet-dry spells, and season length. The analysis of rainfall data from four weather stations reveals a decline in wet days since the 1950s and an increase in dry spells longer than 5 days. The study also identifies a recent decrease in the average wet season length since the 1940s, attributed to late onsets and early terminations of the wet season. Solar cycles and oscillations in climate indices are found to contribute to interannual variability in wet season characteristics.
CLIMATE OF THE PAST
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Clement Lebot, Marie-Andree Arago, Laurent Beaulaton, Gaelle Germis, Marie Nevoux, Etienne Rivot, Etienne Prevost
Summary: Estimating abundance with wide spatiotemporal coverage is crucial for the assessment and management of wild populations. However, the available data often have diverse forms and variable quality over space and time, resulting from multiple data collection procedures. In this study, we developed a hierarchical Bayesian modelling approach to estimate homogeneous time series of abundances using the diverse assemblage of data. We applied this approach to estimate the adult abundances of 18 Atlantic salmon populations in Brittany, France, from 1987 to 2017. Our results show no clear trend in the abundance of adult returns during the study period.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Peng Xiang, Xiaodong Wang, Kan Liu, Bo Wu, Cong Liang, Zhaobin Song
Summary: This study investigated the temporal and spatial dynamics of fish assemblages in the Datong and Xiaotong rivers. The results showed that species diversity and richness increased from upstream to downstream in both rivers. There were significant differences in fish assemblages between river reaches, but not between different months. Certain fish species were found to contribute the most to the spatial pattern of fish assemblages. The lack of a temporal pattern in fish assemblages may be attributed to short-distance migration habits and diversified mesohabitats in the rivers. The findings suggest that fish conservation efforts should focus on mesohabitats, particularly pools and riffles, in these rivers.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Favio Andres Noguera-Munoz, Benjamin Garcia Garcia, Jesus Trinidad Ponce-Palafox, Omar Wicab-Gutierrez, Sergio Gustavo Castillo-Vargasmachuca, Jose Garcia Garcia
Summary: The super-intensive white shrimp system is economically viable with a higher profitability compared to other agricultural activities in Mexico. It creates employment opportunities and boosts economic development in the area, while having potential environmental impacts that are slightly lower than those of intensive systems.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonio Calo, Jose Manuel Pereniguez, Ramon Hernandez-Andreu, Jose Antonio Garcia-Charton
Summary: This study investigated the impact of SCUBA diving in one of the most frequented diving areas of the Mediterranean Sea and assessed the potential benefits of adopting diving quotas. The results showed a clear impact of SCUBA diving on false coral colonies, with diving quotas initially reducing the ratio of dead colonies, but this effect diminished over time. Effective regulations are crucial for the environmental sustainability of diving tourism in protected areas, emphasizing the importance of consistent compliance and low-impact diving practices.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
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)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Felipe Aguado-Gimenez, Mateo Ballester-Molto, Benjamin Garcia-Garcia
Summary: This study compares two different farm management models used in the gilthead seabream and salmon industries and shows the quantitative and qualitative differences between them. The study also discusses the impact of these strategies on key performance and environmental aspects and suggests that changes in the gilthead seabream industry's production model are necessary for sustainability.
Article
Agronomy
Jose Garcia Garcia, Benjamin Garcia Garcia
Summary: The greenhouse pepper cultivation in Campo de Cartagena, Spain has evolved into a sustainable system with high productivity, low costs, low environmental impacts, and strong adaptability.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Irene Rojo, Noela Sanchez-Carnero, Jose Daniel Anadon, Jose A. Garcia Charton
Summary: This study evaluated the habitat preferences of high-level predatory fishes and found that habitat requirements differed between immature and mature individuals. The results showed that the current Marine Protected Areas are established in proper areas and suggested the establishment of a new protected area to enhance the MPA network.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
N. Sanchez-Carnero, D. Rodriguez-Perez, S. Llorens, V. Orenes-Salazar, A. Ortolano, J. A. Garcia-Charton
Summary: In this study, an acoustic methodology was used to map the habitat of Posidonia oceanica and classify the substrate and vegetation. The results show the distribution of substrate and vegetation, which can contribute to the continuous monitoring of Mediterranean seagrasses.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
J. M. Pereniguez, L. A. Venerus, C. Gutierrez-Canovas, D. Abecasis, J. E. Ciancio, P. Jimenez-Montalban, J. A. Garcia-Charton
Summary: This study assessed different approaches to infer activity from acoustic telemetry data and compared them with acceleration biologgers. The results provide valuable insights into the limitations and potential biases of acoustic telemetry, as well as the importance of considering individual differences in behavioral studies.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Begona Garcia Castellanos, Benjamin Garcia Garcia, Jose Garcia Garcia
Summary: This study conducted a sustainability assessment of four vineyard models in southeastern Spain using life cycle costing analysis and life cycle assessment. The cost and environmental impacts differ between rainfed and irrigated systems, while the differences between conventional and organic production are minor.
Article
Agronomy
Jose Garcia Garcia, Begona Garcia Castellanos, Benjamin Garcia Garcia
Summary: The sustainability of the wine chain in the southeast of Spain was evaluated using life cycle costing (LCC) and life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies. A winery model was established based on data from representative companies in the area. LCC and LCA were applied to the production of wine bottles, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of different vineyard types and glass bottle weights. The study found that the processes in the cellar phase were highly efficient, but minimizing the weight of the glass bottle is important to reduce environmental and production costs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Victor Orenes-Salazar, Pedro Clemente Navarro-Martinez, Juan Manuel Ruiz, Jose Antonio Garcia-Charton
Summary: This study evaluated the long-term response of the habitat-forming octocoral Eunicella singularis to recurrent marine heatwaves in a Mediterranean marine protected area. The study found that two mass-mortality events in 2007 and 2018 dramatically disrupted the local gorgonian population. Furthermore, continuous marine heatwaves from 2014 to 2021 caused significant accumulated damage and decreased resilience.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. M. Pereniguez, J. Alos, E. Aspillaga, I. Rojo, A. Calo, C. Hackradt, R. Hernandez-Andreu, B. Mourre, J. A. Garcia-Charton
Summary: The rise of nature-based tourism has created concerns about its impact on animal behavior, particularly in protected areas. This study used biotelemetry techniques to investigate the effect of scuba diving on the activity patterns of the dusky grouper, a marine predatory fish. The results showed that environmental factors had a more significant influence on the grouper's activity patterns than the presence of scuba divers.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Jose Garcia Garcia, Pascual Romero Azorin, Benjamin Garcia Garcia, Begona Garcia Castellanos, Pablo Botia, Josefa Maria Navarro
Summary: The use of rootstocks and clones with different vigor and sensitivity to water deficit is important for vineyard management. This study evaluated the economic and environmental impact of organic cultivation of seven Monastrell clones under two irrigation strategies, and found that clones 188 and 94 were the most profitable and water-use-efficient. This combination of plant material and controlled deficit irrigation can have significant economic and environmental effects on the sustainability of wine grape cultivation.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Begona Garcia-Castellanos, Benjamin Garcia-Garcia, Jose Garcia-Garcia
Summary: This study evaluated the sustainability of three characteristic vineyard cropping systems in the Region of Murcia, with the conclusion that while the irrigation system for table wines is most profitable and creates jobs, dry farming and irrigated trellis for quality wines should be enhanced for competitiveness based on quality and environmental aspects.
ITEA-INFORMACION TECNICA ECONOMICA AGRARIA
(2022)
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)
