Article
Biology
Sofie E. Voerman, Beauregard C. Marsh, Ricardo G. Bahia, Guilherme H. Pereira-Filho, Thomas W. Yee, Ana Clara F. Becker, Gilberto M. Amado-Filho, Arvydas Ruseckas, Graham A. Turnbull, Ifor D. W. Samuel, Heidi L. Burdett
Summary: This study investigated the mechanisms affecting the biodiversity-supporting potential of free-living red coralline algae towards mesophotic depths. The results showed a general decline in macrofaunal biodiversity but an increase in beta-diversity at the deepest site, highlighting the importance of these habitats as coastal refugia.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
V. Raoult, M. D. Taylor, R. K. Schmidt, I. D. Cresswell, C. Ware, T. F. Gaston
Summary: Estimating the economic value of ecosystem services derived from estuarine habitats is important for prioritising management, conservation, and restoration activities. A novel approach using Bayesian stable isotope mixing models has been developed to estimate the value of estuarine habitats for commercially harvested species, but the difficulty of separating primary nutrient sources in estuaries with saltmarsh and seagrasses has limited its application. This study extends the approach and uses tri-variate isotopic composition to model the economic value of saltmarsh, seagrass, and other producer groups in a commercial fishery. The results highlight the impact of areal coverage on the comparative value of estuarine habitats, suggesting that habitats with higher proportional contribution to exploited species' diets may be of higher priority for conservation or repair.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Tingting Zhang, Nan Du, Zhi Geng, Sikai Wang, Yu Gao, Gang Yang, Xiaorong Huang, Tao Zhang, Ping Zhuang, Feng Zhao
Summary: This study aimed to estimate estuarine habitat degradation and its impact on the reproduction process of the crab Eriocheir sinensis in the Yangtze River Estuary. The research sheds light on quantifying habitat degradation and its implications for the reproduction process of E. sinensis, providing valuable information for policymakers and resource managers.
ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Francisco Martinez-Baena, Brendan S. Lanham, Ian M. McLeod, Matthew D. Taylor, Stephen McOrrie, Alyssa Luongo, Melanie J. Bishop
Summary: This study found that oyster reefs play important roles in supporting fish communities, and they have similar functions as adjacent seagrass beds and mangrove forests. The number of fish observed in oyster reefs is almost double than that in mangroves and seagrass beds, and some fish species are unique to oyster reefs and mangroves containing oysters. These findings contribute to the development of restoration and management strategies that maximize fisheries benefit.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Lindsey K. Albertson, Michael J. MacDonald, Benjamin B. Tumolo, Michelle A. Briggs, Zachary Maguire, Sierra Quinn, Jose A. Sanchez-Ruiz, Jaris Veneros, Laura A. Burkle
Summary: The study found that positive interactions in freshwater habitats can significantly increase the number of beneficiaries, especially mollusks and amphibians. Invasive facilitators have stronger positive effects on beneficiaries compared to non-invasive facilitators.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Holger Janes, Peter Macreadie, Justin Rizzari, Daniel Ierodioconou, Simon E. Reeves, Patrick G. Dwyer, Paul E. Carnell
Summary: This study in Australia's Richmond River Estuary found that estuarine producers contribute at least 78% of the total annual catch of seven commercially important fish, with sea mullet and mud crab contributing 95% of the catch and 93% of the value. The study highlights the importance of estuarine producers to commercial fisheries production and the economy, emphasizing the need for preservation and restoration of coastal habitats threatened by land clearing and urbanization.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Izabela Fedyn, Fabian Przepiora, Wojciech Sobocinski, Jakub Wyka, Michal Ciach
Summary: There is increasing awareness of the ecosystem engineering services provided by recovering populations of Eurasian beaver. By modifying aquatic environments, this species has a significant, positive influence on biodiversity. Our study in Poland compared the species richness and activity of terrestrial mammals at beaver ponds and randomly-selected reference sites. The results showed that beaver sites had higher species richness and activity, and the presence of beavers also rearranged the occurrence and activity of the terrestrial mammal assemblage.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(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)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Przemyslaw Kurek, Lukasz Piechnik, Blanka Wiatrowska, Agnieszka Wazna, Krzysztof Nowakowski, Xose Pardavila, Jan Cichocki, Barbara Seget
Summary: The European badger is an important ecosystem engineer that shapes species diversity through its setts. However, the management of badger populations in Europe needs to be reconsidered, particularly regarding hunting seasons and legal protection.
Article
Environmental Sciences
V. Pownkumar, P. S. Ananthan, A. Ekka, Neha W. Qureshi, T. Velumani
Summary: Human activities that alter and fragment riverine landscapes have negatively impacted fish biodiversity, leading to a reduction in fish species. Recognizing the ecosystem services provided by fish populations and understanding the links between river ecosystems and fisheries is crucial for effective conservation efforts.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Nathan G. King, Pippa J. Moore, Cat Wilding, Helen L. Jenkins, Dan A. Smale
Summary: This study investigated the diversity and structure of stipe-associated communities of the kelp Laminaria hyperborea in the NE Atlantic, finding high diversity and abundance but significant variability at local scales, indicating the importance of processes at smaller spatial scales.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Elena Constantinou, Dimitrios Sarris, Ioannis N. Vogiatzakis
Summary: In dry/high-elevation habitats, positive interactions between nurse plants and their facilitated species are most notable, with some plants considered ecosystem engineers for modifying limiting resources or constraining variables to create a stronger positive impact on the community. The study found that Ziziphus lotus may have properties to be classified as an ecosystem engineer, potentially boosting semiarid ecosystem productivity in the battle against desertification under global climatic change.
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nathaniel S. Lewis, David R. Young, Christina L. Folger, Theodore H. DeWitt
Summary: Estuaries are important nurseries for fisheries species, and recent approaches suggest complex habitat-scale assessments to evaluate their value. However, limited resources may hinder the implementation of such methods, leading to a proposed integration of achievable aspects of seascape approaches into traditional models. Using a spatially explicit hybrid approach, this study assessed the contribution of different estuarine habitats to Dungeness crab abundance, finding that lower estuary side channels supported the highest abundance of juvenile crabs.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Meagan N. Schrandt, Timothy C. MacDonald, Edward T. Sherwood, Marcus W. Beck
Summary: This study presents the development and validation of a nekton index for annual monitoring of ecosystem health in Tampa Bay, Florida, which includes five metrics focusing on diversity, trophic structure, and ecological function, and utilizes a stoplight color-coding system for index scores. The index was sensitive to prolonged red tide events, but showed the resilience of nekton community to return to pre-disturbance levels. The methodology of this index is transferrable to other ecosystems with long-term monitoring data, allowing for the potential development of similar indices for broader applications.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
John M. Romansic, Nicolette L. Nelson, Kevan B. Moffett, Jonah Piovia-Scott
Summary: Land managers are increasingly using beavers to restore hydrological function and provide wildlife habitat. Research in the southern Washington Cascade Range found that amphibian species richness was significantly higher in dammed sites compared to undammed sites, with species like red-legged frogs and northwestern salamanders being almost exclusively found in beaver-dammed sites. These results suggest that beavers could have a positive impact on aquatic wildlife populations and ecosystem health.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)