Article
Ecology
Heyu Lin, David B. Ascher, Yoochan Myung, Carl H. Lamborg, Steven J. Hallam, Caitlin M. Gionfriddo, Kathryn E. Holt, John W. Moreau
Summary: This study identified potential novel marine Hg-methylating microorganisms with greater oxygen tolerance and broader habitat range than previously recognized, by conducting large-scale multi-omic analyses in a natural ecosystem and analyzing gene expression profiles along defined redox gradients. The findings highlighted the presence of putative microbial Hg methylators, such as Calditrichaeota, SAR324, and Marinimicrobia, with the latter showing the highest activity levels based on hgc transcription. Computational modeling predicted the functionality of HgcAB proteins from Marinimicrobia in Hg methylation, suggesting a key role in marine Hg methylation for this microbial group. Additionally, the study also associated several putative novel Hg methylators with terminal oxidases from aerobic respiratory chains.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew Carr, Tarron Lamont, Marjolaine Krug
Summary: This study compared several satellite-derived sea surface temperature products for research and monitoring applications in the southern African marine region. Overall, there was good agreement between merged sea surface temperature products for most of the region, but strong disagreement was observed at areas with complex temperature structures and strong sea surface temperature gradients. Seasonal bias in temperature discrepancy was found to be influenced by cloud cover and local oceanographic dynamics. Additional methods such as ingesting more in situ observations or daytime satellite acquisitions may be required to improve the representations in merged sea surface temperature products, especially in regions of high temperature variance.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Frederik Gaeng, Philipp Boening, Volker Bruchert, Niko Lahajnar, Katharina Pahnke
Summary: This study investigates the source and accumulation mechanisms of trace elements in sediments of the Namibian shelf and continental shelf anoxic zones. The results show that Zr is a sensitive tracer of dust input and/or sediment reworking, and the combination of Zr, organic matter, and P enrichments can differentiate different sediment environments. Uranium is mainly incorporated into apatite under oscillating oxic to sulfidic conditions, and its use as an indicator of suboxic conditions is questionable. The lithogenic fractions of Ba and Ni are found to be elevated, and their authigenic contents can be calculated to obtain more realistic values. Furthermore, the increase in the authigenic Ni/TOC ratio with sediment depth suggests better preservation and retention of Ni, supporting its use as a productivity indicator for upwelling sediments.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christian Furbo Reeder, Damian L. Arevalo-Martinez, Joan A. Carreres-Calabuig, Tina Sanders, Nicole R. Posth, Carolin Regina Loscher
Summary: This study provides a detailed analysis of diazotrophic diversity in the North BUS OMZ and the Angola tropical zone (ATZ), revealing the presence of various diazotrophs in the OMZ but no active N-2 fixation. The results show regional variations in the role and diversity of diazotrophs in OMZs, which are crucial for understanding the nitrogen cycle in OMZ waters and predicting the future development of OMZ biogeochemistry in a changing ocean.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Nils C. Krueck
Summary: A study warns that concentrated fishing near marine protected areas can hinder population recovery both within and beyond the protected areas.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Aurele Vuillemin
Summary: Productive oxygen minimum zones are regions dominated by heterotrophic denitrification fueled by sinking organic matter, which result in the loss and overall geochemical deficit in inorganic fixed nitrogen in the water column, thereby impacting global climate in terms of nutrient equilibrium and greenhouse gases.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
K. Swieca, S. Sponaugle, M. S. Schmid, J. Ivory, M. Corrales-Ugalde, K. R. Sutherland, R. K. Cowen
Summary: Eastern boundary systems support major fisheries dependent on upwelling production. The northern California Current (NCC) exhibits variability in upwelling, leading to differences in diet and larval growth of myctophid larvae. Seasonal variations in upwelling intensity have a greater impact on growth than latitude. Larvae experience different feeding and predation environments depending on upwelling regimes, with implications for their survivorship and distribution.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kumar Pandion, Kantha Deivi Arunachalam, Ramamoorthy Ayyamperumal, Soon Woong Chang, Woo Jin Chung, Rajinikanth Rajagopal, Francisca Kalavathi, Chuleemas Boonthai Iwai, Ekambaran Gayathiri, Balasubramani Ravindran
Summary: This study investigated marine fish biodiversity and conservation in 2019, focusing on the impact of environmental and human factors on changes in fish diversity and sustainability along the coast. The research found that alpha and beta biodiversity were more prevalent in the study zone, and 51% of the collected fish species were classified as least concerned according to the IUCN threatened lists. Moreover, there was evidence of species declination as a result of overexploitation, highlighting the need for strict conservation measures to ensure sustainability.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Charmain D. Hamilton, Christian Lydersen, Jon Aars, Mario Acquarone, Todd Atwood, Alastair Baylis, Martin Biuw, Andrei N. Boltunov, Erik W. Born, Peter Boveng, Tanya M. Brown, Michael Cameron, John Citta, Justin Crawford, Rune Dietz, Jim Elias, Steven H. Ferguson, Aaron Fisk, Lars P. Folkow, Kathryn J. Frost, Dmitri M. Glazov, Sandra M. Granquist, Rowenna Gryba, Lois Harwood, Tore Haug, Mads Peter Heide-Jorgensen, Nigel E. Hussey, Jimmy Kalinek, Kristin L. Laidre, Dennis I. Litovka, Josh M. London, Lisa L. Loseto, Shannon MacPhee, Marianne Marcoux, Cory J. D. Matthews, Kjell Nilssen, Erling S. Nordoy, Greg O'Corry-Crowe, Nils oien, Morten Tange Olsen, Lori Quakenbush, Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Varvara Semenova, Kim E. W. Shelden, Olga V. Shpak, Garry Stenson, Luke Storrie, Signe Sveegaard, Jonas Teilmann, Fernando Ugarte, Andrew L. Von Duyke, Cortney Watt, Oystein Wiig, Ryan R. Wilson, David J. Yurkowski, Kit M. Kovacs
Summary: This study identified hotspots and areas of high species richness for Arctic marine mammals using biotelemetry data. The results can serve as a benchmark for measuring future distributional shifts and highlight differences in habitat features among species and regions. Gap analysis also revealed species and regions that require further research.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Murray S. A. Thompson, Elena Couce, Michaela Schratzberger, Christopher P. Lynam
Summary: This study uses Bayesian Additive Regression Trees to model the effects of climate change on the habitat suitability of marine fish species in the northeast Atlantic shelf seas. Predicted effects include decreases in species richness for lower trophic levels (planktivores) and increases for higher trophic levels (piscivores). Changing spatial patterns in predator-prey mass ratios and fish species size composition are also predicted. These changes could have significant impacts on ecosystem structure and functioning.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Grant C. Pitcher, Deon C. Louw
Summary: The Benguela Upwelling System (BUS) is often subject to high incidence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), including Paralytic and Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP and DSP) caused by organisms like Alexandrium catenella. Other HAB organisms present in the system pose risks to human health and marine life, leading to large mortalities and ecosystem disruptions.
Article
Ecology
Chloe M. J. Baumas, Frederic A. C. Le Moigne, Marc Garel, Nagib Bhairy, Sophie Guasco, Virginie Riou, Fabrice Armougom, Hans-Peter Grossart, Christian Tamburini
Summary: The study reveals that carbon loss rates and associated microbial richness in the mesopelagic zone of the North Atlantic are drastically different with different particle fractions, showing a strong negative correlation between prokaryotic carbon losses and species richness. This trend may be related to prokaryotes detaching from fast-sinking particles and constantly enriching non-sinking associated communities in the mesopelagic zone. Global scale data suggest that this negative correlation is a widespread feature of mesopelagic microbes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Milene Alexandra Guerreiro, Filipe Martinho, Joana Baptista, Filipe Costa, Miguel Angelo Pardal, Ana Ligia Primo
Summary: The study found seasonal variations in larval and juvenile fish communities in the Mondego estuary and its adjacent coastal area, influenced by environmental factors like temperature. Juvenile recruitment patterns for different species suggest a different nursery function between the estuary and coastal area for early life stages.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ori Frid, Shahar Malamud, Antonio Di Franco, Paolo Guidetti, Ernesto Azzurro, Joachim Claudet, Fiorenza Micheli, Ruth Yahel, Enric Sala, Jonathan Belmaker
Summary: The positive effect of fully protected marine protected areas (MPAs) on marine biodiversity, and specifically on fishes, has been widely documented. The potential of MPAs to mitigate the impact of adverse climatic conditions has seldom been investigated. This study assessed the effectiveness of MPAs in increasing fish biomass across the Mediterranean Sea and found that while MPAs did increase fish biomass, higher seawater temperatures were associated with decreased fish biomass. Importantly, the rate of decrease in fish biomass with temperature was similar between protected and fished sites.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Meng Cheng, Haiyang Wang, Chao Li, Genming Luo, Junhua Huang, Zhenbing She, Lidan Lei, Guang Ouyang, Zihu Zhang, Matthew S. Dodd, Thomas J. Algeo
Summary: This study reports a major episode of barium accumulation during the Shuram Excursion in the Ediacaran period, suggesting that oceanic upwelling enhanced marine productivity and facilitated the largest negative carbon isotope excursion in Earth's history.
PRECAMBRIAN RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Fisheries
Lauren A. Bailey, Amber R. Childs, Nicola C. James, Alexander Winkler, Warren M. Potts
Summary: Changes in behaviour and physiology are the primary responses of fishes to anthropogenic impacts such as climate change and over-fishing. The links between fish behaviour and metabolic physiology are not well understood, but they are believed to be influenced by stress responses along the hypothalamic pituitary axis. Future research should focus on assessing how these links influence catchability, response to climate change drivers, and post-release recovery.
REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
M. Soekoe, M. J. Smale, W. M. Potts
Summary: This study examines the diet and dentition of Triakis megalopterus in three study sites in southern Africa. The results show significant differences in prey categories between regions, but the dentition remains remarkably similar. Additionally, a strong correlation is found between feeding habits and dental divergence throughout the species' ontogeny.
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Elizabeth A. Nyboer, Holly S. Embke, Ashley M. Robertson, Robert Arlinghaus, Shannon Bower, Claudio Baigun, Douglas Beard, Steven J. Cooke, Ian G. Cowx, John D. Koehn, Roman Lyach, Marco Milardi, Warren Potts, Abigail J. Lynch
Summary: Inland recreational fisheries provide socio-economic benefits and contribute to human nutrition, but the lack of data on harvest and consumption makes it difficult to quantify their contributions. Unreported consumption is likely a hidden contributor to food security, especially among food-insecure fishers. This paper highlights the importance of considering recreational fisheries as food fisheries in policy and management.
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Holly S. Embke, Elizabeth A. Nyboer, Ashley M. Robertson, Robert Arlinghaus, Shehu L. Akintola, Tuncay Atessahin, Laamiri Mohamed Badr, Claudio Baigun, Zeenatul Basher, T. Douglas Beard, Gergely Boros, Shannon D. Bower, Steven J. Cooke, Ian G. Cowx, Adolfo Franco, Ma. Teresa Gaspar-Dillanes, Vladimir Puentes Granada, Robert John Hart, Carlos R. Heinsohn, Vincent Jalabert, Andrzej Kapusta, Tibor Krajc, John D. Koehn, Goncalo Lopes, Roman Lyach, Terence Magqina, Marco Milardi, Juliet Nattabi, Hilda Nyaboke, Sui Phang, Warren M. Potts, Filipe Ribeiro, Norman Mercado-Silva, Naren Sreenivasan, Andy Thorpe, Tomislav Treer, Didzis Ustups, Olaf L. F. Weyl, Louisa E. Wood, Mustafa Zengin, Abigail J. Lynch
Summary: Inland recreational fisheries are crucial for livelihood, nutrition, and leisure worldwide, but their contribution to food and nutrition has been insufficiently understood. Through a comprehensive study of 81 countries and 192 species, we quantified the harvest and consumption rates to provide a foundation for future assessments.
Article
Fisheries
Kerry Reid, Jennifer A. Hoey, Benjamin I. Gahagan, Bradley P. Schondelmeier, Daniel J. Hasselman, Alison A. Bowden, Michael P. Armstrong, John Carlos Garza, Eric P. Palkovacs
Summary: Anadromous river herring (alewife and blueback herring) are persistently low in abundance and are caught as by-catch in commercial fisheries, hindering their recovery. By using genetic data, specific reporting groups were identified for each species. Bycatch samples from a Northwest Atlantic fishery revealed that the highest proportions of alewife were from the Block Island and Long Island Sound reporting groups, while for blueback herring, the highest proportions were from the Mid-Atlantic and Northern New England reporting groups. Bycatch mortality estimates in a focal geographic area indicated that 4.6 million alewife and 1.2 million blueback herring were caught, emphasizing the need to reduce bycatch mortality for depleted river herring stocks.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
M. W. Farthing, A. R. Childs, J. B. Mann-Lang, C. S. Bova, W. M. Potts
Summary: Fishing guides are influential role models in the recreational angling community, with their behavior being emulated by fishing clients. However, they are perceived to have less influence in inspiring and representing new possibilities. This highlights the opportunity for fisheries managers to target behavioral interventions with fishing guides to shape angler behavior.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Christopher S. Bova, Jed Stephens, Shankar Aswani, Warren M. Potts
Summary: Non-compliance with recreational fishery regulations is a major threat to fisheries sustainability. The traditional belief that increased enforcement improves compliance behavior lacks empirical evidence in the context of recreational fisheries. Alternative approaches are needed to address this issue.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
M. W. Farthing, J. Mann-Lang, A. R. Childs, C. S. Bova, S. D. Bower, A. C. Pinder, K. Ferter, A. C. Winkler, E. C. Butler, J. W. Brownscombe, A. J. Danylchuk, W. M. Potts
Summary: Fishing guides play a significant role in influencing recreational fishing clients and their behavior. It is crucial to understand their knowledge, attitudes, and practices in order to effectively address the global fish crisis. This study conducted an online survey with 342 fishing guides from 47 countries, finding that while most guides had good knowledge of catch-and-release best practices, there is room for improvement in key processes. The study also highlighted the importance of best practice training to promote sustainable fishing practices.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Edward C. Butler, Nicky K. Arkert, Amber-Robyn Childs, Brett A. Pringle, Michael R. Skeeles, Ryan M. Foster, Matthew W. Farthing, Alexander C. Winkler, Warren M. Potts
Summary: This study investigated the physiological stress response and short-term survival of Argyrosomus japonicus following catch and release angling by using angler-behavior examination. The results showed that longer air exposure time led to higher blood glucose and lactate concentrations and negatively affected the reflex response of A. japonicus. It is suggested that anglers should reduce air exposure time to below 75 seconds, ideally to 10 seconds, to minimize physiological and physical stress on A. japonicus.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
C. Allison, A. C. Winkler, A-R Childs, C. Muller, W. M. Potts
Summary: This study explores the potential of user-generated content on Facebook to promote pro-environmental behavior among recreational anglers and discusses how fisheries managers and scientists can facilitate this process. The study found evidence for pro-environmental reform on a large South African Facebook group, highlighting the importance of social media interventions in managing recreational fisheries.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
R. M. Foster, A. R. Childs, B. Q. Mann, W. M. Potts
Summary: Fishers' ecological knowledge (FEK) has become a popular method for collecting fisheries data. This study incorporated specialised spearfisher FEK into the study of the reproductive biology of Oplegnathus conwayi in South Africa, and successfully collected key reproductive data through the combination of standard biological sampling and specialised spearfisher FEK data. The combination of these methods is strongly advised for future life history studies.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chaowei Zhang, Kerry Reid, Arthur F. Sands, Antoine Fraimout, Mikkel Heide Schierup, Juha Merila
Summary: Mutation rate is a critical parameter in population genetics, but accurate estimates for wild organisms are limited. This study estimated mutation rates in two marine populations of nine-spined stickleback using pedigrees, whole-genome resequencing, and a high-quality reference genome. The results showed high levels of parental mosaicism and increased estimated divergence times after recalibration with the mutation rate.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
C. Edworthy, W. M. Potts, S. Dupont, M. Duncan, T. G. Bornman, N. C. James
Summary: Compared to the open ocean, there is limited knowledge of pH variability in coastal waters, particularly in Africa. This study aimed to investigate the variability of pH in a South African temperate embayment, Algoa Bay. The results showed that pH and associated parameters varied over space and time, and biological factors and salinity were found to influence pH variability. The study also identified a shallow inshore site with higher average pH levels, potentially serving as a refuge for coastal marine species in the face of ocean acidification.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Zoology
R. M. Foster, A-R Childs, B. Q. Mann, W. M. Potts
Summary: The study focused on the age and growth of the Cape knifejaw, a species targeted by the South African spearfishery. The results indicated that this species is slow-growing and vulnerable to overexploitation, suggesting a precautionary approach to future management.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
E. C. Butler, A-R Childs, M. K. S. Smith, R. M. Foster, W. M. Potts
Summary: The study discovered empirical evidence of active spawning in the sheltered marine section of the Knysna estuarine bay, Western Cape. Future research should focus on identifying and conserving critical spawning events and investigating the potential role of large marine-dominated estuarine systems in the life history of species. This study's results challenge the traditional theory of northeastward spawning migrations as the sole life-history strategy for numerous South African fishery species.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)