Article
Plant Sciences
Salvador Zarco-Perello, Nestor E. Bosch, Scott Bennett, Mat A. Vanderklift, Thomas Wernberg
Summary: Global warming has led to the expansion of tropical herbivores and a tropicalization of temperate marine ecosystems, resulting in difficulties for kelp recovery. Tropical herbivores exert strong top-down control on turf seaweed and kelp.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mine B. Tekman, Lars Gutow, Melanie Bergmann
Summary: This study presents the findings of an extensive survey on floating marine debris in the Northeast Atlantic. A total of 276 ship-based surveys were conducted between 2015 and 2020, revealing spatial and temporal variations in debris concentrations. Plastic was the dominant type of debris, with the highest concentrations observed in the North Sea. Although the Central Arctic had zero debris concentration, floating debris was still present in this region. The study also found correlations between debris concentrations and environmental and spatial variables. Additionally, the results indicated that the seafloor acts as a sink for marine debris, with pollution levels 500 times lower compared to those on the seafloor. The Arctic, despite its remoteness, is facing threats from plastic pollution, in addition to the impacts of rapid climate change.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marianna Lanari, Paulo Antunes Horta, Margareth da Silva Copertino
Summary: Functional redundancy does not stabilize ecosystem functions, with environmental fluctuations having a greater impact on ecological function performance. Prioritizing Sargassum species in the SWA region is necessary. The study contributes to the generalization of biodiversity-stability findings and their operationalization in marine ecosystems.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Marine
Somi Jung, Than Van Chau, Minju Kim, Won-Bae Na
Summary: Macroalgae are important components of marine forest environments and are facing the risk of severe decline. Restoration efforts focus on existing macroalgal beds and the creation of new marine forests. Artificial seaweed reefs play a critical role in marine forest formation and can support the afforestation of macroalgal vegetation.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Atsuko Fukunaga, John H. R. Burns, Kailey H. Pascoe, Randall K. Kosaki
Summary: Coral reefs worldwide are facing increased thermal stress due to global warming. A case study of a coral reef in Kapou (Lisianski) Island experienced unprecedented heat stress in 2014, resulting in coral bleaching and significant loss of live coral cover. The study shows that the newly available substrata created by the loss of coral were quickly colonized by the green macroalga Halimeda, and other algae began colonizing the reef between 2017 and 2021. Erosion of the reef substrata was evident, but the overall benthic diversity increased in 2021 due to the presence of other algae and an increase in hard substrata and turf algal cover. The study highlights the need for continued monitoring of coral and algal communities to track reef succession following mass coral mortality. The importance of this study is rated 8 out of 10.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rick D. Stuart-Smith, Graham J. Edgar, Ella Clausius, Elizabeth S. Oh, Neville S. Barrett, Michael J. Emslie, Amanda E. Bates, Nic Bax, Daniel Brock, Antonia Cooper, Tom R. Davis, Paul B. Day, Jillian C. Dunic, Andrew Green, Norfaizny Hasweera, Jamie Hicks, Thomas H. Holmes, Ben Jones, Alan Jordan, Nathan Knott, Meryl F. Larkin, Scott D. Ling, Peter Mooney, Jacqueline B. Pocklington, Yanir Seroussi, Ian Shaw, Derek Shields, Margo Smith, German A. Soler, Jemina Stuart-Smith, Emre Turak, John W. Turnbull, Camille Mellin
Summary: Warming seas, marine heatwaves, and habitat degradation have dynamic and widespread impacts on marine biodiversity, with the extent of these impacts varying regionally. Temperature-related changes are most evident in temperate and subtropical reefs, while low latitude coral reefs are affected by habitat changes. Scaling up ecological monitoring is crucial for understanding the diverse drivers of large-scale biodiversity change and connecting disjointed systems of biodiversity observation, indicator research, and governance.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maiara Menezes, Juliana Deo Dias, Guilherme O. Longo
Summary: This field experiment demonstrates that plastic pollution has a negative impact on benthic fish feeding in coral reefs, and fish barely interact with plastic debris.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jenny Fong, Peter A. Todd
Summary: The study reveals that interactions between corals and macroalgae vary greatly across sites and seasons, with different coral species showing varying effects on macroalgae. It is important to consider seasonal fluctuations of macroalgae for understanding their overall long-term impacts.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jason E. Donaldson, Ricardo Holdo, Jeremia Sarakikya, T. Michael Anderson
Summary: In savanna ecosystems, the competitive relationship between trees and grasses is altered by fire and herbivory. Grazing herbivores favor trees by removing grass, while browsing herbivores restrict tree recovery by consuming trees. Herbivore feeding decisions are influenced by risk-resource trade-offs, which determine the spatial patterns of herbivory. Understanding the dominant mechanisms by which fire and herbivores control tree cover is crucial for understanding savanna dynamics.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peng Wu, Teng Wang, Yong Liu, Chunhou Li, Yayuan Xiao, Shannan Xu, Tingting Han, Lin Lin, Qiumei Quan
Summary: Herbivorous fishes play an important role in preventing the overabundance of macroalgae on coral reefs. Through microscopy, genetic sequencing, and stable isotope analysis, we investigated the feeding behaviors and consumption patterns of eight herbivorous fish species in the Xisha Islands. Among them, Kyphosus vaigiensis, Naso unicornis, and Siganus argenteus demonstrated high potential for macroalgal consumption and should receive priority protection.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Martin Wahl, Francisco R. Barboza, Bjoern Buchholz, Sergey Dobretsov, Tamar Guy-Haim, Gil Rilov, Renate Schuett, Fabian Wolf, Jahangir Vajedsamiei, Maryam Yazdanpanah, Christian Pansch
Summary: The study revealed that ocean warming was beneficial in early and late summer in the Western Baltic, but detrimental during midsummer when temperatures were highest. Upwelling without ocean warming generally had weak benefits, but these benefits tended to disappear with increasing ocean warming. Late summer upwelling-induced hypoxia impacted some grazer species, but had no significant impact on macroalgae.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Rafael Banon, Alejandro de Carlos
Summary: This study reviewed the non-native Kyphosus species in Galician waters based on morphological and molecular characteristics, indicating a higher abundance of K. vaigiensis possibly due to its greater mobility. DNA barcoding confirmed the distribution of K. vaigiensis in Galicia and emphasized the importance of monitoring non-indigenous species in the context of global warming.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xavier Bunuel, Teresa Alcoverro, Javier Romero, Rohan Arthur, Juan M. Ruiz, Marta Perez, Yaiza Ontoria, Nuria Raventos, Enrique Macpherson, Hector Torrado, Jordi F. Pages
Summary: Climate change is not only affecting the individual life histories of species, but also altering key biotic interactions and causing community processes to unravel. As oceans warm, there may be an increase in the preference of Sarpa salpa towards Posidonia oceanica, potentially intensifying herbivory significantly.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Griffin S. Srednick, Mark A. Steele
Summary: The physical structure provided by marine macroalgae can be a better predictor of fish assemblage structure than macroalgal species identity. However, macrophytes are only one of many factors that drive spatiotemporal variation in community structure.
Review
Biology
Emily K. Fobert, Colleen R. Miller, Stephen E. Swearer, Mariana Mayer-Pinto
Summary: This paper discusses the impacts of artificial night light on temperate and tropical reefs. Due to the adaptations of reef species to natural light conditions, artificial night light can have profound effects on reef organisms, including reducing reproductive success, altering predation rates, and impacting physiology and biochemistry. The paper also presents potential system-level impacts of artificial night light on reef communities and highlights knowledge gaps in understanding the overall impact.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jana Verdura, Jorge Santamaria, Enric Ballesteros, Dan A. Smale, Maria Elena Cefali, Raul Golo, Sonia de Caralt, Alba Verges, Emma Cebrian
Summary: Gradual climate change and discrete extreme climatic events have significant impacts on marine ecosystems, especially at the warm edges of species and large species. Local-scale climate variability may lead to local extinctions of habitat-forming seaweed populations, but also highlight the potential for local-scale climatic refugia.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Dan A. Smale, Albert Pessarrodona, Nathan King, Pippa J. Moore
Summary: Kelp forests are highly productive ecosystems, with high detritus release rates leading to over 98% export potential, which can potentially shape distant benthic communities and play a significant role in the coastal carbon cycle.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Kathryn E. Smith, Pippa J. Moore, Nathan G. King, Dan A. Smale
Summary: Foundation species play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The study found that depth gradients have a significant impact on the structure of kelp populations, influenced by decreasing light levels. Variability in regional relationships between light availability and kelp population structures may be influenced by other factors such as temperature.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nadia Frontier, Martina Mulas, Andrew Foggo, Dan A. Smale
Summary: This study found that the degradation rate of detrital material is influenced by light availability and temperature. Overall, degradation rates were faster under lower light conditions and at higher temperatures, although responses varied between plants and fragments.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dan A. Smale, Harry Teagle, Stephen J. Hawkins, Helen L. Jenkins, Nadia Frontier, Cat Wilding, Nathan King, Mathilde Jackson-Bue, Pippa J. Moore
Summary: Climate change can have significant impacts on ecological communities by altering species distributions and the strength of species interactions. This study demonstrates that the warming-driven proliferation of a foundation species, warm-water kelp, leads to a breakdown of a habitat cascade and reduced biodiversity in temperate marine ecosystems. Furthermore, the warmer kelp forests had lower biomass of epiphytic algae and fewer mobile invertebrates, which could ultimately impact higher trophic levels.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Nathan G. King, Pippa J. Moore, Jamie M. Thorpe, Dan A. Smale
Summary: Kelp species are important and diverse ecosystems, and the associated bacterial communities play a crucial role in supporting the host and wider ecosystem functioning. This study demonstrates the consistent features of kelp bacterial communities across different spatial scales and environmental gradients, providing an ecologically meaningful baseline for monitoring environmental change.
Review
Fisheries
Sophie Corrigan, Andrew Ross Brown, Ian G. C. Ashton, Dan A. Smale, Charles R. Tyler
Summary: Macroalgal cultivation plays a significant role in future food and energy security, sustainable livelihoods, ecosystem services, and habitat provisioning. However, there is limited research on assessing the contribution of colonizing species to healthy ecosystem functioning in macroalgal cultivation. This review evaluates techniques used to quantify habitat provisioning in and around macroalgal cultivation sites and highlights the need for standardized methods for comprehensive ecological valuation.
REVIEWS IN AQUACULTURE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Luka Seamus Wright, Albert Pessarrodona, Andy Foggo
Summary: Climate-driven changes in kelp forest composition in the temperate Northeast Atlantic may reduce the carbon sequestration potential of this ecosystem.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Hannah S. Earp, Dan A. Smale, Alejandro Perez-Matus, Adam Gouraguine, Paul W. Shaw, Pippa J. Moore
Summary: Marine forests are coastal marine habitats formed by dense stands of brown macroalgae, providing habitat to marine organisms and important ecosystem services. Restoration positively influences the abundance and morphology of marine forest species, but success is influenced by taxa and restoration techniques, with limited monitoring of environmental variables.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Dan A. Smale, Nathan G. King, Mathilde Jackson-Bue, Pippa J. Moore
Summary: Targeted surveys were conducted at 12 subtidal reefs in the UK to assess the abundance of crustaceans within kelp forests using three complementary techniques. Commercially important species were recorded at all sites, with regional variations observed. These findings highlight the important nursery and foraging role of kelp forests for commercially and ecologically important crustaceans.
JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Alissa V. Bass, Kathryn E. Smith, Dan A. Smale
Summary: This study investigated the impact of marine heatwaves and decreased light availability on the ecophysiological responses of three kelp species. The results showed that under low-light conditions, summer heatwaves significantly reduced biomass, blade surface area, and photosynthetic efficiency of L. digitata and L. hyperborea, to varying degrees. However, all species were generally resistant to heatwaves under high-light conditions and in some cases, heatwaves even promoted kelp performance.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Abby R. Gilson, Lydia J. White, Michael T. Burrows, Dan A. Smale, Nessa E. O'Connor
Summary: This study investigated the density, primary productivity, and detritus production of two common intertidal kelp species in the NE Atlantic over a 22-month period. It found that the density of one species was higher but remained consistently low for the other. The productivity and erosion rates of both species were influenced by temperature and light.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sophie Corrigan, A. Ross Brown, Charles R. Tyler, Catherine Wilding, Carly Daniels, Ian G. C. Ashton, Dan A. Smale
Summary: Seaweed farming in Europe may have similar environmental benefits as natural kelp forests and shellfish farms, but there is still uncertainty about its biodiversity and long-term habitat provision. A study in southwest UK found that farmed kelps supported higher abundance of epibionts compared to wild kelps, but had lower taxonomic diversity. The presence of cultivated mussels also influenced the epibiont assemblages on farmed kelp.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Albert Pessarrodona, Jorge Assis, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Michael T. Burrows, Jean-Pierre Gattuso, Carlos M. Duarte, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Pippa J. Moore, Dan A. Smale, Thomas Wernberg
Summary: This study provides global predictions of seaweed habitat productivity, using data from over 400 sites and finding a strong correlation between seaweed productivity and climatic variables. Seaweed forests exhibit exceptionally high per-area production rates, being more than 10 times higher than coastal phytoplankton.
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
Daniel Castro Martignago, Leandro Godoy, Amanda Pereira Amaral, Guendalina Turcato Oliveira
Summary: This study evaluates the effects of bleaching on the oocytes of the Mussismilia harttii coral and investigates the strategies employed by these cells to maintain antioxidant balance and cellular homeostasis. The research finds that bleached coral oocytes experience lipid damage, but are still able to maintain their quality and potentially elongate their lifespan and fertilization capability. This response may be linked to an intensification of heterotrophy in bleached corals.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2024)