Article
Environmental Sciences
Massimiliano Bottaro, Mauro Sinopoli, Iacopo Bertocci, Maria Cristina Follesa, Alessandro Cau, Ivan Consalvo, Faustino Scarcelli, Emilio Sperone, Marino Vacchi, Letizia Marsili, Guia Consales, Roberto Danovaro
Summary: Deep-sea Chondrichthyes, including the kitefin shark Dalatias licha, are highly vulnerable to human impacts due to their late maturation, extreme longevity, low fecundity, and slow growth rates. However, assessing the impact of deep-sea fisheries on these species is challenging due to the lack of fishery data sets and species-specific life history information. This study presents data on the kitefin shark collected as bycatch from deep-water fisheries in the Ligurian Sea, highlighting the rarity, complex ecology, and threats this species faces, emphasizing the need for monitoring and conservation efforts.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. Veron, A. Dell'Anno, M. O. Angelidis, M. Aloupi, R. Danovaro, O. Radakovitch, A. Poirier, S. Heussner
Summary: This study reports lead analyses in Centroscymnus coelolepis, a deep-sea shark species found in the Mediterranean. The results show that the lead concentrations in the muscle and liver of this species are among the lowest recorded in sharks. Stable lead isotope analysis indicates that most of the lead in the shark comes from human activities. Furthermore, a comparison between adult and juvenile sharks suggests that dietary exposure and maternal offloading during gestation may play a role in lead distribution.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eva Daskalaki, Evangelos Koufalis, Donna Dimarchopoulou, Athanassios C. Tsikliras
Summary: A gap analysis on the biology of Mediterranean marine fishes was conducted, identifying the knowledge gap and areas for future research. The length-weight relationships were the most studied characteristic, while mortality was the least studied. The western and eastern Mediterranean Sea had the most comprehensive data collection. It is recommended to shift research focus towards vulnerable and potentially threatening species.
Article
Ecology
Manuel Hidalgo, Paraskevas Vasilakopoulos, Cristina Garcia-Ruiz, Antonio Esteban, Lucia Lopez-Lopez, Elisa Garcia-Gorriz
Summary: Ecological resilience plays a crucial role in linking ecological processes to conservation needs. This study evaluated resilience dynamics in two benthopelagic ecosystems in the Western Mediterranean Sea-Northern Spain and Alboran Sea, revealing different responses to changes in chlorophyll-a concentration. Recent trends show a suppression of opportunistic fish and a favoring of short life-cycle invertebrate species in both ecosystems.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrzej Pisera, Vasilis Gerovasileiou
Summary: Desmas-bearing demosponges known as lithistids have heavily silicified skeleton and are typically found in bathyal environments of warm and tropical areas, but may also occur in certain shallow marine caves. This study reports the presence of two lithistid species in the north-eastern Mediterranean marine caves, with an unexpected association between lithistids and freshwater springs leading to their development. Age estimation suggests that the large populations of lithistids discovered in the caves could be as old as 769-909 years, having colonized the caves from adjacent deep-water areas after the last glaciation.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Porzia Maiorano, Pasquale Ricci, Giovanni Chimienti, Crescenza Calculli, Francesco Mastrototaro, Gianfranco D'Onghia
Summary: Deep-sea communities are impacted by anthropogenic activities, especially fisheries, which have significant negative effects on biodiversity and habitat degradation. The study of deep-sea faunal assemblages in the Ionian Sea revealed a depth zonation pattern and a decrease in biodiversity indices over the study period from 2012 to 2020. The benthic community experienced a reduction in habitat-former taxa, while the demersal and benthopelagic fauna remained relatively stable.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guia Consales, Massimiliano Bottaro, Cecilia Mancusi, Alessandra Neri, Paolo Sartor, Alessandro Voliani, Antonella D'Agostino, Letizia Marsili
Summary: This study reveals the presence of legacy contaminants, such as organochlorines, in the deep-sea environment and their persistent effects on the inhabitants. The distribution and levels of HCB, DDT, and PCB congeners were found to vary among the deep-sea chondrichthyes species. Additionally, maternal transfer of contaminants was demonstrated for the first time in deep-water chondrichthyes, specifically in E. spinax.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
B. Giambenedetti, N. Lo Bue, F. Kokoszka, V. Artale, F. Falcini
Summary: Despite being widely recognized, the importance of deep layers thermohaline and mixing processes in the ocean circulation and variability is still poorly investigated, especially in the Mediterranean Sea. This study investigates the abyssal stratification and its variability in the Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean) using hydrological datasets. Multiple analyses reveal a tidal-period oscillation and the activation of mixing in the deepest layers, suggesting that stratification, morphology, and tides play a key role in enhancing local diapycnal diffusivity. The presence of a quasi-homogeneous density layer allows for the observation of a periodic effect, with the deep processes being impacted by tides.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mariana Cruz, Nadine Le Bris, Ana Colaco
Summary: This study revealed the reproductive ecology characteristics of hydrothermal vent species S. mesatlantica, including the behavior of brooding female crabs, gametogenesis, fecundity, and embryonic and larvae development. The results showed that brooding crabs exhibit specific brooding behaviors and may provide oxygen to their embryos.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
Francesca Capezzuto, Gianfranco D'Onghia, Angela Carluccio, Porzia Maiorano
Summary: The present study contributes to our understanding of the distribution and life strategy of P. cuvieri in the central Mediterranean. The species shows a preference for the 600-800 m depth range, with males being larger than females. There is continuous reproduction throughout the year, with ovigerous females observed in all seasons. The species has a low abundance in the studied area with no significant trend over the past 24 years.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Barak Herut, Maxim Rubin-Blum, Guy Sisma-Ventura, Yitzhak Jacobson, Or M. Bialik, Tal Ozer, Muhedeen Ajibola Lawal, Asaf Giladi, Mor Kanari, Gilad Antler, Yizhaq Makovsky
Summary: This study discovered new brine pools in the ultraoligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean Sea using geophysical analysis and seafloor surveying. The composition of these pools, including salinity and chemical composition, was analyzed, and possible formation processes were proposed.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Pierluigi Carbonara, Andrea Bellodi, Walter Zupa, Marilena Donnaloia, Palma Gaudio, Cosmidano Neglia, Maria Cristina Follesa
Summary: The Norwegian skate Dipturus nidarosiensis has been recently recorded in the western-central Mediterranean Sea, but was hypothesized to have a more ancient presence. It is listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List and considered rare in both the northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean areas. In the Mediterranean Sea, Norwegian skates were mostly caught in two areas between 2005 and 2020, with significant differences found based on the specimen's area of capture, but not on sex or ontogenetic development.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Alberto Ribotti, Roberto Sorgente, Federica Pessini, Andrea Cucco, Giovanni Quattrocchi, Mireno Borghini
Summary: Since 2000, hydrological data of the Mediterranean Sea, particularly the western and central sub-basins, have been collected to study the hydrodynamics at coastal and open sea scales. A total of 1468 hydrological casts were conducted in 29 oceanographic cruises, and the data were carefully quality controlled and made available in open-access repositories. The findings of the study include staircase systems in the Tyrrhenian Sea and Algero-Provencal sub-basin, as well as the spreading of the Western Mediterranean Transient.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Luigi Bundone, Gema Hernandez-Milian, Nexhip Hysolakoj, Rigers Bakiu, Tatjana Mehillaj, Lorela Lazaj, Hua Deng, Amy Lusher, Giulio Pojana
Summary: This study provides the first documentation of marine cave habitat use by the Mediterranean monk seal in Albania, offering important information for the conservation and recovery of the species.
Article
Biology
Laura Carugati, Davide Moccia, Lorenzo Bramanti, Rita Cannas, Maria Cristina Follesa, Susanna Salvadori, Alessandro Cau
Summary: This study investigated the distribution and demography of two hard-bottom octocorals in the Western Mediterranean Sea and explored their possible mutual influences when co-occurring. The results showed that populations dwelling in deeper habitats exhibited immature or disturbed demographic features, and the density of one species was positively correlated to that of the other. This study highlights the importance of further research to understand the inter-specific relationships in these vulnerable ecosystems.
Article
Ecology
Guillermo Follana-Berna, Miquel Palmer, Andrea Campos-Candela, Pablo Arechavala-Lopez, Carlos Diaz-Gil, Josep Alos, Ignacio A. Catalan, Salvador Balle, Josep Coll, Gabriel Morey, Francisco Verger, Amalia Grau
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2019)
Article
Fisheries
Francesc Ordines, Marcelo Kovacic, Miguel Vivas, Cristina Garcia-Ruiz, Beatriz Guijarro
ACTA ICHTHYOLOGICA ET PISCATORIA
(2019)
Article
Fisheries
Francesc Ordines, Sergio Ramirez-Amaro, Candelaria Burgos, Jorge Baro, Marcelo Kovacic, Ignacio Sobrino
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Fisheries
Carlos Diaz-Gil, Amalia Grau, Antonio Maria Grau, Miquel Palmer, Remedios Cabrera-Castro, Gabriel Jorda, Ignacio A. Catalan
MEDITERRANEAN MARINE SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Fisheries
Patricia Prado, Noelia Carrasco, Gaetano Catanese, Amalia Grau, Pep Cabanes, Francesca Carella, Jose Rafael Garcia-March, Jose Tena, Ana Roque, Edgar Bertomeu, Noelia Gras, Nuno Caiola, M. Dolors Furones, Karl B. Andree
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Monserrat Lopez-Sanmartin, Gaetano Catanese, Amalia Grau, Jose Maria Valencia, Jose Rafa Garcia-March, Jose Ignacio Navas
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sergio Ramirez-Amaro, Francesc Ordines, Antonio Esteban, Cristina Garcia, Beatriz Guijarro, Francisca Salmeron, Brbara Terrasa, Enric Massuti
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Fisheries
Patricia Prado, Pep Cabanes, Gaetano Catanese, Francesca Carella, Noelia Carrasco, Amalia Grau, Sebastian Hernandis, Jose Rafael Garcia-March, Jose Tena, Nuno Caiola, Karl B. Andree
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
J. R. Garcia-March, J. Tena, S. Henandis, M. Vazquez-Luis, D. Lopez, C. Tellez, P. Prado, J. Navas, J. Bernal, G. Catanese, A. Grau, M. Lopez-Sanmartin, E. Nebot-Colomer, A. Ortega, S. Planes, D. Kersting, S. Jimenez, I Hendriks, D. Moreno, F. Gimenez-Casalduero, M. Perez, A. Izquierdo, J. Sanchez, N. Vicente, N. Sanmarti, M. Guimerans, J. L. Crespo, J. M. Valencia, J. Torres, A. Barrajon, E. Alvarez, C. Peyran, T. Morage, S. Deudero
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carlos Diaz-Gil, Josep Alos, Pablo Arechavala-Lopez, Miquel Palmer, Inmaculada Riera-Batle, Amalia Grau, Ignacio A. Catalan
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Guillermo Follana-Berna, Miquel Palmer, Aitor Lekanda-Guarrotxena, Amalia Grau, Pablo Arechavala-Lopez
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Hrvoje Cizmek, Barbara Colic, Romana Gracan, Amalia Grau, Gaetano Catanese
JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
M. Teresa Farriols, Francesc Ordines, Enric Massuti
Summary: N-90 is a newly developed diversity index based on SIMPER analysis, which detects species diversity loss in communities caused by factors such as fisheries. Through comparisons with real data sets, N-90 shows good sensitivity and accuracy in identifying species replacement and loss.
Article
Fisheries
Alba Serrat, Maria Teresa Farriols, Sergio Ramirez-Amaro, Francesc Ordines, Beatriz Guijarro, Francesca Ferragut-Perello, Enric Massuti
Summary: More than half of the Mediterranean sharks and rays are threatened by fishing exploitation. Population assessments are limited by the lack of specific fishing catch data. The study analyzed indicators to assess the conservation status of the demersal sharks and batoids in the Balearic Islands, showing stable or recovery trends in distribution area and density but uncertain recovery to historic levels.
Article
Microbiology
Antonio Box, Xavier Capo, Silvia Tejada, Gaetano Catanese, Amalia Grau, Salud Deudero, Antoni Sureda, Jose Maria Valencia
Article
Oceanography
Pernille Tonnesen, Shane Gero
Summary: Studying the behavior of deep-sea animals is challenging, but animal-borne camera tags may help understand predator-prey interactions. Research showed that camera-associated white light may affect foraging behavior, but has minimal long-term fitness impact on sperm whales. However, this impact should be considered and monitored for longer camera tag deployments.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2024)
Article
Oceanography
Sarah N. de Mendonca, Anna Metaxas
Summary: Ecological processes impact spatial patterns in abundance and distribution of megafauna. This study used spatial statistics to identify significant megafaunal patterns in the Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area. The patterns varied among taxa and were related to geological factors. The study highlights the importance of considering fine-scale patterns and provides insights for ecological research, monitoring, and conservation in deep-sea ecosystems.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2024)