Article
Environmental Sciences
Norbert Kamjunke, Holger Brix, Gotz Floeser, Ingeborg Bussmann, Claudia Schuetze, Eric P. Achterberg, Uta Koedel, Philipp Fischer, Louise Rewrie, Tina Sanders, Dietrich Borchardt, Markus Weitere
Summary: The nutrient and carbon dynamics within river-estuary-coastal water systems were analyzed to understand the flux of matter from the terrestrial environment to the ocean. The study revealed that the distribution and variations of nutrients and carbon varied significantly in different water environments, influenced by the travel time of water and nutrient fluxes, thereby affecting the functionality and stability of the aquatic ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Se Hyeon Jang, Prisca Lim, Olivia Torano, Erika F. Neave, Harvey Seim, Adrian Marchetti
Summary: This study conducted an intensive oceanographic survey in the Galapagos Marine Reserve in 2018 to explore the composition and ecological significance of marine protists. The results showed that the region influenced by the Equatorial Undercurrent had higher chlorophyll-a concentrations and abundances of protistan grazers. Additionally, a dinoflagellate bloom heavily influenced by upwelling of the Equatorial Undercurrent was observed in the western archipelago. These findings provide new insights into the composition and potential roles of micrograzers in structuring protistan communities in the Galapagos Archipelago.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geology
Eugene C. Rankey, Rodrigo Garza-Perez, Hassan A. Eltom
Summary: This study explores the spatial and temporal variations in chemical oceanography along the Yucatan Shelf and how these factors relate to bottom character, sediment, and sediment geochemistry. Local processes such as upwelling and longshore transport were found to variably influence carbonate sediment accumulations and their geochemical signatures. The data provide insights into the influences of spatial variability of water masses in the geological record and accurate interpretation of stratigraphic changes in carbonate archives.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Orangel Aguilera, Olga M. Oliveira De Araujo, Ricardo Tadeu Lopes, Marcelo Cohen, Dayana Alvarado Sierra, Beatriz Teixeira Guimaraes, Ana Paula Linhares, Felix Rodriguez, Manuel Moreira, Rut Diaz, Hamilton Santos Gama Filho, Marcelino Jose Dos Anjos, Daniel Lima, Julianny dos Santos Silva, Marie Joelle Giraud-Lopez, Vinicius Tavares Kutter
Summary: The Bragantina Platform is an important sedimentary package in northwestern Brazil, mainly found along the equatorial western Atlantic coast. The carbonate-siliciclastic platform is dominated by the Miocene Pirabas Formation. High-energy coastal storms and hurricanes during the Neogene period caused significant impact on the shallow-water inner marine heterozoan deposits of the Pirabas Formation. Petrographic, petrophysical, micro- and macropaleontological, taphonomic, and geochemical analyses were conducted to understand the sedimentary and paleoenvironmental processes. The equatorial carbonate platform in Brazil experienced multiple high-energy tropical storms during the Miocene, resulting in chaotic faunal arrangements and improved petrographic properties of the rock.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Brenno J. Silva, J. Severino P. Ibanhez, Barbara R. Pinheiro, Richard J. Ladle, Ana C. Malhado, Taciana K. Pinto, Manuel J. Flores-Montes
Summary: The study demonstrates that coral reefs in the Costa dos Corais Marine Protected Area in Brazil are affected by seasonality, with rivers and submarine groundwater discharge impacting the environmental status, especially during the rainy season. Although the water quality conditions of the reefs are good, signs of anthropogenic pressure were found in local rivers, and the N:P ratio of porewaters could potentially impact surface waters by increasing the local trophic status.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tanu Kumari, Rishikesh Singh, Pramit Verma, Akhilesh Singh Raghubanshi
Summary: Soil respiration is influenced by a variety of factors including vegetation density, monsoon phases, and microbial and root biomass. Heterotrophic respiration is the major contributor to soil respiration in medium to high-density vegetation, while autotrophic respiration dominates in low-density vegetation during certain monsoon phases. The partitioning of root biomass plays a crucial role in regulating the components of soil respiration.
Article
Ecology
Jemma M. Fadum, Ed K. Hall
Summary: Despite common beliefs that low-latitude lakes are predominantly nitrogen limited, a literature review reveals that tropical lakes exhibit a wide range of nutrient limitation regimes, with considerable heterogeneity within individual lakes. The dominant limiting nutrient in these lakes is influenced by factors such as seasonal stratification, precipitation, land use, land cover, and lake morphology. To accurately characterize nutrient limitation, future research efforts should include spatial and temporal sampling to capture within-lake heterogeneity and both inter- and intra-annual variation. Both inferential and experimental approaches should be used to overcome methodological limitations in determining nutrient limitation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Terhi Riutta, Lip Khoon Kho, Yit Arn Teh, Robert Ewers, Noreen Majalap, Yadvinder Malhi
Summary: The study found that soil respiration was significantly higher in logged forests compared to old-growth forests, mainly due to higher soil organic matter (SOM) respiration. In old-growth forests, annual SOM respiration was equal to the organic carbon inputs, indicating equilibrium, while in logged forests SOM respiration exceeded the inputs, leading to carbon loss from the soil.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Andrew T. Nottingham, Alexander W. Cheesman, Terhi Riutta, Christopher E. Doughty, Elizabeth Telford, Walter Huaraca Huasco, Martin Svatek, Jakub Kvasnica, Noreen Majalap, Yadvinder Malhi, Patrick Meir, Yit Arn Teh
Summary: The study utilized a whole-stand girdling experiment in a lowland tropical forest in Borneo to investigate the dynamics of below-ground carbon transfer and root-rhizosphere respiration, as well as the effects of tree species composition on mortality rates. The results highlighted the significant impact of tree species composition in tropical forests on below-ground carbon transfer dynamics and its release to the atmosphere.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Wei Yang, Xianghui Guo, Zhimian Cao, Jianzhong Su, Liguo Guo, Lifang Wang, Yi Xu, Tao Huang, Yan Li, Yanping Xu, Zhe Wang, Guizhi Wang, Minhan Dai
Summary: This study investigated carbonate dynamics in the northwestern South China Sea, where upwelling, river plumes, and submarine groundwater discharge intersect. The study revealed complex spatial and year-to-year variations and demonstrated the joint modulations of upwelling, river plumes, and submarine groundwater discharge on the carbonate system.
SCIENCE CHINA-EARTH SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Faycal Kessouri, Karen McLaughlin, Martha Sutula, Daniele Bianchi, Minna Ho, James C. McWilliams, Lionel Renault, Jeroen Molemaker, Curtis Deutsch, Anita Leinweber
Summary: The study presents a realistic ocean model to investigate coastal eutrophication issues in the Southern California Bight. Through evaluation against a broad suite of observational data, the model simulation effectively captures the state and variability of the region.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN MODELING EARTH SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Ana Karoline Duarte dos Santos Sa, Marco Valerio Jansen Cutrim, Fernando Antonio do Nascimento Feitosa, Manuel De Jesus Flores-Montes, Lisana Furtado Cavalcanti, Denise dos Santos Costa, Quedyane Silva da Cruz
Summary: Modeling approaches are useful for assessing eutrophication and stressors' effects on coastal ecosystems. The study revealed low nutrient dilution and high pressure in macrotidal estuaries, leading to high trophic status and seasonal eutrophication. High temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen intensified trophic conditions. Salinity, DIP, and Chl-a were identified as principal stressors for eutrophication. Future strategies should reduce anthropogenic contributions and improve trophic conditions in the studied estuary.
JOURNAL OF SEA RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Richard M. Sullivan, Peter J. van Hengstum, Sloan J. Coats, Jeffrey P. Donnelly, Anne E. Tamalavage, Tyler S. Winkler, Nancy A. Albury
Summary: The study reveals that meridional shifts of the North Atlantic Subtropical High impact hydroclimate variability in the southeastern United States and Caribbean region, with projections for a more displaced NASH in the 21st century posing threats to rain-dependent Caribbean island communities. By analyzing sediment records from the northeast Bahamas, a 6000-year rainfall history was reconstructed, showing that NASH variability drives changes in regional rainfall. Model simulations suggest a significant role for Pacific Ocean conditions in influencing NASH behavior and subsequent hydroclimate responses on centennial timescales.
PALEOCEANOGRAPHY AND PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carlos Pereira-Ibarra, Fabiola Lopez-Monroy
Summary: Punta de Piedras Lagoon, located south of Margarita Island in the Venezuelan Caribbean Sea, is an important coastal lagoon with ecological and economic significance for nearby communities. The lagoon was found to have mesotrophic conditions with considerable differences between trophic indices, although the station closest to Paseo Esther Gil showed eutrophic waters. However, the circulation and residence time of water prevent the eutrophication process in the lagoon due to exchange with the adjacent sea.
REVISTA INTERNACIONAL DE CONTAMINACION AMBIENTAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maxence Guillermic, Louise P. Cameron, Ilian De Corte, Sambuddha Misra, Jelle Bijma, Dirk de Beer, Claire E. Reymond, Hildegard Westphal, Justin B. Ries, Robert A. Eagle
Summary: Temperature plays a significant role in regulating coral pH(cf) and contributes to the negative interaction between thermal stress and ocean acidification (OA) on coral calcification.
Article
Geology
Gita R. Narayan, Claire E. Reymond, Marleen Stuhr, Steve Doo, Christiane Schmidt, Thomas Mann, Hildegard Westphal
Summary: Large benthic foraminifera play significant roles in tropical coral reef environments, serving as important carbonate producers and indicators of environmental change. Their calcareous tests contribute to sediment supply after the organisms die, maintaining shoreline stability. Studies suggest these organisms may exhibit increased tolerance to a wide range of conditions, but more research is needed to fully understand their response to changing ocean conditions and climate regimes.
Article
Biology
Max Wisshak, Neele Meyer, Piotr Kuklinski, Andres Ruggeberg, Andre Freiwald
Summary: The study found that calcifier diversity and bioerosion activity are higher in the rhodolith bed compared to adjacent aphotic waters, but these differences are not statistically significant. Despite some differences in depth and substrate structure, sediment coverage, carbonate formation rate, and bioerosion rate are significantly higher in the rhodolith bed.
Article
Geology
Thomas Mann, Andre Wizemann, Marleen Stuhr, Yannis Kappelmann, Alexander Janssen, Jamaluddin Jompa, Hildegard Westphal
Summary: Early-diagenetic cementation of tropical carbonates results from a combination of physico-chemical and biological processes. Analysis of Holocene Halimeda segments in Indonesia shows diverse cementation types and processes. This study provides new quantitative constraints on the rate of diagenetic cementation in tropical carbonate factories.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sebastian N. Hoepker, Henry C. Wu, Friedrich Lucassen, Oumar Sadio, Timothee Brochier, Ishmael Y. Nuworkpor, Simone A. Kasemann, Peter Merschel, Hildegard Westphal
Summary: The study assesses the relationship between salinity and Sr-87/Sr-86 measurements of water and catfish otoliths collected in three estuaries. The hydrological properties of the rivers result in variable correlations between Sr-87/Sr-86 and salinity. The Gambia River proves to be well-suited for the approach, while the Volta River and Sine-Saloum estuary present more complex cases.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Marlena Joppien, Hildegard Westphal, Marleen Stuhr, Steve S. Doo
Summary: The increasing marine microplastic pollution has negative effects on organismal physiology and ecosystem functioning. However, the potential responses of large benthic foraminifera (LBF) are largely unknown. This study found that the LBF species Amphistegina gibbosa can selectively feed on Artemia and avoid pristine microplastic particles, but conditioned microplastic has a similar feeding interaction rate as Artemia. This suggests that microplastics with longer residence times may have a larger impact on facultative detritivores.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Natalia Herran, Gita R. Narayan, Steve S. Doo, Andre Klicpera, Andre Freiwald, Hildegard Westphal
Summary: Marine symbioses play a crucial role in the persistence of coral reef ecosystems. The symbiotic relationship between corals and sipunculan worms allows the corals to move and avoid sediment cover, which is essential for their survival. Additionally, the commensalistic symbiosis between the worm and the bivalve contributes to the morphological alterations and species persistence in these organisms.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Leon Hoffman, Andre Freiwald
Summary: This article reviews the species of the genus Talassia in the upper bathyal depth range of the Atlantic Ocean, proposing four new species and comparing them with other related species. The study shows regional differences in the shape and sculpture of the protoconch among the Talassia species.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TAXONOMY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Munawar Khalil, Steve S. Doo, Marleen Stuhr, Hildegard Westphal
Summary: Ocean acidification and ocean warming affect the mineralogy and microstructure of starfish skeleton, with temperature being the major factor for magnesium content and pCO(2) having a more significant impact on skeletal microstructures.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Marine
Hildegard Westphal, Justin B. Ries, Steve S. Doo
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Alexander Petrovic, Hildegard Westphal, Bahareh Hodhodi, Tanja Slootmaker, Alena Koberg, Abolfazl Naji
Summary: Two beaches from Kish Island were compared in terms of their microplastics (MPs) load. The study found that the concentrations of MPs near the beaches were relatively high and mainly originated from outside the island. The presence of small synthetic fibers was less common in the upwind beach.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Michael L. Zettler, Ed A. Hendrycks, Andre Freiwald
Summary: A new species of pontogeneiid amphipod, Dautzenbergia concavipalma sp. nov., was discovered from cold-water corals off Angola. This study provides a detailed description and comparison with known species of the genus, as well as a key to Dautzenbergia species.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Munawar Khalil, Steve S. Doo, Marleen Stuhr, Hildegard Westphal
Summary: This study assesses the long-term effects of increased temperature and pCO(2) on the physiology and calcification of a coral reef-associated starfish. The results show that temperature is the main stressor, but the combination of high temperature and high pCO(2) has nonlinear and potentially synergistic effects on organismal physiology.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Giovanni Sanna, Janina V. V. Buescher, Andre Freiwald
Summary: This study compares the structural differences between cold-water corals and offshore corals using 3D scanning technology and finds that cold-water corals have higher volume compactness and surface complexity. The study also reveals that the structure of cold-water corals is influenced by current speed, while surface complexity is not significantly affected by current speed.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jose Antonio Caballero Herrera, Leon Hoffman, Andre Freiwald, Serge Gofas
Summary: This study examines the molluscan fauna of the South Azorean Seamount Chain (SASC) and finds a high level of endemism within the area, with 22.5% of species being unique to the SASC. The study also reveals different larval development types among the species, including planktotrophic larvae and direct developers. The findings suggest a strong relationship between the SASC and the temperate Eastern Atlantic.
MARINE BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
