Article
Environmental Sciences
Nigel Keeley, Olivier Laroche, Murray Birch, Xavier Pochon
Summary: Sea cage fish farms are increasingly located over hard and mixed substrate habitats for production and waste-dispersion purposes. However, due to the lack of practical sampling methods, these installations are not effectively managed in terms of benthic impacts. A newly developed Substrate Independent Benthic Sampler (SIBS) device has been introduced, which can capture unconsolidated organic and inorganic matter on various substrates and analyze microbial assemblages to assess benthic impact. The study shows that the SIBS approach is sensitive to detecting influences from fish farms at distances of 500-1500 m, and it provides a new powerful tool for mapping spatial boundaries of farm effects regardless of substrate type and topography.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Cinzia Corinaldesi, Silvia Bianchelli, Marco Candela, Antonio Dell'Anno, Cristina Gambi, Eugenio Rastelli, Stefano Varrella, Roberto Danovaro
Summary: Microorganisms play a crucial role in interacting with biological components and contribute to the efficiency of marine food webs and the adaptation of organisms to climate change. They are essential for the health of marine species, productive ecosystems, and the global biosphere. However, alterations in microbiomes can have negative consequences on species' health and ecosystem functioning. The potential of microbiomes for restoring degraded habitats is still largely unexplored.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Halley E. Froehlich, Jamie C. Montgomery, David R. Williams, Casey O'Hara, Caitlin D. Kuempel, Benjamin S. Halpern
Summary: Aquaculture has the potential to reduce fishing pressure on wild stocks, but current practices are not effectively achieving this. By reducing reliance on wild seed inputs and increasing production of overexploited species through domesticated aquaculture, the balance between wild fisheries and aquaculture can be improved to support sustainable fishing levels.
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Etienne Joubert, Robin P. M. Gauff, Benoist de Vogue, Fabienne Chavanon, Christophe Ravel, Marc Bouchoucha
Summary: Port areas are under multiple anthropic pressures that directly affect marine communities and deprive them of essential ecological functions. The use of artificial fish nurseries (AFNs) in these areas has the potential to restore part of the nursery function of natural habitats by increasing fish and juvenile abundance and reducing predation intensity. Two years of monitoring showed that AFNs hosted significantly more fish and fish juveniles compared to control docks. The taxonomic diversity of fish was also higher in AFNs, and predation intensity was lower. AFNs may be an effective restoration tool, but further monitoring is needed to understand potential concentration effects.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Fei Liu, Fandong Yu, Zhijun Xia, Qiang Qin, Chunsen Xu, Jianwei Wang, Huanzhang Liu
Summary: The Chishui River implemented a complete fishing closure, during which the diversity index of fish assemblages showed no significant changes, but the structure of fish assemblages changed significantly over time. The upstream fish assemblages reverted to pre-closure levels, while the midstream and downstream fish assemblages also showed a trend of recovery.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Daniel G. Boyce, Brian Petrie, Kenneth T. Frank
Summary: Atlantic herring landings in Canada have been the greatest since 1960, with the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy fishery being a major contributor. However, despite management measures implemented since 2003, herring biomass remains low and declining. Various factors such as exploitation rate, geographic distribution of fishing, and recruitment have been identified as key drivers of herring variability.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Charles A. A. Gray
Summary: This study examined the differences in fish assemblages between partially closed estuaries that permit recreational fishing and fully fished estuaries that allow both commercial and recreational fisheries. The results showed that there were significant differences in fish assemblages among individual estuaries, regardless of their management category. The differences between partially closed and fully fished estuaries in terms of species and individuals were inconsistent across years.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Porzia Maiorano, Francesca Capezzuto, Angela Carluccio, Crescenza Calculli, Giulia Cipriano, Roberto Carlucci, Pasquale Ricci, Letizia Sion, Angelo Tursi, Gianfranco D'Onghia
Summary: This paper reviews changes in commercial and experimental catches of deep-sea fishery resources in the central Mediterranean over the last 30 years, focusing on the link between deep-sea fishery resources and vulnerable marine ecosystems and highlighting the importance of these findings for biodiversity conservation and fishery resource management.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Simon J. McKinley, Benjamin J. Saunders, Etienne Rastoin-Laplane, Pelayo Salinas-de-Leon, Euan S. Harvey
Summary: This study investigated the functional diversity and vulnerability of coastal reef fish communities in the Galapagos using Baited Remote Underwater Stereo-Video systems. The results showed that Galapagos reef fish communities are highly vulnerable to reduced functional diversity if species are lost. However, there may be some ecosystem resilience against species loss due to species filling similar ecological niches.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Jason S. Link
Summary: Marine capture fisheries in the U.S. are significant socio-culturally and economically, but face challenges. Developing ecosystem overfishing indicators for monitoring and addressing the issue systematically is crucial.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Rong Wan, Pengbo Song, Zengguang Li, Xiangyu Long, Dong Wang, Lu Zhai
Summary: In this study, ensemble species distribution models (SDMs) were used to explore suitable habitats and fish-habitat relationships for four larval fish species in the Yangtze Estuary. The results showed that ensemble SDMs had superior predictive ability compared to single algorithms. Different species exhibited different spatial distribution patterns, with salinity being a key environmental variable affecting spatial variability. These findings are important for the conservation strategies of fishery resources in the area.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Camila Aida Campos, Alan M. Tonin, Mark J. Kennard, Jose Francisco Goncalves Junior
Summary: Freshwater environments are highly threatened by human activities, making monitoring essential for managing these ecosystems. Ecological metrics have been proven effective in assessing freshwater ecosystem integrity. Using Boosted Regression Tree models, this study identified conductivity as the most important factor in explaining the variation of ecological metrics.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Katharina Romoth, Alexander Darr, Svenja Papenmeier, Michael L. L. Zettler, Mayya Gogina
Summary: An increasing number of different habitats leads to an increasing number of species and has been considered a key driver for biodiversity. In this study, a newly proposed measure of substrate heterogeneity was tested using underwater video imaging. The results showed that small patches of different soft sediment types were associated with elevated species richness and a higher rate of occurrence of rare species. The findings highlight the importance of microhabitats for benthic biodiversity.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jens M. Nielsen, Lauren A. Rogers, Richard D. Brodeur, Andrew R. Thompson, Toby D. Auth, Alison L. Deary, Janet T. Duffy-Anderson, Moira Galbraith, J. Anthony Koslow, R. Ian Perry
Summary: The impacts of climate warming and marine heatwaves on ecosystem dynamics in the Northeast Pacific Ocean are widespread, with larval fishes serving as sensitive indicators of environmental changes. Variations in ichthyoplankton abundances and species composition differ between marine ecosystems, and past major climate perturbations have led to synchronized shifts in ichthyoplankton assemblages. Understanding these dynamics can help in projecting future changes and improving ecosystem management decisions in the face of intensifying marine heatwaves.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maickel Armenteros, Misael Diaz-Asencio, Rosely Peraza-Escarra, Raul Fernandez-Garces, Adrian Martinez-Suarez, William F. Kenney, Mark Brenner
Summary: The study investigated mollusk death assemblages and geochemistry in sediment cores from seagrass beds and an unvegetated site in the Gulf of Guanahacabibes, NW Cuba. The transition from mangrove to seagrass beds was associated with sea level rise 6000 years ago. Higher sediment accumulation rates in the past century, particularly after 1980, were likely influenced by human activities. The study showed high mollusk diversity in the Gulf of Guanahacabibes, with inter-site differences in grain size, vegetation cover, and nutrient input driving beta-diversity.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Bernardo Duarte, Joao Carreiras, Renato Mamede, Irina A. Duarte, Isabel Cacador, Patrick Reis-Santos, Rita P. Vasconcelos, Carla Gameiro, Rui Rosa, Susanne E. Tanner, Vanessa F. Fonseca
Summary: In recent years, there has been increasing attention to the validation of seafood authenticity and provenance, especially in highly valuable and highly consumed seafood products like the common octopus. The analysis of octopus ink can be used to differentiate different collection areas and assess their food safety.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. Szalaj, A. Silva, P. Re, H. Cabral
Summary: This study used an ecosystem model to assess the future effects of multiple stressors on sardine and the Portuguese continental shelf ecosystem. The results showed that the greatest impact on sardine stock is caused by projected sea surface temperature rise. Changes in the biomass of sardine competitors and predators also had a significant impact on the ecosystem. These findings can assist in the long-term and strategic management of the Iberian sardine stock.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luis M. F. Alves, Marco F. L. Lemos, Henrique Cabral, Sara C. Novais
Summary: Bioindicator species play a significant role in environmental pollution monitoring, and elasmobranch species are suitable for this purpose. By measuring contaminants and using biomarkers, scientists can gain insights into the impact of pollution on marine ecosystems.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Irina A. Duarte, Jerker Fick, Henrique N. Cabral, Vanessa F. Fonseca
Summary: The study reviewed bioconcentration of neuroactive pharmaceuticals in fish and the potential impact on ecosystems, finding that lipophilicity is not a reliable predictor for bioconcentration. Experimental parameters, species, and life stage significantly influence bioconcentration, with increased fish lethality correlating with higher bioconcentration. However, other effects such as growth, condition, behavior, and reproduction did not show clear correlations, likely due to insufficient and variable data.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Irina A. Duarte, Patrick Reis-Santos, Jerker Fick, Henrique N. Cabral, Bernardo Duarte, Vanessa F. Fonseca
Summary: The contamination of surface waters by pharmaceuticals is a global issue caused by increased access and use of pharmaceuticals, which poses a threat to non-target species. Neuroactive pharmaceuticals, in particular, can bioaccumulate in fish and disrupt various processes, impacting fish populations and their ecosystems. This study investigates the presence and bioaccumulation of 33 neuroactive pharmaceuticals in multiple fish species from four different estuaries. The results show widespread occurrence and bioaccumulation of these pharmaceuticals in fish tissues, highlighting the urgent need for toxicity assessment in natural ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Bernardo Duarte, Renato Mamede, Joao Carreiras, Irina A. Duarte, Isabel Cacador, Patrick Reis-Santos, Rita P. Vasconcelos, Carla Gameiro, Pedro Re, Susanne E. Tanner, Vanessa F. Fonseca
Summary: Provenance and traceability of seafood are important for food safety. This study developed a spectral approach based on TXRF spectroscopy to identify the origin of seafood. The method was successfully applied to five marine species from the Atlantic Portuguese coast. The results showed that the TXRF spectra can be used for traceability purposes and the chemometric approach used in this study provides accurate classification models.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luis M. F. Alves, Marco F. L. Lemos, Ariana B. Moutinho, Filipe R. Ceia, Juan Munoz-Arnanz, Begona Jimenez, Henrique Cabral, Sara C. Novais
Summary: Chemical pollution poses a major threat to marine ecosystems, especially to top predators like sharks, which are highly susceptible to exposure and accumulation of contaminants. This study examined the contamination levels, composition, and sources in blue sharks inhabiting the Northeast Atlantic, as well as the potential risk to human consumers. High levels of contaminants were found in most sampled sharks, with over 75% exceeding legal limits for human consumption. Consumption of meat from these sharks could potentially expose consumers to dangerous levels of methylmercury. Moreover, the assessment of single contaminants may underestimate the risk to human health, and the accumulation of contaminants in sharks appears to be influenced by their geographical distribution rather than other factors such as sex, size, or prey trophic level.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joana Anastacio, Jose M. Candeias, Henrique Cabral, Isabel Domingos
Summary: Marine litter poses a threat to the marine environment, but the understanding of waste disposal patterns and processes in coastal areas is still limited. This study correlates the characteristics of eleven coastal areas in Portugal with the type and abundance of marine litter found, revealing that plastic is the dominant type of marine litter.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nils Teichert, Anne Lize, Henrique Cabral, Anthony Acou, Thomas Trancart, Laure-Sarah Virag, Eric Feunteun, Alexandre Carpentier
Summary: The expression of life-history traits in fish is influenced by both current and past environmental conditions. This study investigates the effects of carry-over from larval traits and environmental conditions on the life-history traits of European seabass using otolith microstructure analysis. The results show that larval traits have a minor impact compared to the nursery environment on post-settlement traits.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ashlie J. McIvor, Rosa Pires, Clara Lopes, Joana Raimundo, Paula F. Campos, Miguel P. Pais, Joao Canning-Clode, Ana Dinis
Summary: Microplastics are a common marine pollutant that are highly available to marine predators. This study investigates microplastic exposure in Mediterranean monk seals from the Madeira archipelago and finds that the prevalence of microplastics in their scat samples is higher than in other pinniped species. Results suggest that the coastal food-web in the Madeira archipelago has relatively high levels of microplastic pollution, increasing the risk of microplastic consumption for higher-trophic level organisms.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Silvia Almeida, Marko Radeta, Tomoya Kataoka, Joao Canning-Clode, Miguel Pessanha Pais, Ruben Freitas, Joao Gama Monteiro
Summary: This study explores the use of a low-cost commercial unmanned aircraft system with a high-resolution RGB camera as an alternative method for conducting floating litter surveys. The study compares different processing and analytical strategies and discusses operational constraints. The findings show that manual counting remains the most precise method for classifying different floating objects, while machine learning demonstrates promising results in detecting floating items.
Review
Fisheries
Elorri Arevalo, Henrique N. Cabral, Bertrand Villeneuve, Carl Posseme, Mario Lepage
Summary: Early life stages of fish, particularly eggs and larvae, are highly vulnerable, with mortality rates reaching up to 99%. Estuaries play a critical role in providing favorable environmental conditions for the survival and growth of these early life stages. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the occurrence and dynamics of fish larvae in temperate estuaries.
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luis M. F. Alves, Ariana B. Moutinho, Luis J. Gomez, Ana L. Oropesa, Juan Munoz-Arnanz, Begona Jimenez, Marco F. L. Lemos, Vanessa F. Fonseca, Henrique Cabral, Sara C. Novais
Summary: This study aimed to determine if differences in contaminant body burden found in blue sharks from the Northeast Atlantic would result in differences in stress responses. The researchers found that sharks from the most contaminated zone exhibited more pronounced stress responses and similar differences were found in biomarker responses. These results suggest that blue sharks and these biomarkers have the potential to be used for pollution monitoring in different areas of the Atlantic.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Paola Parretti, Joao Gama Monteiro, Francesca Gizzi, Roi Martinez-Escauriaza, Filipe Alves, Sahar Chebaane, Silvia Almeida, Miguel Pessanha Pais, Frederico Almada, Marc Fernandez, Natacha Nogueira, Carlos Andrade, Joao Canning-Clode
Summary: This study aims to map the distribution and assess the impacts of the non-indigenous species (NIS) gilthead seabream Sparus aurata escaped from offshore farms in Madeira Island. An innovative and cost-efficient approach using risk assessment and georeferenced dispersal data collection was tested. The invasiveness of the species was screened using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK), revealing a high invasion risk. Occurrences of S. aurata were assessed through GIS participatory mapping and data from recreational fishing contests. A probability map showed a widespread dispersal of S. aurata around Madeira Island. This assessment proved to be a cost-efficient early warning method for detecting NIS dispersal and highlighted the need for additional surveys to evaluate the impacts on the native ecosystem.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Helena Pires, Marisa I. Batista, Miguel P. Pais, Filipa Silva, Susanne E. Tanner, Sofia Henriques
Summary: Rocky reefs are affected by human activities and their protection is vital due to their importance for breeding, nursery, and feeding. Understanding the structure and processes of rocky reef communities is necessary for conservation methods improvement. Stable isotope analysis was used to study the food web of rocky reefs in Arr'abida Marine Protected Area, revealing a complex food web with high trophic richness. The benthic pathway was found to be more important, highlighting the significance of macroalgae and benthic production in this ecosystem. The study emphasizes the importance of shallow temperate rocky reefs and provides support for conservation measures.