Review
Environmental Sciences
Alvine C. Mehinto, Jayme Smith, Ellie Wenger, Beckye Stanton, Regina Linville, Bryan W. Brooks, Martha A. Sutula, Meredith D. A. Howard
Summary: In recent decades, cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) have been increasing in freshwater ecosystems, impacting water quality through the production of potent cyanotoxins. Microcystins are the most studied cyanotoxins, with ecotoxicological investigations primarily focusing on fish and aquatic invertebrates. Current U.S. EPA recreational water quality criteria for microcystin may protect against acute toxicity in aquatic organisms but might not be sufficient for chronic toxicity, suggesting the need for more stringent thresholds to protect aquatic life.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lisa Fujise, David J. Suggett, Michael Stat, Tim Kahlke, Michael Bunce, Stephanie G. Gardner, Samantha Goyen, Stephen Woodcock, Peter J. Ralph, Justin R. Seymour, Nachshon Siboni, Matthew R. Nitschke
Summary: The community structure and cell abundances of free-living Symbiodiniaceae in coral reefs are influenced by different habitats, with water samples mainly containing coral symbionts, sediments having unique species, and macroalgal surfaces having the highest cell abundances. These findings suggest a key role for macroalgae in facilitating the ecological success of corals by maintaining a continuum between environmental and symbiotic populations of Symbiodiniaceae.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marites M. Canto, Katharina E. Fabricius, Murray Logan, Stephen Lewis, Lachlan I. W. McKinna, Barbara J. Robson
Summary: The article highlights the weak correlation between current water quality metrics and ecological outcomes in the Great Barrier Reef, and introduces a new water quality index based on benthic irradiance. This index is sensitive to changes in light availability and has the potential to complement existing water quality metrics.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christopher A. Brunner, Sven Uthicke, Gerard F. Ricardo, Mia O. Hoogenboom, Andrew P. Negri
Summary: Climate change poses new challenges to coral reef replenishment, with coral recruits under future climate conditions showing reduced ability to remove sediments and higher mortality rates. Water-quality guidelines will need to be adjusted according to climate change to protect future coral recruitment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Ahmed Hany, Fatma Akl, Mona Hagras, Ahmed Balah
Summary: Lake Burullus in Egypt has been suffering from environmental and economic issues due to rapid urbanization and increased agricultural, aquaculture, and industrial activities. This has led to a reduction in the lake's area, degradation of its ecological system, and a decrease in fishing yield, posing socio-economic challenges. The Egyptian Government has initiated the Burullus Lake Rehabilitation Project to improve the water quality and fish production by enhancing water exchange with the sea. The study provides an update on the water quality conditions and highlights the importance of water exchange and circulation patterns for future rehabilitation projects.
AIN SHAMS ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
P. Nodo, A. -R. Childs, P. Pattrick, N. C. James
Summary: Estuaries and shallow marine nearshore areas are important nursery habitats for fish. However, there is a lack of research on fish community patterns in these areas, particularly in southern Africa. This study aimed to assess the role of estuaries and marine nearshore areas in Algoa Bay as settlement and nursery habitats for demersal fishes.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hassan Mohamed, Kazuo Nadaoka, Takashi Nakamura
Summary: Automated segmentation of benthic habitats using unsupervised semantic algorithms is proposed. The study evaluates four algorithms and two color spaces for accuracy in segmentation and addresses variations in image illumination and shadow effects. The research provides insights into the importance of eliminating underwater illumination variations and showcases the superior performance of the red difference chrominance values in the YCbCr color space for habitat segmentation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rafaella Gouveia Mendes, Renato Farias do Valle Jr, Mayte Maria Abreu Pires de Melo Silva, Gabriel Henrique de Morais Fernandes, Luis Filipe Sanches Fernandes, Teresa Cristina Tarle Pissarra, Marilia Carvalho de Melo, Carlos Alberto Valera, Fernando Antonio Leal Pacheco
Summary: The collapse of B1 dam at Vale's Corrego do Feijao mine in Brazil caused a significant release of iron and manganese-rich tailings into the Paraopeba River. This study aimed to predict the environmental deterioration in the river since the dam break by generating exploratory and normative scenarios based on predictive statistical models. Mitigating measures, ongoing monitoring plans, and the importance of monitoring were also proposed. The findings highlighted the spread of tailings and deterioration of water quality, while suggesting dredging as an effective measure to mitigate the impacts in the anomalous sector.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peter A. U. Staehr, Sanjina U. Staehr, Denise Tonetta, Signe Hogslund, Mette Moller Nielsen
Summary: The study found that boulder reefs in the Limfjorden do not have a positive impact on the oxygen dynamics of the ecosystem. In 2018, extreme temperatures and higher nutrient levels resulted in a significant increase in benthic ER rates, leading to net heterotrophy in 2018 compared to net autotrophy in 2017.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Johan Wasserman, Daniel A. Lemley, Janine B. Adams
Summary: This study used a microcosm experiment to investigate the potential of using stormwater to restore abandoned saltpans and address stormwater management and saltpan abandonment issues. The results showed that diverse primary producer communities could assimilate nutrients from stormwater, leading to an oligotrophic state.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Helen Francisca Pimentel, Eduardo Oyague, Edgar Sanchez
Summary: Like many other countries, Peru utilizes Water Quality Standards (WQS) for managing and diagnosing water resources. In addition, biotic indexes based on the tolerance of benthic macroinvertebrates to pollution are commonly used. This research proposes the use of the Stable States approach to evaluate the ecological integrity in central-Andes rivers, providing a more comprehensive representation of multiple factors through multivariate analyses.
RIVER RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alice Oprandi, Fabrizio Atzori, Annalisa Azzola, Carlo Nike Bianchi, Nicoletta Cadoni, Lara Carosso, Elena Desidera, Francesca Frau, Maria Leonor Garcia Gutierrez, Paolo Guidetti, Carla Morri, Luigi Piazzi, Federica Poli, Monica Montefalcone
Summary: In the last decades, climate change and human pressures have had a significant impact on the ocean, leading to the urgent need for actions to protect coastal marine ecosystems. The European Commission has set ambitious targets for member states through the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). This study compared the performance of 11 biotic indices in assessing the environmental status of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Capo Carbonara and found that all indices were consistent in confirming the good status of the MPA.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hew Cameron Merrett, Wei Tong Chen, Jao-Jia Horng
Summary: This research aims to develop a weighted scoring framework for assessing risk management controls in DWSP programs, and finds that respondents' background, such as their country, significantly impacts their views on the robustness factors of DWSP programs.
WATER AND ENVIRONMENT JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Meryem Mojtahid, Magali Schweizer, Melanie Douarin, Justine Gabriel, Christophe Colin, Nadine Tisnerat-Laborde, Mary Elliot
Summary: Benthic foraminiferal assemblage data from a marine sediment core off northwest Scotland have provided insights into paleoenvironmental changes since the last glacial period and the environmental conditions that influenced the onset, formation, and decline of cold-water corals in the area. The study identified three distinct foraminiferal assemblages associated with different time intervals, indicating shifts in ecological conditions and water properties that allowed for the settlement of cold-water corals around 9,000 years ago. The presence of specific foraminiferal species also suggested varying contributions of water masses from the Eastern North Atlantic, influencing food export efficiency to the seafloor.
Article
Ecology
Christopher A. Brunner, Gerard F. Ricardo, Sven Uthicke, Andrew P. Negri, Mia O. Hoogenboom
Summary: This study examined the independent and combined impacts of climate change and light attenuation on coral recruits. The results showed that light attenuation significantly decreased recruit survival, size, and Symbiodiniaceae densities, especially for older recruits. The study also indicated that future climate conditions and light attenuation had additive effects on recruit survival.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Richard K. F. Unsworth, Lina Mtwana Nordlund, Leanne C. Cullen-Unsworth
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2019)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Furkon, Natsir Nessa, Rohani Ambo-Rappe, Leanne Claire Cullen-Unsworth, Richard Kazimierz Frank Unsworth
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Benjamin L. Jones, Richard K. F. Unsworth
Article
Environmental Sciences
Len J. McKenzie, Lina M. Nordlund, Benjamin L. Jones, Leanne C. Cullen-Unsworth, Chris Roelfsema, Richard K. F. Unsworth
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Robyn E. Jones, Ross A. Griffin, Stephanie R. Januchowski-Hartley, Richard K. F. Unsworth
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Evie Furness, Richard K. F. Unsworth
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robyn E. Jones, Richard K. F. Unsworth, Jon Hawes, Ross A. Griffin
Summary: The study found that using underwater cameras equipped with CLOCs can effectively assess marine benthic biodiversity in turbid environments by enhancing image quality, seabed visibility, and habitat identification. Additionally, the use of CLOCs can reduce sampling effort and increase taxonomic richness, improving the overall quality of data collected for informed management decisions.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Richard K. F. Unsworth, Emma G. Butterworth
Summary: Seagrass meadows play a crucial role in supporting bird populations globally, but research on the interactions between seagrass and birds is lacking and requires further investigation to fill the gaps in knowledge.
Article
Fisheries
Robyn E. Jones, Ross A. Griffin, Richard K. F. Unsworth
Summary: The study demonstrates that the high-frequency ARIS hydroacoustic system has a certain level of accuracy in underwater species identification, but is limited by factors such as species size and morphological traits. Monitoring techniques should combine the use of ARIS sonars alongside other sampling tools.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mischa P. Turschwell, Rod M. Connolly, Jillian C. Dunic, Michael Sievers, Christina A. Buelow, Ryan M. Pearson, Vivitskaia J. D. Tulloch, Isabelle M. Cote, Richard K. F. Unsworth, Catherine J. Collier, Christopher J. Brown
Summary: Seagrass meadows are facing threats from multiple anthropogenic pressures, with different species showing varying trends in different regions. Species with persistent life-history strategies are more likely to maintain or increase, while opportunistic species exhibit more unstable changes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Richard K. F. Unsworth, Leanne C. Cullen-Unsworth, Benjamin L. H. Jones, Richard J. Lilley
Summary: Seagrasses are remarkable plants that form extensive meadows globally, bioengineering their local environments and preserving the coastal seascape. However, their sensitivity to stressors poses a risk of loss and degradation, questioning their potential contribution as a nature-based solution for climate emergency and biodiversity crisis. Rethinking their conservation is crucial in understanding their role in fighting our planetary emergency.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Benjamin L. H. Jones, Richard K. F. Unsworth, Lina M. Nordlund, Rohani Ambo-Rappe, Yayu A. La Nafie, Mary Rose Lopez, Susantha Udagedara, Leanne C. Cullen-Unsworth
Summary: This passage highlights the multiple planetary crises currently faced by humanity, emphasizing the importance of small-scale fisheries in ensuring food security. Through household interviews in 150 coastal villages, the study reveals the significance of seagrass meadows to small-scale fisheries and the risks posed by habitat loss and resource exploitation. It suggests the use of local ecological knowledge to incorporate shared values into management and the urgent need for an integrated approach to meet human needs and conserve biodiversity.
OCEANS-SWITZERLAND
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Richard K. F. Unsworth, Leanne C. Cullen-Unsworth, James N. Hope, Benjamin L. H. Jones, Richard J. Lilley, Hanna K. Nuuttila, Beth Williams, Nicole E. Esteban
Summary: This study provides evidence that replacing swinging chain moorings with ropes can significantly reduce damage to sensitive benthic habitats like seagrass. The findings show that well-established moorings constructed from rope do not harm seagrass, leading to a 44% increase in seagrass cover compared to chain moorings.
OCEANS-SWITZERLAND
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Robyn E. Jones, Ross A. Griffin, Roger J. H. Herbert, Richard K. F. Unsworth
Summary: This study analyzed metadata from 457 BRUV deployments in the UK to examine the influence of methodological and environmental factors on species richness, relative abundance, and faunal composition. The study found bait type, image quality, deployment duration, and habitat observed to be significant factors affecting the data collected during BRUV deployments.
OCEANS-SWITZERLAND
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Richard K. F. Unsworth, Alex Higgs, Bettina Walter, Leanne C. Cullen-Unsworth, Isabella Inman, Benjamin L. Jones
Summary: The research confirms the almost ubiquitous contamination of microplastics in seagrass sediments, but finds that the contamination mainly reflects a general build-up of microplastics in the wider environment rather than being concentrated within seagrass. Although the pollution of microplastics in seagrass is not higher, it is still cause for concern given the high dependency of many fish species on these habitats and the potential for plastics to move up the food chain.
OCEANS-SWITZERLAND
(2021)