Article
Environmental Sciences
Romina Vanessa Barbosa, Marion Jaud, Cedric Bacher, Yann Kerjean, Fred Jean, Jerome Ammann, Yoann Thomas
Summary: In this study, drone surveys were used to characterize the distribution of mussel aggregations and evaluate the role of topographic features in determining their distribution. The results showed that topographic features and intertidal height were the main factors influencing mussel distribution. The study highlights the advantage of using high-resolution drone images to study ecological processes in intertidal ecosystems.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fabio Pereira, David Pilo, Andre N. Carvalho, Marta Rufino, Paula Moura, Paulo Vasconcelos, Miguel B. Gaspar
Summary: Limpet shells can harbor a diverse range of species, with Patella ulyssiponensis showing the highest epibiont species diversity. Basibiont species is the key factor determining the epibiotic community.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jamila Patterson, K. Immaculate Jeyasanta, R. L. Laju, J. K. Patterson Edward
Summary: This study found that smaller mussels ingest more microplastics, but the uptake rate decreases as mussels grow larger. The predominant types of MPs in mussels are fiber and blue in color, with PE and PP being the most common polymers. The distribution of MPs in mussels closely resembles that in water, and there is no significant difference in MPs quantities between P. viridis and P. perna.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Laura J. Jurgens, Lauren W. Ashlock, Brian Gaylord
Summary: The study focused on the impact of climate conditions and desiccation on organisms within and outside of biogenic habitats, highlighting the importance of warming-exacerbated desiccation as a stressor and the role of biogenic habitats in buffering this stress. It found that mortality risk was largely unaffected by climate warming within biogenic habitats, while desiccation drove substantial mortality outside these habitats, even at temperatures below hydrated thermal tolerances. The results suggest that conserving and restoring biogenic habitats could be crucial in supporting biodiversity in the face of climate warming.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amanda Gleyce Lima de Oliveira, Rafael Christian Chavez Rocha, Tatiana Dillenburg Saint'Pierre, Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis, Clelia Christina Mello-Silva, Claudia Portes Santos
Summary: This study investigated elemental contamination in Perna perna mussels from Guanabara Bay, Brazil, and found that some samples exceeded the limits set by regulations. However, the estimated daily dietary intake values did not surpass the limits. Continuous monitoring of metal pollution in bivalves in the study area is suggested.
BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis, Raquel T. Lavradas, Fernanda Monteiro, Rafael Christian C. Rocha, Frederico F. Bastos, Gabriel F. Araujo, Sidney F. Sales Junior, Isabella C. Bordon, Fabio V. Correia, Enrico M. Saggioro, Tatiana D. Saint'Pierre, Jose M. Godoy
Summary: The study conducted sampling and analysis of Perna perna mytilid mussels in tropical regions, revealing associations between metals and oxidative stress endpoints. Specific metal elements were found to have direct effects, as well as detailing the detoxification mechanisms of metalloproteins. The results indicate that Perna perna mussels can serve as effective tropical bioindicators, with further monitoring efforts recommended.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aldwin Ndhlovu, Christopher D. McQuaid, Cristian J. Monaco
Summary: Endolithic cyanobacteria commonly erode mussel shells, affecting mussel physiological conditions like growth and reproduction. Parasitized mussels have increased basal metabolic rates and decreased scope for growth without compensatory increases in feeding or reduced ammonia excretion. Infested mussels expend more energy in repairing the organic component of the shell's inner nacreous layer, leading to decreased scope for growth.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bruce A. Menge, Sarah A. Gravem, Angela Johnson, Jonathan W. Robinson, Brittany N. Poirson
Summary: Climate change poses a threat to the stability of ecosystems. In the rocky intertidal meta-ecosystem along the Oregon coast, signs of increasing destabilization have been observed over the past decade, possibly due to thermal disruptions and shifts in ocean currents.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lilian Nogueira, Danielly Garcia, Fernando Sanzi Cortez, Camilo Dias Seabra Pereira, Eduardo Alves de Almeida
Summary: This study assessed the combined effect of hypoxia and diesel exposure on biochemical parameters of Perna perna mussels. The results showed that cycles of air exposure and reoxygenation caused oxidative stress and antioxidant modulation in both the gills and digestive glands. The presence of diesel in water apparently enhanced the mussels' capacity to avoid lipid peroxidation under hypoxia and reoxygenation stress.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lucia Youssef, Max Renner-Rao, Egemen Deniz Eren, Franziska Jehle, Matthew J. Harrington
Summary: Functionally graded interfaces in biological tissues serve as important role models for bioinspired design, and this study investigates the structure, function, and formation of mechanical gradients in the collagen-based fibers of marine mussels. The research identifies continuous graded transitions in mechanics, composition, and morphology, as well as the self-assembly of different fiber morphologies, providing insights for bioinspired design of graded polymeric materials.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amarein J. Fourie, Ryan C. Uren, Danica Marlin, Hindrik Bouwman
Summary: This study investigates the impact of elevated concentrations of metallic elements in the water on marine organisms and human consumption in Algoa Bay, South Africa. The results show significant differences in metallic element concentrations in mussels at different sampling sites, with correlation to specific pollution sources. The lead concentration slightly exceeded South African limits at one site. Based on South African standards, mussels from Algoa Bay are safe for human consumption, except possibly from one site. However, when considering additional data, there may be potential health concerns for consumers.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lorena da Silva Souza, Estefania Bonnail, Luis Felipe de Almeida Duarte, Augusto Cesar, Inmaculada Riba, Camilo Dias Seabra Pereira
Summary: Leakages of CO2 capture and storage systems can have significant adverse biological effects on marine species. The study found that exposing adult mussels to different CO2 enrichment scenarios for 96 hours resulted in lysosomal membrane deterioration, lipid peroxidation, and primary damages in DNA. The tropical mussel Perna perna experienced mortality and reduced health status after short exposure to pH levels below 7.5. Cytogenotoxic effects were observed in the hemolymph and gills of the mussels after 48 and 96 hours of exposure, respectively. These findings are important for environmental monitoring strategies in tropical marine areas employing CCS.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gabriela Castro, Amarein J. Fourie, Danica Marlin, Vishwesh Venkatraman, Susana Gonzalez, Alexandros G. Asimakopoulos
Summary: This study assessed the occurrence of bisphenols and benzophenone UV filters in wild brown mussels collected from the coast of Algoa Bay, South Africa. The results showed that these contaminants were present in the mussels, with bisphenol AP (BPAP) having the highest concentration and benzophenone-1 (BzP-1) and benzophenone-3 (BzP-3) also present at relatively high concentrations. Human exposure was evaluated through mussel consumption.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sebastian Vadillo Gonzalez, Georgina Wood, Hui Yi Regine Tiong, Kimberley A. Lema, Mariana Mayer-Pinto, Federico M. Lauro, Staffan Kjelleberg, Fabio Bulleri, Peter D. Steinberg, Ezequiel M. Marzinelli
Summary: The collapse of macroalgal habitats is altering benthic communities on rocky shores globally. This study investigated the effects of macroalgal loss on the structure of epilithic microbial communities using experimental field manipulations and sequencing. Results showed that reductions in macroalgal canopy cover rapidly altered understory bacterial diversity and composition, and these changes were long-lasting. Changes in bacterial communities were not related to changes in other benthic macroorganisms.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maciej Karpowicz, Irina Yu Feniova, Ekaterina G. Sakharova, Zoya I. Gorelysheva, Adam Wiecko, Andrzej Gorniak, Andrew R. Dzialowski
Summary: Zebra mussels are aggressive invasive species that have a strong bidirectional impact on phytoplankton. They excrete high amounts of nutrients and exert high grazing pressure, leading to unpredictable changes in phytoplankton through interactions with excretion and selective grazing.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jamie Hudson, Christopher D. McQuaid, Marc Rius
Summary: Human activities alter biodiversity patterns through species extinctions and range shifts, particularly through human mediated species transfer and contemporary climate change. Hybrids may survive in environments where their parents cannot, suggesting potential for range expansion under changing conditions. However, experimental results show that hybrids perform poorly compared to parental crosses, indicating limited potential for range expansion into new environments. In contrast, the more widespread parental species exhibits better performance across a range of temperatures, suggesting better resilience to future conditions.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
A. T. Humphries, T. R. McClanahan, C. D. McQuaid
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Molline N. C. Gusha, Tatenda Dalu, Christopher D. McQuaid
Summary: The study examined the effects of rock pool physical properties and seasonal changes on food web structure in a warm temperate coast of South Africa. The results showed that factors such as water depth, pool size, phosphate concentrations, salinity, and temperature all influenced overall food web dynamics, with effects moderated by seasonality.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gerardo I. Zardi, Jonathan R. Monsinjon, Christopher D. McQuaid, Laurent Seuront, Mauricio Orostica, Andrew Want, Louise B. Firth, Katy R. Nicastro
Summary: Climate change is predicted to intensify temperature extremes, impacting species distributional changes and ecosystem functioning. Research shows that within-species thermal sensitivity can be modulated by species interactions, with symbiotic parasites in intertidal mussels providing thermal buffering during extreme temperature events.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kevin C. K. Ma, Molline N. C. Gusha, Gerardo Zardi, Katy R. Nicastro, Jonathan R. Monsinjon, Christopher D. McQuaid
Summary: This study demonstrates that biogeographic boundaries can significantly impact the spread of invasive species. Initial breach of boundaries can lead to rapid spread, but subsequent boundaries encountered may act as barriers. Spatial autocorrelation in population densities and abundance were observed at multiple scales along the southern Africa coast. Detection of spatial structures at different scales suggests that ecologically determined processes regulate abundance and distribution of invasive species.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jamie Hudson, Juan Carlos Castilla, Peter R. Teske, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Ivan D. Haigh, Christopher D. McQuaid, Marc Rius
Summary: This study used species distribution modeling and genomic data to investigate the restricted range of a highly invasive Australian marine species, Pyura praeputialis, in Chile. The research revealed high genomic diversity and adaptive potential in Chile, with genomic data showing that a single region in Australia was the sole source of genotypes for the introduced range. The study also identified unoccupied suitable habitat adjacent to the current introduced range, suggesting that slight environmental changes could lead to a significant expansion of the species' range along the South American coast.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kevin C. K. Ma, Suzanne Redelinghuys, Molline N. C. Gusha, Siphelele B. Dyantyi, Christopher D. McQuaid, Francesca Porri
Summary: The study investigated the spatial structure of sea urchin abundance, finding robust congruence at smaller scales but not necessarily at larger scales. The abundance of two sea urchin species was positively correlated with upstream habitat availability, suggesting that upstream populations may act as larval sources.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter R. Teske, Arsalan Emami-Khoyi, Tirupathi R. Golla, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Tarron Lamont, Brent Chiazzari, Christopher D. McQuaid, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Carl D. van der Lingen
Summary: The KwaZulu-Natal sardine run is a mass migration of South African sardines, with the surprising discovery that the sardines primarily come from the Atlantic and prefer colder waters. They temporarily move into the Indian Ocean habitat during cold-water upwelling periods, but face physiological challenges and intense predation pressure once the upwelling ends.
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Kevin C. K. Ma, Christopher D. McQuaid
Summary: The study found that six crab species have extended their distribution ranges in southern Africa, crossing the boundaries of different ecological regions, while the other two species showed no evidence of poleward range extension. This discovery may indicate a trend of tropical-adapted crab species extending their ranges into temperate regions.
Article
Limnology
Lyle D. Vorsatz, Bruce P. Mostert, Christopher D. McQuaid, Stefano Cannicci, Francesca Porri
Summary: Our study suggests that spawning females and embryos of intertidal crabs from warm temperate latitudes are more vulnerable to temperature increases, especially in water. The Oxygen- and Capacity-Limited Thermal Tolerance hypothesis indicates that ontogeny-specific aerobic capacity determines the overall species' thermal sensitivity.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Mauricio H. Orostica, Adam J. Wyness, Jonathan R. Monsinjon, Katy R. Nicastro, Gerardo Zardi, Cassandra Barker, Christopher D. McQuaid
Summary: This study examines the impact of adult mussels as settlement habitat on mussel recruitment and investigates the species-specific suitability of the habitats they offer.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexia M. Dievart, Christopher D. McQuaid, Gerardo Zardi, Katy R. Nicastro, Pierre W. Froneman
Summary: Photoautotrophic euendolithic microorganisms are widely distributed in environments with calcium carbonate substrates and sufficient light. They can infest marine calcifying organisms, causing sub-lethal and lethal damage. However, under suitable conditions, their presence can also have surprising benefits for the host.
Article
Zoology
Melissa K. Boonzaaier-Davids, Kevin C. K. Ma, Christopher D. Mcquaid
Summary: This study reports on the discovery of epibiotic bryozoans on shells of the invasive Mediterranean mussel. Over 2500 mussels were collected from rocky shores in South Africa, and 10% of them hosted epibiotic bryozoans. The study identified three encrusting cheilostome species and a new species with avicularia and ooecia. The research highlights the diversity of epibiotic bryozoans on mussel shells and suggests that invasive species can provide new substratum for rare or undescribed species of epibionts.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexia M. Dievart, Christopher D. McQuaid, Gerardo I. Zardi, Katy R. Nicastro, Pierre W. Froneman
Summary: Mussel beds provide thermal buffering and can be colonized by photoautotrophic euendoliths, which indirectly benefit associated molluscs by increasing shell albedo. This study investigated the effect of euendolithic infestation on body temperatures of four mollusc species in artificial mussel beds. Results showed that non-infested beds had higher shell temperatures for two species under high solar irradiance and low wind speeds. Morphological differences between species could explain this contrast. The findings suggest that euendolithic infestation improves humidity and temperature in mussel beds, benefiting associated molluscs particularly under heat stress.
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
C. D. Mcquaid
Summary: Understanding the future of Southern Ocean ecosystems requires a holistic approach. Human activities have led to both top-down and bottom-up perturbations in the Southern Ocean. The removal of whales and finfish has disrupted the ecosystem from the top down, affecting other predators. Meanwhile, climate change is altering physical conditions, which will have bottom-up consequences for primary producers and top predators. Three key physical changes - loss of sea ice, changes to water-column stability, and water transport patterns - will impact krill abundances, primary producer community structure, and prey availability to land-breeding predators.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
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)