Article
Environmental Sciences
Francois Carlotti, Olivia Gerigny, Dorian Bienvenu, Christophe Ravel, Pamela Fierro-Gonzalez, Loic Guilloux, Nouha Makhlouf, Javier Tesan Onrubia, Marc Pagano
Summary: The aim of this study was to characterize and quantify microplastics at the chlorophyll maximum layer in the western Mediterranean Sea. The study found a high density of fibers in this layer, mainly associated with aggregates, suggesting the importance of marine snow and vertical layering in future microplastic distribution modeling efforts.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
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
Viviana Pasquini, Pierantonio Addis, Ambra Angelica Giglioli, Davide Moccia, Antonio Pusceddu
Summary: This study investigated the effects of Holothuria tubulosa on sedimentary organic matter quantity, biochemical composition, and nutritional quality. The results showed that Holothuria tubulosa can increase protein and lipid content through their defecation, making them a more labile food source for other benthic organisms.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sabrina Lo Brutto, Davide Iaciofano, Vincenzo Lo Turco, Angela Giorgia Potorti, Rossana Rando, Vincenzo Arizza, Vita Di Stefano
Summary: Microplastics and nanoplastics pose harm to marine life due to their fragmentation and resistance to degradation. Marine coastal sediment has shown an increasing amount of microplastics, with certain species serving as monitors for environmental and health hazards. Amphipod crustaceans are effective tools for detecting and monitoring plasticizers, providing insights into the spread of chemicals in geographical areas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ronald P. Kittle, Joseph L. L. Richards, Thomas Sauvage, Daniela Gabriel, William E. E. Schmidt, Suzanne Fredericq
Summary: Phymatolithon Foslie is a significant genus of crustose coralline algae, which plays an important ecological role in marine ecosystems worldwide. A new species of Phymatolithon, named Phymatolithon abuqirensis, was discovered in the Mediterranean Sea through molecular and morphological analyses, increasing the total number of known Phymatolithon species in the region to six.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Francesco Enrichetti, Elisa Baldrighi, Giorgio Bavestrello, Federico Betti, Simonepietro Canese, Andrea Costa, Michela del Pasque, Adriana Giangrande, Joachim Langeneck, Cristina Misic, Matteo Putignano, Margherita Toma, Marzia Bo
Summary: The new species Bispira riccardi sp. nov. inhabits the mesophotic NW Mediterranean Sea, showing sensitivity to temperature and currents, high density, and significant impact on meiofaunal abundance and diversity, highlighting the potential research value of deep Mediterranean Sea for sabellid diversity.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Francesco Rendina, Annalisa Falace, Giuseppina Alongi, Maria Cristina Buia, Joao Neiva, Luca Appolloni, Giuliana Marletta, Giovanni Fulvio Russo
Summary: This study reports the discovery of healthy and dense marine forests formed by Fucales in the Santa Maria di Castellabate Marine Protected Area in Cilento, Italy. The presence of 10 Cystoseira taxa and the high ecological value of this area highlight the importance of marine protected area management and regional monitoring programs for the conservation of these valuable yet fragile coastal ecosystems.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Antonietta Rosso, Gemma Donato, Rossana Sanfilippo, Donatella Serio, Francesco Sciuto, Francesco D'Alpa, Valentina Alice Bracchi, Mauro Pietro Negri, Daniela Basso
Summary: This study focuses on the epibiosis found on the bryozoan species Margaretta cereoides, which contributes to canopy formation on a coralligenous build-up. The researchers found that the diversity of epibionts on Margaretta cereoides is higher than on algae, possibly due to the morphology and persistence of the bryozoan's surface. In addition, the epibiont diversity on Margaretta cereoides is higher than reported for other Mediterranean species and Flustra foliacea from North Europe.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Clara Diaz de Astarloa, Micaela Giorgini, Ana Miguez, Oscar Iribarne, Mauricio Escapa
Summary: Soft-bottom intertidal systems are valuable for their ecosystem services. Disturbances, including sea level rise, can affect ecosystem functioning and services. A field experiment in northeastern Argentina showed that increased inundation time had limited effects on primary production and bioturbation intensity in summer, but increased crab burrowing activity and reduced decomposition variability in winter and spring. This reduced variability may indicate declining ecosystem resilience, impacting vital ecosystem functions and services.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sarah L. Albright, Andrew J. Sellers, Timothy M. Davidson
Summary: The study found that native herbivores can rapidly consume the introduced algae K. alvarezii, supporting the biotic resistance hypothesis. Both native urchins and parrotfish were observed feeding on the alga in the field, indicating their importance as agents of biotic resistance.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
A. G. Rozenbaum, M. Stein, E. Zilberman, D. Shaked Gelband, A. Starinsky, A. Sandler
Summary: Sr-87/Sr-86 isotope and Sr/Ca ratios were used to reconstruct hydroclimate conditions in Lake Bira's watershed in the Northern Valleys of Israel. Wet conditions and freshwater supply were indicated during the Tortonian period, while the contribution of Sahara Desert dusts and arid conditions were evident during the Messinian period. The Lago Mare stage marked a return of rainfall and the reformation of waterbodies.
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
L. Piazzi, F. Pinna, G. Ceccherelli
Summary: This study examines the interaction between crustose coralline algae and epibiont assemblages in their habitat through manipulative experiments. The results demonstrate the important role of crustose coralline algae in enhancing biodiversity and emphasize the need for their conservation.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Rosalie J. Harris, Shaun K. Wilson, Christopher J. Fulton
Summary: Macroalgal-dominated reefs in tropical seascapes provide food and shelter for many species while supporting secondary productivity in coastal ecosystems. Monitoring and managing macroalgae require an understanding of key processes at the local scale. This study found that sediment depth/cover and urchin abundance influence variation in community composition and physical structure of macroalgal patches within Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Canopy height and cover of canopy-forming macroalgae were greater where sediments were high and urchin abundance low.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jesus Del Rio, Dino Angelo Ramos, Luis Sanchez-Tocino, Julio Penas, Juan Carlos Braga
Summary: The Punta de la Mona rhodolith bed in the Alboran Sea, off the southern coast of Spain, is a rare and poorly known shallow-water rhodolith bed in the Mediterranean Sea. This study provides a detailed analysis of its structure and species composition, highlighting its high diversity and abundance at depths between 15 and 18 meters.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Maris Eelsalu, Kevin E. Parnell, Tarmo Soomere
Summary: We analyzed the response of small embayed sandy beaches in marginal seas to different hydrometeorological drivers and identified specific mechanisms that can stabilize beaches under bi-directional wind patterns. The study focused on two sandy beaches in Tallinn Bay, northeastern Baltic Sea, and found that the beaches maintain stability through different mechanisms, including longshore sediment transport and synchronization of intense waves and water level. These findings contribute to a better understanding of beach dynamics and can be applied to coastal management strategies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fatima Amat-Trigo, Mar Torralva, Daniel Gonzalez-Silvera, Francisco Javier Martinez-Lopez, Francisco Jose Oliva-Paterna
Summary: The invasion success of non-native fish, such as Pyrenean gudgeon Gobio lozanoi, in the Iberian Peninsula is linked to the expression of certain life history traits, particularly in rivers with regulated flow regimes. The study revealed differences in reproductive traits and energy allocation along a longitudinal gradient in the Segura river basin, suggesting that plasticity in population traits plays a significant role in the species' success in regulated Mediterranean rivers. Understanding the mechanisms behind flow regulation and its impact on fish populations could inform better management practices.
Article
Ecology
Jessica Sandonnini, Yoana Del Pilar Ruso, Emilio Cortes Melendreras, Carmen Barbera, Iris E. Hendriks, Diego Kurt Kersting, Francisca Gimenez Casalduero
Summary: Mar Menor, one of the largest coastal lagoons in the Mediterranean basin, has suffered significant environmental degradation primarily due to anthropogenic factors causing eutrophication. The increase in nutrients has led to changes in the structure and function of the lagoon ecosystems, benefiting epibenthic and suspension feeder organisms. Research results have increased understanding of the impact of eutrophication on the structure of the fouling community in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joan Moranta, Cati Torres, Ivan Murray, Manuel Hidalgo, Hilmar Hinz, Adam Gouraguine
Summary: The unlimited economic growth associated with capitalism has resulted in significant environmental destruction and biodiversity loss, highlighting the need to address the contradictions between economic growth and biodiversity conservation. Global agendas related to sustainable development have been established since the 1970s, but only in the early 2000s did biodiversity loss become a major focus for environmental researchers. The current global biodiversity agendas, however, do not fully acknowledge the negative impacts of growth-oriented strategies on biodiversity, emphasizing the economic value of biodiversity over its intrinsic importance for ecosystems and human well-being.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Milton Spanopoulos-Zarco, Vicente Gracia-Lopez, Juan Manuel Pacheco-Vega, Jose Antonio Estrada-Godinez, Daniel Gonzalez-Silvera, Alexia Omont, Minerva Maldonado-Garcia
Summary: The study evaluated the effect of supplementing Pacific Red snapper with 3% of Grammatophora sp. silage obtained from La Paz Bay, Mexico, on reproductive performance. The results showed that the enriched diet significantly improved hatching rate, egg quality, and larval production, making it a recommended practice for enhancing reproductive success in mature L. peru fish.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Silvia de Juan, Julie Bremner, Judi Hewitt, Anna Tornroos, Maria Cristina Mangano, Simon Thrush, Hilmar Hinz
Summary: Biological traits analysis (BTA) is a popular approach in marine benthic studies that links community structure to ecological functions and environmental drivers. However, there are current shortcomings and limitations including uncertainties in data origins, lack of standardized reporting of trait information, knowledge gaps on the role of multiple interacting traits, weak understanding of mechanistic links between traits and functions, limited focus on spatial and temporal variability, and reliance on expert knowledge. To reach its full potential, BTA requires standardized reporting and storage of traits data, filling knowledge gaps on mechanistic links, adoption of new technological advances, and advanced statistical approaches.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Guilherme Martins Aragao, Pablo Saralegui-Diez, Sebastian Villasante, Lucia Lopez-Lopez
Summary: This study reconstructs the hake seafood chain in Spain for the first time, estimating the carbon footprint of its extraction, transport, and distribution. The results show that total greenhouse gas emissions from the hake production and value chain in 2017 were 681 kt CO2e, with fishing operations accounting for 67% of the emissions and transport accounting for 33%.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Correction
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Guilherme Martins Aragao, Pablo Saralegui Diez, Sebastian Villasante, Lucia Lopez-Lopez, Eduardo Aguilera, Joan Moranta
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Luis Cardona, Olga Renones, Adam Gouraguine, Fabiana Saporiti, Asuncion Borrell, Alex Aguilar, Joan Moranta
Summary: This study examines the impact of fishery exploitation on the trophic structure of carnivorous fish. The research was conducted in the Mediterranean Sea and the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean, comparing areas open to fishing with marine protected areas (MPAs). Results indicate that fishing has a significant impact on the biomass and size structure of carnivorous fish, but does not affect the diversity of trophic resources, resource partitioning, or trophic redundancy. These findings suggest that MPAs may not be able to restore the original food web structure in fished seascapes.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Silvia de Juan, Andres Ospina-Alvarez, Hilmar Hinz, Joan Moranta, Carmen Barbera
Summary: Considering seascape habitat composition can provide insights into the spatial variability of benthic communities and enable the study of complex ecological interactions. This study explores the relationships between habitat and benthic species diversity in the Menorca Channel. The network analysis reveals a tight link between epibenthic species diversity and the distribution of habitats over the continental shelf, providing essential information for optimal conservation strategies.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Correction
Biodiversity Conservation
Silvia de Juan, Andres Ospina-Alvarez, Hilmar Hinz, Joan Moranta, Carmen Barbera
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Nina Larissa Arroyo, Amalia Cuadros, Gotzon Basterretxea, Joan Moranta
Summary: This study investigated the diet of white seabream settlers in six nursery areas in Minorca Island. The results showed that the juveniles mainly fed on crustaceans, particularly harpacticoid copepods, regardless of their location. The diet composition varied among different coves, but there were no significant differences between the north and south of the island. The study also found that the fish primarily relied on algae-based food sources rather than preying on sediment communities.
MEDITERRANEAN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Hilmar Hinz, Paula Anglada, Alberto Gaya Vilar, Olga Renones, Gaetano Catanese, Julia Castro-Fernandez, Maria del Mar Gil, Amalia Grau, Joan Moranta
Summary: This study found that juvenile fish in the Mediterranean actively select more complex macrophyte configurations as their habitat using visual cues, providing evidence for potential vulnerabilities to habitat loss under environmental change scenarios.
Article
Environmental Studies
Joan Moranta, David Florido-del-Corral, Lucia Lopez-Lopez, Silvia Gomez, Julio Agujetas, Marta Albo-Puigserver, Zoe W. Brent, Lamine Bathily, Rita Calvario, Marta Cavalle, Marta Coll, Annya Crane, Ericka C. L. de Oliveira, Irmak Ertor, Paloma Herrera-Racionero, Francisco Leitao, Lluis Miret-Pastor, Beatriz Patraca, Miquel Ortega, Jose J. Pascual-Fernandez, Jaime Ramon-Bruquetas, Jorge Saez-Jimenez, Abdoulaye Seck-Papalaye, Sebastian Villasante
Summary: Transformative changes are necessary to address the current diet-environment-health challenge. Strengthening the links in the food chain and establishing solid alliances between production and consumption are crucial to design alternative food systems.
Article
Geography
Cati Torres, Joan Moranta, Ivan Murray
Summary: By the end of 2019, more than 11,000 world scientists declared a climate emergency, indicating the failure of the global climate agenda. This study examines the economic and political dimensions of the agenda, arguing that the focus on growth-based sustainable development has led to policy failure. The current approach relies heavily on technological solutions and market-based instruments, overlooking important socio-political aspects of climate action.
INVESTIGACIONES GEOGRAFICAS-SPAIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emily Curren, Sandric Chee Yew Leong
Summary: Microplastics in marine ecosystems serve as microhabitats for diverse toxic plankton species, including viable resting cysts of dinoflagellates. The diversity of plankton communities on the plastisphere is influenced by anthropogenic factors. This study highlights the importance of plastics as vectors for the transport of harmful opportunistic species in the marine environment.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vladimir G. Dvoretsky, Alexander G. Dvoretsky
Summary: The Barents Sea, as the largest Arctic shelf region, plays a vital role in supporting commercial fisheries. The ecosystem of this region is significantly influenced by both warm Atlantic Water (AW) and cold Arctic Water (ARW), resulting in distinct frontal zones. This study found that copepod populations, particularly herbivorous copepods, were most abundant and productive in the Polar Front, as well as in the eastern frontal zones. The geographic positions of sampling stations, depth, and chlorophyll a concentration were identified as the main factors influencing copepod biomass and production.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alberto Rovellini, Charlotte L. Mortimer, Matthew R. Dunn, Elizabeth A. Fulton, Jamaluddin Jompa, Abdul Haris, James J. Bell
Summary: This study compared the structural complexity of coral- and sponge-dominated areas of an Indonesian coral reef using 3D photogrammetry. The results showed that smaller-scale refugia were reduced in sponge-dominated reefs, potentially impacting smaller reef fauna.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
