Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sara E. Cannon, Simon D. Donner, Angela Liu, Pedro Gonzalez C. Espinosa, Andrew H. Baird, Julia K. Baum, Andrew G. Bauman, Maria Beger, Cassandra E. Benkwitt, Matthew J. Birt, Yannick Chancerelle, Joshua E. Cinner, Nicole L. Crane, Vianney Denis, Martial Depczynski, Nur Fadli, Douglas Fenner, Christopher J. Fulton, Yimnang Golbuu, Nicholas A. J. Graham, James Guest, Hugo B. Harrison, Jean-Paul A. Hobbs, Andrew S. Hoey, Thomas H. Holmes, Peter Houk, Fraser A. Januchowski-Hartley, Jamaluddin Jompa, Chao-Yang Kuo, Gino Valentino Limmon, Yuting V. Lin, Timothy R. McClanahan, Dominic Muenzel, Michelle J. Paddack, Serge Planes, Morgan S. Pratchett, Ben Radford, James Davis Reimer, Zoe T. Richards, Claire L. Ross, John Rulmal, Brigitte Sommer, Gareth J. Williams, Shaun K. Wilson
Summary: Scientists and managers often assume a positive relationship between local human disturbance and macroalgae on coral reefs, but this study finds that specific macroalgae taxa may respond differently to human disturbance. By examining genus-level monitoring data, the study reveals that no genera were positively correlated with all human disturbance metrics, highlighting the need to consider specific algae divisions or genera in assessments. The convention of using macroalgae percent cover as an indicator of local human disturbance may overlook important signatures of anthropogenic threats to reefs.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Jatdilok Titioatchasai, Komwit Surachat, Jeong Ha Kim, Jaruwan Mayakun
Summary: Reef degradation and algae-farming fish alter coral-algal-microbial communities. Microbial community analysis showed differences in dominant bacteria between fair and degraded reefs and damselfish territories. Important potential pathogens were found on the degraded reefs inside damselfish territories. Overall, this study provides valuable information for reef conservation and coastal management.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Elisa Lahcene, Anawat Suppasri, Kwanchai Pakoksung, Fumihiko Imamura
Summary: The impact of tsunamis on coral reefs is investigated using the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami as a case study. The study reproduces tsunami hydrodynamic characteristics and develops fragility curves for the impacted coral reefs in the Maldives. A vulnerability map of Male City and its surrounding Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is presented.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Coline Monchanin, Rahul Mehrotra, Elouise Haskin, Chad M. Scott, Pau Urgell Plaza, Alyssa Allchurch, Spencer Arnold, Kirsty Magson, Bert W. Hoeksema
Summary: Research in Thailand's Koh Tao revealed significant differences in coral community structure between artificial and natural reefs, with diversity not solely explained by coral spawning dynamics. This suggests that these reefs play distinct ecological and functional roles in the marine environment.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andreas Dietzel, Sean R. Connolly, Terry P. Hughes, Michael Bode
Summary: This study found that recent mass coral bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef have larger and more continuous spatial footprints than previous bleaching events, posing an unprecedented threat to coral species resilience. In contrast to the impacts of a severe tropical cyclone, the bleaching events isolated severely affected reefs from the nearest mildly affected reefs by greater distances, highlighting the significant threat to coral species posed by the spatial footprint of these recent bleaching events.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Gabriele Gerlach, Philipp Kraemer, Peggy Weist, Laura Eickelmann, Michael J. Kingsford
Summary: The frequency of cyclone disturbances determines the abundance of fish and genetic diversity within species. This study found that alternating cyclone-driven changes and subsequent recovery phases of coral habitat can greatly influence reef fish connectivity. After cyclones, the genetic structure undergoes significant changes, with a great loss of genetic diversity that gradually increases again in subsequent years.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Markus Reuter, Philipp M. Spreter, Thomas C. Brachert, Regina Mertz-Kraus, Claudia Wrozyna
Summary: The Oman upwelling zone (OUZ) creates a barrier for coral reef species, such as giant clams, resulting in faunal differences between reefs on the east and west side of the Arabian Peninsula. Fossil shells and carbon-14 dating reveal that the Omani population represents a colonization event during the last glacial period, favored by colder temperatures and variable upwelling intensity. However, future climate change and upwelling conditions may pose a threat to the survival of giant clams.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Melita Samoilys, Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip, Robert Myers, Pascale Chabanet
Summary: Communities of coral reef fishes are changing due to global warming and overfishing. To understand these changes and inform conservation, knowledge of species diversity and distributions is needed. The western Indian Ocean (WIO) contains the second highest coral reef biodiversity hotspot globally, yet a detailed analysis of the diversity of coral reef fishes is lacking. This study developed a timed visual census method and recorded 356 species from 19 families across four countries in the WIO to examine patterns in species diversity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiwei Li, Gregory P. Asner
Summary: Three-dimensional shallow benthic complexity provides valuable information for coral reef conservation and management, as it reflects the physical conditions and biodiversity of shallow coral reef environments. This study mapped global shallow water benthic complexity using satellite images and found that high complexity regions are mainly concentrated in areas with high benthic biodiversity. However, a significant portion of coral reef regions with high benthic complexity remains unprotected. The global coral reef benthic complexity map generated in this study can contribute to improving marine protected areas, reef conservation, and management.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alain de Verneil, John A. Burt, Matthew Mitchell, Francesco Paparella
Summary: The Arabian Gulf is the warmest sea during summer with high salinity and extreme temperature fluctuations. Research showed recurrent summer hypoxia events in southern Gulf reefs, although currently they are short enough to prevent mass mortality. Future predictions require further study of the causes of oxygen fluctuations in the Gulf.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Damien Olivier, Fausto Quinonez-Valenzuela, Luis Hernandez, Hector Reyes-Bonilla
Summary: This study investigated the impact of a coral bleaching event on the closely coral-associated fauna in the Gulf of California. The results showed that a moderate bleaching event did not affect crustaceans, but significantly decreased the numbers of cryptobenthic reef fishes, especially the non-gobiids.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paris V. Stefanoudis, Nico Fassbender, Kaveh Samimi-Namin, Pierre-Andre Adam, Ameer Ebrahim, Jerome Harlay, Anna Koester, Melita Samoilys, Helena Sims, Denise Swanborn, Sheena Talma, Sara Winter, Lucy C. Woodall
Summary: Tropical deep reefs (>30 m) are unique ecosystems with a wider geographic reach compared to shallow reefs, and they require explicit consideration in conservation and management activities. This study characterizes the benthic and fish communities in shallow and deep reefs in Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean, revealing distinct communities and traits dominating different depths. The results highlight the complexity of relationships between different biological components and the differences in reef resilience against disturbance or species invasions with depth.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
F. M. Mendrik, T. B. Henry, H. Burdett, C. R. Hackney, C. Waller, D. R. Parsons, S. J. Hennige
Summary: The study found that the impact of microplastic on corals depends on the type of microplastic, coral species, and temperature. Microplastic fibers reduced the photosynthetic capability of Acropora sp., while exposure to microplastic spheres significantly improved photosynthetic performance in Seriatopora hystrix.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Gabriela Athie, David Salas-Monreal, Arnoldo Valle-Levinson
Summary: One-year subinertial flow profiles and near-bottom temperatures were studied in a tropical coral reef in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. The study found that flow distributions in the reef were primarily influenced by wind stress, sea-level slopes, and baroclinic pressure gradient. The study also discovered that near-bottom summer intrusions of relative cold water were driven by baroclinicity, rather than Ekman dynamics. The findings revealed additional flow distributions compared to previous descriptions of the reefs in the southwestern continental shelf of the Gulf of Mexico.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
J. Ravindran, Pranay Sawant, B. Manikandan, B. S. Ingole, P. Dhivya, R. Periasamy, R. Sharma
Summary: This study provides preliminary information on the biodiversity and spatial distribution of coral reef communities in Angria Bank, a submerged carbonate platform along the central west coast of India. The findings suggest that Angria Bank is a biodiversity hotspot, and these remote habitats are crucial for the conservation of shallow reef communities.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Felipe Torquato, Jessica Bouwmeester, Pedro Range, Alyssa Marshell, Mark A. Priest, John A. Burt, Peter R. Moller, Radhouan Ben-Hamadou
Summary: A population genetic study on the regional endemic table coral species, Acropora downingi, in the northeastern Arabian Peninsula revealed distinct genetic clusters between the Arabian/Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman populations. Despite a slightly structured population indicated by neutral markers, hypotheses such as bottleneck events and ecological speciation were considered to explain the observed genetic differences.
Article
Ecology
Andrew G. Bauman, Andrew S. Hoey, Glenn Dunshea, Jenny Fong, Ian Z. W. Chan, Peter A. Todd
Summary: Fear of predators influences foraging behavior of herbivorous fishes over small spatial scales, with larger group sizes further from predators. These fear effects interact with herbivore group size to shape the distribution and intensity of herbivory, impacting macroalgal removal on coral reefs.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hannah Melville-Rea, Clare Eayrs, Nasser Anwahi, John A. Burt, Denise Holland, Fatin Samara, Francesco Paparella, Ahmed Hassan Al Murshidi, Maryam Rashed Al-Shehhi, David M. Holland
Summary: The UAE, with its unique geographical advantages and vulnerability to sea-level rise, has the potential to become a leader in sea-level rise research. Through collaboration between the government and research institutions, the UAE is working on climate change and sea-level rise research to explore sustainable development pathways.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tiffany Z. Y. Goh, Andrew G. Bauman, Fraser A. Januchowski-Hartley, Kyle M. Morgan, Jovena C. L. Seah, Peter A. Todd
Summary: The study found that CCA is the dominant encrusting organism in reefs in Singapore, but its carbonate production rates are lower than most Indo-Pacific reefs and similar to other turbid reef systems. Reefs furthest from Singapore's main shipping port showed the highest CCA carbonate production rates, indicating that proximity to industrial areas and ship traffic may negatively impact encrusting calcifying organisms and CCA production rates in urbanized settings.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Edward G. Smith, Khaled M. Hazzouri, Jae Young Choi, Patrice Delaney, Mohammed Al-Kharafi, Emily J. Howells, Manuel Aranda, John A. Burt
Summary: By studying the population genomics of the brain coral in the Persian/Arabian Gulf (PAG), researchers have found that the corals in the PAG represent a distinct subpopulation that was established during the Holocene marine transgression. The genomes of these corals contain selective sweeps associated with thermal adaptation. Although there is limited potential for genetic rescue of neighboring Indian Ocean reefs, there is hope that loci associated with thermal tolerance may exist in the standing genetic variation of corals outside of the PAG.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily J. Howells, Mary Hagedorn, Madeleine J. H. Van Oppen, John A. Burt
Summary: Reef-building corals, living near their upper thermal limits, are endangered by global warming. Cross-breeding with heat-adapted populations can potentially increase the thermal limits of sensitive corals, but the regional variation in their reproductive cycles poses limitations. This study overcame this barrier by using cryopreservation technology to cross-breed conspecific coral populations across ocean basins for the first time. The results highlighted the challenges and potential approaches for breeding corals with enhanced thermal tolerance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yin Cheong Aden Ip, Jia Jin Marc Chang, Ren Min Oh, Zheng Bin Randolph Quek, Yong Kit Samuel Chan, Andrew G. Bauman, Danwei Huang
Summary: DNA barcoding and metabarcoding techniques were used to uncover cryptobenthic diversity in Singapore's equatorial reefs. The study found that environmental factors influence the diversity patterns of metazoans and other eukaryotes, but not microbial communities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrew G. Bauman, Fraser A. Januchowski-Hartley, Aaron Teo, Peter A. Todd
Summary: The increasing incidence of severe coral bleaching caused by climate change is leading to significant coral losses and declines in the physical structure of coral reef ecosystems. Understanding the relationship between coral composition and structural complexity is vital for maintaining ecosystem functions and processes. This study examines the impacts of the 2016 global coral bleaching event on seven coral reefs in Singapore and highlights the importance of structural complexity for reef stability.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Remi N. Ketchum, Phillip L. Davidson, Edward G. Smith, Gregory A. Wray, John A. Burt, Joseph F. Ryan, Adam M. Reitzel
Summary: This study presents a chromosome-level genome assembly for Echinometra sp. EZ, a sea urchin species from the Persian/Arabian Gulf, based on 10x Genomics, PacBio, and Hi-C sequencing. The assembly provides insights into the genome composition, gene content, and genetic factors associated with environmental stress response. The findings contribute to understanding the biology of E. sp. EZ and the diversification of the Echinometra genus, and also serve as a valuable resource for future research in this taxonomic group and beyond.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
David R. Nelson, Amphun Chaiboonchoe, Khaled M. Hazzouri, Basel Khraiwesh, Amnah Alzahmi, Ashish Jaiswal, Guillermo Friis, John A. Burt, Khaled M. A. Amiri, Kourosh Salehi-Ashtiani
Summary: This study compared the transcriptomes of Avicennia marina in different environments, revealing tissue-specific gene expression differences. Flower genes showed the most distinct expression, while pneumatophores highly expressed antioxidant genes and leaves expressed salt exporter genes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zouhair Lachkar, Michael Mehari, Marina Levy, Francesco Paparella, John A. Burt
Summary: The Arabian Gulf, a shallow semi-enclosed subtropical sea, has experienced a decline in oxygen concentrations and expansion of seasonal hypoxia in the past few decades. Factors such as enhanced vertical stratification, reduced oxygen solubility, and increased nutrient supply have contributed to this deoxygenation. These changes have profound implications for the ecosystems and fisheries of the region.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica Bouwmeester, Radhouane Ben-Hamadou, Pedro Range, Fahad Al Jamali, John A. Burt
Summary: The Persian Gulf is an extreme thermal environment where reef corals have adapted to survive. The reef communities in Qatar Peninsula have been described in this study, showing that the healthiest coral reefs are found in deeper offshore reefs, while shallow reefs have lower species richness and abundance due to recurrent bleaching events and development pressures.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francesco Paparella, Daniele D'Agostino, John A. Burt
Summary: The nations on the Arabian/Persian Gulf are the largest users of desalination technologies, but concerns have been raised about the long-term effects of increased salinity on marine ecosystems. Current desalinated freshwater production is relatively small, but projections suggest it could reach 10% of net evaporation by the end of the century. However, climate scenarios indicate that increased air temperature and potential changes in precipitation could mitigate the effects of desalination. Additionally, the circulation of high-salinity waters through the Strait of Hormuz limits basin-wide salinity increases.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Aaron Bartholomew, John A. Burt, Louise B. Firth
Summary: Artificial reef deployment is increasing in the Arabian/Persian Gulf, providing economic, social, and ecological benefits, but also posing risks such as overfishing and the spread of invasive species. Managers should define clear goals, implement long-term monitoring, and disseminate the results to guide sustainable reef programs.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michele L. Barnes, Lorien Jasny, Andrew Bauman, Jon Ben, Ramiro Berardo, Orjan Bodin, Joshua Cinner, David A. Feary, Angela M. Guerrero, Fraser A. Januchowski-Hartley, John T. Kuange, Jacqueline D. Lau, Peng Wang, Jessica Zamborain-Mason
Summary: This study examines the evolution of a social-ecological network in a common-pool resource system over the past two decades. The results show that the community members are increasingly forming bonding social-ecological network structures and interacting with like-minded others, but there is limited evidence supporting the presence of resourceful actors that can promote innovation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Atefeh Zendehboudi, Azam Mohammadi, Sina Dobaradaran, Gabriel E. De-la-Torre, Bahman Ramavandi, Seyed Enayat Hashemi, Reza Saeedi, Emran Moradpour Tayebi, Ahmad Vafaee, Amirhossein Darabi
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics and ecological risks of microplastics (MPs) in ballast water for the first time, and found high levels of MP pollution. These findings contribute to our understanding of the sources and risks of microplastics in marine ecosystems.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rose Boahemaa Pinto, Linda Bogerd, Martine van der Ploeg, Kwame Duah, Remko Uijlenhoet, Tim H. M. van Emmerik
Summary: Catchment-scale plastic pollution assessments provide insights into the sources, sinks, and pathways of plastic pollution. We propose an approach to quantify macroplastic transport and density in the Odaw catchment, Ghana, and find that the urban riverine zone has the highest transport, while the urban tidal zone has the highest riverbank and land macroplastic density.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aliya Baidourela, Qian Sun, Gongxin Yang, Umut Halik, Zhongkai Dong, Kaixu Cai, Guili Sun, Wenya Zhang, Sisi Cheng
Summary: The study focused on heavy metal pollution in the green vegetation of a suburban industrial area in Tuokexun County, Xinjiang, China. The results showed that the overall level of heavy metal pollution in the soil was minor, with mercury (Hg) being the most severe contamination, likely caused by human activities. The composition of heavy metal elements in trees was more stable compared to grass and shrubs, with varying concentrations across different vegetation. Shrubbery was found to be the most effective in heavy metal restoration, and there were disparities in heavy metal enrichment among different vegetation types.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
James H. Bridson, Hayden Masterton, Beatrix Theobald, Regis Risani, Fraser Doake, Jessica A. Wallbank, Stefan D. M. Maday, Gavin Lear, Robert Abbel, Dawn A. Smith, Joanne M. Kingsbury, Olga Pantos, Grant L. Northcott, Sally Gaw
Summary: Plastic pollution has significant environmental impacts, largely due to chemical additives. However, the behavior of plastic additives in marine environments is not well understood. A marine deployment experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of weathering on the extractables profile of four types of plastics in New Zealand over a period of nine months. The concentration of additives in polyethylene and oxo-degradable polyethylene was strongly influenced by artificial weathering, while polyamide 6 and polyethylene terephthalate showed minimal change. These findings emphasize the importance of considering leaching and weathering effects on plastic composition when assessing the potential impact and risk of plastic pollution in receiving environments.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alan G. Scarlett, Francis D. Spilsbury, Steven J. Rowland, Marthe Monique Gagnon, Kliti Grice
Summary: This study used diamondoid hydrocarbon distributions to identify the sources of environmental oil contamination. A suite of 20 diamondoids was found to accumulate in fish adipose tissue. The scatter plots of indices between fish and exposure oils showed a close to ideal 1:1 relationship, which can be used to determine the origin of the oil.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shan Jiang, Mengmeng Wan, Kun Lin, Yanshan Chen, Rui Wang, Liju Tan, Jiangtao Wang
Summary: In this study, the concentration, composition, distribution, and sources of PCBs in surface seawater of the Bohai Bay were analyzed. The results showed that PCBs in the Bohai Bay had high concentrations and were primarily derived from land-based sources such as port activities and river inputs. The PCBs in the Bohai Bay may come from commercial PCBs and their incineration products, municipal landfills, wood and coal combustion, and industrial activities, etc.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Icaro S. A. Porto, Saulo V. A. Dantas, Caio S. A. Felix, Francisco A. S. Cunha, Jailson B. de Andrade, Sergio L. C. Ferreira
Summary: This study evaluated the risks of mercury levels in sardines consumed by low-income population in Salvador, Brazil. The results showed that the mercury content in the sampled sardines posed no risks to human health. This study is significant as most sardines in Salvador come from Todos os Santos Bay, which has a history of mercury contamination.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiahui Chen, Chengyu Yuan, Guanqun Zhai, Guangcheng Chen, Heng Zhu, Jun Liu, Yong Ye
Summary: This study investigated the combined influences of species selection and site elevation on greenhouse gas fluxes from restored mangrove soils. The results suggest that Avicennia marina should be selected for mangrove restoration to minimize carbon release and reduce the influence of greenhouse gas fluxes on the global greenhouse effect.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emmanuel Onyeabor, Uju Obuka
Summary: The Gulf of Guinea region in Africa is a significant area for coastal countries, playing a vital role in their economic and environmental development. This study aims to reduce marine plastic pollution in the region by utilizing legal instruments.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuanli Liu, Stephan Luttjohann, Alvise Vianello, Claudia Lorenz, Fan Liu, Jes Vollertsen
Summary: Large area attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (LAATR-FTIR) is a novel technique for detecting small microplastics, with limited accuracy for large microplastics. However, it shows promise in homogeneous matrices. The spectra quality is comparable between transmission mode and LAATR mode.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Phuc T. D. Le, Andrew M. Fischer, Britta D. Hardesty, Heidi J. Auman, Chris Wilcox
Summary: This study explores the relationship between ocean currents and the accumulation of floating marine debris (FMD) and finds that higher concentrations of FMD are associated with frontal frequencies (FF). FMD is primarily trapped in accumulation zones between fronts and the coastline, which have high biodiversity value.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rosa Sawan, Perine Doyen, Florence Viudes, Rachid Amara, Celine Mahfouz
Summary: Few studies have examined the impact of urbanization and meteorological events on microplastics discharged into the sea through rivers. Surface water samples were collected from two Lebanese rivers, with differing degrees of urbanization, during dry and wet periods. The results showed that the most industrialized river had a significantly higher abundance of microplastics compared to the less-industrialized river. There was also a correlation between particle contamination and the season at each site, with microplastic concentrations highest on the first day of the wet season. These findings highlight the importance of considering meteorological events in accurately assessing plastic pollution influx into coastal waters.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Katherine R. Shaw, Jonathan L. Whitney, Eileen M. Nalley, Madeline C. Schmidbauer, Megan J. Donahue, Jesse Black, Raquel N. Corniuk, Kellie Teague, Rachel Sandquist, Catherine Pirkle, Rachel Dacks, Max Sudnovsky, Jennifer M. Lynch
Summary: This study examines the ingestion of plastic in reef fish in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Plastic particles were found in the gastrointestinal tracts of multiple fish species. However, further analysis revealed that these particles were actually natural materials and posed no threat to human consumers.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Revati Hardikar, C. K. Haridevi, Shantaj Deshbhratar
Summary: This study investigated the variability in phytoplankton functional structure using a trait-based approach and explored the relationship between species traits and environmental factors, as well as their impact on ecosystem functioning. The results revealed that morphological traits, temperature, and ammonia played a decisive role in the seasonal succession of phytoplankton species. It was found that certain traits favored higher biomass production but might hinder energy transfer efficiency. The strong correlation between environmental variables and phytoplankton functional structure supports the practical implementation of a trait-based approach in studying phytoplankton community dynamics under different environmental conditions.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Engki A. Kisnarti, Nining Sari Ningsih, Mutiara R. Putri, Nani Hendiarti, Bernhard Mayer
Summary: This study examines the movement patterns of plastic marine debris in Indonesian waters, revealing that Indonesia contributes significantly to transboundary marine debris in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the South China Sea. Most of the debris remains in Indonesian waters and moves back and forth due to the influence of monsoon currents.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
