Article
Biology
Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip, F. Javier Gonzalez-Barrios, Esmeralda Perez-Cervantes, Ana Molina-Hernandez, Nuria Estrada-Saldivar
Summary: Diseases are major drivers of coral reef deterioration. A new disease outbreak in the Caribbean is spreading rapidly, causing significant changes in coral communities and reducing reef functionality. This outbreak is expected to be the most lethal disturbance ever recorded in the region.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chaitanya Arjunwadkar, Sterling B. Tebbett, David R. Bellwood, David G. Bourne, Hillary A. Smith
Summary: The study explored the relationship between particulate accumulation and taxonomic composition of algal turfs. Results showed that particulate mass was positively related to algal turf length, while the relationship between particulate mass and turf density followed a negative parabolic shape. Furthermore, increasing particulate mass led to significant differences in taxonomic composition of algal turfs. The findings suggest that changes in algal turf structure and composition can have various influences on coral reef ecosystems.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Claudia E. L. Hill, Myrsini M. Lymperaki, Bert W. Hoeksema
Summary: A comparative study between a centuries-old manmade structure and the nearest natural reef at St. Eustatius in the eastern Caribbean found that the artificial reef had significantly lower species richness and fewer competitive interactions than the natural reef. The artificial reef was dominated by crustose coralline algae and zoantharians, while the natural reef was dominated by turf algae and fire corals. Significant differences in species composition were also found between exposed and sheltered sites on both reefs.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Harizah B. Hariz, Rebecca J. Lawton, Rupert J. Craggs
Summary: The study investigated how operating parameters affect the biomass productivity and nutrient removal performance of Oedogonium sp. - a promising species for unialgal FANS. The results showed that the initial standing crop, harvesting frequency, and influent flow rate significantly affected biomass productivity and nutrient removal. Optimal parameters were determined to be an initial standing crop of 70-80 g DW m-2, a four-day harvesting interval, and an influent flow rate of 1 L min-1 (16.7 L min-1 m-1 width). These findings contribute to optimizing the biomass production and nutrient removal of Oedogonium sp. on FANS.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Harizah B. Hariz, Rebecca J. Lawton, Rupert J. Craggs
Summary: This study compared the effects of seeding method and species composition on the biomass productivity and nutrient removal rates of FANS treating agricultural drainage. The results showed that the seeding method and species composition did not significantly affect biomass productivity and nutrient removal performance. However, the FANS seeded with a single species had lower biomass wash-off and higher nutrient removal rates compared to the FANS with mixed species.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Sterling B. Tebbett, Scott Bennett, David R. Bellwood
Summary: Herbivorous fishes are an important group in coral reef ecosystems and have been extensively studied. However, challenges remain in quantifying patterns versus processes. This article explores how the definition of 'herbivorous reef fishes' hinders the translation between herbivore abundance and herbivory processes. The authors suggest that considering the difficulty of translating patterns in herbivore abundance to herbivory processes and focusing on quantifying herbivory in the epilithic algal matrix (EAM) will be crucial for comprehensive understanding of herbivory on Anthropocene coral reefs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tangcheng Li, Jiahong Huang, Hong Du, Xiaojuan Liu, Chongming Zhong, Senjie Lin
Summary: This study extensively reviewed the literature on coral and Symbiodiniaceae research, providing an overview of the current research landscape and identifying areas that require more research effort. The findings revealed that climate change is the most studied area, while nutrient is the least studied area. Furthermore, the combination of nutrient enrichment and elevated temperature is an emerging research field.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zhiheng Liao, Kefu Yu, Biao Chen, Xueyong Huang, Zhenjun Qin, Xiaopeng Yu
Summary: The study investigated the control of environmental factors on the spatial distribution of benthic algae and their ecological impacts on corals in the South China Sea. The results showed that changing environmental factors were correlated with the distribution of algae, which significantly impacted coral recruitment.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ryan D. Lewis, Craig R. Johnson, Jeffrey T. Wright
Summary: Canopy-forming macroalgae, like Hormosira banksii, play a key role in coastal ecosystems. This study found that H. banksii recruitment was seasonal, with high survivorship and slow growth, and the species' demography appeared to be density-independent, allowing for recovery from disturbance.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Muhamad Afiq Akbar, Nurul Yuziana Mohd Yusof, Gires Usup, Asmat Ahmad, Syarul Nataqain Baharum, Hamidun Bunawan
Summary: This study investigated the transcriptomic responses of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum under nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency, revealing differentially expressed genes and enriched gene ontology terms associated with these deficiencies. The findings provide valuable insights into the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency on A. minutum and the underlying biological processes and genes.
Article
Ecology
Nicolas R. Evensen, Inka Vanwonterghem, Christopher Doropoulos, Marine Gouezo, Emmanuelle S. Botte, Nicole S. Webster, Peter J. Mumby
Summary: Herbivory and nutrient availability are key factors driving benthic community succession and coral recruitment in shallow marine ecosystems. Excluding herbivores influences micro- and macrobenthic community succession, with the survival of settled corals on open tiles negatively correlated with the abundance of specific microbial groups.
Article
Microbiology
Shelby E. McIlroy, Casey P. TerHorst, Mark Teece, Mary Alice Coffroth
Summary: This study manipulated the density and relative ratio of two coral endosymbiont species and investigated their impact on nutrient exchange with the host. The results showed that the uptake and translocation of carbon and nitrogen varied depending on the density and dominance of symbiont species. Host regulation and suppression of symbiont competition can lead to a more beneficial mutualism.
Article
Ecology
Nils Raedecker, Claudia Pogoreutz, Hagen M. Gegner, Anny Cardenas, Gabriela Perna, Laura Geissler, Florian Roth, Jeremy Bougoure, Paul Guagliardo, Ulrich Struck, Christian Wild, Mathieu Pernice, Jean-Baptiste Raina, Anders Meibom, Christian R. Voolstra
Summary: The study found that under heat stress, nitrogen fixation by coral-associated diazotrophs increased, but the additional fixed nitrogen was not assimilated by the coral tissue or the algal symbionts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erick Barrera-Falcon, Rodolfo Rioja-Nieto, Roberto C. Hernandez-Landa, Edgar Torres-Irineo
Summary: This study compared main ecological metrics for coral reef condition assessment obtained with an underwater digital photogrammetry protocol and traditional sampling design simulations in the Cozumel Reefs National Park. The results suggest that the underwater digital photogrammetry protocol is more accurate in assessing coral reefs in comparison with traditional sampling designs. The study highlights the importance of precise assessing and monitoring of coral reefs for understanding the threats and changes in coral communities.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Beibei Hao, Haoping Wu, Qingchuan Chou, Ke Xu, Yanpeng Cai
Summary: The study found that phytoplankton has a competitive advantage in utilizing nutrient resources in the water column, even in treatments with only epiphytic algae as the initial algal community. The nutrient effects on phytoplankton and epiphyton communities differed, and there was a significant mutual influence between the two algal communities, with phytoplankton contributing significantly to epiphyton abundance.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Stuart A. Sandin, Esmeralda Alcantar, Randy Clark, Ramon de Leon, Faisal Dilrosun, Clinton B. Edwards, Andrew J. Estep, Yoan Eynaud, Beverly J. French, Michael D. Fox, Dave Grenda, Scott L. Hamilton, Heather Kramp, Kristen L. Marhaver, Scott D. Miller, Ty N. F. Roach, Gisette Seferina, Cynthia B. Silveira, Jennifer E. Smith, Brian J. Zgliczynski, Mark J. A. Vermeij
Summary: This study investigated the spatial variability of coral reef communities in Curacao, and found that environmental factors were better able to explain the spatial variability of reef builders, while anthropogenic pressure showed a weak association with fish biomass.
Article
Ecology
Julio A. A. Stelzer, Jorrit P. Mesman, Alena S. Gsell, Lisette N. Senerpont Domis, Petra M. Visser, Rita Adrian, Bastiaan W. Ibelings
Summary: While eutrophication remains a main pressure on freshwater ecosystems, the increasing prevalence of anthropogenic and nature-induced stochastic pulse perturbations due to climate change is of concern. This study investigated how eutrophication affects the response and recovery of aquatic ecosystems to pulse perturbations by conducting a controlled experiment using mesocosms. The results showed that eutrophication increased the absolute scale of the response to pulse perturbations but did not change the proportion of the response relative to its pre-event condition. The capacity of the community to recover from pulse perturbations was significantly affected by the cumulative effect of sequential pulse perturbations, but not by eutrophication itself.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mark A. Levenstein, Kristen L. Marhaver, Zachary A. Quinlan, Haley M. Tholen, Lucas Tichy, Joaquin Yus, Ian Lightcap, Linda Wegley Kelly, Gabriel Juarez, Mark J. A. Vermeij, Amy J. Wagoner Johnson
Summary: This paper investigates the potential of inorganic cues to increase coral larval settlement. Experiments reveal that adding different substances can induce specific settlement preferences in coral larvae, independent of surface properties. Additionally, settling coral larvae can detect topographical features smaller than their body width and positively respond to soluble inorganic minerals.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Niklas A. Kornder, Yuki Esser, Daniel Stoupin, Sally P. Leys, Benjamin Mueller, Mark J. A. Vermeij, Jef Huisman, Jasper M. de Goeij
Summary: Sponges employ a unique mechanism of self-cleaning by actively expelling solid waste through their inlet pores and sneezing. This mechanism has been observed in the Caribbean tube sponge Aplysina archeri and could provide insights into waste removal in other sponge species and mucus transport in other animals, including humans.
Article
Ecology
Benjamin Mueller, Hannah J. Brocke, Forest L. Rohwer, Thorsten Dittmar, Jef Huisman, Mark J. A. Vermeij, Jasper M. de Goeij
Summary: The release of dissolved organic matter (DOM) by algae, especially turf algae containing cyanobacteria, plays a significant role in the degradation of coral reefs. This study investigates the night-time release of DOM by turf algae and its potential impact on the microbialization of reefs. The results show that the night-DOC released by turf algae and benthic cyanobacterial mats is a crucial driver in the microbialization process, threatening the productivity and biodiversity of coral reef ecosystems.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Tamara M. Stuij, Daniel F. R. Cleary, Newton C. M. Gomes, Rahul Mehrotra, Petra M. Visser, Arjen G. C. L. Speksnijder, Bert W. Hoeksema
Summary: This study reveals the bacterial diversity and composition of different mat morphotypes, identifies the most abundant community members and closely related organisms, and assesses the predictors of bacterial composition. The results show that the bacterial communities consist of a diverse and variable consortium, with mat morphotype, substrate type, and geographic location explaining only a small part of the total variation in composition.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mark A. Levenstein, Daniel J. Gysbers, Kristen L. Marhaver, Sameh Kattom, Lucas Tichy, Zachary Quinlan, Haley M. Tholen, Linda Wegley Kelly, Mark J. A. Vermeij, Amy J. Wagoner Johnson, Gabriel Juarez
Summary: Larval settlement in wave-dominated, nearshore environments is critical for marine invertebrates, yet it is poorly understood. Researchers used a custom-built flume tank to study the effect of millimeter-scale benthic topography and found that it significantly increases the settlement of coral larvae by redirecting them towards the substrate surface and increasing the time window for settlement. These findings highlight the potential of physics-based substrate design for ecosystem restoration.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Erik F. J. Weenink, Michiel H. S. Kraak, Corne van Teulingen, Senna Kuijt, Maria J. van Herk, Corrien A. M. Sigon, Tim Piel, Giovanni Sandrini, Mariel Leon-Grooters, Milo L. de Baat, Jef Huisman, Petra M. Visser
Summary: This study aims to investigate the suppression effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on cyanobacterial blooms in lakes and its potential effects on non-target species. Through laboratory toxicity tests and lake treatments, the results show that the use of H2O2 is successful in suppressing cyanobacteria but may also have adverse effects on some zooplankton communities.
Article
Ecology
Andrea Polanco F, Conor Waldock, Thomas Keggin, Virginie Marques, Romane Rozanski, Alice Valentini, Tony Dejean, Stephanie Manel, Mark Vermeij, Camille Albouy, Loic Pellissier
Summary: Human activities can have negative impacts on the quality of coral reefs, resulting in a decline in fish species richness and functional diversity, as well as erosion of ecosystem services. Environmental DNA metabarcoding is a rapid method for assessing marine biodiversity, which can meet the demand for ecosystem health indices in management. By combining taxonomic information from sequenced eDNA with functional traits and phylogenetic positions, various ecological indices describing ecosystem functioning can be generated. Through studying two contrasting coastal areas in Curaçao, we found that despite no marked difference in species richness, the area near the city had higher phylogenetic diversity, while the more isolated reef had higher functional diversity.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kate L. Vasquez Kuntz, Sheila A. Kitchen, Trinity L. Conn, Samuel A. Vohsen, Andrea N. Chan, Mark J. A. Vermeij, Christopher Page, Kristen L. Marhaver, Iliana B. Baums
Summary: The study reveals that somatic mutations in animals can be passed on to offspring, increasing genetic diversity and facilitating adaptation across generations.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jef Huisman, Elke Dittmann, Jutta Fastner, J. Merijn Schuurmans, J. Thad Scott, Dedmer B. Van de Waal, Petra M. Visser, Martin Welker, Ingrid Chorus
Summary: Hellweger et al. suggest that phosphorus limitation will lead to higher concentrations of cyanobacterial toxins in lakes. However, their assumptions about molecular, physiological, and ecological mechanisms lack support and contradict other studies. It is concluded that their take-home message about increased toxicity in Lake Erie due to phosphorus load reduction is fundamentally flawed.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Adam S. Candy, Shannara K. Taylor K. Parkins, Fleur C. Van Duyl, Benjamin Mueller, Milou G. I. Arts, Will Barnes, Marie Carstensen, Yun J. H. Scholten, Yusuf C. El-Khaled, Christian Wild, Linda Wegley Kelly, Craig E. Nelson, Stuart A. Sandin, Mark J. A. Vermeij, Forest L. Rohwer, Cristian Picioreanu, Paolo Stocchi, Andreas F. Haas
Summary: One mechanism that gives fleshy algae a competitive edge over corals during reef degradation is the occurrence of algal-induced and microbially-mediated hypoxia, which is typically less than 69.5 mu mol oxygen L-1. Algae are more tolerant of low oxygen conditions and may outcompete corals weakened by hypoxia. The extent of local hypoxic zones in highly turbulent aquatic environments, continuously flushed by currents and wave surge, remains a question unanswered.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
J. C. Gijsbers, N. Englebert, K. E. Prata, M. Pichon, Z. Dinesen, R. Brunner, G. Eyal, F. L. Gonzalez-Zapata, S. E. Kahng, K. R. W. Latijnhouwers, P. Muir, V. Z. Radice, J. A. Sanchez, M. J. A. Vermeij, O. Hoegh-Guldberg, S. J. Jacobs, P. Bongaerts
Summary: Using genome sequencing, this study revealed deep divergences and undescribed diversity within the two dominant mesophotic coral genera, Leptoseris and Agaricia. The presence of genetically divergent lineages associated with mesophotic depths suggests a greater diversity of mesophotic-specialist coral species than previously acknowledged, calling for urgent assessment.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bert W. Hoeksema, Kaveh Samimi-Namin, Catherine S. Mcfadden, Rosana M. Rocha, Leen P. van Ofwegen, Auke-Florian Hiemstra, Mark J. A. Vermeij
Summary: A coral community on a semi-submersible platform in the southern Caribbean was examined, revealing the presence of several nonnative or cryptogenic species, including two scleractinian corals and two octocorals. The first reported presence of T. tagusensis in the southern Caribbean and Chromonephthea genus in the Caribbean region were observed. Additionally, the first report of Perophora cf. regina and Petaloconchus sp. in the southern Caribbean was documented. Lack of biofouling management could potentially harm indigenous marine fauna by introducing non-native species. Therefore, monitoring such communities is essential to track the presence and dispersal of non-native, potentially invasive species.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Reyhan Akcaalan, Ricard Devesa-Garriga, Andrea Dietrich, Martin Steinhaus, Andreas Dunkel, Veronika Mall, Maura Manganelli, Simona Scardala, Emanuela Testai, Geoffrey A. Codd, Frantisek Kozisek, Maria Antonopoulou, Ana Rita Lado Ribeiro, Maria Jose Sampaio, Anastasia Hiskia, Theodoros M. Triantis, Dionysios D. Dionysiou, Gianluca Li Puma, Linda Lawton, Christine Edwards, Henrik Rasmus Andersen, Despo Fatta-Kassinos, Popi Karaolia, Audrey Combes, Kristel Panksep, Sevasti-Kiriaki Zervou, Meric Albay, Latife Koeker, Ekaterina Chernova, Sofia Iliakopoulou, Elisabeth Varga, Petra M. Visser, Angelika Ioanna Gialleli, Zuhal Zengin, Nikos Deftereos, Phani Miskaki, Christophoros Christophoridis, Aikaterina Paraskevopoulou, Tsair-Fuh Lin, Arash Zamyadi, Galina Dimova, Triantafyllos Kaloudis
Summary: The article identifies gaps, challenges, and perspectives in advancing water T&O science and technology, urging action led by experts and researchers to address issues with taste and odor in drinking water.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL ADVANCES
(2022)