Article
Microbiology
Coco Koedooder, Etai Landou, Futing Zhang, Siyuan Wang, Subhajit Basu, Ilana Berman-Frank, Yeala Shaked, Maxim Rubin-Blum
Summary: This study assesses the diversity of Trichodesmium in the Red Sea using metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and hetR gene-based phylotyping. The results highlight the morphological and subspecies diversity of Trichodesmium, as well as the presence of rare non-diazotrophic clades. This study emphasizes the importance of re-assessing Trichodesmium taxonomy.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gwendolynn W. Bury, Rebecca Flitcroft, Mark D. Nelson, Ivan Arismendi, Evan B. Brooks
Summary: The research identified 21% of freshwater fishes as associated with forested areas, with 2% strictly present only in highly forested areas. Northern coasts and southeast regions showed the largest numbers of forest-associated fishes, while fish associated with low-forested areas occurred in the southwest and central plains. Imperiled fishes were relatively evenly distributed among percent forest categories, which was different from patterns for all fishes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruirui Hu, Rui Yao, Lei Li, Yueren Xu, Bingbing Lei, Guohao Tang, Haowei Liang, Yunjiao Lei, Cunyuan Li, Xiaoyue Li, Kaiping Liu, Limin Wang, Yunfeng Zhang, Yue Wang, Yuying Cui, Jihong Dai, Wei Ni, Ping Zhou, Baohua Yu, Shengwei Hu
Summary: The AnimalMetagenome DB integrates a large amount of metagenomic sequencing data from domestic and wild animals, making it easier for users to find data of interest and browse, search, and download the data.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
E. Golomazou, E. E. Malandrakis, P. Panagiotaki, P. Karanis
Summary: The importance of controlling Cryptosporidium in aquaculture is increasing, as this parasite has been found in a wide range of fish species worldwide. The zoonotic potential and impact on piscine hosts emphasize the need for further research and preventive measures to control waterborne and fishborne cryptosporidiosis in fish products.
Article
Microbiology
Kristopher Kieft, Karthik Anantharaman
Summary: Temperate phages (prophages) are dormant components of host cells before activating and lysing the host. It is challenging to identify if a prophage has activated. In this study, researchers developed an automated software tool called PropagAtE to estimate the lytic or lysogenic stage of prophage infection. Application of PropagAtE to various environments revealed distinct activation signatures of prophages and identified active prophage populations correlated with specific treatment groups.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Taylor Ely, Paul H. Barber, Lauren Man, Zachary Gold
Summary: The study reveals significant differences in the persistence time of eDNA signals in dynamic marine environments compared to laboratory studies. Both foreign and native eDNA signatures exhibit substantial temporal heterogeneity over the course of several days.
Article
Ecology
Qinlong Dai, Jingjing Ding, Xinyuan Cui, Yudong Zhu, Hua Chen, Lifeng Zhu
Summary: This study examined the complex relationships among bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, protists, and nematodes in the gut microbiome of 42 mammalian species. The results showed high variation in bacterial and fungal families, while archaea, viruses, protists, and nematodes had relatively low variation. Some fungi in the mammalian intestine were found to come from environmental sources, while others were native to the intestine. The study also revealed significant positive co-occurrence patterns among these six kingdoms, but negative networks mainly occurred between fungi and prokaryotes.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tao Xiang, Xianghong Dong, Tao Ju, Lei Shi, Gael Grenouillet
Summary: Over the past centuries, freshwater fish introductions and extinctions have posed major crises to various water bodies in China, but their consequences on freshwater fish biodiversity remain understudied. This study evaluated the temporal changes in taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic facets of fish biodiversity across Chinese basins and identified the drivers behind these changes. The results showed extreme changes in the biodiversity facets of fish assemblages in Northwest and Southwest China, largely driven by environmental factors. Given the ongoing homogenization of fish faunas in the majority of China's water bodies, targeted conservation and management strategies are needed.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Victor Emmanuel Lopes da Silva, Marina Dolbeth, Nidia Noemi Fabre
Summary: The study assessed tropical coastal dynamics by measuring fish diversity in different habitats across three estuarine systems in the southwestern Atlantic. Different patterns of species occurrence and distribution were found between habitats and seasons, affecting taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity dimensions. Redundancy in functional diversity was observed among habitats in both dry and rainy seasons.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Michael S. Corson, Aymeric Mondiere, Lois Morel, Hayo M. G. van der Werf
Summary: This review and case study aims to analyze the role of agricultural rewilding in biodiversity conservation and restoration, and identify research questions. The authors found that agricultural rewilding combines ecological restoration with agricultural production, primarily focusing on herbivores. The main actions to enhance rewilding include extensive grazing and habitat restoration.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Andrew M. Long, Shengwei Hou, J. Cesar Ignacio-Espinoza, Jed A. Fuhrman
Summary: The study showed that current PTR approaches poorly predict actual growth of most marine bacterial populations, but maximum growth rates can be approximated from genomic characteristics.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Naiara Guimaraes Sales, Owen Simon Wangensteen, Daniel Cardoso Carvalho, Kristy Deiner, Kim Praebel, Ilaria Coscia, Allan D. McDevitt, Stefano Mariani
Summary: This study evaluated the potential of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding for assessing fish communities in the Jequitinhonha River catchment in Brazil. The results revealed spatio-temporal changes, unrecorded biodiversity components, and potential anthropogenic impacts on fish assemblages. Differences in species richness before and after major rain events were observed, as well as the potential impact of dams on local fish diversity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Petr Blabolil, Nathan P. Griffiths, Bernd Hanfling, Tomas Juza, Vladislav Drastik, Jelena Knezevic-Jaric, Romulo dos Santos, Tomas Mrkvicka, Jiri Peterka
Summary: The application of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has revolutionised large scale biodiversity monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. This study demonstrates that eDNA samples can effectively detect common species, but may overlook rare species in high stocking densities. Additionally, the season and water status of samples can impact the diversity detection.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Petr Blabolil, Nathan P. Griffiths, Bernd Hanfling, Tomas Juza, Vladislav Drastik, Jelena Knezevic-Jarvic, Romulo dos Santos, Tomas Mrkvicka, Jiri Peterka
Summary: The application of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has revolutionized large scale biodiversity monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. This study conducted eDNA sampling in fishponds and found that common species could be detected using eDNA, but rare species were often missed out under high stocking densities. The detection of fish communities in pooled samples reflects the overall community structure, and species detectability increases with higher filtration volumes.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Kevin Santos da Silva, Augusto Cesar Paes de Souza, Ananda Marques Pety, Renata Coelho Rodrigues Noronha, Marcelo Ricardo Vicari, Julio Cesar Pieczarka, Cleusa Yoshiko Nagamachi
Summary: This study conducted a comparative chromosomal analysis of two undescribed Peckoltia species from the Brazilian Amazon, revealing differences in karyotype formulas and repetitive sequence locations among the species, highlighting the chromosomal diversity within the Peckoltia genus.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sophie L. Steinhausen, Narkie Agyeman, Pablo Turrero, Alba Ardura, Eva Garcia-Vazquez
Summary: Electronic waste sites pose a risk of heavy metal pollution, especially when the metals enter nearby environments. The Korle lagoon, being the biggest e-waste burning site in Ghana, is receiving waste effluents and facing the risk of heavy metal contamination in the water. Despite being considered biologically dead, the lagoon still supports small-scale fishing activities. This study found that consuming fish from the Korle lagoon poses higher health risks due to elevated concentrations of heavy metals, compared to fish sold in Ghanaian markets. Monitoring programs and environmental risk management are needed to ensure human food safety.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paula Masia, Juan L. Mateo, Andres Arias, Marlene Bartolome, Carmen Blanco, Karim Erzini, Francois Le Loc'h, Jean Herve Mve Beh, Deborah Power, Noemi Rodriguez, Gauthier Schaal, Gonzalo Machado-Schiaffino, Eva Garcia-Vazquez
Summary: The study assessed the importance of microplastic pollution for African fishing resources, identified regions particularly affected by MP pollution, and emphasized the importance of increasing coverage of MP pollution in African fishing resources and improving plastic waste management on the continent.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara Fernandez, Elena Arboleya, Eduardo Dopico, Eva Garcia-Vazquez
Summary: Dams and reservoirs are important options for water supply in dry regions, but their presence has impacts on the ecosystem. A study in two dammed areas found that most citizens were favorable to the presence of dams.
WETLANDS ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Celine Tardy, Denis Ody, Olivier Gimenez, Serge Planes
Summary: The Mediterranean fin whale population is separate from the Atlantic population. A study used capture-recapture methods and identified 546 fin whales in the north-western Mediterranean between 2008 and 2019. The genetic approach provided the most accurate abundance estimates and showed relative stability over time. This information should be considered for future conservation actions.
MARINE ECOLOGY-AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kim B. Eustache, Emilie Boissin, Celine Tardy, Serge Planes
Summary: Shark species are overfished and conservation efforts require genetic data, which can be costly and time-consuming to collect. This study developed a set of microsatellite markers as an efficient and economical sampling method for addressing knowledge gaps in genetic stock identification, shark behavior, and reproduction.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2023)
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carmen Blanco-Fernandez, Alba Ardura, Gonzalo Machado-Schiaffino, Eva Garcia-Vazquez
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara Fernandez, Alba Ardura, Oriane Georges, Jose L. Martinez, Marcos Suarez-Menendez, Serge Planes, Eva Garcia-Vazquez
Summary: The movement of organisms facilitated by human activities poses a significant threat to marine biodiversity, particularly for endemic species at risk of being outcompeted by non-indigenous species (NIS). Using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, this study analyzed communities in the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, which is known for its species richness and endemism. The study found that NIS accounted for 36% of the total species detected from eDNA, with primary producers being more abundant among NIS than native species, suggesting potential alteration of functional diversity. The study highlights maritime traffic as a potential factor contributing to the introduction of non-natives in the region and emphasizes the importance of controlling these species to protect the rich endemic biota of the Red Sea.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Eva Garcia-Vazquez, Cristina Garcia-Ael, Maritza Librada Caceres Mesa, Noemi Rodriguez, Eduardo Dopico
Summary: Microplastics (MP) are a global threat to all organisms, and a survey conducted on university students from Mexico and Spain revealed that despite having less knowledge about MP, Mexican students checked product labels for microbeads more frequently than Spanish students and expressed a stronger desire to reduce MP consumption. This could be due to stricter plastic control legislation in Mexico, which creates a more favorable environment for MP control.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ornella C. Weideli, Ryan Daly, Lauren R. Peel, Michael R. Heithaus, Mahmood S. Shivji, Serge Planes, Yannis P. Papastamatiou
Summary: The coexistence of blacktip reef sharks and sicklefin lemon sharks in marine ecosystems is facilitated by resource partitioning, with sicklefin lemon sharks displaying higher competitive ability. Captive trials showed that sicklefin lemon sharks consistently outcompeted blacktip reef sharks for food rewards. In the field, blacktip reef sharks had a broader spatial distribution, but actively tracked sharks showed high overlap in microhabitats. Analysis of stomach contents and stable isotopes indicated diverging dietary preferences between the two species.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Amaia Bilbao-Kareaga, Daniel Menendez, Paloma Peon, Alba Ardura, Eva Garcia-Vazquez
Summary: Microplastics pollution is a global issue that affects marine ecosystems and organisms worldwide. The red alga Gelidium sp. is a valuable source of agar and is consumed as seafood in many countries. This study found that G. corneum collected near sandy substrates accumulates more microplastics than those from rocks, indicating that substrate dynamics play a key role in the entry of microplastics into these algae and the human diet. Harmful microplastic types were identified in the algae samples, highlighting potential risks to consumers. Further research and preventive measures are recommended to address microplastics pollution in coastal areas.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Carlos Valiente-Diaz, Alejandra del Valle, Eva Garcia-Vazquez, Gonzalo Machado-Schiaffino, Alba Ardura
Summary: The incorrect labeling and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in seafood pose a global problem for natural resources and consumer health. Arsenic, unlike other heavy metals, does not have a concentration limit on food. Tuna species, with high consumption rates worldwide, are known to be a toxicological issue due to heavy metal contamination. A study analyzed 80 samples of canned tuna to examine the accuracy of labeling and found that some exceeded safety standards set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Activities (JECFA).
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juan L. Mateo, Carmen Blanco-Fernandez, Eva Garcia-Vazquez, Gonzalo Machado-Schiaffino
Summary: Genome resources are crucial for assessing genomic variation and detecting adaptive variation in marine species affected by global change. The genome of Merluccius polli was sequenced, assembled, and annotated, with improved quality and increased length compared to previous versions. The genome contains low heterozygosity and repeat content. Candidate genes associated with various stressors along the geographical distribution were identified and characterized in the genome. This genome serves as a valuable tool for investigating global change in highly stressed marine regions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Sara Fernandez, Alvaro Gutierrez, Dumas Deconinck, Jose Luis Martinez, Almudena Alvarez, Isabel Marquez, Gonzalo Machado-Schiaffino, Eva Garcia-Vazquez
Summary: The European eel Anguilla anguilla is a critically endangered catadromous species, and close surveillance is urgently needed for the viable populations in European rivers. A new highly sensitive method based on A. anguilla-specific qPCR marker and environmental DNA (eDNA) is presented, which can estimate the eel biomass in running waters. This method could complement or replace current eel surveys without disturbing wild populations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Menendez, Carmen Blanco-Fernandez, Gonzalo Machado-Schiaffino, Alba Ardura, Eva Garcia-Vazquez
Summary: In this study, microplastics were quantified and identified in the gills, liver, and muscle of Benguela hakes caught in northwest African waters. The presence of hazardous plastic polymers and their negative effects on the condition factor and liver DNA degradation were observed. This study highlights the potential damage caused by microplastic pollution in demersal species, urging further research on the impact of microplastics on these marine organisms.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eva Garcia-Vazquez, Cristina Garcia-Ael, Alba Ardura, Noemi Rodriguez, Eduardo Dopico
Summary: Emerging microplastics pollution in the oceans is a significant threat, and consumer behavior can be modified to reduce this pollution. Online nudges, such as images and short messages, were tested to promote MP-conscious behavior in Spain. Messages about MP in seafood and plastic-polluted marine environments were more effective than images of animals harmed by plastics. Feeling responsible for MP pollution predicts intention to adopt MP-reducing behaviors. Women are more likely to adopt these behaviors, while men are more responsive to nudges. Increasing environmental responsibility is a priority in education campaigns.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)