Article
Environmental Sciences
Donatas Bagocius, Aleksas Narscius
Summary: Aquatic animals rely on sound for communication, navigation, prey, and predator avoidance in turbid waters. Anthropogenic noise can alter the marine habitats, affecting marine life. This study assesses the underwater sound levels in Klaipeda harbour area and discusses the potential negative effects of elevated underwater noise levels on fish species and possible measures.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laurence H. De Clippele, Denise Risch
Summary: This study compared the noise levels at the cold-water coral Tisler reef before and after the closure of the border between Norway and Sweden due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed a significant reduction in noise levels at the reef after border closure, which is crucial for the long-term health and conservation of the ecosystem.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Louise Wilson, Matthew K. Pine, Craig A. Radford
Summary: This study showed that small recreational boats can significantly alter the soundscape of shallow coastal habitats, particularly in the low-frequency range used by many species for communication and orientation. Existing tools for sound pollution monitoring should consider the variability and impact of sound emitted by small boats.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gregory P. Asner, Nicholas R. Vaughn, Roberta E. Martin, Shawna A. Foo, Joseph Heckler, Brian J. Neilson, Jamison M. Gove
Summary: Corals are important habitat-building organisms in tropical reefs, supporting a quarter of all ocean species and providing ecosystem services to millions of people. However, marine heat waves threaten coral reefs by killing individual colonies and reducing diversity. This study used aerial imaging spectroscopy to monitor coral mortality during a major heat wave in Hawaii, and found that certain reefs had lower coral loss and therefore may serve as refugia. Human and environmental factors, such as coastal development and sedimentation levels, played a role in differentiating resilient reefs from more vulnerable ones.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Brittany R. Williams, Dominic McAfee, Sean D. Connell
Summary: Marine soundscapes provide navigational cues for dispersing organisms, but with habitat loss, these soundscapes are becoming weaker. Using speakers to create healthy soundscapes can attract larvae and enhance recruitment, improving restoration efforts.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. Xiong, I. D. Williams, M. D. Hudson, P. E. Osborne, L. M. Zapata-Restrepo
Summary: This study presents a long-term historical analysis of the impacts of recreational boating on marine surface water quality during a regatta in the Solent Strait, UK. Water quality indicators, including nitrogen concentration, bacterial indicators, and oxygen saturation, were studied from 2001 to 2019 at three sampling sites near Cowes. The findings show that sewage discharge from recreational boats is the main contributor to localized faecal contamination, posing risks to bathers and shellfisheries. Strengthening bathing water quality monitoring and pollution warning systems, as well as restricting access to bathing water areas, should be considered during similar regattas. These findings have implications for the regulation and management strategies for discharges from recreational boats during extended regattas, emphasizing the need for adequate local facilities for sewage wastewater treatment and communication with sailors.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Christine Ferrier-Pages, Miguel C. Leal, Ricardo Calado, Dominik W. Schmid, Frederic Bertucci, David Lecchini, Denis Allemand
Summary: This review discusses the impact of underwater noise on coral reef organisms, with a focus on how different factors influence the sensitivity of organisms to noise. It highlights the need for measures from governments, the shipping industry and individual users to address global noise emission on coral reefs and emphasizes the importance of policies and research in managing this issue.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fernanda Andreoli Rolim, Tim Langlois, Fabio dos Santos Motta, Guilherme Malagutti de Castro, Emily Lester, Maria Luiza Abieri, Otto Bismarck Fazzano Gadig, Rodrigo Leao de Moura
Summary: The effects of fishing on coral reefs were studied using no-take marine reserves as control sites. It was found that well-managed reserves have positive impacts on fish biomass and functional diversity, while direct fisheries effects were observed on target fish species and carnivores. The presence of large mobile predators and higher biomass of carnivores inside the reserves indicate the exclusion of fishing activities.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
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
Wentao Zhu, Yuxiao Ren, Xiangbo Liu, Duanjie Huang, Jingquan Xia, Ming Zhu, Hongyang Yin, Rouwen Chen, Xiubao Li
Summary: This study examines the impact of the Qiongdong upwelling on the coastal coral reefs of Hainan Island. The results show significant differences in environmental variables between upwelling and non-upwelling areas, with colder and saltier water and lower coral coverage in the upwelling areas. The upwelling areas also face severe threats from coastal development and local anthropogenic activities.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
William S. Fisher
Summary: The goal of coral reef management is to provide habitat for fish populations, and it requires reliable methods to characterize reef features that contribute to fish habitat. By examining data from broad-area reef surveys, correlations were found between fish population measures and physical coral features, particularly coral colony height. Characterizing this relationship will improve fishery management tools and support assessment of the decline in the physical stature of reefs worldwide.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Haradhan Kolya, Chun-Won Kang
Summary: Burning straw openly in fields has negative impacts on soil microorganisms and soil degradation, while finding green materials for noise reduction in buildings is crucial. This research focuses on improving the reuse of rice straw for sustainable land and environmental development. The study investigated the sound absorption characteristics of crushed rice straw, rice straw stems, and their mixture. Results showed that rice straw stems have excellent sound absorption performance, which could promote the reuse of rice straw and improve the acoustic environment.
CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anne K. S. Justino, Guilherme V. B. Ferreira, Vincent Fauvelle, Natascha Schmidt, Veronique Lenoble, Latifa Pelage, Flavia Lucena-Fredou
Summary: This study investigated the contamination of microplastics (MPs) in four coastal fish species from the southwestern Tropical Atlantic. All species analyzed were found to be contaminated with MPs, with Alphestes afer being the most contaminated. There were no significant differences in the number and size of particles detected among species, and the most common shapes were fibers and films, with polyethylene being the most abundant polymer. This study provides important baseline data on MP contamination in coastal fish species, which is relevant for conserving marine biodiversity.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carsten G. B. Grupstra, Lauren I. Howe-Kerr, Jesse A. van der Meulen, Alex J. Veglia, Samantha R. Coy, Adrienne M. S. Correa
Summary: Animal waste is an important part of nutrient cycles and can transmit diverse microorganisms through trophic interactions. The feces of grazers/detritivores were found to cause more frequent and larger lesions on corals compared to the feces of corallivores, indicating the harmful microbial activity in grazer/detritivore feces. Analysis of bacterial diversity in feces from different fish species revealed potential differences in coral-associated bacteria and coral pathogens, suggesting the role of consumers in coral symbiont dispersal. These findings have significant implications for environmental management.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jacey C. Van Wert, Leila Ezzat, Katrina S. Munsterman, Kaitlyn Landfield, Nina M. D. Schiettekatte, Valeriano Parravicini, Jordan M. Casey, Simon J. Brandl, Deron E. Burkepile, Erika J. Eliason
Summary: Consumers play a crucial role in nutrient cycling through excretion and egestion. While the excretion of fish-derived inorganic nutrients has been studied extensively, the importance of egestion for nutrient cycling has been neglected. This study investigated the fecal nutrient content of different fish species on a coral reef and found that different species exhibit unique fecal nutrient concentrations.
Article
Ecology
Maria del Mar Palacios, Mark I. McCormick
Summary: Top-predator cues indirectly influenced the behavior and survival of juvenile fish prey by reducing visits and foraging attacks from mesopredators. The predation risk from top-predators promoted risk-averse behavior in mesopredators, favoring the survival and behavior of juvenile fishes. This study highlights the cascading effects of risk through the food web and the impact of harvesting top-predators on bottom prey populations.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
G. F. Galbraith, B. J. Cresswell, M. McCormick, T. C. Bridge, G. P. Jones
Summary: The study reveals that coral reefs on submerged pinnacles in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea support high biodiversity despite their small size and relative isolation. Fish community structure shows distinct separation across reef morphologies, with pinnacles most similar to offshore reefs. Benthic habitat complexity does not vary across reef types, while fish assemblages are weakly related to benthic habitat variables, with reef morphology being the most consistent predictor of fish community metrics.
Article
Ecology
Douglas P. Chivers, Mark I. McCormick, Eric P. Fakan, Jake W. Edmiston, Maud C. O. Ferrari
Summary: In degraded coral reef environments, Whitetail damselfish are able to learn to classify Moonwrasse as a non-predator through latent inhibition, but this recognition is dramatically altered in dead coral habitats. Changing background odors in different water sources pose a cognitive challenge for prey to learn non-predator identities separately, with significant survival consequences in a changing environment.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
E. K. Lester, T. J. Langlois, S. D. Simpson, M. I. McCormick, M. G. Meekan
Summary: The study compared the behavior of mesopredatory reef fishes in response to the presence of sharks in protected and fished reef systems. The results showed that the presence of sharks reduced the propensity of mesopredatory fish to engage in risk-prone behaviors over large spatial scales, with reactions varying among species and being influenced by shelter availability and shark activity levels. Overall, the findings indicate that sharks as predators or larger competitors can initiate changes in the behavior of mesopredatory reef fishes likely to affect trophic structuring within coral reef ecosystems.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Adam T. Downie, Caroline M. Phelps, Rhondda Jones, Jodie L. Rummer, Douglas P. Chivers, Maud C. O. Ferrari, Mark I. McCormick
Summary: Exposure to water from degraded coral was found to depress oxygen uptake rates by 21% in newly settled juvenile Ambon damselfishes, indicating that degraded habitats can have strong effects on fish physiology during this ecologically-critical time window.
Article
Ecology
Shaun S. Killen, Lauren E. Nadler, Kathryn Grazioso, Amy Cox, Mark I. McCormick
Summary: The study suggests that individuals with higher metabolic rates may be more social, but not necessarily prefer larger groups; however, the impact on group size choice is weak. Furthermore, variations in food availability and predation risk could further alter the effects of metabolism on group size choice.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Lauren E. Nadler, Mark McCormick, Jacob L. Johansen, Paolo Domenici
Summary: Nadler et al. investigated how social familiarity influences fast-start defensive responses in the tropical damselfish Chromis viridis. They found that familiarity led to faster responses to threats and the behaviors of others in the group, demonstrating that social recognition and memory can enhance fish anti-predator behavior.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Michael S. Pollock, Zoe Hoyle, Mark Mccormick, Douglas P. Chivers, Maud C. O. Ferrari
Summary: This study provides the first evidence of disturbance cue use in a marine fish, showcasing how disturbance cues can modulate predator recognition learning. The research sheds light on a new perspective for aquatic prey to assess predation risk by utilizing disturbance cues.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Davina E. Poulos, Mark McCormick
Summary: The effect of habitat loss on habitat specialists and generalists in coral reef fishes has been studied. The order of species arrival and timing affects their interactions and propensity to migrate. This has important consequences for the persistence of specialist species and the fish community in changing environments.
Article
Ecology
Emily K. Lester, Tim J. Langlois, Mark McCormick, Stephen D. Simpson, Todd Bond, Mark G. Meekan
Summary: The study found that in coral reef systems, the behavior of mesopredatory teleosts is influenced by the number of similar-sized competitors and surrounding habitat features, rather than the presence of larger predators such as sharks. Competition appears to have a more widespread and continuous impact on these fish species compared to predation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Douglas P. Chivers, Mark McCormick, Eric P. Fakan, Randall P. Barry, Maud C. O. Ferrari
Summary: Living in mixed-species aggregations provides animals with advantages but also costs, with each species facing unique trade-offs and dealing with anthropogenic changes. Some species in degraded habitats are unable to utilize their own chemical alarm cues effectively, leading to increased predation risk.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sophie L. Nedelec, Andrew N. Radford, Peter Gatenby, Isla Keesje Davidson, Laura Velasquez Jimenez, Maggie Travis, Katherine E. Chapman, Kieran P. McCloskey, Timothy A. C. Lamont, Bjorn Illing, Mark McCormick, Stephen D. Simpson
Summary: This study demonstrates that reducing noise pollution can improve animal reproductive success and enhance the resilience of coral reef ecosystems, based on field and laboratory experiments with a model fish system on the Great Barrier Reef.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gemma F. Galbraith, Benjamin J. Cresswell, Mark McCormick, Thomas C. Bridge, Geoffrey P. Jones
Summary: Hydrodynamics on coral reefs vary with depth, reef morphology, and seascape position, which strongly influence the structure and function of coral reef ecosystems. Submerged coral pinnacles experience stronger and more variable currents compared to emergent reefs at the same depth. The study also found different patterns in current speeds and temperature among reef types throughout the year and between seasons.
Article
Fisheries
M. McCormick, E. P. Fakan, G. Vamvounis, S. Bosshard, C. Moad, E. Smyth, P. Gatenby, J. Edmiston, K. Patel, B. J. M. Allan
Summary: This study examined the effects of ingesting polystyrene microplastic fragments on the body condition and fitness of a tropical marine fish. The results showed that ingestion of plastic had no significant impact on growth, body condition indices, or reproductive health indicators. Histological analysis also revealed no adverse effects on liver cells. The low levels of toxic compounds due to the inert nature of polystyrene and low leaching of plasticizers from the fragments contributed to the observed results.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
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)
