Article
Environmental Sciences
Albert Pessarrodona, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Thomas Wernberg
Summary: Due to human impact on the environment, marine ecosystems are rapidly transforming into new configurations dominated by early-successional and weedy life forms. Algal turfs are emerging as a common configuration, but clearing turfs only provides a small time window for recovery of seaweed forests, limiting the effectiveness of turf clearing as a restoration tool.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Marcelo D. Catarino, Sonia M. G. Pires, Sonia Silva, Filipa Costa, Susana S. Braga, Diana C. G. A. Pinto, Artur M. S. Silva, Susana M. Cardoso
Summary: Fucales, an order of Phaeophyceae, are common littoral seaweeds in temperate and subtropical coastal regions. They have been utilized as food, feed, and medicine in human culture. These seaweeds are also a valuable source of bioactive compounds, with phlorotannins being of particular interest due to their health benefits. However, the identification and characterization of phlorotannins face challenges due to their complex structures and lack of standards.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Valentina Pitacco, Lovrenc Lipej
Summary: Canopy-forming macroalgae, especially those from the Fucales order, are forming productive brown algal forests that serve as important biological indicators in assessing coastal belt conditions in the Mediterranean. However, these macroalgae are rapidly disappearing along Mediterranean rocky coasts, being replaced by smaller turf-forming algae due to human activities. This study aimed to investigate the decline in canopy-forming taxa and the loss of Cystoseira species in the northern Adriatic Sea, which could lead to improved conservation efforts for critical benthic habitats.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Francesco Rendina, Annalisa Falace, Giuseppina Alongi, Maria Cristina Buia, Joao Neiva, Luca Appolloni, Giuliana Marletta, Giovanni Fulvio Russo
Summary: This study reports the discovery of healthy and dense marine forests formed by Fucales in the Santa Maria di Castellabate Marine Protected Area in Cilento, Italy. The presence of 10 Cystoseira taxa and the high ecological value of this area highlight the importance of marine protected area management and regional monitoring programs for the conservation of these valuable yet fragile coastal ecosystems.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Huamei Shao, Setuo Kiyomoto, Yohei Kawauchi, Tatsuru Kadota, Masahiro Nakagawa, Taku Yoshimura, Hideaki Yamada, Timothy Acker, Brian Moore
Summary: The study found that using acoustic methods combined with machine learning techniques can more accurately differentiate different types of algae habitats and effectively predict their community structure.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Hillary A. Smith, Lisa Bostrom-Einarsson, David G. Bourne
Summary: Persistent changes to reef communities have begun to be documented on the Great Barrier Reef, with shifts that may favor the proliferation of macroalgae on inshore reefs. Understanding these changes and accurately documenting the abundance of different reef organisms is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate their impacts. Traditional techniques for documenting coral reef communities may either over- or under-represent canopy-forming organisms, making it essential to implement methods that capture changes to the vertical dimension of coral reefs. The study proposes a vertically stratified transect method that accurately captures three-dimensional changes resulting from algal canopy growth, improving abundance estimates while maintaining compatibility with traditional methods.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qikun Xing, Miriam Bernard, Sylvie Rousvoal, Erwan Corre, Gabriel Markov, Akira F. Peters, Catherine Leblanc
Summary: The study revealed differences in physiological, gene regulation, and endophyte prevalence between the main host and the occasional host of the filamentous algal endophyte in European kelp populations, suggesting variability in host-endophyte interactions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Albert Pessarrodona
Summary: Compared to kelp forests, marine forests formed by fucoid macroalgae have been less studied. This study focuses on the second-largest genus of fucoids globally, Cystophora, which is endemic to Australasia. The research finds that historically common species of Cystophora are functionally extinct in their rear range edge, with some experiencing a contraction of up to 8% in their global distribution. These losses are among the largest reported for any forest-forming species in Australia and are likely attributed to gradual warming, marine heatwaves, and rapid urbanization. Further warming and human impacts in the region may lead to the further decline and potential extirpation of several endemic species.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sofia S. Sadogurska, Joao Neiva, Annalisa Falace, Ester A. Serrao, Alvaro Israel
Summary: The study provides morphological and molecular data of the Black Sea Cystoseira s.l. taxa, revealing their classification under two recently resurrected genera with a proposed new taxonomic combination. Results show high morphological plasticity in G. barbata in the Black Sea. Additionally, the Black Sea endemic taxon C. bosphorica is suggested to be conspecific with Mediterranean Sea species E. crinita and E. barbatula based on sequence divergence, geographical isolation, and endemism.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Kelsey Miller, Caitlin O. Blain, Nick T. Shears
Summary: Sea urchin removal is an effective method to restore macroalgal forests by increasing the abundance of kelp. However, it does not address the underlying cause of elevated sea urchin populations, and should be combined with other management measures to enhance kelp forest resilience and biodiversity.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Arin J. Thacker, Eric T. Hileman, Paul Keenlance, Eric M. McCluskey, Alyssa Swinehart, Jennifer Kovach, Jennifer A. Moore
Summary: Knowledge of species distribution is important for conservation and management. The eastern massasauga, a federally threatened rattlesnake, is difficult to survey due to its low detectability. We used occupancy models to assess the status of massasauga populations in Michigan and found that canopy cover and search effort influenced occupancy and detection probabilities. Management practices targeting woody invasive species and natural succession can benefit the species.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Eliseo Fica-Rojas, Alexis M. Catalan, Bernardo R. Broitman, Alejandro Perez-Matus, Nelson Valdivia
Summary: Ecological stability depends on interactions between different levels of biological organization. Insurance effects occur when increasing species diversity leads to more stable community-level properties. This study investigates how species richness and population-level parameters influence community invariability.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Michela Ingrassia, Martina Pierdomenico, Daniele Casalbore, Francesco Giuseppe Falese, Francesco Latino Chiocci
Summary: Italian coralline algal beds are calcareous formations that host a high biodiversity, but only seven of these sensitive habitats are part of Marine Protected Areas. Therefore, there is a need for increased research and monitoring activities to effectively protect these valuable habitats.
Article
Oceanography
Stephanie M. Lim, Gert L. van Dijken, Kevin R. Arrigo
Summary: This study investigated the response of Antarctic ice algal habitat to variations in sea ice and other environmental forcings. The research found that the Antarctic has a larger extent and duration of potential ice algal habitat than the Arctic. The bottom ice melt date was identified as the most important factor in explaining the variation in ice algal habitat. The study suggests that Antarctic ice algal habitat may be highly sensitive to future climate changes.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juan Pablo Pacheco, Clementina Calvo, Celina Aznarez, Margenny Barrios, Mariana Meerhoff, Erik Jeppesen, Annette Baattrup-Pedersen
Summary: The research highlights the significant impact of light and nutrient availability on the responses of periphyton biomass and composition to discharge. Nutrient enrichment and full light conditions increase periphyton biomass and affect its composition.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Catriona L. Hurd, Jeffrey T. Wright, Cayne Layton, Elisabeth M. A. Strain, Damon Britton, Wouter Visch, Neville Barrett, Scott Bennett, Kim Jye Lee Chang, Graham Edgar, J. Helen Fitton, Dean Greeno, Ian Jameson, Craig R. Johnson, Sam S. Karpiniec, Gerald T. Kraft, Scott D. Ling, Catriona M. Macleod, Ellie R. Paine, Ahyoung Park, J. Craig Sanderson, Matthias Schmid, Fiona J. Scott, Victor Shelamoff, Damien N. Stringer, Masayuki Tatsumi, Camille A. White, Anusuya Willis
Summary: Tasmania is an island state in south-eastern Australia known for its extensive history of seaweed use and research. The Aboriginal peoples of Tasmania have utilized seaweed for thousands of years for various purposes, including food, shelter, and medicine. The ecological and physiological studies conducted in Tasmania have significantly contributed to the global understanding of seaweed systems, particularly in areas such as community resilience and responses to global change. The decline in seaweed canopy cover and the development of aquaculture initiatives are also notable features of Tasmania's seaweed industry.
Article
Ecology
Griffin Srednick, Alyssa Cohen, Olivia Diehl, Kaela Tyler, Stephen E. Swearer
Summary: Understanding spatiotemporal variation in species abundance is crucial for understanding ecosystem resilience. This study investigates how habitat attributes mediate the effects of herbivory on tropical marine macroalgal communities and influence community assembly at different scales. The results show that reduced accessibility and detectability of habitat attributes can lead to variable trajectories and community structures in algal communities. This suggests that habitat attributes play a significant role in consumer-resource interactions, which ultimately affect species diversity, succession, and stability in algal metacommunities.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mariana Mayer-Pinto, Ana B. Bugnot, Emma L. Johnston, Jaimie Potts, Laura Airoldi, Tim M. Glasby, Elisabeth M. A. Strain, Peter Scanes, Shinjiro Ushiama, Katherine A. Dafforn
Summary: This study investigates the effects of increasing habitat complexity on biodiversity and ecological functions. The results show that increasing physical and biogenic complexity can enhance species richness but does not necessarily affect productivity. Therefore, when implementing eco-engineering practices, it is important to consider the trade-off between biodiversity and functional targets.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rose E. Fuggle, Paul E. Gribben, Ezequiel M. Marzinelli
Summary: Below-ground microbiota, especially the root-associated microbiota, play a crucial role in determining the growth performance of seagrasses under high nutrient stress. Understanding these plant-microbe interactions is essential for the functioning and restoration of threatened marine plants.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Wenshu Yap, Adam D. Switzer, Chris Gouramanis, Benjamin P. Horton, Ezequiel M. Marzinelli, Winona Wijaya, Yu Ting Yan, Dale Dominey-Howes, Maurizio Labbate, Kruawun Jankaew, Federico M. Lauro
Summary: The identification of tsunami deposits in the geological record is challenging due to the limitations of available proxies. Multi-proxy methods are used to improve the identification of tsunami deposits. This study assesses the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) for tsunami research by comparing eDNA from well-documented palaeotsunami deposits. The results show that eDNA can discriminate recent and past tsunami deposits but is limited in older sediment layers submerged in groundwater.
Article
Ecology
Justin O'Connor, John Morrongiello, Renae Ayres, Frank Amtstaetter, Wayne Koster, Adrian Kitchingman, Tanya Cowell, Matt Bowler, Robin Hale
Summary: Understanding the habitat use and likelihood of movement of animals can enhance the outcomes of restoration and reintroduction programs. In this study, river blackfish were reintroduced into two sites, one with rehabilitation efforts and the other without manipulation. Fish occupancy, habitat use, and movement drivers were monitored for 9 months after release. Results showed that fish were more likely to remain at the treatment site and spent more time in deeper areas with riparian vegetation. Habitat, flow, and time since release were significant predictors of fish movement.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alys Young, Rebecca K. Runting, Heini Kujala, Teresa M. Konlechner, Elisabeth M. A. Strain, Rebecca L. Morris
Summary: The lack of guidance on suitable implementation areas is a barrier to the wider implementation of living shorelines, which have become increasingly important for coastal hazard risk reduction and habitat protection. To address this, a shoreline suitability model was developed using species distribution models and a multi-criteria analysis to determine the potential distribution of 14 coastal species and available space for living shoreline implementation. The study found that a significant percentage of the coastline in Victoria, Australia is suitable for either soft or hybrid approaches to living shorelines, indicating the potential for effective coastal hazard mitigation and climate adaptation measures.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Virology
Jonathon C. O. Mifsud, Vincenzo A. Costa, Mary E. Petrone, Ezequiel M. Marzinelli, Edward C. Holmes, Erin Harvey
Summary: This article investigates the evolutionary history of the Flaviviridae family and finds that the viruses originated during the early stages of animal evolution approximately 750-800 million years ago. The study also reveals cross-species transmission and co-evolution between different species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Giulia Ferretto, Adriana Verges, Alistair G. B. Poore, Tim M. Glasby, Kingsley J. Griffin
Summary: Habitat complexity plays a critical role in shaping biotic assemblages and ecosystem processes. The decline of the late-successional seagrass Posidonia australis in some estuaries of eastern Australia, where it is now classified as an endangered ecological community, has led to reduced erosion and increased fish abundance in fragmented areas. However, areas with lower seagrass density showed higher abundance of epifauna and fish, indicating the importance of meadow characteristics in influencing ecological functions and processes.
Article
Ecology
Ben Maslen, Gordana Popovic, Michelle Lim, Ezequiel Marzinelli, David Warton
Summary: Sample size estimation through power analysis is crucial in ecological studies. A proposed power analysis procedure addresses challenges in multivariate abundance data collection by using a Gaussian copula model, assuming a common effect size across all taxa, and using a critical value approach to estimate power. This procedure was demonstrated on fish assemblage data and is available in the ecopower R software package.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
M. Paula Sgarlatta, Rucha Karkarey, Shannen M. Smith, Iain M. Suthers, Alistair G. B. Poore, Adriana Verges
Summary: Predation is difficult to quantify in the wild, especially in the marine environment. We developed a novel field-based method using a predation dome to measure predator-prey interactions for marine fishes. The predation dome allows for natural olfactory and visual cues and ethically returns the prey fish to the wild after the assay. We demonstrated the effectiveness of the predation domes in quantifying predation pressure in tropical and temperate locations, showing higher predation pressure in the tropical reefs.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Moises A. Aguilera, Angelo Araya, Ariel Rojas, Leslie Ortiz, Elisabeth M. A. Strain
Summary: Ports expansion brings significant economic benefits to local economies, but it also puts unprecedented pressure on surrounding coastal ecosystems. Effective management strategies are needed to deal with social-environmental conflicts caused by port operations.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christopher J. Roberts, Adriana Verges, Alistair G. B. Poore
Summary: Vast numbers of nature photographs shared online provide a growing source of ecological data. Underwater photographs taken by recreational divers can be used to monitor reef habitat composition, especially for under-represented species. The background of these photographs contains valuable data that is comparable to standardised scientific surveys.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Tristan D. J. Graham, Quan J. J. Wang, Yating Tang, Andrew Western, Wenyan Wu, Guy Ortlipp, Mark Bailey, Senlin Zhou, Kirsti Hakala, Qichun Yang
Summary: Water agencies allocate water based on agreed entitlement systems, often using historical climatology and a limited selection of climatic scenarios to issue seasonal water allocation outlooks. However, these outlooks have large uncertainties and lead to inefficient water use. This study investigates the use of ensemble seasonal inflow forecasts to improve the production of water allocation outlooks, resulting in outlooks that are closer to actual determinations and with reduced uncertainty. The integration of streamflow forecasts can lead to more efficient water use and water market participation.
JOURNAL OF WATER RESOURCES PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Biology
Emily K. Fobert, Colleen R. Miller, Stephen E. Swearer, Mariana Mayer-Pinto
Summary: This paper discusses the impacts of artificial night light on temperate and tropical reefs. Due to the adaptations of reef species to natural light conditions, artificial night light can have profound effects on reef organisms, including reducing reproductive success, altering predation rates, and impacting physiology and biochemistry. The paper also presents potential system-level impacts of artificial night light on reef communities and highlights knowledge gaps in understanding the overall impact.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)