Article
Ecology
Maureen A. Williams, Sara Faiad, Danielle C. Claar, Beverly French, Katie L. Leslie, Emily Oven, Ana Sofia Guerra, Fiorenza Micheli, Brian J. Zgliczynski, Alison J. Haupt, Stuart A. Sandin, Chelsea L. Wood
Summary: The abundance of parasites in marine ecosystems is influenced by various factors, including geographic gradients, island area, and island isolation. The life history of parasites and environmental conditions play important roles in determining their abundance.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Nathan M. Bacheler, Kevan C. Gregalis, Zachary D. Gillum, Erin P. Pickett, Christina M. Schobernd, Zebulon H. Schobernd, Bradford Z. Teer
Summary: This study used 9 years of video data to analyze the abundance, habitat use, and environmental influences of amberjacks along the southeast United States Atlantic coast. The study found that the abundance of S. rivoliana increased significantly, S. zonata was the most inshore and heavily aggregating species, and S. fasciata occurred in the deepest water.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
S. Matern, T. Klefoth, C. Wolter, R. Arlinghaus
Summary: The type and extent of habitats along the shoreline significantly impact fish distribution in lakes, especially in gravel pit lakes. The abundance of fish species in littoral zones is influenced by both lake-level environmental factors and specific habitat characteristics, with most species showing an increase in abundance with higher lake productivity and more structured littoral habitats.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Moritz Breit, Julian Preuss, Vsevolod Scherrer, Franzis Preckel
Summary: Relations between variables can have different forms, including linearity, piecewise linearity, and nonlinearity. Segmented regression analyses (SRA) are often used for exploratory analyses in the social sciences, but they may not be suitable for describing nonlinear relationships. In this simulation study, we found that SRA, specifically the Davies test, frequently identified statistically significant breakpoints when there were moderate to strong degrees of nonlinearity. However, the identified breakpoints were widely distributed, indicating the limitations of SRA for exploratory analyses. We propose alternative statistical methods and outline the conditions for the legitimate use of SRA in the social sciences.
PSYCHOLOGICAL METHODS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
David J. Booth, Giglia A. Beretta
Summary: In this study, spatial differences in growth, body condition, survivorship, and movement of lemon damselfish Pomacentrus moluccensis were evaluated over a decade in the southern and northern Great Barrier Reef regions. The study found high within-site variation in mortality, unrelated to density, likely influenced by local conditions, and showed no clear relationship between sea temperature and growth. Additionally, at smaller scales of variation, individuals exhibited high site fidelity, indicating both population stability and dynamics.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Linda Eggertsen, Whitney Goodell, Cesar A. M. M. Cordeiro, Damboia Cossa, Marcos de Lucena, Charlotte Berkstrom, Joao N. Franco, Carlos E. L. Ferreira, Salomao Bandeira, Martin Gullstrom
Summary: This study investigated the influence of multiple scale-dependent factors and marine protected areas on seagrass fish species with different life histories. The results showed that fish distribution in seagrass-dominated seascape was dependent on species' life history characteristics and that protection efforts had varying impacts on fish distribution. Marine protected areas had the strongest effects on resident species.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Yu-Jia Lin, Ruben H. Roa-Ureta, Abdullajid Usama Basali, Joselito Francis Albaran Alcaria, Reynaldo Lindo, Mohammad A. Qurban, Perdana K. Prihartato, Ali Qasem, Lotfi Rabaoui
Summary: The study used long-term monitoring data from the western Arabian Gulf to extract clean signals of fish abundances and revealed decreasing trends in fish communities, showing nonlinear patterns and testing the taxonomic sufficiency hypothesis.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Hannah Ricci, Maddalena Gaeta, Carlotta Franchi, Andrea Poli, Maurizio Battino, Alberto Dolci, Daniela Schmid, Cristian Ricci
Summary: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a significant association between fish intake and reduced cardiovascular disease risk, with daily consumption of fish leading to a substantial decrease in fatal and non-fatal CVD events.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Renata Mazzei, Thiago C. Mendes, Cesar A. M. M. Cordeiro, Jose L. Luque, Marta C. Soares, Carlos E. L. Ferreira
Summary: The study found that the barber goby Elacatinus figaro is less reliant on cleaning interactions for food than other cleaning goby species. Its diet and abundance did not correspond to the availability of ectoparasites and/or clients, indicating a high feeding and behavioral plasticity in marginal reefs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Camila Caceres, Jeremy J. Kiszka, Andrea Luna-Acosta, Hans Herrera, Esteban Zarza, Michael R. Heithaus
Summary: Artisanal fisheries along the Caribbean coast of Colombia are socially and economically important, but their impact on non-targeted species and fishing practices are poorly understood. This study found declines in shark and ray populations, and artisanal fishers continue to exploit coral reef resources inside marine protected areas without strong enforcement. Collaborating with the local fishing community may be more effective in promoting conservation.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Derek G. Bolser, Jack P. Egerton, Philip M. Souza, Kevin M. Boswell, Brad E. Erisman
Summary: Assessing marine fish community size spectra with hydroacoustics is challenging due to the diverse nature of communities, common schooling and swim-bladder-less fishes, and variable fish orientation. The study developed an approach to address these challenges and found that fish lengths and size spectra slopes were significantly smaller when using in situ target strength distributions, but comparable to reference data when simulated target strength values were used. Fish orientation was not a useful predictor of target strength or slope.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonio Aranis, Rolando De la Cruz, Carlos Montenegro, Marlene Ramirez, Leonardo Caballero, Alejandra Gomez, Karen Walker
Summary: This study focused on the biological characteristics of Araucanian herring and proposed a meta-estimation tool to evaluate the management of size structures by integrating data from different sources.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Political Science
John B. Holbein, Marcos A. Rangel, Raeal Moore, Michelle Croft
Summary: This study examines the effect of exogenous voting shocks on citizens' attitudes and behaviors by treating voting as an independent variable. The findings show that individuals induced to vote, regardless of the mobilization method used, are no different from those who do not vote.
POLITICAL BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Review
Fisheries
Molly E. Scott, Sterling B. Tebbett, Kirsty L. Whitman, Cassandra A. Thompson, Frank B. Mancini, Michelle R. Heupel, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: This study used baited remote underwater video systems to investigate the variation in the taxonomic and functional structure of fish assemblages along a depth gradient. The study found that the abundance and diversity of fish decreased with depth, and there were pronounced differences in the fish assemblages across the depth gradient.
REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Matthew S. Kendall, Bethany L. Williams, Ashley Ruffo, Arliss J. Winship, Laughlin Siceloff, Aaron Adams, William Tobias
Summary: A comparison of juvenile fish assemblages in the mangroves of a Caribbean estuary over a 25-year period showed an increase in overall fish abundance but a decrease in overall biodiversity. Significant changes were observed in certain species, potentially related to environmental influences, fishing pressure, and hurricane disturbance.
BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Juan P. Quimbayo, Lucas T. Nunes, Fernanda C. Silva, Antonio B. Anderson, Diego R. Barneche, Angela M. Canterle, Isadora Cord, Andrea Dalben, Debora S. Ferrari, Luisa Fontoura, Thiago M. J. Fiuza, Ana M. R. Liedke, Guilherme O. Longo, Renato A. Morais, Alexandre C. Siqueira, Sergio R. Floeter
Summary: The TimeFISH database is the first public time-series dataset on reef fish assemblages in the southwestern Atlantic, providing 15 years of data based on standardized Underwater Visual Censuses. The dataset covers rocky reefs influenced by seasonal ocean temperatures, resulting in a mix of tropical and subtropical species. The data was collected using nondestructive methods and has been used in various research studies.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ori Frid, Shahar Malamud, Antonio Di Franco, Paolo Guidetti, Ernesto Azzurro, Joachim Claudet, Fiorenza Micheli, Ruth Yahel, Enric Sala, Jonathan Belmaker
Summary: The positive effect of fully protected marine protected areas (MPAs) on marine biodiversity, and specifically on fishes, has been widely documented. The potential of MPAs to mitigate the impact of adverse climatic conditions has seldom been investigated. This study assessed the effectiveness of MPAs in increasing fish biomass across the Mediterranean Sea and found that while MPAs did increase fish biomass, higher seawater temperatures were associated with decreased fish biomass. Importantly, the rate of decrease in fish biomass with temperature was similar between protected and fished sites.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Debora S. Ferrari, Sergio R. Floeter, Fabien Leprieur, Juan P. Quimbayo
Summary: This study evaluated the functional diversity of reef fishes on tropical oceanic islands and evaluated the predictions of island biogeography theories. The results showed that functional richness and functional divergence were higher on islands in the Eastern Pacific and Atlantic, while functional evenness and functional vulnerability were higher on Indo-Pacific islands. Functional diversity was positively correlated with species richness but negatively correlated with functional evenness and functional vulnerability. Past and present reef areas were the best predictors of functional diversity among islands.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erika F. C. Santana, Miguel Mies, Guilherme O. Longo, Rafael Menezes, Anaide W. Aued, Andre Luis Luza, Mariana G. Bender, Barbara Segal, Sergio R. Floeter, Ronaldo B. Francini-Filho
Summary: The environmental driver of benthic reef communities in the southwestern Atlantic reefs in Brazil is primarily turbidity. Turbid areas have a higher abundance of scleractinian coral species, while clear-water areas are dominated by fleshy macroalgae.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lorena de M. J. Gomes, Gabriel S. Garcia, Cesar A. M. M. Cordeiro, Nelson A. A. Gouveia, Carlos E. L. Ferreira, Mariana G. G. Bender, Guilherme O. O. Longo, Juan P. P. Quimbayo, Douglas F. M. Gherardi
Summary: Recent evidence has highlighted the important role of phylogenetic history in shaping communities' response to the environment. In our study, we investigated the response of reef fish abundances to environmental variability on four oceanic islands in the southwestern Atlantic, considering phylogenetic history, functional traits, and species co-occurrence patterns. We found a strong phylogenetic signal and surface chlorophyll-a concentration to be the most important environmental factor.
Article
Ecology
Andre L. Luza, Anaide W. Aued, Diego R. Barneche, Murilo S. Dias, Carlos E. L. Ferreira, Sergio R. Floeter, Ronaldo B. Francini-Filho, Guilherme O. Longo, Juan P. Quimbayo, Mariana G. Bender
Summary: This study investigated how similar responses of reef fish, corals, and algae to the environment produce spatially correlated functional diversity patterns. The results showed that sea surface temperature, species richness, and region played a major role in determining functional diversity across Brazilian reefs. However, different taxa responded differently to environmental variables, and the correlations between functional diversity metrics were low.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Andre L. Luza, Diego R. Barneche, Cesar A. M. M. Cordeiro, Cristian S. Dambros, Carlos E. L. Ferreira, Sergio R. Floeter, Vinicius J. Giglio, Osmar J. Luiz, Thiago C. Mendes, Vitor A. P. Picolotto, Juan P. Quimbayo, Fernanda C. Silva, Luiza Waechter, Guilherme O. Longo, Mariana G. Bender
Summary: The emergence of functional ecology has shifted the focus of ecological research from patterns of species diversity to the relationship between species traits and ecological processes. However, crossing boundaries among distantly related taxonomic groups remains a challenge in functional ecology. A cross-taxa approach, merging trait data from distantly related taxonomic groups, could help fill this gap. Functionally analogous traits, which represent similar ecological processes but may have different origins, are an important recent advance in functional ecology.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Fisheries
V. R. Barroso, F. C. Xavier, C. E. L. Ferreira
Summary: Aquatic ecosystems are affected by human activities, leading to a loss of biodiversity. Ocean sound, particularly fish sounds, has been used to study communication, behavior, and biodiversity. Artificial intelligence, specifically machine learning, can be used to detect and classify fish sounds, but the lack of validated sound data for individual species is a challenge. This review examines recent publications on the use of machine learning for fish sound analysis, highlighting key challenges and suggesting directions for future research.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Marcelo O. Soares, Pedro H. C. Pereira, Caroline Feitosa, Rodrigo Maggioni, Rafael S. Rocha, Luis Ernesto Arruda Bezerra, Oscar S. Duarte, Sandra Paiva, Eurico Noleto-Filho, Maiara Queiroz M. Silva, Mayra Csapo-Thomaz, Tatiane M. Garcia, Jose Pedro Vieira Arruda Junior, Kelly Ferreira Cottens, Bruno Vinicius, Ricardo Araujo, Clara Buck do Eirado, Lucas Penna Soares Santos, Tainah Correa Seabra Guimaraes, Carlos Henrique Targino, Jose Amorim-Reis Filho, Wagner Cesar Rosa dos Santos, Alex Garcia Cavalleiro de Macedo Klautau, Livio Moreira de Gurjao, Daniel Accioly Nogueira Machado, Rafaela Camargo Maia, Emanuel Soares Santos, Rachel Sabry, Nils Asp, Pedro B. M. Carneiro, Emanuelle F. Rabelo, Tallita C. L. Tavares, Gislaine Vanessa de Lima, Claudio L. S. Sampaio, Luiz A. Rocha, Carlos E. L. Ferreira, Tommaso Giarrizzo
Summary: This article discusses the recently identified invasion of lionfish in Brazil and proposes a roadmap for urgent mitigation, as well as research and management strategies. The invasion in Brazil is already consolidated, with 352 individuals recorded along the coastline, including juveniles, adults, and egg-bearing females. The lionfish invasion in Brazil has covered a wide range of habitats and regions, indicating a rapid and successful invasion process. Concerns are raised regarding the potential ecological impacts on native species that are vulnerable to lionfish predation. An urgent integrated approach with multiple stakeholders, solution-based ecological research, and a national plan are called for to decrease the impact of lionfish invasion. The experience from the Caribbean and Mediterranean invasions will aid in setting and prioritizing goals for Brazil.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Editorial Material
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Gabriel C. Cardozo-Ferreira, Thiago C. Mendes, Cesar A. M. M. Cordeiro, Vinicius J. Giglio, Rafael A. Magris, John H. Choat, Kendall D. Clements, Linda Eggertsen, Carlos E. L. Ferreira, Ronaldo B. Francini-Filho
Article
Zoology
Gabriel S. Araujo, Yan R. Kurtz, Ivan Sazima, Pedro Hollanda Carvalho, Sergio R. Floeter, Anderson Vilasboa, Matheus M. Rotundo, Carlos E. L. Ferreira, Joao Pedro Barreiros, Diane E. Pitassy, Alfredo Carvalho-Filho
Summary: This study aims to understand the evolutionary history and biogeographic processes of Sphoeroides. By including samples from all biogeographic regions of its occurrence, we reconstructed a phylogenetic/biogeographic history hypothesis for the genus. Our results showed that Sphoeroides is a paraphyletic group comprising Colomesus; indicated the central role of the Atlantic Ocean barriers in the diversification of the genus; and identified a cryptic species in Brazilian waters, formally known as S. spengleri.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Elena de la Guardia, Susana Perera-Valderrama, Zaimiuri Hernandez-Gonzalez, Hansel Caballero-Aragon, Jesus Ernesto Arias-Gonzalez
Summary: The San Felipe Keys National Park in Cuba is understudied and faces environmental stressors that require enhanced management and protection.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jeferson A. Duran-Fuentes, Flavio Mendes, Rogerio Caetano da Costa, Regis Augusto Pescinelli, Sergio R. Floeter, Sergio N. Stampar
Summary: This study aims to observe feeding habits and interspecific interactions of Actinostella flosculifera and describe the hunting strategy of Spurilla braziliana and the escape strategy of A. flosculifera in Brazil. The habitat of A. flosculifera is characterized by shallow pools that act as traps for organisms and biowaste. This is the first report of S. braziliana predating on A. flosculifera, and interspecific relationships with four species of crustaceans were also observed.
JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
(2023)
Article
Ecology
G. C. Cardozo-Ferreira, C. E. L. Ferreira, J. H. Choat, T. C. Mendes, R. M. Macieira, C. E. Rezende, J. -C Joyeux, K. D. Clements
Summary: This study investigated the effects of seasonal changes on the nutritional ecology of three herbivorous fishes in a subtropical rocky reef on the southeastern Brazilian coast using gut content analysis and stable isotope analysis. The results showed little seasonal variation in diet and isotopic niche, indicating that these fishes have different responses to environmental fluctuations.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2023)