Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniele Salvi, Emanuele Berrilli, Matteo Garzia, Paolo Mariottini
Summary: The mitochondrial genome of the fingerprint oyster Alectryonella plicatula was found to be misidentified as it actually represents an individual of M. gigas. This highlights the importance of not relying solely on morphological shell analysis for oyster identification, even at high taxonomic ranks. The study emphasizes that morphological identification of oysters should be validated by molecular data, and molecular data should also be taxonomically verified through DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analyses.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aletta T. Yniguez, Gianina Cassandra May Apego, Norman Mendoza, Norchel Corcia Gomez, Gil S. Jacinto
Summary: This study investigates the plankton trophic dynamics in two reef systems in the West Philippine Sea and finds distinct variations in plankton biomass and assemblage between offshore and reef areas, as well as between different reef systems. Phytoplankton distributions indicate the filtering out of cells across the reef areas, while mesozooplankton distributions are influenced more by other factors. The isotopic signatures suggest different nutrient sources for phytoplankton, and mesozooplankton rely partly on phytoplankton as food, but also obtain food from other sources.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Catherine Guigue, Javier Angel Tesan-Onrubia, Lea Guyomarc'h, Daniela Banaru, Francois Carlotti, Marc Pagano, Sandrine Chifflet, Deny Malengros, Lassaad Chouba, Jacek Tronczynski, Marc Tedetti
Summary: This study analyzed the distribution of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs and PAHs) in the Mediterranean Sea and investigated their relationship with plankton. The results showed that AHs were mainly of biogenic origin, while the concentrations of PAHs varied among different size fractions of plankton and were influenced by biomass.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
N. Bada, Z. Da Ros, F. Rindi, S. Busi, E. Azzurro, F. Derbal, E. Fanelli
Summary: The study revealed significant seasonal variations in the diet of the sally lightfoot crab, improving understanding of its trophic plasticity and potential dietary overlaps with other herbivore species. This feeding plasticity is advantageous for the successful spread of the species in the Mediterranean Sea.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
G. Boldrocchi, B. Villa, D. Monticelli, D. Spanu, G. Magni, J. Pachner, M. Mastore, R. Bettinetti
Summary: Zooplankton has been used as bioindicators of water pollution globally, but there are few comprehensive studies on Mediterranean Sea. This study provides updated information on the presence and levels of contaminants in zooplankton from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Although banned, PCBs and DDT are still present but their contamination appears to be declining locally. Zooplankton accumulates high levels of certain TEs such as Zn and Pb, but intermediate levels of other TEs such as Cd and Hg, indicating a general improvement.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marc Tedetti, Jacek Tronczynski, Francois Carlotti, Marc Pagano, Sana Ben Ismail, Cherif Sammari, Malika Bel Hassen, Karine Desboeufs, Charlotte Poindron, Sandrine Chifflet, Amel Bellaaj Zouari, Moufida Abdennadher, Sirine Amri, Daniela Banaru, Lotfi Ben Abdallah, Nagib Bhairy, Ismail Boudriga, Aude Bourin, Christophe Brach-Papa, Nicolas Briant, Lea Cabrol, Cristele Chevalier, Lassaad Chouba, Sylvain Coudray, Mohamed Nejib Daly Yahia, Thibault de Garidel-Thoron, Aurelie Dufour, Jean-Claude Dutay, Boris Espinasse, Pamela Fierro-Gonzalez, Michel Fornier, Nicole Garcia, Franck Giner, Catherine Guigue, Loic Guilloux, Asma Hamza, Lars-Eric Heimbuerger-Boavida, Stephanic Jacquet, Joel Knoery, Rim Lajnef, Nouha Makhlouf Belkahia, Deny Malengros, Pauline L. Martinot, Anthony Bosse, Jean-Charles Mazur, Marouan Meddeb, Benjamin Misson, Olivier Pringault, Marianne Quemeneur, Olivier Radakovitch, Patrick Raimbault, Christophe Ravel, Vincent Rossi, Chaimaa Rwawi, Asma Sakka Hlaili, Javier Angel Tesan-Onrubia, Bastien Thomas, Melilotus Thyssen, Noureddine Zaaboub, Cedric Garnier
Summary: This paper discusses the experiential feedback and challenges related to the MERITEHIPPOCAMPE cruise in the Mediterranean Sea in spring 2019. The cruise proposed an innovative approach to investigate the accumulation and transfer of contaminants within planktonic food webs. The paper provides detailed information on the cruise operations, including sampling stations, strategy, and parameters analyzed, as well as the environmental conditions during the campaign. Additionally, it presents the articles produced based on the cruise work.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. Sturbois, A. Cozic, G. Schaal, N. Desroy, P. Riera, O. Le Pape, P. Le Mao, A. Ponsero, A. Carpentier
Summary: Assessing species interactions and food webs in bays and estuaries is crucial for understanding ecological functioning. This study examined demersal fish and cephalopod assemblages in the bay of Saint-Brieuc, finding that they were mainly dependent on marine POM and SOM as the basis of their food webs. Stable isotope and stomach contents analyses revealed variations in diet overlap and resource use among different species. The results suggest that differences in assemblages occurring at different depths may not imply differences in trophic resource use in shallow coastal ecosystems.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Javier Angel Tesan-Onrubia, Marc Tedetti, Francois Carlotti, Melissa Tenaille, Loic Guilloux, Marc Pagano, Benoit Lebreton, Gael Guillou, Pamela Fierro-Gonzalez, Catherine Guigue, Sandrine Chifflet, Theo Garcia, Ismail Boudriga, Malika Belhassen, Amel Bellaaj Zouari, Daniela Banaru
Summary: During the MERITE-HIPPOCAMPE campaign in the Mediterranean Sea, plankton samples were collected from 10 stations from the French coast to the Gulf of Gabe`s. The study found that the sources of carbon and nutrients in plankton vary depending on the coast and offshore area, and the size and nutritional content of plankton increase with size. The results also highlight spatial variations in the trophic structure of plankton size-fractions, which can contribute to the assessment of plankton as a biological pump of contaminants.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Donia Kalthoumi, Sara M. Francisco, Malek Miladi, Antonio Ruiz-Canales, Atf Azzouna, Joana I. Robalo
Summary: This study reports for the first time the genetic and morphological analysis of Holothuria impatiens specimens from the Tunisian coast. The morphometry of the Tunisian specimens revealed that the size of the individuals does not influence their ossicle structures. Low genetic diversity and a unique haplotype were observed in Tunisia.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Berivan Temiz, Esra Ozturk, Simon Blanchoud, Arzu Karahan
Summary: This study conducted a morphological and phylogeographic analysis of Botrylloides niger in the NEMS. 14 different morphotypes were found, with the orange-brown, orange, and brown-striped morphs being the most abundant. Four haplotypes were identified using mitochondrial COI as a DNA barcode marker. The temporal analysis showed the absence of colonies during winter and spring, with new colonies being established in summer and expanding in autumn. Demographic population analysis revealed a possible population subdivision at a sampling site, potentially caused by local freshwater input. This study represents an important step in understanding the diversity and propagation of this highly invasive species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew M. Holland, Arnaud Louchart, Luis Felipe Artigas, Clare Ostle, Angus Atkinson, Isabelle Rombouts, Carolyn A. Graves, Michelle Devlin, Birgit Heyden, Margarita Machairopoulou, Eileen Bresnan, Jos Schilder, Hans H. Jakobsen, Hannah Lloyd-Hartley, Paul Tett, Mike Best, Eric Goberville, Abigail McQuatters-Gollop
Summary: Plankton are important indicators of ecosystem health as they form the base of marine food webs. This study analyzed plankton datasets from the North-East Atlantic and North-West European shelf to track abundance trends over 60 years. The results showed a decrease in most planktonic lifeforms, except for meroplankton which increased. These trends differed between shelf and oceanic regions, with the North Sea experiencing increasing coastal abundance while the North-East Atlantic showed decreasing abundance. The decline of key planktonic lifeforms in the North-East Atlantic, such as diatoms and copepods, raises concerns for the future of food webs and highlights the need for sustainable management measures.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julio A. Diaz, Sergio Ramirez-Amaro, Francesc Ordines
Summary: The study identified 19 sponge species at the seamounts in the Mallorca Channel, including 3 new species and a new genus. Identification was done through morphological and molecular character analysis.
Review
Oceanography
Roberta Johnson, Clara Manno, Patrizia Ziveri
Summary: This study characterizes the spring distribution of pteropods in the Mediterranean Sea and investigates their ecological preferences. The results show that pteropod abundance is higher in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea compared to the Western basin. Environmental factors such as temperature, oxygen concentration, salinity, and aragonite saturation significantly affect the community structure of pteropods.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Silvia Secco, Massimiliano Scalici, Serena Lomiri, Ornella Nonnis, Antonella Ausili, Paolo Tomassetti
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the effect of anti-trawling reefs on the feeding ecology of fish in Punta Tramontana, Sardinia. They examined the stomach contents of two fish species and found that the installation of artificial reefs increased the food spectrum availability for one species and induced different feeding behaviors. However, the reefs had no negative environmental impact on the marine biota.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaolin Ma, Hong Yan, Wentao Ma, Xiaobo Jin, Hongrui Zhang, Haowen Dang, Yuehuan Zhang
Summary: This study presents a d(13)C record from a Tridacna gigas shell in the South China Sea, revealing seasonal and interannual cycles, as well as a long-term decreasing trend. The research investigates environmental factors affecting d(13)C at different time scales and suggests that high d(13)C values in the juvenile stage can be attributed to C-13 enrichment and preferential C-12 sequestration. On the interannual scale, both internal and external processes and the El Nino-La Nina event affect d(13)C, while seasonal changes are primarily influenced by photosynthesis and respiration of symbiotic zooxanthellae.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ross N. Cuthbert, Syrmalenia G. Kotronaki, James T. Carlton, Gregory M. Ruiz, Paul Fofonoff, Elizabeta Briski
Summary: Biological invasions are a major driver of biodiversity loss and socioeconomic burden globally. Alien species in different aquatic systems have varying geographic origins and taxonomies, but most invaders establish in only one region, indicating high potential for diverse invasion patterns.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ross N. N. Cuthbert, Elizabeta Briski
Summary: Environmental gradients may alter the ecological impacts of invasive alien species. In the western Baltic Sea, the functional response of Harris mud crab towards prey was influenced by salinity variation, but there were no significant differences observed across different salinity regimes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ross N. Cuthbert, Christophe Diagne, Emma J. Hudgins, Anna Turbelin, Danish A. Ahmed, Celine Albert, Thomas W. Bodey, Elizabeta Briski, Franz Essl, Phillip J. Haubrock, Rodolphe E. Gozlan, Natalia Kirichenko, Melina Kourantidou, Andrew M. Kramer, Franck Courchamp
Summary: The global increase in biological invasions is putting pressure on ecological and economic systems. However, the lack of standardized measurements across spatial, taxonomic, and temporal scales makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of current management expenditures. Geographic distribution of management costs heavily favors North America and Oceania, with most expenditures directed towards invasive alien invertebrates in terrestrial environments.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yaping Lin, Olja Vidjak, Daria Ezgeta-Balic, Dubravka Bojanic Varezic, Tanja Segvic-Bubic, Nika Staglicic, Aibin Zhan, Elizabeta Briski
Summary: The study investigated the plankton biodiversity under varying anthropogenic pressures along the eastern Adriatic coast. The comparative assessment revealed similar community structures among different coastal locations, with unique findings such as higher abundance of non-indigenous species in port areas and notorious invaders in aquaculture sites. This suggests that port areas may face greater introduction pressure from non-indigenous species, while aquaculture sites may experience greater community changes due to their establishment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Melita Peharda, David P. Gillikin, Bernd R. Schoene, Anouk Verheyden, Hana Uvanovic, Kresimir Markulin, Tomislav Saric, Ivica Janekovic, Ivan Zupan
Summary: This study investigated the potential use of Pinna nobilis shells as indicators of the nitrogen isotope baseline and high-resolution data on environmental variations. The results showed significant spatial and temporal differences in the shells' nitrogen isotope values, highlighting their potential as a powerful tool for studying bivalve physiology.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sanja Matic-Skoko, Dario Vrdoljak, Hana Uvanovic, Miso Pavicic, Pero Tutman, Dubravka Bojanic Varezic, Marcelo Kovacic
Summary: This study examines the settlement and recruitment patterns of juvenile fish in the coastal Mediterranean, finding that interannual environmental differences significantly impact the occurrence and abundance of juvenile fish. The study reveals that species occurrence and abundance fluctuate between years and seasons, with nurseries in the northern transitional waters being more influenced by changes in water temperature. The results also indicate that negative temperature deviation can cause delays in settlement and retention of specific fish species, affecting population dynamics and relationships within nursery communities.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nora Theurich, Elizabeta Briski, Ross N. Cuthbert
Summary: This study investigated the functional response of the invasive species Hemigrapsus takanoi under different environmental conditions. It found that H. takanoi displayed a potentially population-destabilising Type II functional response towards mussel prey, characterized by high feeding rates at low prey densities. Male crabs exhibited higher feeding rates than females, and higher temperatures reduced the feeding rate of males. Salinity had no clear effect on feeding rates for either sex. These findings provide insights into the interactions between biological invasions and climate change.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ismael Soto, Ross N. Cuthbert, Danish A. Ahmed, Antonin Kouba, Sami Domisch, Jaime R. G. Marquez, Ayah Beidas, Giuseppe Amatulli, Jens Kiesel, Longzhu Q. Shen, Margarita Florencio, Herlander Lima, Elizabeta Briski, Florian Altermatt, Gait Archambaud-Suard, Peter Borza, Zoltan Csabai, Thibault Datry, Mathieu Floury, Maxence Forcellini, Jean-Francois Fruget, Patrick Leitner, Marie-Helene Lizee, Anthony Maire, Anthony Ricciardi, Ralf B. Schaefer, Rachel Stubbington, Gea H. Van der Lee, Gabor Varbiro, Ralf C. M. Verdonschot, Peter Haase, Phillip J. Haubrock
Summary: The killer shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus is an invasive alien amphipod that has spread across freshwater rivers and streams in Europe, causing ecological and economic impacts. Our study analyzed 96 European time series and identified trends in the population dynamics of D. villosus, as well as its impact on ecological communities. We found that D. villosus is well-established in European waters and its abundance significantly alters recipient community metrics. However, early detection methods are needed to address the cryptic initial introductions of D. villosus.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ismael Soto, Ross N. Cuthbert, Anthony Ricciardi, Danish A. Ahmed, Florian Altermatt, Ralf B. Schaefer, Gait Archambaud-Suard, Nuria Bonada, Miguel Canedo-Argueelles, Zoltan Csabai, Thibault Datry, Jaimie T. A. Dick, Mathieu Floury, Marie Anne Eurie Forio, Maxence Forcellini, Jean-Francois Fruget, Peter Goethals, Peter Haase, Emma J. Hudgins, J. Iwan Jones, Antonin Kouba, Patrick Leitner, Marie-Helene Lizee, Anthony Maire, John F. Murphy, Davis Ozolins, Jes Jessen Rasmussen, Astrid Schmidt-Kloiber, Agnija Skuja, Rachel Stubbington, Gea H. van der Lee, Rudy Vannevel, Gabor Varbiro, Ralf C. M. Verdonschot, Peter Wiberg-Larsen, Phillip J. Haubrock, Elizabeta Briski
Summary: Understanding the dynamics and trends of invasive species population is crucial for comprehending the changing global species compositions. The Ponto-Caspian region has been a significant contributor to aquatic invasive species in Europe. Over a span of 52 years, Ponto-Caspian macroinvertebrates in central and western European countries increased from two to 29 species. The invasion rates and richness of Ponto-Caspian invaders also exhibited significant increase over time.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Ross N. Cuthbert, Elizabeta Briski
Summary: Climate change may shift the impacts of biological invasions on aquatic ecosystems, particularly in enclosed seas. Sea freshening, a consequence of climatic change, can modify the performance of invasive alien species. In this study, we compared the ecological impacts of an invasive alien species (Gammarus tigrinus) and a native species (Gammarus locusta) in the Baltic Sea under different salinity regimes. The results showed that salinity had an effect on the feeding rates and performance of the invasive alien species, with improved performance at lower salinities compared to the native species. These findings have implications for enclosed sea systems, where projected freshening could exacerbate the ecological impacts of invasive alien species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ismael Soto, Danish A. Ahmed, Ayah Beidas, Francisco J. Oficialdegui, Elena Tricarico, David G. Angeler, Giuseppe Amatulli, Elizabeta Briski, Thibault Datry, Alain Dohet, Sami Domisch, Judy England, Maria J. Feio, Maxence Forcellini, Richard K. Johnson, J. Iwan Jones, Aitor Larranaga, Lionel L'Hoste, John F. Murphy, Ralf B. Schaefer, Longzhu Q. Shen, Antonin Kouba, Phillip J. Haubrock
Summary: Since the mid-20th century, Europe has seen a significant increase in non-indigenous crayfish species (NICS) due to their extensive use in fisheries, aquaculture, and pet trade. However, there is a lack of large-scale analysis on their occurrences and trends. In this study, using a freshwater macroinvertebrate database, we evaluated the information on NICS obtained from biomonitoring approaches and identified species-specific trends. We found no significant temporal trend for the abundance of any species at the European scale but identified predictors of abundances.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Morgane Henry, Brian Leung, Ross N. Cuthbert, Thomas W. Bodey, Danish A. Ahmed, Elena Angulo, Paride Balzani, Elizabeta Briski, Franck Courchamp, Philip E. Hulme, Antonin Kouba, Melina Kourantidou, Chunlong Liu, Rafael L. Macedo, Francisco J. Oficialdegui, David Renault, Ismael Soto, Ali Serhan Tarkan, Anna J. Turbelin, Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Phillip J. Haubrock
Summary: Biological invasions pose a threat to ecosystems, biodiversity, and human well-being. The European Union, as a hub for cultural development and global trade, has extensive opportunities for the introduction and spread of alien species. However, there are significant gaps in knowledge regarding the costs of biological invasions in terms of taxonomy and spatio-temporal data.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES EUROPE
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Emma. J. J. Hudgins, Ross. N. N. Cuthbert, Phillip. J. J. Haubrock, Nigel. G. G. Taylor, Melina Kourantidou, Dat Nguyen, Alok Bang, Anna. J. J. Turbelin, Desika Moodley, Elizabeta Briski, Syrmalenia. G. G. Kotronaki, Franck Courchamp
Summary: Globalization intensifies the ecological and economic impacts of biological invasions, challenging sustainability. This study identifies the cost distributions of invasions across origin and recipient countries and continents and determines socio-economic and environmental predictors of cost dynamics. The findings highlight the uneven distribution of impacts and costs globally, with Europe being most frequently impacted and reported monetary costs resulting from species with origins in Asia influencing North America.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jakov Dulcic, Branko Dragicevic, Marin Kirincic, Pero Ugarkovic, Iva Zuzul, Tanja Segvic-Bubic
Summary: This article documents the first record of the little known stomatopod Parasquilla ferussaci in the Adriatic Sea and provides data on its molecular identification and morphological description. The record indicates an extension of the species' known distributional range in the Mediterranean Sea.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emily Curren, Sandric Chee Yew Leong
Summary: Microplastics in marine ecosystems serve as microhabitats for diverse toxic plankton species, including viable resting cysts of dinoflagellates. The diversity of plankton communities on the plastisphere is influenced by anthropogenic factors. This study highlights the importance of plastics as vectors for the transport of harmful opportunistic species in the marine environment.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vladimir G. Dvoretsky, Alexander G. Dvoretsky
Summary: The Barents Sea, as the largest Arctic shelf region, plays a vital role in supporting commercial fisheries. The ecosystem of this region is significantly influenced by both warm Atlantic Water (AW) and cold Arctic Water (ARW), resulting in distinct frontal zones. This study found that copepod populations, particularly herbivorous copepods, were most abundant and productive in the Polar Front, as well as in the eastern frontal zones. The geographic positions of sampling stations, depth, and chlorophyll a concentration were identified as the main factors influencing copepod biomass and production.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alberto Rovellini, Charlotte L. Mortimer, Matthew R. Dunn, Elizabeth A. Fulton, Jamaluddin Jompa, Abdul Haris, James J. Bell
Summary: This study compared the structural complexity of coral- and sponge-dominated areas of an Indonesian coral reef using 3D photogrammetry. The results showed that smaller-scale refugia were reduced in sponge-dominated reefs, potentially impacting smaller reef fauna.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
