Article
Environmental Sciences
Genmei Lin, Yongni He, Jianguo Lu, Hui Chen, Jianxiang Feng
Summary: The invasion of Spartina alterniflora and subsequent Kandelia obovata restoration have significant impacts on soil microbial community structures in different seasons. Ten-year restoration areas and native mature Kandelia obovata areas show more similarities in microbial communities. Key environmental factors driving microbial community include total carbon and nitrogen content, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and soil pH.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Xuan Peng, Xiaoqing Yu, Xingyu Zhai, Xiaofei Gao, Zheng Yu, Jun Yang
Summary: The invasion of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) in subtropical coastal region of China has a significant impact on ecosystem function and the ecological environment. However, there is limited knowledge about the fluctuation of different forms of nitrogen in cordgrass-invaded mangrove wetlands. This study compared the spatial and temporal distribution of different forms of nitrogen with and without S. alterniflora invasion in a coastal wetland in Fujian province, China. The results showed that nitrogen concentration in the wetland varied with intertidal vegetation type, season, and sampling location, with organic nitrogen being the dominant form in the mangrove zone.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Qiuxuan Wang, Li Song, Susana Agusti, Carlos Duarte, George Christakos, Jiaping Wu
Summary: This study examined the effects of non-native mangrove rehabilitation and salt marsh invasion on macrobenthos communities in Ximen Island, China. Results showed that Spartina alterniflora increased abundance and diversity of macrobenthos compared to mudflats, while macrobenthos abundance in mangrove forests was positively correlated with stand age but diversity indices showed negative correlations.
OCEAN SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Junlin Ren, Jianshe Chen, Changlin Xu, Johan van de Koppel, Mads S. Thomsen, Shiyun Qiu, Fangyan Cheng, Wanjuan Song, Quan-Xing Liu, Chi Xu, Junhong Bai, Yihui Zhang, Baoshan Cui, Mark D. Bertness, Brian R. Silliman, Bo Li, Qiang He
Summary: While protected areas are successful in rescuing wetlands and shorebird habitats, plant invasions are extensive and undermine the formation of new native marshes. The global invasion of exotic species into protected areas highlights the profound consequences of bioinvasions on conservation.
Article
Soil Science
Li Song, Qiuxuan Wang, Yaojia Zhu, George Christakos, Jiaping Wu
Summary: The introduction of Kandelia obovata and the invasion of Spartina alterniflora have important effects on the diversity and functions of benthic bacteria in coastal wetlands. The age of K. obovata and the species of exotic plants form distinct bacterial communities and functional structures in sediments. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the microbial processes and potential functions associated with K. obovata introduction and S. alterniflora invasion.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Li Song, Qiuxuan Wang, Pinmei Wang, Jiaping Wu
Summary: This study investigated the effects of Kandelia obovata and Spartina alterniflora on sediment properties and bacterial communities. The results showed that K. obovata sediments had higher soil organic carbon contents and exhibited higher heavy metals, while S. alterniflora habitats had more bacteria beneficial to plant growth. The study revealed that the impacts of K. obovata introduction outweighed S. alterniflora invasion on local ecosystems.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jianxiang Feng, Jianlin Guo, Yiting Cao, Naxu Hu, Chenxi Yu, Rui Li
Summary: This study evaluates the invasion effect of Spartina alterniflora on coastal mangrove ecosystems and the restoration effect of mangrove wetlands from the perspective of nitrogen cycle characteristics. The results show that Spartina alterniflora invasion does not enhance soil nitrogen mineralization but uses more NH4+-N relative to mangrove communities in germination and growing seasons.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
He-Bo Peng, Jianbin Shi, Xiaojing Gan, Jing Zhang, Chao Ma, Theunis Piersma, David S. Melville
Summary: The herbicide imazapyr effectively removes smooth cordgrass without significant collateral damage to other organisms and the environment. Application of imazapyr resulted in the death of all plants within 10 months and inhibited the germination and flowering processes. Imazapyr residues were detected in the environment but at low concentrations that decreased over time. No residues were found in macrobenthos, and the density of these organisms did not decrease.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Bin Wang, Xianbiao Lin
Summary: The wide and rapid invasion of Spartina alterniflora threatens the sustainability of coastal wetlands in China and negatively impacts sediment biogeochemical processes. This study investigated the effects of this invasive species on sediment nitrate reduction processes in mangrove wetlands. The results showed significant spatial differences in denitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium, and their contributions among different plant communities. Spartina alterniflora invasion increased sediment nitrogen loss while reducing nitrogen retention in mangrove wetlands, posing a threat to their buffer function and nitrogen pools protection in estuarine and coastal ecosystems.
Article
Agronomy
Changwei Zhang, Yuxue Zhang, Min Luo, Ji Tan, Xin Chen, Fengfeng Tan, Jiafang Huang
Summary: This study investigates the methane emission fluxes from different species of trees in coastal mangrove wetlands. The results show that tree stems and pneumatophores are important conduits for methane emissions, with variations between different mangrove communities. The study also highlights the seasonal variations in methane fluxes, but no significant changes in the partitioning of ecosystem methane fluxes between the two seasons were observed.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xuehui Zhang, Junhong Bai, Zhongsheng Zhang, Tian Xie, Guangliang Zhang, Yue Liu, Guozhu Chen, Zhe Liu
Summary: Exotic plant invasion alters soil carbon transformation and microbial community diversity in coastal wetlands. The dissolved organic matter (DOM) compositions and their relationships with microbial communities change with increasing time since invasion. The findings provide a better understanding of labile carbon turnover in invaded wetlands.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xinxin Wang, Xiangming Xiao, Xi Zhang, Jihua Wu, Bo Li
Summary: Coastal wetlands are vulnerable to sea-level rise, extreme climate, and human activities, especially in large river deltas. This study quantified the changes in area and patch number of coastal wetlands in China's four major river deltas, and assessed the effects of driving factors. It was found that the Liaohe River Delta and Yellow River Delta experienced substantial losses, while the Yangtze River Delta showed recent recoveries. The Pearl River Delta had a relatively stable area trend but an increasing patch number trend. Protected areas were effective in halting the decreasing trends in coastal wetland areas, but were counteracted by invasive plant invasions.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhonghua Ning, Dongxue Li, Cong Chen, Chengjie Xie, Guogui Chen, Tian Xie, Qing Wang, Junhong Bai, Baoshan Cui
Summary: Understanding the dynamics and pathways of invasive plants in relation to geomorphic landscape features is crucial for predicting and managing their expansion in non-native habitats. In this study, the evolutionary patterns of tidal channel networks in the Yellow River Delta were quantified using remote-sensing imagery, and the invasion patterns of Spartina alterniflora were identified. The study also revealed the influence of tidal channel characteristics on the plant's invasion dynamics.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yueming Wu, Zhanrui Leng, Jian Li, Hui Jia, Chongling Yan, Hualong Hong, Qiang Wang, Yanyan Lu, Daolin Du
Summary: Evidence suggests that the invasion of Spartina alterniflora poses serious risks to coastal wetland stability. The addition of sulfur can promote the growth of S. alterniflora and enhance its tolerance to cadmium, potentially exacerbating its expansion in contaminated areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Xiaofang Huang, Jianxiang Feng, Junde Dong, Jian Zhang, Qingsong Yang, Chenxi Yu, Meilin Wu, Wenqian Zhang, Juan Ling
Summary: This study monitored the sediment properties and diazotrophic communities in a chronosequence of restored mangrove wetland to investigate the response of the diazotrophic community to Spartina alterniflora invasion and subsequent mangrove restoration. The results revealed an orderly succession pattern in sediment properties and diazotrophic community composition. The study also found that SRB was the dominant diazotrophic group, and TC, TN, and TS were significant factors influencing sediment diazotrophic communities.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kyaw Thura, Oscar Serrano, Jiali Gu, Yunying Fang, Hein Zar Htwe, Yaojia Zhu, Runqiu Huang, Susana Agusti, Carlos M. Duarte, Hailong Wang, Jiaping Wu
Summary: This study examined the soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in different-aged mangroves and bare mudflats. The results showed that SOC stocks increased exponentially following mangrove restoration and reached a saturation trend after 15 years. The 60-year-old mangrove forests had significantly higher SOC stocks compared to the mudflat and 7-year-old transplanted sites. Soil salinity, pH, and bulk density increased significantly throughout the depth, while soil salinity decreased at lower depths. Soil texture was finer in mudflats and early stages of mangrove plantations.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Saima Sultana, Runqiu Huang, Lukas Van Zwieten, Hailong Wang, Jiaping Wu
Summary: This study investigates the retention, temporal variation, and contamination patterns of geochemical elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Ti, and Zn) in different coastal habitats on Ximen Island, China. The findings show that mangroves and saltmarshes have higher geochemical element accumulation, with the highest burial rate in mangrove sediments. Increase in anthropogenic activities influences the concentrations of certain geochemical elements, but overall contamination levels and potential environmental hazards are not high across tested habitats.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
H. -O. Poertner, R. J. Scholes, A. Arneth, D. K. A. Barnes, M. T. Burrows, S. E. Diamond, C. M. Duarte, W. Kiessling, P. Leadley, S. Managi, P. McElwee, G. Midgley, H. T. Ngo, D. Obura, U. Pascual, M. Sankaran, Y. J. Shin, A. L. Val
Summary: Earth's biodiversity and human societies are threatened by pollution, overconsumption of resources, urbanization, demographic changes, inequalities, and habitat loss, which are worsened by climate change. This review examines the connection between climate, biodiversity, and society, and proposes a roadmap for sustainability. The roadmap includes limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and preserving and restoring ecosystems on a significant portion of land and water. It emphasizes the need for interconnected protected areas and shared spaces to enhance biodiversity, and the ability of people and nature to adapt to and mitigate climate change. It calls for bold policy interventions and interconnected systems at all levels to promote human, ecosystem, and planetary health for a livable future.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David K. Ngugi, Silvia G. Acinas, Pablo Sanchez, Josep M. Gasol, Susana Agusti, David M. Karl, Carlos M. Duarte
Summary: This study investigates the average genome size of planktonic prokaryotes across tropical and polar oceans and down to the hadal realm. Using hundreds of metagenomes of marine microorganisms, genome size was found to be highest in the perennially cold polar ocean, suggesting that environmental factors influence genome size selection and the ecological strategies of marine microbes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Runjie Jin, Zhanjiang Ye, Shuangshuang Chen, Jiali Gu, Junyu He, Lei Huang, George Christakos, Susana Agusti, Carlos M. M. Duarte, Jiaping Wu
Summary: Seaweed aquaculture is vital for protecting the marine eco-environment and mitigating climate change, and China is the largest producer globally. However, there is a lack of accurate and reliable information on large-scale seaweed farms. This study used an object-based method to classify satellite images and accurately mapped seaweed farms in offshore China. The results provide essential information for seaweed cultivation and can guide similar mapping efforts on a broader or global scale.
GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Altynay Kaidarova, Nathan R. Geraldi, Rory P. Wilson, Juergen Kosel, Mark G. Meekan, Victor M. Eguiluz, Muhammad Mustafa Hussain, Atif Shamim, Hanguang Liao, Mani Srivastava, Swapnil Sayan Saha, Michael S. Strano, Xiangliang Zhang, Boon S. Ooi, Mark Holton, Lloyd W. Hopkins, Xiaojia Jin, Xun Gong, Flavio Quintana, Adylkhan Tovasarov, Assel Tasmagambetova, Carlos M. Duarte
Summary: Human societies rely on marine ecosystems, which are still experiencing degradation. This article discusses the adaptation of sensors and wearable technology developed for humans to improve marine monitoring. It highlights the barriers to transitioning this technology from land to sea, updates on sensor developments for ocean observation, and advocates for wider use of wearables on marine organisms. The authors propose that widespread use of wearables could contribute to an 'internet of marine life' and inform strategies for marine conservation and restoration.
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Folco Giomi, Alberto Barausse, Alexandra Steckbauer, Daniele Daffonchio, Carlos M. Duarte, Marco Fusi
Summary: The decline of dissolved oxygen in the oceans could have negative impacts on marine life and biogeochemical cycles. Current models that focus on large-scale mean values may lead to inaccurate predictions. Short-term and small-scale oxygen fluctuations strongly influence marine ecosystems, but they are often neglected in large-scale modelling. Understanding the dynamics of dissolved oxygen at small relevant scales is crucial for accurate projection of the impacts of ocean and coastal deoxygenation on marine biogeochemical processes and communities.
Review
Oceanography
Mikel Latasa, Francisco Rodriguez, Susana Agusti, Marta Estrada
Summary: A pigment chemotaxonomic approach was used to study the distribution of phytoplankton groups in the oligotrophic tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. The results showed the presence of a subsurface deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) in most of the sampling stations, and the composition of phytoplankton populations was relatively stable. Green algae and Prochlorococcus were the major contributors to total chlorophyll, while diatoms and dinoflagellates had lower contributions.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarah B. orberg, Carlos M. Duarte, Nathan R. Geraldi, Mikael K. Sejr, Susse Wegeberg, Jorgen L. S. Hansen, Dorte Krause-Jensen
Summary: By using environmental DNA (eDNA) fingerprinting, we tested the contribution of macroalgae to carbon stocks in arctic marine sediments. We found that macroalgae were prevalent in sediment samples from both nearshore and offshore areas, with brown algae being the main contributor. Stable isotope analysis also showed a significant contribution from macroalgae in sediments. Overall, our findings provide evidence for the prevalent contribution of macroalgal forests to sediment carbon stocks in the Arctic.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Finnley W. R. Ross, Philip W. Boyd, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Kenta Watanabe, Alejandra Ortega, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Catherine Lovelock, Calvyn F. A. Sondak, Lennart T. Bach, Carlos M. Duarte, Oscar Serrano, John Beardall, Patrick Tarbuck, Peter I. Macreadie
Summary: Seaweed has the potential to mitigate climate change, but there are uncertainties surrounding its impact and the need for accurate carbon accounting. Four potential ways to enhance seaweed's contribution to climate change mitigation are: protecting and restoring wild seaweed forests, expanding sustainable nearshore seaweed aquaculture, offsetting industrial CO2 emissions using seaweed products, and sinking seaweed into the deep sea. Despite these opportunities, verified carbon accounting and sustainability thresholds are needed before large-scale investment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yujian Guo, Juan M. Marin, Islam Ashry, Abderrahmen Trichili, Michelle-Nicole Havlik, Tien Khee Ng, Carlos M. Duarte, Boon S. Ooi
Summary: Oceans are vital to human survival, but are being affected by human-made disturbances and noise pollution. This article presents a fiber-based system that aims to reduce noise pollution while providing connectivity to underwater applications. The system enables data monitoring and transfer, as well as continuous power supply for underwater IoT devices.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Isabel Sanz-Saez, Pablo Sanchez, Guillem Salazar, Shinichi Sunagawa, Colomban de Vargas, Chris Bowler, Matthew B. Sullivan, Patrick Wincker, Eric Karsenti, Carlos Pedros-Alio, Susana Agusti, Takashi Gojobori, Carlos M. Duarte, Josep M. Gasol, Olga Sanchez, Silvia G. Acinas
Summary: Traditional culture techniques often underestimate the diversity of marine microbial communities, particularly in the deep ocean. In this study, we compared cultured heterotrophic bacteria with globally collected 16S rRNA metabarcoding datasets to assess the recovery of bacterial communities at different ocean depths. Our results indicate a higher proportion of isolates matching the metabarcoding data in the deep ocean, suggesting that sinking particles in the bathypelagic zone serve as nutrient-rich habitats for cultivable heterotrophic bacteria. These bacteria contribute to prokaryotic communities across different plankton size fractions, functioning as both free-living and particle-associated organisms.
ISME COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sreejith Kottuparambil, Ananya Ashok, Alan Barozzi, Gregoire Michoud, Chunzhi Cai, Daniele Daffonchio, Carlos M. Duarte, Susana Agusti
Summary: Understanding the immediate impacts of oil spills is crucial for predicting their long-term consequences on the marine environment. This study investigated the early signals of crude oil in seawater and plankton after a major oil spill in the Red Sea. The findings revealed significant incorporation of oil carbon into the dissolved organic carbon pool, alterations in UV absorption, elevated oil fluorescence emissions, changes in the carbon isotope composition of the seawater, enrichment of specific bacterial genera, and the presence of oil pollutants in zooplankton tissues. These early signs highlight the importance of predicting the long-term impacts of marine oil spills.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexandra Coello-Camba, Ruben Diaz-Rua, Susana Agusti
Summary: The use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies for identifying specific genetic markers has become crucial for characterizing microbial communities. In this study, a new primer pair was designed for the widely used Illumina MiSeq platform, allowing for the identification and classification of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus communities at a low taxonomic level, providing a useful tool for further research.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Runqiu Huang, Junyu He, Nan Wang, George Christakos, Jiali Gu, Li Song, Ji Luo, Susana Agusti, Carlos M. Duarte, Jiaping Wu
Summary: Coastal blue carbon ecosystems have promising benefits for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Research shows that mangrove transplantation and Spartina alterniflora invasion have significant effects on the carbon sequestration potential of coastal wetlands. Additionally, plant-derived organic carbon can be exported to the surrounding environment due to rapid sediment turnover.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
