Article
Engineering, Marine
Stefano Querin, Simone Cosoli, Riccardo Gerin, Celia Laurent, Vlado Malacic, Neva Pristov, Pierre-Marie Poulain
Summary: The study used a high-resolution hydrodynamic model to replicate and analyze the eddy structure in the Gulf of Trieste, and evaluated the model's ability to reproduce observed data as well as its sensitivity to external forcing factors (such as wind, river, and tides) to reveal the drivers of eddy formation.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maher Bouzaiene, Milena Menna, Dalila Elhmaidi, Ahmad Fehmi Dilmahamod, Pierre-Marie Poulain
Summary: The Lagrangian dispersion statistics of the Black Sea were estimated using satellite-tracked drifters, satellite altimeter data, and a high-resolution ocean model. The comparison between in-situ measurements and the model revealed good agreement in terms of surface dispersion. The study discussed the seasonal variability of dispersion in different layers, focusing on the role of sub-basin structures and currents in turbulent dispersion regimes.
Article
Ecology
Natalia Herran, Gita R. Narayan, Steve S. Doo, Andre Klicpera, Andre Freiwald, Hildegard Westphal
Summary: Marine symbioses play a crucial role in the persistence of coral reef ecosystems. The symbiotic relationship between corals and sipunculan worms allows the corals to move and avoid sediment cover, which is essential for their survival. Additionally, the commensalistic symbiosis between the worm and the bivalve contributes to the morphological alterations and species persistence in these organisms.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Prajvala Kurtakoti, Milena Veneziani, Achim Stossel, Wilbert Weijer, Mathew Maltrud
Summary: The study reveals that the formation of larger Weddell Sea polynyas (WSPs) requires a shift from weakly negative to strongly negative wind stress curl, along with the presence of a large heat reservoir at depth and a pronounced Maud Rise Polynya (MRP) as a triggering factor. These conditions lead to the growth of WSPs, impacting the formation of Antarctic Bottom Water.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Veronica van der Schyff, Marinus du Preez, Karin Blom, Nee Sun Choong Kwet Yive, Jana Klanova, Petra Pribylova, Ondrej Audy, Jakub Martinik, Hindrik Bouwman
Summary: Persistent halogenated compounds were found in coral reef biota from tropical islands in the western Indian Ocean, including traditional organic pollutants and new compounds. Different species of corals and fish showed varying concentrations and patterns of PHCs, indicating the need for targeted sampling in future surveys. Agalega and St. Brandon's Atoll can serve as monitoring sites for changes in pollutant concentrations due to their remoteness.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joanna Staneva, Marcel Ricker, Ruben Carrasco Alvarez, Oyvind Breivik, Corinna Schrum
Summary: This study investigates the effects of wind-wave processes in a coupled wave-ocean circulation model on Lagrangian transport simulations. Results show that wave-induced drift significantly affects particle transport in the upper ocean, and the accuracy of particle transport simulations depends on the Eulerian currents produced by introducing wave-induced parameterization.
Article
Ecology
P. Kamermans, A. J. Murk, T. Wijgerde
Summary: Coral and oyster reefs have suffered significant declines due to human activities, resulting in low recruitment rates of larvae and hindering ecosystem recovery. This study introduces a novel approach using high resolution tracking technology to analyze the swimming and substrate selection behavior of coral and oyster larvae in great detail. By analyzing second-by-second spatial data, the researchers were able to extract variables such as swimming pattern, speed, and distance traveled, providing insights into the behavior of these larvae. This study has potential applications in ecology, aquaculture, and coastal engineering, particularly in developing substrates to promote larval settlement on reefs for restoration efforts.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Casey R. Patrizio, Panos J. Athanasiadis, Claude Frankignoul, Doroteaciro Iovino, Simona Masina, Luca Famooss Paolini, Silvio Gualdi
Summary: The variability of the North Atlantic atmosphere-ocean system is assessed in low-resolution (LR) and high-resolution (HR) climate model simulations. The LR simulations overestimate the low-frequency variability of subpolar sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and underestimate its correlation with the NAO compared to ERA5 data. These deficiencies are significantly reduced in the HR simulations, which show improvements related to a reduction of intrinsic variability in the subpolar ocean circulation. The mean state of the Labrador-Irminger Seas has been identified as a factor influencing the subpolar ocean variability in the LR simulations.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Gregg A. Jacobs, Joseph M. D'Addezio, Brent Bartels, Peter L. Spence
Summary: Ocean forecast systems are limited by observation space-time resolution, requiring regular corrections of initial conditions for skillful forecasts. Satellite altimeters are the main observing system, and constrained scales are determined by filtering small-scale variability, with the best trajectory errors resulting from a decorrelation scale of 36 km.
ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luis X. de Pablo, Jonathan S. Lefcheck, Leah Harper, Valerie J. Paul, Scott Jones, Ross Whippo, Janina Seemann, David I. Kline, J. Emmett Duffy
Summary: Analysis of five years of data from Belize shows a significant increase in scleractinian coral cover on forereef sites, with more modest changes in macroalgae, turf algae, and sponge cover. Community-wide analysis confirms a significant shift in benthic structure, with emerging coral communities dominated by fast-recruiting and growing coral species.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sara E. Cannon, Simon D. Donner, Angela Liu, Pedro Gonzalez C. Espinosa, Andrew H. Baird, Julia K. Baum, Andrew G. Bauman, Maria Beger, Cassandra E. Benkwitt, Matthew J. Birt, Yannick Chancerelle, Joshua E. Cinner, Nicole L. Crane, Vianney Denis, Martial Depczynski, Nur Fadli, Douglas Fenner, Christopher J. Fulton, Yimnang Golbuu, Nicholas A. J. Graham, James Guest, Hugo B. Harrison, Jean-Paul A. Hobbs, Andrew S. Hoey, Thomas H. Holmes, Peter Houk, Fraser A. Januchowski-Hartley, Jamaluddin Jompa, Chao-Yang Kuo, Gino Valentino Limmon, Yuting V. Lin, Timothy R. McClanahan, Dominic Muenzel, Michelle J. Paddack, Serge Planes, Morgan S. Pratchett, Ben Radford, James Davis Reimer, Zoe T. Richards, Claire L. Ross, John Rulmal, Brigitte Sommer, Gareth J. Williams, Shaun K. Wilson
Summary: Scientists and managers often assume a positive relationship between local human disturbance and macroalgae on coral reefs, but this study finds that specific macroalgae taxa may respond differently to human disturbance. By examining genus-level monitoring data, the study reveals that no genera were positively correlated with all human disturbance metrics, highlighting the need to consider specific algae divisions or genera in assessments. The convention of using macroalgae percent cover as an indicator of local human disturbance may overlook important signatures of anthropogenic threats to reefs.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Shammi Akhter, Christopher E. Holloway, Kevin Hodges, Benoit Vanniere
Summary: In this study, the Tropical Cyclone (TC) activity over the Bay of Bengal (BoB) is examined using six HighResMIP multi-ensemble GCMs. The models struggle to reproduce the observed frequency and intensity of TCs, but most can capture the bimodal characteristics of the seasonal cycle of cyclones. The Genesis Potential Index (GPI) is found to capture the seasonal variation of TC frequency in both observations and models.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Larissa Macedo Cruz de Oliveira, Aaron Lim, Luis A. Conti, Andrew J. Wheeler
Summary: Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry is a cost-effective method for 3D mapping of cold-water corals reefs and deep-water environments. This study combines machine learning methods and SfM-derived 3D data to develop a novel multiclass classification workflow for CWC reefs in deep-water environments.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ronen Liberman, Maoz Fine, Yehuda Benayahu
Summary: Climate change affects the sexual reproduction and photosynthetic capacity of Red Sea coral, leading to changes in reproductive timing and synchronicity. Survival and metamorphosis rates of offspring reared under simulated conditions are significantly reduced, highlighting potential long-term impacts on the coral population.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kimika Takeyasu, Yusuke Uchiyama, Satoshi Mitarai
Summary: A numerical model study has found that there is short-distance horizontal connectivity of larvae between shallow and mesophotic corals in the reef areas on the northwest coast of Okinawa Island. This cross-depth larval dispersal is due to the mixed-layer depth in the spawning period, which leads to intensive vertical exchange of virtual larvae.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robin Faillettaz, Claire B. Paris, Ana C. Vaz, Natalie Perlin, Zachary M. Aman, Michael Schlueter, Steven A. Murawski
Summary: The shape of the droplet size distribution (DSD) formed by gas-saturated oil jets, often modeled as a theoretical lognormal, Rosin-Rammler or non-fundamental distribution function, is crucial for understanding and modeling the fate of uncontrolled deep-sea oil spills. Research following the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout has shown that the fundamental shape of the DSD has received less attention compared to the volume median size (d50) and range of the DSD. The probability distribution function of the DSD for far-field modeling is significant for oil spill response regardless of d50.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lela S. Schlenker, Robin Faillettaz, John D. Stieglitz, Chi Hin Lam, Ronald H. Hoenig, Georgina K. Cox, Rachael M. Heuer, Christina Pasparakis, Daniel D. Benetti, Claire B. Paris, Martin Grosell
Summary: Identifying complex behaviors such as spawning and fine-scale activity in highly migratory fish species is challenging, but essential for fisheries management in a warming ocean. Using remotely transmitted acceleration data, researchers were able to predict spawning events and discovered drivers of high activity in mahi-mahi, showing that this information can be extracted from PSATs to study reproductive behavior and population connectivity in highly migratory fishes. This study highlights the necessity of unveiling fine-scale activity patterns to understand the ecology of highly mobile species.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana C. Vaz, Robin Faillettaz, Claire B. Paris
Summary: During the Deepwater Horizon blowout, photooxidation of surface oil led to the formation of persistent compounds that can still be found in shoreline sediments a decade later. A new Lagrangian photooxidation module has been developed to estimate the impact of solar radiation on oil droplets in the ocean, quantifying the likelihood of photooxidative changes and tracking the transport of these compounds. This dynamic coupling provides a powerful tool to refine oil budget calculations and inform rapid response strategies for future oil spills.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Theresa Rueger, Rebecca Branconi, Catheline Y. M. Froehlich, Siobhan J. Heatwole, Marian Y. L. Wong, Peter M. Buston
Summary: Research on sociality in marine fishes is vibrant, with two coral reef fishes serving as models. The reasons for non-breeders' behavior and breeders' tolerance of them remain unclear. New methods like social network analysis are revealing subtle effects of ecology on social interactions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
C. H. Ainsworth, E. P. Chassignet, D. French-McCay, C. J. Beegle-Krause, I. Berenshtein, J. Englehardt, T. Fiddaman, H. Huang, M. Huettel, D. Justic, V. H. Kourafalou, Y. Liu, C. Mauritzen, S. Murawski, S. Morey, T. Ozgokmen, C. B. Paris, J. Ruzicka, S. Saul, J. Shepherd, S. Socolofsky, H. Solo Gabriele, T. Sutton, R. H. Weisberg, C. Wilson, L. Zheng, Y. Zheng
Summary: The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GOMRI) has conducted in-depth studies on the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill from various perspectives and recently assessed the program's accomplishments. By compiling 330 published applications and focusing on modeling efforts, GOMRI has made significant advancements in integrating diverse disciplines and domains. Various modeling tools have been utilized, with a focus on circulation models coupled with other environmental factors to track the fate of oil and its impact on ecosystems and human health.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
John E. Majoris, Matthew A. Foretich, Yinan Hu, Katie R. Nickles, Camilla L. Di Persia, Romain Chaput, E. Schlatter, Jacqueline F. Webb, Claire B. Paris, Peter M. Buston
Summary: The study focused on the ontogeny of sensory systems and orientation behavior in larval coral reef fish, specifically the neon goby. It found that most larvae can orient as early as 2 days post-hatch, and they exhibit improved swimming abilities as they develop. The results suggest that early orientation behavior may be common among coral reef fishes, and lay a foundation for further understanding the role of behavior in shaping dispersal patterns in the sea.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
C. C. D'Aloia, S. M. Bogdanowicz, J. A. Andres, P. M. Buston
Summary: Long-distance dispersal in the coral reef fish Elacatinus lori was uncovered using genetic parentage analysis and population assignment tests. Low rates of gene flow were found between populations in the adult generation, and despite the potential for ocean currents to facilitate long-distance dispersal, the gene flow rate among settlers was also low. By combining these two methods, short- and long-distance dispersal can be identified effectively.
Review
Ecology
Peter Buston, Tim Clutton-Brock
Summary: This article reviews experimental evidence for strategic growth in social vertebrates and describes the conditions under which strategic growth commonly occurs, as well as potential examples of convergent evolution of strategic growth across the tree of life. This has implications for our understanding of the regulation of individual growth and size.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Theresa Rueger, Anjali Kristina Bhardwaj, Emily Turner, Tina Adria Barbasch, Isabela Trumble, Brianne Dent, Peter Michael Buston
Summary: This study investigates the plasticity of vertebrate growth in response to variation in mutualistic interactions, using clown anemonefish and their anemone hosts as an example. The results show that fish on larger anemones grow faster than fish on smaller anemones, indicating the adjustment of growth to maximize reproductive value in an anemone context.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biology
John E. Majoris, Fritz A. Francisco, Corinne M. Burns, Simon J. Brandl, Karen M. Warkentin, Peter M. Buston
Summary: In oviparous species, the timing of hatching is a critical decision, and this study provides the first evidence of parental hatching regulation in a coral reef fish species. Male neon gobies were found to directly regulate hatching, resulting in later, more synchronous, and more successful hatching compared to artificially incubated embryos. These findings suggest that male gobies can respond to environmental conditions and modify the hatching time of their offspring, potentially influencing larval dispersal and fitness.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Robin K. Francis, Katrina A. Catalano, John E. Majoris, Theresa Rueger, Cassidy C. D'Aloia, Steve Bogdanowicz, Peter M. Buston
Summary: Determining patterns and causes of variation in reproductive success is crucial for understanding mating systems and sexual selection. This study focused on the cryptobenthic coral reef fish Elacatinus lori to investigate its breeding habitat characteristics, genetic mating system, and factors influencing male mating success. The results showed a positive relationship between male size and multiple metrics of mating success, but only explained a small proportion of the variation, suggesting the need to quantify other aspects of male phenotype and ecological context. The study emphasizes the importance of measuring habitat characteristics and male traits at smaller spatial scales to gain a deeper understanding of mating systems and sexual selection in species with restricted female movements.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
E. Schlatter, CaitLynn Klawon, Colleen Webb, Peter Buston
Summary: This study investigates the potential for adaptive evolution in larval size and swimming speed, two traits that may be related to dispersal outcomes in clown anemonefish. The researchers found strong evidence for the heritability of larval body size, but less conclusive evidence for the heritability of swimming speed. This work highlights the importance of considering prior distribution in Bayesian analysis and advances our understanding of potential dispersal-related larval traits.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Igal Berenshtein, Robin Faillettaz, Jean-Oliver Irisson, Moshe Kiflawi, Ulrike E. E. Siebeck, Jeffery M. M. Leis, Claire B. B. Paris
Summary: Research finds that most larval fish use external cues for directional movement and exhibit straighter paths. This finding can improve larval dispersal models and promote sustainable management of marine resources.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Karina Scavo Lord, Kathryn C. C. Lesneski, Peter M. M. Buston, Sarah W. W. Davies, Cassidy C. C. D'Aloia, John R. R. Finnerty
Summary: Using 2bRAD sequencing, this study demonstrates that a natural population of thin-finger coral (Porites divaricata) persists in mangroves through rampant asexual reproduction and limited dispersal. The findings suggest limited genetic diversity in mangrove populations and limited connectivity between mangroves and nearby reefs, with skewed sex ratios. Therefore, coral conservation should involve protecting the entire coral habitat mosaic, not just reefs.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Yinan Hu, John E. Majoris, Peter M. Buston, Jacqueline F. Webb
Summary: This study provides the first description of ear development in the pelagic larvae and juveniles of coral reef fishes. The results show that their ears lack the morphological specializations seen in other fish species. However, it is concluded that these unremarkable ears are sufficient for these fishes to navigate the open ocean and locate suitable settlement sites on coral reefs.
ICHTHYOLOGY AND HERPETOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Wei Zhang, Yu Sun, Yapeng Wu, Junyu Dong, Xiaojiang Song, Zhiyi Gao, Renbo Pang, Boyu Guoan
Summary: This study employed a spatiotemporal deep-learning method to correct biases in numerical ocean wave forecasts. By using a correction model driven by both wave and wind fields and a novel pixel-switch loss function, the corrected results performed well in different seasons and improved the accuracy of the original forecasts.