Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tianyi Huang, Simone B. Moos, Edward A. Boyle
Summary: Research findings in the eastern tropical North Pacific (ETNP) oxygen-deficient zone (ODZ) support theoretical and experimental studies predicting that lighter chromium is preferentially reduced in low-oxygen environments and residual dissolved chromium becomes heavier due to removal of particl-reactive Cr(III) on sinking particles. Microbial activity, dependent on sinking organic matter flux, may be the dominant mechanism for chromium transformation, rather than a simple inorganic chemical conversion.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aura Maria Rodriguez-Burgos, Francisco Javier Briceno-Zuluaga, Julian Leonardo Avila Jimenez, Alex Hearn, Cesar Penaherrera-Palma, Eduardo Espinoza, James Ketchum, Peter Klimley, Todd Steiner, Randall Arauz, Elpis Joan
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of climate change on the distribution of the common hammerhead shark in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor and predicted that the species would migrate southward by 2050.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Colette L. Kelly, Nicole M. Travis, Pascale A. Baya, Karen L. Casciotti
Summary: By analyzing N2O concentration and isotopologues in the eastern tropical North Pacific (ETNP), it was found that high N2O levels observed at some stations may be due to unique conditions supporting high rates of N2O production. Additionally, the study revealed different sources and potential mechanisms contributing to N2O cycling in oxygen deficient zones.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Isabella Perez-Posada, Nancy Cabanillas-Teran, Rigoberto Rosas-Luis, Hector A. Hernandez-Arana, Alberto Sanchez-Gonzalez
Summary: A study in the Mexican Caribbean found that massive Sargassum arrivals have caused changes in the diet and trophic structure of sea urchins. Stable isotope analysis revealed that sea urchins primarily consumed Halimeda spp. and Thalassia testudinum. The feeding habits and trophic levels of Echinometra lucunter and E. viridis were altered during the period of massive Sargassum arrivals.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Bryan M. Maitland, Frank J. Rahel
Summary: Changing ecological conditions along environmental gradients influence patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Aquatic food webs along stream gradients were studied to understand how networks of interacting species respond to these changes. The study found that while increasing ecosystem size, productivity, and species richness influenced trophic diversity, there was a nonlinear relationship between trophic diversity and the gradient. Trophic redundancy within the fish community decreased downstream along the gradient, but this relationship varied with fish species richness. Overall, this study highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms that shape food web properties along gradients and their implications for ecosystem function in the face of environmental change.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anya V. Hess, Alexandra Auderset, Yair Rosenthal, Kenneth G. Miller, Xiaoli Zhou, Daniel M. Sigman, Alfredo Martinez-Garcia
Summary: The oxygen content of the oceans has declined due to climate change, especially in oxygen-deficient zones. Climate warming simulations predict the expansion of these zones until at least 2100. The response of ocean oxygenation on longer timescales remains uncertain.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
M. C. Neves, M. Vannuci-Silva, G. Montanini, A. F. Azevedo, J. Lailson-Brito, T. L. Bisi
Summary: Species in sympatry can coexist by niche partitioning, as observed in the Ilha Grande Bay where four cetacean species frequently occur. Niche overlap was high for species with site fidelity, while the rough-toothed dolphin showed high segregation. The bay is a biodiversity hotspot, providing diverse resources for the studied cetacean community.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qiang Ma, Yusheng Qiu, Run Zhang, E. Lv, Yipu Huang, Min Chen
Summary: The study aimed to reveal small-scale particle dynamics in the eastern tropical North Pacific through Po-210/Pb-210 disequilibrium. Results showed significant deficiency of total Po-210 in oligotrophic seas and fractionation between dissolved and particulate Po-210 and Pb-210 in the scavenging process.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Ericka O. C. Coni, David J. Booth, Camilo M. Ferreira, Ivan Nagelkerken
Summary: In response to human-mediated ocean warming, coral-reef fishes are shifting poleward and modifying their behavioral niches. Tropical fishes in novel temperate ranges are adjusting their behavior and increasing niche breadth, while native temperate species are also modifying their niches towards subtropical ranges. Behaviors related to feeding and shoaling play a significant role in niche modifications for both tropical and temperate species.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Caleb C. Butler, Kira E. Turnham, Allison M. Lewis, Matthew R. Nitschke, Mark E. Warner, Dustin W. Kemp, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, William K. Fitt, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen, Todd C. LaJeunesse
Summary: This study identified five new species in the genus Cladocopium, which are widespread and have diverse hosts. These findings are important for understanding ecological research, genetic research, and conservation efforts in the face of environmental changes.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Feng Wang, Dominique Arseneault, Etienne Boucher, Fabio Gennaretti, Shulong Yu, Tongwen Zhang
Summary: A high-quality millennial summer temperature reconstruction for northeastern North America shows that more than 70% of the coldest extremes can be attributed to volcanic eruptions. The study also highlights that tropical volcanic eruptions are the major driver of regional temperature variation at the multidecadal time scale.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Wenlong Pei, Jiayue Wang, Xinling Wang, Liang Du, Yipeng Wang, Yujin Fan, Rui Zhang, Tiegang Li, James Russell, Fan Zhang, Xiaoxiao Yu, Zhiyong Liu, Minglei Guan, Qi Han
Summary: The tropical western Pacific (TWP) is important in modulating the global climate through solar radiation, sea surface temperature, and monsoon circulation. Fluctuations in marine primary productivity in the TWP can impact the global carbon cycle. However, there is currently a lack of isotopic geochemical evidence to reconstruct changes in productivity in the western Pacific warm pool (WPWP).
Article
Environmental Sciences
Camila Arnes-Urgelles, Pelayo Salinas-de-Leon, Etienne Rastoin-Laplane, Leandro Vaca-Pita, Jenifer Suarez-Moncada, Diego Paez-Rosas
Summary: This study found that climatic variability impacts the feeding ecology of scalloped hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, with La Nina event potentially benefiting their trophic needs.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rui Albuquerque, Antonio Bode, Juan Ignacio Gonzalez-Gordillo, Carlos M. Duarte, Henrique Queiroga
Summary: Marine neuston, a group of zooplankton that live near the ocean surface, is one of the least studied zooplankton groups. This study characterized the neustonic communities across different oceanic provinces and found that the differences in stable isotopes are related to environmental characteristics. The trophic structure of neuston communities is generally consistent across different regions, but the size and overlap of trophic niches may vary depending on food availability.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Patrick J. Monreal, Colette L. Kelly, Nicole M. Travis, Karen L. Casciotti
Summary: This study analyzed the concentration and isotopocule ratios of N2O in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific (ETNP) to investigate the sources and controls of N2O cycling in this region. The results identified three distinct biogeochemical regimes and found that N2O production and consumption co-occur in oxygen-deficient zones. The study also linked N2O production mechanisms to a mesoscale eddy, highlighting the importance of eddies in spatiotemporal variability of N2O cycling and emissions.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alberto Solano-Barquero, Jeffrey A. Sibaja-Cordero, Jorge Cortes
Summary: This study evaluated the biodiversity larger than 500 mu m associated with rhodoliths at Isla del Coco National Park. The results showed that the degree of rhodolith aggregation and complexity, as well as volume and mass, influenced the diversity, composition, and biomass of associated fauna. Moderately aggregated rhodoliths had the highest diversity and biomass.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Forest Isbell, Patricia Balvanera, Akira S. Mori, Jin-Sheng He, James M. Bullock, Ganga Ram Regmi, Eric W. Seabloom, Simon Ferrier, Osvaldo E. Sala, Nathaly R. Guerrero-Ramirez, Julia Tavella, Daniel J. Larkin, Bernhard Schmid, Charlotte L. Outhwaite, Pairot Pramual, Elizabeth T. Borer, Michel Loreau, Taiwo Crossby Omotoriogun, David O. Obura, Maggie Anderson, Cristina Portales-Reyes, Kevin Kirkman, Pablo M. Vergara, Adam Thomas Clark, Kimberly J. Komatsu, Owen L. Petchey, Sarah R. Weiskopf, Laura J. Williams, Scott L. Collins, Nico Eisenhauer, Christopher H. Trisos, Delphine Renard, Alexandra J. Wright, Poonam Tripathi, Jane Cowles, Jarrett E. K. Byrnes, Peter B. Reich, Andy Purvis, Zati Sharip, Mary O'Connor, Clare E. Kazanski, Nick M. Haddad, Eulogio H. Soto, Laura E. Dee, Sandra Diaz, Chad R. Zirbel, Meghan L. Avolio, Shaopeng Wang, Zhiyuan Ma, Jingjing Liang, Hanan C. Farah, Justin Andrew Johnson, Brian W. Miller, Yann Hautier, Melinda D. Smith, Johannes M. H. Knops, Bonnie J. E. Myers, Zuzana Harmackova, Jorge Cortes, Michael B. J. Harfoot, Andrew Gonzalez, Tim Newbold, Jacqueline Oehri, Marina Mazon, Cynnamon Dobbs, Meredith S. Palmer
Summary: Despite progress in understanding global biodiversity loss, there are still taxonomic and geographic knowledge gaps. Decision makers often rely on expert judgement, but cannot engage with large and diverse groups of specialists. A survey of biodiversity experts worldwide revealed consensus and differences in perspectives and estimates, with underrepresented groups recommending different conservation priorities and providing higher estimates of biodiversity loss.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Olivia S. Pereira, Jennifer Gonzalez, Guillermo Mendoza, Jennifer Le, Madison McNeill, Jorge Ontiveros, Raymond W. Lee, Greg W. Rouse, Jorge Cortes, Lisa A. Levin
Summary: This study examines the linkages among chemosynthesis-based ecosystems by deploying organic fall mimics and carbonate rocks. It finds that seepage activity has a stronger effect on defining and homogenizing communities, and the dependence on organic decay is reduced at active seepage sites.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alan M. Friedlander, Enric Ballesteros, Odalisca Breedy, Beatriz Naranjo-Elizondo, Noelia Hernandez, Pelayo Salinas-de-Leon, Enric Sala, Jorge Cortes
Summary: The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica boasts a significant terrestrial biodiversity, but little is known about its marine ecosystems. Coral reefs, coastal rocky reefs, and submerged pinnacles are key habitats in the region, each with distinct characteristics in terms of coral cover and fish assemblages. The submerged pinnacles stand out as important habitats for fish species, including large predators.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juan Jose Alvarado, Jose Leonardo Chacon-Monge, Juan Carlos Azofeifa-Solano, Jorge Cortes
Summary: This review presents the history of expeditions and studies on deep-sea echinoderms in Costa Rica, providing an updated list of species. It reveals that deep-sea echinoderms are highly diverse in both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, with Ophiuroidea being the most specious group. However, limited research has been done regarding the biology and ecology of these organisms, emphasizing the need for further studies to understand their ecological functions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jimena Samper-Villarreal, Jairo Moya-Ramirez, Jorge Cortes
Summary: The negative impact of sea turtle overgrazing on seagrasses in some regions of the Caribbean Sea has led to a decline in seagrass canopy complexity. However, excluding megaherbivores has shown to increase seagrass cover, canopy height, above ground biomass, and carbon pools, while no significant changes were observed in seagrass shoot density, below ground biomass, and below ground carbon pools. This study highlights the importance of considering trophic dynamics in seagrass conservation and restoration efforts.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juan Carlos Azofeifa-Solano, Olivia S. Pereira, Emily Jayne Cowell, Erik E. Cordes, Lisa A. Levin, Shana K. Goffredi, Jorge Cortes
Summary: This study examines the sexual dimorphism in the yeti crab Kiwa puravida, a species endemic to the Costa Rican Pacific margin. Male crabs were found to have larger and wider claws compared to females, indicating sexual selection. The length of the second pereopod carpus did not differ between sexes, suggesting that it is not under sexual selection.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Rigoberto Rosas-Luis, Nancy Cabanillas-Teran, Luis Ignacio Hernandez-Chavez
Summary: Stable isotope analysis has been used to describe the trophic ecology in marine organisms, including crustaceans. Pre-treatment of high lipid content tissues before isotope quantification is suggested due to the potential influence of lipids on isotope concentrations. This study focused on the isotope analysis of blue crab tissues and compared the results of two lipid extraction methods with non-lipid extracted samples. The results emphasized the importance of lipid extraction and the need for pre-treatment of samples in isotope quantification.
JOURNAL OF CRUSTACEAN BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Benjamin R. Chomitz, Joan Anne Kleypas, Jorge Cortes, Juan Jose Alvarado
Summary: The study aimed to describe the changes in cryptofauna and fish communities associated with Pocillopora colonies following transplantation. The results showed an increase in the abundance and diversity of cryptofauna, as well as fish, indicating potential positive effects on coral health and survival.
REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA TROPICAL
(2023)
Article
Biology
Benjamin R. Chomitz, Joan Anne Kleypas, Jorge Cortes, Juan Jose Alvarado
Summary: This study aimed to understand the impact of coral transplants on the succession of the sessile benthic community. Experimental and control patches were established at the coral restoration site in Golfo Dulce, South Pacific Costa Rica to measure and monitor the coral cover and composition of the associated benthic community. The results showed that coral transplants changed the early successional trajectory of the benthic community, favoring the dominance of coral in the experimental patch. These findings have implications for future restoration efforts.
REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA TROPICAL
(2023)
Article
Biology
Tatiana Villalobos-Cubero, Joan A. Kleypas, Juan Jose Alvarado, Jorge Cortes Nunez
Summary: Integrated action is needed at multiple social and ecological scales to address coral reefs degradation. Active participation of local users is essential. This study evaluated local knowledge and perception of coral reefs in Golfo Dulce, providing a basis for social integration in coral restoration.
REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA TROPICAL
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jose A. Marin-Moraga, Jonathan Chacon-Guzman, Mauricio Mendez-Venegas, Ronny A. Hernandez-Mora, Jorge Cortes
Summary: This study analyzed the viability of ex situ culturing of Porites lobata and Pocillopora damicornis corals in Costa Rica. The results showed that the survival and growth rate of these corals were good under suitable culture conditions, but the yield was low due to suboptimal culture conditions.
REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA TROPICAL
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Brandon Manzanilla-Verde, Carmen A. Villegas-Sanchez, Nancy Cabanillas-Teran, Jose M. Castro-Perez, Rigoberto Rosas-Luis
Summary: This study describes the trophic niche, diet composition, and prey contribution of Lutjanus griseus. The results show that the trophic niche is wider in Veracruz compared to Campeche, which is related to the consumption of prey in different habitats. The study highlights the generalist and opportunistic feeding strategy of L. griseus, allowing its population expansion to the north.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Isabella Perez-Posada, Nancy Cabanillas-Teran, Rigoberto Rosas-Luis, Hector A. Hernandez-Arana, Alberto Sanchez-Gonzalez
Summary: A study in the Mexican Caribbean found that massive Sargassum arrivals have caused changes in the diet and trophic structure of sea urchins. Stable isotope analysis revealed that sea urchins primarily consumed Halimeda spp. and Thalassia testudinum. The feeding habits and trophic levels of Echinometra lucunter and E. viridis were altered during the period of massive Sargassum arrivals.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Rigoberto Rosas-Luis, Nancy Cabanillas-Teran, Carmen A. Villegas-Sanchez
Summary: The study used stable isotope analysis to evaluate the trophic ecology of four pelagic fish species in Ecuador, with results showing K. audax occupying the highest position in the food web. On a long-term scale, these species do not compete for food sources, and δN-15 values decrease with a decrease in predator size.
NEOTROPICAL ICHTHYOLOGY
(2021)
