Article
Fisheries
Charley Gros, Jan Jansen, Candice Untiedt, Tabitha R. R. Pearman, Rachel Downey, David K. A. Barnes, David A. Bowden, Dirk C. Welsford, Nicole A. Hill
Summary: A multi-criteria approach to vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) identification is proposed, considering the vulnerabilities of different indicator taxa to fishing disturbance. Using annotated imagery data, an index of cumulative abundance and overall richness was computed to quantify assemblage-level vulnerability and characterize different assemblages. This method aims to enhance VME identification and provide context to bycatch events.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruiju Tong, Andrew J. Davies, Chris Yesson, Jinsongdi Yu, Yuan Luo, Ling Zhang, Julian M. Burgos
Summary: Species distribution models (SDMs) are useful tools for describing and predicting the distribution of marine species in data-limited environments. In this study, an ensemble species distribution modeling method was used to predict the global habitat suitability for 10 widespread cold-water coral species. The outputs from this study provide valuable information for the management, conservation, and research of these species.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amy R. Baco, Rebecca Ross, Franziska Althaus, Diva Amon, Amelia E. H. Bridges, Saskia Brix, Pal Buhl-Mortensen, Ana Colaco, Marina Carreiro-Silva, Malcolm R. Clark, Cherisse Du Preez, Mari-Lise Franken, Matthew Gianni, Genoveva Gonzalez-Mirelis, Thomas Hourigan, Kerry Howell, Lisa A. Levin, Dhugal J. Lindsay, Tina N. Molodtsova, Nicole Morgan, Telmo Morato, Beatriz E. Mejia-Mercado, David O'Sullivan, Tabitha Pearman, David Price, Katleen Robert, Laura Robson, Ashley A. Rowden, James Taylor, Michelle Taylor, Lissette Victorero, Les Watling, Alan Williams, Joana R. Xavier, Chris Yesson
Summary: Management of deep-sea fisheries in areas beyond national jurisdiction requires identification of areas with Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs). Currently, fisheries data are used for VME identification, but there is a need for non-invasive data collection. This study aims to establish global consensus guidelines for identifying VMEs from images. The results show inconsistencies in VME indicators and definitions among different regions. The recommendations include establishing a global consensus on VME indicators, adopting imagery surveys as an alternative to traditional methods, and including imagery surveys in impact assessments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
V. Lauria, D. Massi, F. Fiorentino, G. Milisenda, T. Cillari
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive literature review on the occurrence of Leiopathes glaberrima in the Mediterranean Sea and used predictive modeling to create a continuous map of its suitable habitat in the central sector. The results showed that bathymetry, slope, and aspect are the main drivers of spatial distribution for L. glaberrima. This research contributes valuable information on the spatial distribution of vulnerable deep-sea corals in the Mediterranean Sea, with implications for marine spatial planning and conservation efforts.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Anna-Leena Downie, Nils Piechaud, Kerry Howell, Christopher Barrio Frojan, Mar Sacau, Andrew Kenny
Summary: This study investigates the impact of bottom fishing intensity on the distribution and biomass of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. The inclusion of fishing pressure as a predictive term significantly improves model performance, providing a more accurate picture of the current distribution of VMEs in the study area. The pre-fishing scenario predictions also identify areas of suitable habitat impacted by fishing activities.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Antonio Punzon, Lucia Lopez-Lopez, Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Irusta, Izaskun Preciado, Manuel Hidalgo, Alberto Serrano, Elena Tel, Raquel Somavilla, Julia Polo, Marian Blanco, Susana Ruiz-Pico, Olaya Fernandez-Zapico, Francisco Velasco, Enric Massuti
Summary: Most demersal species in the Northeast Atlantic are experiencing shifts in distribution due to global warming, leading to profound changes in demersal communities. The Community Weighted Mean Temperature (CWMT) index is used to link the thermal preference of demersal fish communities and temperature, showing potential to explore and anticipate climate change effects on demersal communities under different warming scenarios.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu-Jia Lin, Ruben H. Roa-Ureta, Abdu Rahiman Kambrath Pulikkoden, Panickan Premlal, Zahid Nazeer, Mohammad A. Qurban, Lotfi Rabaoui
Summary: This study used multiple surveys and analysis methods to determine essential fish habitats of several fish species inhabiting Saudi territorial waters in the western Arabian Gulf. The results showed that fish nursery areas were generally located in nearshore locations while spawning areas were located in offshore waters, with different species using different locations as nursery and spawning grounds.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Charley Gros, Jan Jansen, Piers K. Dunstan, Dirk C. Welsford, Nicole A. Hill
Summary: The distribution and conservation of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) are hindered by the limited adoption of VME distribution models. This study critically reviews VME distribution modelling studies and recommends guidelines for improving the relevance and impact of these models for policy and management decision making. The guidelines include the need for more precise VME data and specific criteria for identifying VMEs, along with the mapping of vulnerability.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Elizabeth J. Trower, James R. Gutoski, Virginia T. Wala, Tyler J. Mackey, Carl Simpson
Summary: This study reports the occurrence of ikaite, a carbonate mineral that forms in cold sedimentary environments, in the Beck Spring Dolomite, a carbonate succession deposited between approximately 780 and 730 Ma. These findings suggest that global climate was cool for tens of millions of years before the onset of Snowball Earth glaciation, in conflict with previous interpretations of pre-glacial carbonates.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
James A. Strong, Nils Piechaud, Laurence H. De Clippele, Brian J. Bett, Tammy Horton, Guillem Corbera, Veerle A. I. Huvenne
Summary: Cold-water corals are important species that provide habitat for other taxa but are sensitive to mechanical damage from bottom trawling. To gain insight into their recruitment and growth, small seabed moorings were deployed in a marine protected area hosting CWC mounds impacted by trawling. Coral recruits and diverse epifauna colonized the moorings, indicating favorable environmental conditions and larval supply. Seabed emplacement of high-relief artificial substrata is likely the most efficient and cost-effective restoration method for enhancing CWC recovery.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meri Bilan, Andrea Gori, Jordi Grinyo, Marina Biel-Cabanelas, Xenia Puigcerver-Segarra, Andreu Santin, Stefano Piraino, Sergio Rossi, Pere Puig
Summary: Bottom trawling has both direct and indirect impacts on cold-water coral communities, and the indirect impact can contribute to the simplification of community structure.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Stephen E. Swearer, Rebecca L. Morris, Luke T. Barrett, Michael Sievers, Tim Dempster, Robin Hale
Summary: Humans are altering marine ecosystems rapidly, potentially leading to animals choosing poor-quality habitats and increasing extinction risk. While there is growing evidence of ecological traps impacting terrestrial species, this phenomenon has received little attention in the marine environment.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zaira Da Ros, Antonio Dell'Anno, Emanuela Fanelli, Lorenzo Angeletti, Marco Taviani, Roberto Danovaro
Summary: This study investigated the food selection of three cold-water coral species and determined the optimal feeding conditions through stable isotope analysis and prey capture rates. The results showed that Mysis relicta was the preferred food source, followed by Artemia salina and Brachionus spp. Isotope analysis also revealed the importance of Particulate Organic Matter in the isotopic composition of coral tissue.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
S. Lin, D. W. Bao, C. W. Xiong, J. Fang, H. W. An, Z. Z. Sun, Y. M. Xie, S. W. Zhou
Summary: This paper introduces an optimization method for systematically designing human-made corals using solid isotropic material with the penalization, which provides better shelters for polyps. Computational fluid dynamics investigation shows that human-made corals can shield polyps from ocean currents and provide sufficient nutrition.
ADVANCES IN ENGINEERING SOFTWARE
(2021)
Review
Oceanography
Robert W. Schlegel, Sofia Darmaraki, Jessica A. Benthuysen, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Eric C. J. Oliver
Summary: Characterizing ocean temperature variability and extremes is crucial for understanding marine ecosystems. While marine heatwaves threaten ecosystems, marine cold-spells have received less attention. Ecological impacts include mass mortalities and range shifts. The development of marine cold-spells is often wind-induced, and globally they are decreasing in occurrence, duration, and intensity over the past 15 years.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Oceanography
Diya Das, Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Irusta, Telmo Morato, Laurence Fauconnet, Diana Catarino, Pedro Afonso, Claudia Viegas, Luis Rodrigues, Gui Menezes, Alexandra Rosa, Mario Rui Rilho Pinho, Helder Marques da Silva, Eva Giacomello
Summary: Elasmobranchs inhabiting depths beyond 200 m are at high risk of overexploitation, but little information is available for management strategies in the deep sea. This study used over 20 years of data to model the spatial distribution of 15 species of deep-sea elasmobranchs in the Azores Archipelago, and proposed using depth, area, and gear-based tactics to reduce unwanted catches.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Joao Correia, Gheylen Dagfhous, David Silva, Goncalo Graca, Ivan Beltran, Joao Reis, Jose P. Marques, Luis Silva, Rui Guedes, Telmo Morato
Summary: This paper covers 4 years of live fish transports and proposes several measures to reduce mortality rate, including pre-buffering the water, pre-quenching ammonia, maintaining dissolved oxygen saturation, etc.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yasmina Rodriguez, Frederic Vandeperre, Marco R. Santos, Laura Herrera, Hugo Parra, Ashok Deshpande, Karen A. Bjorndal, Christopher K. Pham
Summary: This study analyzed stranding events of juvenile green turtles found in the Azores archipelago and investigated their interactions with marine litter. The results showed that 14% of the stranded turtles were entangled in marine litter, and 86% had ingested plastic. The most common litter items ingested were hard plastic fragments.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Lorenzo Rovelli, Marina Carreiro-Silva, Karl M. Attard, Maria Rakka, Carlos Dominguez-Carrio, Meri Bilan, Sabena Blackbird, Telmo Morato, George A. Wolff, Ronnie N. Glud
Summary: This study provides the first measurements of oxygen uptake rates within coral gardens at the Condor seamount using a non-invasive technique. The results show that the oxygen uptake rates in the coral gardens are higher than surrounding areas, but the octocorals only contribute a small portion of this uptake and deposition of particulate organic matter is not the main source.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Maria Pachiadaki, Felix Janssen, Marina Carreiro-Silva, Telmo Morato, Gilberto P. Carreira, Helena C. Frazao, Patrick Heimbach, Isabel Iglesias, Frank E. Muller-Karger, Miguel M. Santos, Leslie M. Smith, Michael F. Vardaro, Fleur Visser, Joanna J. Waniek, Ann-Christine Zinkann, Ana Colaco
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Fisheries
Laurence Fauconnet, Diana Catarino, Diya Das, Eva Giacomello, Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Irusta, Pedro Afonso, Telmo Morato
Summary: This article reviews the impact of hook-and-line fisheries on deep-water shark bycatch in the Azores and discusses measures to reduce such bycatch. Challenges to avoiding bycatch include the diversity and lack of data on deep-water shark species. However, depth-based, area-based, and gear-based measures show potential for mitigating bycatch effects.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Jose Nuno Gomes-Pereira, Christopher K. Pham, Joana Miodonski, Marco A. R. Santos, Gisela Dionisio, Diana Catarino, Marianne Nyegaard, Etsuro Sawai, Gilberto P. Carreira, Pedro Afonso
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ligia Barcellos, Christopher K. Pham, Gui Menezes, Raul Bettencourt, Nieta Rocha, Miguel Carvalho, Helena P. Felgueiras
Summary: The invasive species Rugulopteryx okamurae, a brown macroalgae, has been found in European waters and the Strait of Gibraltar. Its proliferation poses significant threats to local ecosystems and results in a socioeconomic burden due to the accumulation of biomass as waste. Researchers have explored using the algae biomass in value-added products or technologies to minimize its impact. This review highlights the potential uses of R. okamurae, such as biogas production, composting, bioplastic, and pharmaceutical purposes.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Anna Diem, Patricio Ramalhosa, Eva Cacabelos, Jasmine Ferrario, Nuno Castro, Filipe Henriques, Joao Gama Monteiro, Paula Chainho, Christopher Kim Pham, Joao Canning-Clode, Jose Paula, Ignacio Gestoso
Summary: The synergistic effects of biological invasions have long been considered significant causes of biodiversity loss worldwide. Therefore, early detection monitoring is crucial in mitigating nonindigenous species (NIS) threats. However, the current methods used to monitor biological invasions in the marine environment are inadequate in collecting mobile biota and assessing its diversity. This study conducted a pilot study using different prototypes to improve the efficiency of monitoring and to collect more representative samples of both sessile and mobile biota.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Oceanography
Christian Mohn, Jorgen L. S. Hansen, Marina Carreiro-Silva, Stuart A. Cunningham, Evert de Froe, Carlos Dominguez-Carrio, Stefan Gary, Ronnie N. Glud, Cordula Goke, Clare Johnson, Telmo Morato, Eva Friis Moller, Lorenzo Rovelli, Kirstin Schulzi, Karline Soetaert, Anna van der Kaaden, Dick van Oevelen
Summary: Cold-water corals (CWCs) thrive in areas with complex and rough topography, but little is known about how basin-scale changes in the ocean climate affect their growth. In this study, high-resolution hydrodynamic models were used to investigate the impact of variations in basin-scale currents on local hydrodynamics and CWC communities. It was found that the variability of near-bottom currents and water mass properties at different AMOC states strongly influenced the CWC distribution. The kinetic energy dissipation rate was proposed as a mechanistic descriptor of CWC presence, providing insight into the hydrodynamics driving organic matter supply to these communities.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Gloria Fackelmann, Christopher K. Pham, Yasmina Rodriguez, Mark L. Mallory, Jennifer F. Provencher, Julia E. Baak, Simone Sommer
Summary: The gut microbiomes of two species of wild seabirds chronically ingesting microplastics were found to have fewer commensal microbial species but more pathogens. Microplastics are a global environmental pollutant and are consumed by various species, impacting their health in multiple ways. This study investigated the association between microplastics and the microbiomes of proventriculus and cloaca in northern fulmars and Cory's shearwaters. The presence of microplastics in the gut was significantly correlated with decreased diversity of commensal microbiota and increased presence of (zoonotic) pathogens, antibiotic-resistant microbes, and plastic-degrading microbes. These findings highlight the association between environmentally relevant concentrations and mixtures of microplastics and changes in the gut microbiomes of wild seabirds.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Hugo Parra, Miguel Machete, Marco Santos, Karen A. Bjorndal, Frederic Vandeperre
Summary: The incidental catch of sea turtles by pelagic longline fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic is a major concern. A study based on data collected from 2015 to 2020 found that sea turtles, mainly loggerhead and leatherback, interacted with the fishing gear in the region. The study also revealed a clear seasonal pattern in turtle bycatch and emphasized the importance of this information for effective sea turtle conservation.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonios D. Mazaris, Charalampos Dimitriadis, Maria Papazekou, Gail Schofield, Aggeliki Doxa, Anastasia Chatzimentor, Oguz Turkozan, Stelios Katsanevakis, Aphrodite Lioliou, Sara Abalo-Morla, Mustapha Aksissou, Antonella Arcangeli, Vincent Attard, Hedia Attia El Hili, Fabrizio Atzori, Eduardo J. Belda, Lobna Ben Nakhla, Ali A. Berbash, Karen A. Bjorndal, Annette C. Broderick, Juan A. Caminas, Onur Candan, Luis Cardona, Ilija Cetkovic, Nabigha Dakik, Giuseppe Andrea de Lucia, Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos, Salih Diryaq, Costanza Favilli, Caterina Maria Fortuna, Wayne J. Fuller, Susan Gallon, Abdulmaula Hamza, Imed Jribi, Manel Ben Ismail, Yiannis Kamarianakis, Yakup Kaska, Kastriot Korro, Drosos Koutsoubas, Giancarlo Lauriano, Bojan Lazar, David March, Adolfo Marco, Charikleia Minotou, Jonathan R. Monsinjon, Nahla M. Naguib, Andreas Palialexis, Vilma Piroli, Karaa Sami, Bektas Sonmez, Laurent Sourbes, Dogan Sozbilen, Frederic Vandeperre, Pierre Vignes, Michail Xanthakis, Vera Kopsel, Myron A. Peck
Summary: As climate-related impacts threaten marine biodiversity globally, it is important to adjust conservation efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. Translating scientific knowledge into practical management is often complicated due to resource, economic and policy constraints, generating a knowledge-action gap. However, this study in the Mediterranean region demonstrates successful convergence of perceptions among key actors regarding prioritizing adaptation and mitigation measures for marine turtle conservation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. Murray Roberts, Colin W. Devey, Arne Biastoch, Marina Carreiro-Silva, Tina Dohna, Boris Dorschel, Vikki Gunn, Veerle A. I. Huvenne, David Johnson, Didier Jollivet, Ellen Kenchington, Kate Larkin, Marjolaine Matabos, Telmo Morato, Malik S. Naumann, Covadonga Orejas, J. Angel A. Perez, Stefan A. Ragnarsson, Albertus J. Smit, Andrew Sweetman, Sebastian Unger, Benjamin Boteler, Lea-Anne Henry
Summary: Ocean ecosystems are facing climate and biodiversity crises, and there is a lack of unified approach to assess their state and inform sustainable policies. This blueprint emphasizes research capabilities and cross-sectoral partnerships, and highlights priorities including integrating observation, modeling, and genomic approaches, improving ecosystem mapping, identifying potential tipping points, understanding compound impacts of multiple stressors, and enhancing spatial and temporal management and protection. International cooperation and funding are crucial to support science-led policies that conserve ocean ecosystems and transcend jurisdictional borders.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
