Review
Environmental Sciences
Camille Delaeter, Nicolas Spilmont, Vincent M. P. Bouchet, Laurent Seuront
Summary: With millions of tons of plastic entering the oceans each year, plastic pollution poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems. The release of harmful chemicals from plastics, known as plastic leachates, has been understudied. Research on the impact of plastic leachates on marine organisms is still in its early stages and there are gaps and inconsistencies that need to be addressed for a comprehensive understanding.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sing-Pei Yu, Masahiro Nakaoka, Benny K. K. Chan
Summary: Microplastic ingestion and gut retention time were evaluated in stage II naupliar larvae of nine barnacle species from different habitats and climatic zones. Results showed that species from different climatic zones did not differ in retention time, but larvae from rocky shore and coral reef barnacles appeared to be more susceptible to the impacts of longer retained microplastics.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Coskun Eruz, Yahya Terzi, Rafet Cagri Ozturk, Fatma Telli Karakoc, Koray Ozseker, Ahmet Sahin, Neira Purwanty Ismail
Summary: The abundance and characteristics of benthic marine litter in the southern Black Sea shelf were demonstrated. Plastic was the most abundant material. Further research is needed to understand the factors influencing transportation and accumulation of marine litter in the Black Sea.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gideon Gywa Deme, David Ewusi-Mensah, Oluwatosin Atinuke Olagbaju, Emmanuel Sunday Okeke, Charles Obinwanne Okoye, Elijah Chibueze Odii, Onome Ejeromedoghene, Eghosa Igun, Joseph Okoro Onyekwere, Olayinka Kehinde Oderinde, Edmond Sanganyado
Summary: Microplastic pollution is a widespread and urgent environmental and public health issue in Africa. While traditional command-and-control approaches may not be effective, market-oriented private-public waste management methods could prove more successful in combating this issue.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ilaria Corsi, Arianna Bellingeri, Elisa Bergami
Summary: Nanoplastic pollution in the marine environment is a growing concern due to difficulties in measuring their occurrence and assessing their ecological risk. Most studies have been conducted on a bench-scale, examining the effects on single model species under short-term exposure conditions and at high concentrations. Limited information on bioaccumulation in marine species hampers the selection of key bioindicator species for pollution monitoring and ecological risk assessment. A holistic approach is needed to select the best bioindicators and understand the sources, circulation, and behavior of nanoplastics in marine environments.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jenny R. Hillman, Carolyn J. Lundquist, Theresa A. O'Meara, Simon F. Thrush
Summary: Coastal marine soft-sediment ecosystems have a significant impact on nutrient cycling, carbon flows, and primary productivity, with benthic communities and environmental characteristics influencing fluxes across sediment-water interfaces. Depleting large benthic macrofauna through experimental simulations can assess their impact on key ecosystem functions. Quantifying flux variations across multiple habitats provides insight into the trajectory of change and consequences for ecosystem function at broad spatial scales.
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. A. Martin-Lara, V Godoy, L. Quesada, E. J. Lozano, M. Calero
Summary: This critical review examines the environmental status of marine plastic pollution in Spain, particularly focusing on microplastic pollution. The study reveals that plastic waste accumulation is significant in Spanish waters, with high concentrations in areas like the Alboran Sea, the Gulf of Alicante, and the vicinity of Barcelona. Moreover, microplastic contamination is severe on Spanish beaches, especially in the Canary Islands region.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Toshka Barnardo, Tanna Mae van Niekerk, Lorien Pichegru, Danica Marlin
Summary: Data on marine litter, especially in third-world countries like South Africa, is limited. A study in Port Elizabeth found that most litter was of local origin, with plastic being the dominant type, particularly food packaging. Although accumulation rates were lower compared to other African cities, local interventions are still needed to reduce litter in Port Elizabeth.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elena Pagter, Roisin Nash, Joao Frias, Fiona Kavanagh
Summary: This study assessed the levels of anthropogenic microplastics in benthic infauna from 20 subtidal stations in Galway Bay, Ireland. The results indicated that fibers were the dominant particle type, colors recorded in the organisms were mainly blue, and the ingestion of microplastics was associated with depth.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hanna Dijkstra
Summary: Entrepreneurs play a crucial role in managing marine plastic pollution, despite the challenges they face in building sustainable business models within an unsustainable system. However, by engaging with these tensions, marine plastic entrepreneurs can create significant social change beyond their business models.
NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Anabelle Dece A. Espadero, Yohei Nakamura, Wilfredo H. Uy, Masahiro Horinouchi
Summary: Tropical intertidal seagrass beds are important foraging grounds for multiple fish species and provide a permanent habitat for resident species. Recognizing the importance of these habitats is crucial for the management and protection of coastal fish biodiversity and fishery resources.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Richard Takyi, Badr El Mahrad, Cynthia Addo, John Essandoh, Mohamed ElHadary, Richard Adade, Eddiebright Joseph Buadi, Benjamin Osei Botwe, Francis Kofi Ewusie Nunoo
Summary: This study adopts a socio-ecological framework to analyze the complexities of coastal and marine ecosystems in the Ghanaian context. The study identifies various drivers of anthropogenic activities, such as fishing, oil and gas production, and waste disposal. These anthropogenic activities create significant pressures, leading to changes in fish biomass and habitat quality, among other ecological shifts.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Carlos J. M. Silva, Sonia Beleza, Diana Campos, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Ana L. Patricio Silva, Joao L. T. Pestana, Carlos Gravato
Summary: This study found that ingestion of polyethylene microplastics by Chironomus riparius larvae triggered a significant increase in basal PO activity at concentrations of 5 and 20 g PE-MPs kg-1, by 26% and 29% respectively, while total PO increased significantly by 48%, indicating de novo synthesis of proPO by organisms. The activation of the immune response is likely linked to damage in the epithelial cells of the gut lumen.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Sofie E. Voerman, Beauregard C. Marsh, Ricardo G. Bahia, Guilherme H. Pereira-Filho, Thomas W. Yee, Ana Clara F. Becker, Gilberto M. Amado-Filho, Arvydas Ruseckas, Graham A. Turnbull, Ifor D. W. Samuel, Heidi L. Burdett
Summary: This study investigated the mechanisms affecting the biodiversity-supporting potential of free-living red coralline algae towards mesophotic depths. The results showed a general decline in macrofaunal biodiversity but an increase in beta-diversity at the deepest site, highlighting the importance of these habitats as coastal refugia.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gabriel Enrique De-la-Torre, Miguel Valderrama-Herrera, Damarisch Fernanda Urizar Garfias Reyes, Tony R. Walker
Summary: This viewpoint expresses concerns about the potential loss of viable eggs of oviparous fishes deposited on marine litter during large-scale stranding events, which is often overlooked and poorly understood.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tatenda Dalu, Ryan J. Wasserman, Qihang Wu, William P. Froneman, Olaf L. F. Weyl
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2018)
Article
Ecology
Ross N. Cuthbert, Tatenda Dalu, Ryan J. Wasserman, Olaf L. F. Weyl, Amanda Callaghan, William Froneman, Jaimie T. A. Dick
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
P. W. Froneman
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Ross N. Cuthbert, Tatenda Dalu, Ryan J. Wasserman, Olaf L. F. Weyl, P. William Froneman, Amanda Callaghan, Jaimie T. A. Dick
BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Entomology
Ross N. Cuthbert, Tatenda Dalu, Ryan J. Wasserman, Olaf L. F. Weyl, P. William Froneman, Amanda Callaghan, Jaimie T. A. Dick
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pierre William Froneman
Summary: Predator diversity plays an important role in regulating predator-prey interactions. A mesocosm study conducted in a temperate southern African estuary showed that the presence of predators led to a decrease in zooplankton abundances and an increase in chlorophyll-a concentrations, consistent with the expectations of a trophic cascade. However, there were no significant differences in chlorophyll-a concentrations or zooplankton abundances between different predator treatments, suggesting that increasing predator diversity did not contribute to increased prey risk or the strength of the trophic cascade.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexia M. Dievart, Christopher D. McQuaid, Gerardo Zardi, Katy R. Nicastro, Pierre W. Froneman
Summary: Photoautotrophic euendolithic microorganisms are widely distributed in environments with calcium carbonate substrates and sufficient light. They can infest marine calcifying organisms, causing sub-lethal and lethal damage. However, under suitable conditions, their presence can also have surprising benefits for the host.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kevin C. K. Ma, Jonathan R. Monsinjon, P. William Froneman, Christopher D. McQuaid
Summary: Environmental filtering (EF) can have direct and indirect effects on population dynamics, especially at range edges. We found that thermal stress gradient affects the distribution, abundance, size, and epibiont load of invasive mussel populations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Pierre William Froneman
Summary: Global climate change will cause changes in salinity regimes in southern African estuaries, which can be attributed to increased occurrences of extreme weather events and rising sea levels. This study investigated the impact of salinity on the egg production rate of the sac-spawning copepod Pseudodiaptomus hessei in a temporarily open/closed estuary. The results suggest that changing salinity due to climate warming may decrease the reproductive success of P. hessei along the southeastern coastline of South Africa.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexia M. Dievart, Christopher D. McQuaid, Gerardo I. Zardi, Katy R. Nicastro, Pierre W. Froneman
Summary: Mussel beds provide thermal buffering and can be colonized by photoautotrophic euendoliths, which indirectly benefit associated molluscs by increasing shell albedo. This study investigated the effect of euendolithic infestation on body temperatures of four mollusc species in artificial mussel beds. Results showed that non-infested beds had higher shell temperatures for two species under high solar irradiance and low wind speeds. Morphological differences between species could explain this contrast. The findings suggest that euendolithic infestation improves humidity and temperature in mussel beds, benefiting associated molluscs particularly under heat stress.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
C. Allison, C. Muller, A-R Childs, W. Froneman, L. A. Bailey, W. M. Potts
Summary: This study aimed to determine the thermal tolerance of the endemic sparid Boopsoidea inornata by exposing wild fish to laboratory-simulated upwelling and heat-plume conditions. The results showed that the fish had lower and upper thermal stress limits at an average of 9 degrees C and 25 degrees C, with a CTmin at 7.8 degrees C and a CTmax at 30 degrees C. The study suggests that B. inornata is susceptible to small reductions in minimum temperature, which may have significant consequences for this and other sympatric, resident species with the expected increase in upwelling events due to global warming.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Michelle Caputo, Thibaut Bouveroux, Pierre William Froneman, Titus Shaanika, Stephanie Plon
Summary: This study is the first reported boat-based photographic identification study of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins off the Wild Coast of southeast South Africa, revealing the residency and individual movements of these dolphins in the area.
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
M. Caputo, P. W. Froneman, S. Plon
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Michelle Caputo, Daniel I. Rubenstein, Pierre W. Froneman, Thibaut Bouveroux
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2018)
