Article
Fisheries
Jean-Michel Mortillaro, Lionel Dabbadie, Andoniaina E. Raminoharisoa, Anais Paradis, Philippe Martel, Rija Andriamarolaza, Modestine Raliniaina, Olivier Mikolasek, Joel Aubin
Summary: The trophic dynamics of integrated rice and fish farming systems were studied in irrigated rice plots in Madagascar. The study assessed fish feeding behavior by analyzing stable isotopes of fish and natural feed sources. The results showed that organic fertilization can enhance natural productivity and ecological intensification of rice and fish production.
Article
Oceanography
Maria Papadimitraki, Kristian Maar, Sigrun Huld Jonasdottir
Summary: Recent studies conducted a meta-analysis of published fatty acid and stable isotope data to determine the diet patterns of meso-/bathypelagic fish species. The results showed a gradient of feeding strategies and interspecific variation in the content of key fatty acid trophic markers, indicating potential variation in prey consumption. This study provides a global perspective on the trophic ecology of meso-/bathypelagic fish and highlights the usefulness of combining fatty acid and stable isotope analyses for large-scale comparisons.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Ming-Tsung Chung, Yu-Yang Peng, Aafaq Nazir, Yu-Chun Wang, Pei-Lin Wang, Jen-Chieh Shiao
Summary: Through analyzing muscle, otolith organic matter, and fish diet, it was found that the delta N-15 values were highest in muscle, followed by otoliths, diet, and plankton. There was no significant difference in delta N-15 values between otolith and diet. However, there was a small but significant difference in delta C-13 values between muscle and otolith in farmed fishes. This research is important for studying the feeding ecology and nutrition behaviors of fish.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Francisco Martinez-Baena, Vincent Raoult, Matthew D. Taylor, Troy F. Gaston, Ian McLeod, Melanie J. Bishop
Summary: Remnant oyster reefs play a critical role in the trophic ecology of both resident and transient species in Australian estuaries, contributing through direct predation and consumption of reef-dwelling organisms. The restoration of oyster reefs will enhance fisheries productivity by broadening the trophic resource base and promoting estuarine energy transfer.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Edoardo Calizza, Loreto Rossi, Giulio Careddu, Simona Sporta Caputi, Maria Letizia Costantini
Summary: Measuring the ecological and economic impacts of invasive species is crucial for managing invaded food webs. A novel approach was proposed to quantify trophic interaction strengths based on abundance, biomass, and diet data, which allowed for estimating economic loss and resilience of invaded food webs. The study revealed that species richness and food web complexity can affect resistance and economic impact of invasive species.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Simona Sporta Caputi, Loreto Rossi, Xavier Pons, Giulio Careddu, Edoardo Calizza, Maria Letizia Costantini
Summary: Genetically modified (GM) crops are a good way to improve food and environmental safety by reducing insecticide use. This study explores the impact of GM and non-GM maize residues on the soil food web. The results suggest that non-GM maize residues are more attractive to invertebrate consumers and have an impact on nutrient flows in tritrophic detritus-based food webs.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Longfei Shu, Zhenzhen He, Xiaotong Guan, Xueqin Yang, Yuehui Tian, Siyi Zhang, Chenyuan Wu, Zhili He, Qingyun Yan, Cheng Wang, Yijing Shi
Summary: Soil protists, the invisible majority of soil eukaryotes, play key roles in microbial food webs by predating on other soil microbes. In this study, the soil amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum was used to investigate selective discrimination and predation of different bacteria. The findings suggest that dormant D. discoideum can selectively sense and predate on different soil bacteria, likely mediated through active amoeba preference and bacterial inhibition.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stephanie D. Graves, Johanna J. Mason, Jose Luis Rodriguez-Gil, Jonathan Y. Seguin, Jules M. Blais, Mark L. Hanson, Bruce P. Hollebone, Vince P. Palace, Ian Clark, Leah Cundall, Daniel Layton-Matthews, Matthew I. Leybourne, Diane M. Orihel
Summary: Bacteria can biodegrade petroleum hydrocarbons after an oil spill, which could be assimilated by aquatic organisms. A study in a boreal lake in Canada examined the assimilation of petrogenic carbon into a freshwater food web after experimental spills of dilbit. The results showed minimal incorporation of oil carbon into the food web.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Debora P. Paula, Renata V. Timbo, Roberto C. Togawa, Alfried P. Vogler, David A. Andow
Summary: Quantifying the strength of species trophic interactions is crucial for understanding community dynamics and has implications for pest management and species conservation. We present an improved method to predict prey consumption from DNA data, and demonstrate its applicability in environmental DNA research.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cecilia E. Heuvel, Kenneth G. Drouillard, G. Douglas Haffner, Yingming Zhao, Aaron T. Fisk
Summary: This study found that POP concentrations were similar among different species of freshwater fish in Lake Erie, but varied significantly with ecological characteristics such as age and trophic level within individuals, illustrating the complexity of contaminant dynamics in freshwater fish.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laure Laffont, Johanna Menges, Sylvaine Goix, Sophie Gentes, Regine Maury-Brachet, Jeroen E. Sonke, Alexia Legeay, Patrice Gonzalez, Raphaelle Rinaldo, Laurence Maurice
Summary: The study in French Guiana aimed to investigate the impact of gold-mining activities on mercury concentrations and isotopic signatures in freshwater fish consumed by local residents. Analysis of Hg concentrations and isotopic ratios in fish muscles revealed differences in biogeochemical processes between fish from impacted and pristine areas, indicating potential influences of suspended particles on mercury concentrations. The study also highlighted the potential of Hg isotopes in fish as complementary tracers to understand the sources and processes of mercury accumulation in aquatic ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dhanya Mohan Lal, Giri Bhavan Sreekanth, Chitra Soman, Anupam Sharma, Zeba Jaffer Abidi
Summary: The food and feeding relationships in the Ulhas River Estuary (URE) were analyzed using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures. The results showed that there were both a phytoplankton-based pelagic food chain and a detritus-based benthic food chain in URE. The ecosystem in URE exhibited a broader food web structure and higher trophic diversity, indicating the influence of anthropogenic activities on nitrogen pollution and trophic disturbance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paride Balzani, Phillip J. Haubrock, Francesco Russo, Antonin Kouba, Peter Haase, Lukas Vesely, Alberto Masoni, Elena Tricarico
Summary: The study revealed that in the Arno River in central Italy, most alien fish and crustaceans had higher metal concentrations compared to native species. Some metals, such as cadmium, chromium, and mercury, were found to undergo trophic transfer within the food chain. Additionally, differences in metal concentrations among different tissues and evidence of biomagnification for mercury were observed, highlighting the potential risks posed by alien species and metal pollution in freshwater ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eric J. Walther, Donald E. Arthur, Andrew Cyr, Kevin M. Fraley, Taylor Cubbage, Elizabeth Hinkle, Julia McMahon, Peter A. H. Westley
Summary: This study evaluated the consumption risks of burbot in the Tanana River drainage in Alaska, USA. It found that the mercury concentration in burbot muscle and liver tissue was positively associated with fish length and did not follow the typical bio-magnification pattern. All sampled burbot were within the recommended limits for consumption.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eric G. Johnson, Angelina Dichiera, Danielle Goldberg, MaryKate Swenarton, James Gelsleichter
Summary: The study found that mercury levels in lionfish increase with size, vary by location and sex, but overall, the mercury levels in lionfish are lower than other commonly consumed marine fishes, posing a low risk to consumption.
Article
Environmental Sciences
E. Calizza, F. Favero, D. Rossi, G. Careddu, F. Fiorentino, Simona Sporta Caputi, L. Rossi, M. L. Costantini
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Simona Sporta Caputi, Giulio Careddu, Edoardo Calizza, Federico Fiorentino, Deborah Maccapan, Loreto Rossi, Maria Letizia Costantini
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Edoardo Calizza, Loreto Rossi, Giulio Careddu, Simona Sporta Caputi, Maria Letizia Costantini
Summary: Measuring the ecological and economic impacts of invasive species is crucial for managing invaded food webs. A novel approach was proposed to quantify trophic interaction strengths based on abundance, biomass, and diet data, which allowed for estimating economic loss and resilience of invaded food webs. The study revealed that species richness and food web complexity can affect resistance and economic impact of invasive species.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edoardo Calizza, Geraldina Signa, Loreto Rossi, Salvatrice Vizzini, Giulio Careddu, Cecilia Doriana Tramati, Simona Sporta Caputi, Antonio Mazzola, Maria Letizia Costantini
Summary: The study found higher concentrations of trace elements in chick carcasses than in eggs, indicating increasing contamination in recent decades and high toxicity risks for penguin consumers. Isotopic conversion factors highlighted small differences among body tissues and conspecifics, suggesting that chick carcasses are reliable indicators of the energy pathways, trophic position, and exposure to TEs in the two penguin species.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giulio Careddu, Paolo Ciucci, Stella Mondovi, Edoardo Calizza, Loreto Rossi, Maria Letizia Costantini
Summary: The Apennine brown bears primarily consume plant matter, with individual differences in seasonal isotopic patterns. Male bears have higher δ15N values than females in spring and autumn, indicating differences in dietary habits between genders. Management bears show differences in isotopic values compared to non-management bears, with elevated δ15N values in autumn.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nicolo Casella, Giulio Careddu, Edoardo Calizza, Simona Sporta Caputi, Loreto Rossi, Andrea Belluscio, Giandomenico Ardizzone, Lucio Calcagnile, Gianluca Quarta, Marisa D'Elia, Maria Letizia Costantini
Summary: This study evaluated the potential of Posidonia oceanica as a long-term environmental indicator by analyzing a 500-year-old seagrass matte. The results showed an increase in anthropogenic organic nitrogen inputs over time, while no clear trend was observed for carbon isotopes. This study provides important information on the long-term impact of human activities on seagrass meadows.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Simona Sporta Caputi, Loreto Rossi, Xavier Pons, Giulio Careddu, Edoardo Calizza, Maria Letizia Costantini
Summary: Genetically modified (GM) crops are a good way to improve food and environmental safety by reducing insecticide use. This study explores the impact of GM and non-GM maize residues on the soil food web. The results suggest that non-GM maize residues are more attractive to invertebrate consumers and have an impact on nutrient flows in tritrophic detritus-based food webs.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biology
Giulio Careddu, Marcovalerio Botti, Massimo Cristofaro, Simona Sporta Caputi, Edoardo Calizza, Loreto Rossi, Maria Letizia Costantini
Summary: This study investigated the feeding relationships between giant reed, gall midge larvae, saprophytic fungus, and the effects of parasitic nematodes on midge larval feeding behavior. The results showed that the larvae feed on both the reed and the fungus and that parasitized larvae have the same diet as non-parasitized larvae. This research provides important insights for the biological control of giant reed and should be considered when implementing control measures.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Matteo Ventura, Giulio Careddu, Edoardo Calizza, Simona Sporta Caputi, Emmanuelle Argenti, David Rossi, Loreto Rossi, Maria Letizia Costantini
Summary: The volcanic Lake Bracciano in Central Italy, as a European biodiversity hotspot and habitat of endemic species, is facing threats to its rich biodiversity and human wellbeing due to sharply falling water levels since 2017. This review aims to examine the changes that have occurred in the lake in the last 20 years, reducing its capacity to provide ecosystem services, and to identify existing and potential threats for better resource management.
Article
Biology
Deborah Maccapan, Giulio Careddu, Edoardo Calizza, Simona Sporta Caputi, Loreto Rossi, Maria Letizia Costantini
Summary: In Antarctica, climate change could affect the diet and recruitment of Adelie penguins by influencing sea-ice dynamics. However, there have been few quantitative studies on the effects of sea-ice persistence on penguin chick diets. This study aimed to fill this gap by comparing penguin diets across different colonies and evaluating the influence of sea-ice persistence.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Maria Letizia Costantini, Jerzy Piotr Kabala, Simona Sporta Caputi, Matteo Ventura, Edoardo Calizza, Giulio Careddu, Loreto Rossi
Summary: This study critically reviews the life history and ecology of the largemouth bass, its impact on ecosystems outside North America, and the effects of anthropogenic activities on its spread. The purpose is to identify environmental factors that promote or limit its invasive success and to find management measures that can mitigate its negative effects on freshwater biodiversity.