Article
Environmental Sciences
Holly K. K. Plaisted, Erin C. C. Shields, Alyssa B. B. Novak, Christopher P. P. Peck, Forest Schenck, Jillian Carr, Paul A. A. Duffy, N. Tay Evans, Sophia E. E. Fox, Stephen M. M. Heck, Robbie Hudson, Trevor Mattera, Kenneth A. A. Moore, Betty Neikirk, David B. B. Parrish, Bradley J. J. Peterson, Frederick T. T. Short, Amanda I. I. Tinoco
Summary: This study suggests vulnerability in eelgrass meadows of the Northeast USA due to changes in water temperature, with higher than average summer temperatures leading to a decrease in eelgrass presence.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria E. Asplund, Stefano Bonaglia, Christoffer Bostrom, Martin Dahl, Diana Deyanova, Karine Gagnon, Martin Gullstrom, Marianne Holmer, Mats Bjork
Summary: Shallow coastal soft bottoms are important carbon sinks, with Nordic seagrass meadows having a high capacity for carbon storage. The relatively low methane emissions from these meadows do not outweigh their importance as carbon sinks.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Deanna S. Beatty, Lillian R. Aoki, Brendan Rappazzo, Chelsea Bergman, Lia K. Domke, J. Emmett Duffy, Katie Dubois, Ginny L. Eckert, Carla Gomes, Olivia J. Graham, Leah Harper, C. Drew Harvell, Timothy L. Hawthorne, Margot Hessing-Lewis, Kevin Hovel, Zachary L. Monteith, Ryan S. Mueller, Angeleen M. Olson, Carolyn Prentice, Fiona Tomas, Bo Yang, John J. Stachowicz
Summary: Predicting outcomes of marine disease outbreaks is challenging due to global and local stressors. This study investigates the role of host-associated microbiomes in disease dynamics, particularly in eelgrass (Zostera marina) affected by wasting disease. The study found that the composition of microbiomes varied with disease prevalence and severity, and identified specific microbial members associated with wasting disease. These findings suggest that including microbiomes in disease studies can improve our understanding of infection rates and plant survival.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhaxi Suonan, Seung Hyeon Kim, Le-Zheng Qin, Hyegwang Kim, Fei Zhang, Kun-Seop Lee
Summary: This study examined the reproductive responses of Zostera marina populations under different nutrient and light conditions on the southern coast of Korea. The results showed that higher nutrient and lower light conditions increased the reproductive intensity of seagrass, supporting the persistence and resilience of seagrass populations.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuhi Satoh, Wada Shigeki
Summary: In this study, the factors regulating the residual potential of organic carbon (Corg) during the decomposition of Zostera marina in seawater were examined. The study found that total carbon, carbohydrate, and lipid are especially important factors in regulating the environmental residual potential of Z. marina Corg.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aske Bang Hansen, Anne Sofie Pedersen, Michael Kuhl, Kasper Elgetti Brodersen
Summary: Ocean warming may affect the epiphytes of seagrass, leading to a decrease in photosynthetic efficiency, especially at high temperatures. Epiphytes have a competitive advantage in cold CO2-rich environments, while seagrass with bare leaves may not be affected by elevated seawater temperatures.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhaohua Wang, Yanzhao Pei, Wenjie Yan, Lv Lu, Bin Zhou
Summary: This study investigated the responses of Zostera marina seedlings to the stresses of seasonal temperature increase and ocean acidification. The findings revealed that under high temperature conditions, carotenoid biosynthesis was stimulated, while under ocean acidification, certain metabolic pathways were activated. When subjected to both stresses, seedlings mobilized various biosynthetic pathways to enhance adaptability and resilience.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kira A. Krumhansi, Michael Dowd, Melisa C. Wong
Summary: This study introduces a novel framework for characterizing the response of eelgrass ecosystems to environmental variability, evaluating the importance of different environmental metrics on eelgrass bioindicators. The researchers found that temperature, light, and water motion metrics uniquely impact eelgrass productivity and resilience, with temperature variability playing a significant role. These results highlight the complexity of ecosystem responses to global climate change and emphasize the importance of considering multiple environmental factors simultaneously.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qingfeng Zhang, Michael Kuhl, Kasper Elgetti Brodersen
Summary: Epiphytic biofilms on seagrass leaves have significant effects on the photosynthesis and respiration of the leaves. This study measured oxygen and pH concentrations, and calculated the fluxes of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and bicarbonate around seagrass leaves with artificial inactive biofilms and natural epiphytic biofilms. The results showed that microbial activity in the biofilm significantly influenced the microenvironment of the seagrass leaves, affecting oxygen concentrations, pH, and carbon dioxide limitation.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Le-Zheng Qin, Zhaxi Suonan, Seung Hyeon Kim, Kun-Seop Lee
Summary: This study showed that Zostera marina is more sensitive to nitrogen enrichment in sediments, resulting in positive effects on both vegetative growth and sexual reproduction. Phosphorus enrichment only slightly increased plant growth with limited influence on sexual reproduction.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wei Zhao, Xiao-Qi Yang, Quan-Sheng Zhang, Ying Tan, Zhe Liu, Ming-Yu Ma, Meng-Xin Wang, Bin Xu
Summary: Zostera marina, a widespread seagrass, partially inactivated its oxygen-evolving complex in response to light exposure, but still maintained a normal carbon assimilation level. Through an in vivo study, it was found that the photosynthetic regulation of this seagrass can be verified at both proteome and physiology levels.
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Cecile Saevdal Dybsland, Trine Bekkby, Kjersti Hasle Enerstvedt, Olav M. Kvalheim, Eli Rinde, Monica Jordheim
Summary: Chemical ecology is proposed as a more time-efficient and cost-effective monitoring tool for seagrass ecosystems compared to traditional methods. Analysis of phenolic chemistry in Zostera marina samples revealed correlations with depth, wave exposure, and sample position within a seagrass meadow, with different responses to stress-induced conditions at varying depths. Flavonoids were separated into two groups based on molecular analysis, one group correlated with depth and wave exposure while the other group showed no clear association, possibly due to unexplored factors. The ratio of flavonoids to rosmarinic acid varied between the periphery and center of a seagrass meadow, indicating potential differences in plant stress levels and providing a molecular index for seagrass ecosystem health. More research is required to fully establish the use of phenolic chemistry variation as a monitoring tool for seagrass ecosystems.
Article
Plant Sciences
Rose E. Fuggle, Paul E. Gribben, Ezequiel M. Marzinelli
Summary: Below-ground microbiota, especially the root-associated microbiota, play a crucial role in determining the growth performance of seagrasses under high nutrient stress. Understanding these plant-microbe interactions is essential for the functioning and restoration of threatened marine plants.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Zhang, Peng Zhao, Shidong Yue, Mingjie Liu, Yongliang Qiao, Shaochun Xu, Ruiting Gu, Xiaomei Zhang, Yi Zhou
Summary: The study showed that anoxic stress significantly reduced leaf Fv/Fm and had a negative impact on photosynthesis and growth of Zostera marina. Metabolomic analysis revealed promotion of glycolysis process and inhibition of the TCA cycle under anoxia, indicating a complex strategy of acclimation and adaptation in seagrass to resist anoxic stress.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
John M. O'Brien, Melisa C. Wong, Ryan R. E. Stanley
Summary: Baseline data on biogenic habitat-forming species are crucial for nearshore habitat management and conservation. Model-based habitat mapping can address data gaps and limitations of remote sensing. A high-resolution ensemble model for eelgrass distribution was developed, showing moderate performance, high sensitivity, and improvement over individual models.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Scott Bennett, Teresa Alcoverro, Demetris Kletou, Charalampos Antoniou, Jordi Boada, Xavier Bunuel, Lidia Cucala, Gabriel Jorda, Periklis Kleitou, Guillem Roca, Julia Santana-Garcon, Ioannis Savva, Adriana Verges, NUria Marba
Summary: Understanding the thermal performance differences between marine populations is crucial for predicting the impacts of climate change. In this study, we found that cool-edge populations of seagrass performed significantly better than central populations under common conditions, suggesting greater resilience to warming in Mediterranean seagrasses than previously thought.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Susanne Baden, Stein Fredriksen, Hartvig Christie, Louise Eriander, Camilla Gustafsson, Marianne Holmer, Birgit Olesen, Jonas Thormar, Christoffer Bostrom
Summary: In this study, a short-term field sampling was conducted, complemented with time integrating stable isotope analysis, to holistically investigate the status and ecological interactions in a remote NE Atlantic Zostera marina meadow. The study found high nutrient water concentrations, large biomass of fast-growing, ephemeral macroalgae, low abundance and biodiversity of epifauna, and a food web with thornback ray as intermediate and cod as top predator. The results indicated that the Finnoya Zostera ecosystem is eutrophicated. The study concluded that bottom-up regulation is a predominant driver of change since top-down regulation is generally weak in low density and exposed Zostera ecosystems such as Finnoya.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Trevor T. Bringloe, Antoine Fort, Masami Inaba, Ronan Sulpice, Cliodhna Ni Ghriofa, Agnes Mols-Mortensen, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Christophe Vieira, Hiroshi Kawai, Takeaki Hanyuda, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Birgit Olesen, Samuel Starko, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: This study used genome sequencing to investigate the survival of kelp populations during the Last Glacial Maximum. The results provide strong evidence that these populations were resilient to past climatic fluctuations and potentially adapted to local conditions.
Article
Limnology
Carmen Leiva-Duenas, Anna Elizabeth Lovgren Graversen, Gary T. T. Banta, Marianne Holmer, Pere Masque, Peter Anton Upadhyay Staehr, Dorte Krause-Jensen
Summary: This study assesses the sediment stocks and sequestration rates of organic carbon (OC) and nitrogen (N) within Danish eelgrass meadows. The results showed that the sediment stocks of OC and N did not differ significantly between eelgrass meadows and unvegetated sediments, and their accumulation rates were influenced by sediment grain size, organic matter source, and hydrodynamic exposure.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Patrizia Stipcich, Pedro Beca-Carretero, Xose Anton Alvarez-Salgado, Eugenia T. Apostolaki, Niki Chartosia, Pavlos Theofilos Efthymiadis, Carlos E. Jimenez, Gabriella La Manna, Arianna Pansini, Elena Principato, Vasilis Resaikos, Dagmar B. Stengel, Giulia Ceccherelli
Summary: The nutritional content of primary producers has an impact on the entire food web. This study investigated the changes in nutritional value of the endemic Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica associated with temperature rise and the occurrence of marine heat waves. The results showed a decrease in unsaturated fatty acids and C/N ratio, as well as an increase in monounsaturated fatty acids and nitrogen content during marine heat waves. However, the leaf biochemical composition seemed to be adapted to local water temperature, with only a few significant changes observed during marine heat waves. Future increases in temperature and frequency of marine heat waves may lead to changes in the nutritional value and palatability of seagrass leaves.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tomas Azcarate-Garcia, Pedro Beca-Carretero, Fernando G. Brun
Summary: This study documents the only known P. oceanica population on the coast of Cadiz, Spain, and characterizes its structure and characteristics. The population is small but has a relatively high production rate compared to other Mediterranean populations. This baseline data provides a foundation for further research on the potential effects of climate change, anthropogenic disturbances, or invasive species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas Gjerluff Ager, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Birgit Olesen, Daniel F. Carlson, Mie Hylstofte Sichlau Winding, Mikael K. Sejr
Summary: In this study, the authors estimated the floating macroalgal carbon flux within and beyond a large sub-Arctic fjord system in Greenland. They found that macroalgal habitats cover 32% of the seafloor within the photic zone, with an average coverage of 39.6%, 22%, and 7.2% in different depth intervals. The average biomass of floating macroalgae was 55 kg wet weight km(-2). The study suggests that floating macroalgae have limited blue carbon potential beyond this fjord, and future research should focus on the fate of retained floating macroalgae and subsurface export.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel F. Carlson, Antoni Vivo-Pons, Urs A. Treier, Eva Matzler, Lorenz Meire, Mikael Sejr, Dorte Krause-Jensen
Summary: Changes in the distribution of coastal macrophytes in Greenland and elsewhere in the Arctic are difficult to quantify due to limited access and monitoring capabilities. The use of satellite imagery, specifically Sentinel-2, is impacted by optically complex environments and a scarcity of supporting data. Three hypotheses are tested to understand the factors influencing the spatial distribution of intertidal macrophytes in Greenland's fjord systems. The study highlights the role of icebergs and turbidity in shaping macrophyte distribution and suggests that the retreat of marine-terminating glaciers could lead to an expansion of macrophyte cover.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Clara Mendoza-Segura, Emilio Fernandez, Pedro Beca-Carretero
Summary: Global change has facilitated the introduction of new species in marine ecosystems. This study used species distribution models to investigate the factors affecting the distribution of G. vermiculophylla globally. The results highlighted temperature and salinity as the main variables determining the presence of this species. Furthermore, predictions based on different climate scenarios showed a potential expansion in the distribution range of G. vermiculophylla, with the high-emission scenario indicating a significant loss in its southern range and potential establishment in arctic latitudes.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Editorial Material
Fisheries
Karen Filbee-Dexter, Albert Pessarrodona, Carlos M. Duarte, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Kasper Hancke, Daniel Smale, Thomas Wernberg
Summary: Recently, Gallagher et al. (2022) argued that seaweed ecosystems are net heterotrophic carbon sources, but we highlight flaws in their argument and provide evidence to support the view that most seaweed ecosystems are autotrophic. Their reliance on a dataset with highly variable measures of net ecosystem production and incomplete representation of seaweed ecosystems globally undermines their conclusion. We emphasize that the climate change mitigation value of an ecosystem depends on the net difference in CO2 uptake between the original ecosystem and its replacement.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarah B. orberg, Carlos M. Duarte, Nathan R. Geraldi, Mikael K. Sejr, Susse Wegeberg, Jorgen L. S. Hansen, Dorte Krause-Jensen
Summary: By using environmental DNA (eDNA) fingerprinting, we tested the contribution of macroalgae to carbon stocks in arctic marine sediments. We found that macroalgae were prevalent in sediment samples from both nearshore and offshore areas, with brown algae being the main contributor. Stable isotope analysis also showed a significant contribution from macroalgae in sediments. Overall, our findings provide evidence for the prevalent contribution of macroalgal forests to sediment carbon stocks in the Arctic.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Finnley W. R. Ross, Philip W. Boyd, Karen Filbee-Dexter, Kenta Watanabe, Alejandra Ortega, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Catherine Lovelock, Calvyn F. A. Sondak, Lennart T. Bach, Carlos M. Duarte, Oscar Serrano, John Beardall, Patrick Tarbuck, Peter I. Macreadie
Summary: Seaweed has the potential to mitigate climate change, but there are uncertainties surrounding its impact and the need for accurate carbon accounting. Four potential ways to enhance seaweed's contribution to climate change mitigation are: protecting and restoring wild seaweed forests, expanding sustainable nearshore seaweed aquaculture, offsetting industrial CO2 emissions using seaweed products, and sinking seaweed into the deep sea. Despite these opportunities, verified carbon accounting and sustainability thresholds are needed before large-scale investment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tania L. Maxwell, Andre S. Rovai, Maria Fernanda Adame, Janine B. Adams, Jose Alvarez-Rogel, William E. N. Austin, Kim Beasy, Francesco Boscutti, Michael E. Boettcher, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Richard H. Bulmer, Annette Burden, Shannon A. Burke, Saritta Camacho, Doongar R. Chaudhary, Gail L. Chmura, Margareth Copertino, Grace M. Cott, Christopher Craft, John Day, Carmen B. de los Santos, Lionel Denis, Weixin Ding, Joanna C. Ellison, Carolyn J. Ewers Lewis, Luise Giani, Maria Gispert, Swanne Gontharet, Jose A. Gonzalez-Perez, M. Nazaret Gonzalez-Alcaraz, Connor Gorham, Anna Elizabeth L. Graversen, Anthony Grey, Roberta Guerra, Qiang He, James R. Holmquist, Alice R. Jones, Jose A. Juanes, Brian P. Kelleher, Karen E. Kohfeld, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Anna Lafratta, Paul S. Lavery, Edward A. Laws, Carmen Leiva-Duenas, Pei Sun Loh, Catherine E. Lovelock, Carolyn J. Lundquist, Peter Macreadie, Ines Mazarrasa, J. Patrick Megonigal, Joao M. Neto, Juliana Nogueira, Michael J. Osland, Jordi F. Pages, Nipuni Perera, Eva-Maria Pfeiffer, Thomas Pollmann, Jacqueline L. Raw, Maria Recio, Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernandez, Sophie K. Russell, John M. Rybczyk, Marek Sammul, Christian Sanders, Rui Santos, Oscar Serrano, Matthias Siewert, Craig Smeaton, Zhaoliang Song, Carmen Trasar-Cepeda, Robert R. Twilley, Marijn Van de Broek, Stefano Vitti, Livia Vittori Antisari, Baptiste Voltz, Christy N. Wails, Raymond D. Ward, Melissa Ward, Jaxine Wolfe, Renmin Yang, Sebastian Zubrzycki, Emily Landis, Lindsey Smart, Mark Spalding, Thomas A. Worthington
Summary: Tidal marshes are significant carbon reservoirs, and a global dataset of soil organic carbon provides valuable information for researchers and policy-makers. The dataset includes geographic locations, soil depths, and organic carbon data, allowing for estimation of organic carbon stocks in tidal marsh soils.
Article
Ecology
Iris E. Hendriks, Anna Escolano-Molto, Susana Flecha, Raquel Vaquer-Sunyer, Marlene Wesselmann, Nuria Marba
Summary: The increasing rates of CO2 due to human activities are causing potential climate threats for the Mediterranean Sea, including ocean acidification and warming. Two seagrass species, Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa, are important in mitigating climate change in this region. Seagrasses act as carbon sinks, balancing pH values during the day and storing carbon in the sediment. However, data on these processes are scattered and collected using different methodologies, making interpretation and generalization challenging. This study compares two methodologies, benthic chambers and multiparametric sensors, to analyze seagrass community metabolism and evaluate trends for these two species.