Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sabrina C. J. Michael, Jon Patman, Marvin M. F. Lutnesky
Summary: Changes in the environment can impact animal behavior, particularly in aquatic species where disturbances like heavy rains can create turbid waters. This study focused on how changes in water clarity affect collective behavior in fishes. Results showed that as water clarity decreased, fishes exhibited decreased collective behavior, indicating a significant impact of turbidity on group structure.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Taiga Kunishima, Katsunori Tachihara
Summary: Research suggests that the ecological functions of soft-sediment tidepools for fish are influenced by topography and biological characteristics of species, with landward tidepools being suitable for resident species and seaward tidepools being important for transient species, resulting in an inverse trend in diversity between different topographic types.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gracie Liu, Jodi J. L. Rowley, Richard T. Kingsford, Corey T. Callaghan
Summary: Anthropogenic habitat modification is accelerating, posing a threat to global biodiversity. Research on Australian frogs revealed that most species are negatively affected by habitat modification, especially specialists and those with larger geographic ranges. Traits such as call dominant frequency, body size, clutch type, and calling position are related to tolerance levels towards habitat modification. A urgent need for improved anthropogenic impact consideration and conservation measures for long-term frog population persistence is highlighted, particularly focusing on intolerant species and specialists.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kai Feng, Wenbo Deng, Yinzhe Zhang, Kun Tao, Jing Yuan, Jiashou Liu, Zhongjie Li, Sovan Lek, Qidong Wang, Bernard Hugueny
Summary: Rapid anthropogenic nutrient enrichment has caused widespread ecological problems in aquatic ecosystems and has dramatically changed fish communities worldwide. However, little research has investigated how these communities respond to eutrophication in terms of functional and taxonomic structure. This study examined the effects of eutrophication on fish species composition, community metrics, and functional traits in 26 shallow lakes in the Yangtze River basin. The results showed that eutrophication plays a significant role in shaping fish community structure, favoring higher biomass and lower functional diversity, while having little impact on species richness. The study highlights the importance of considering specific evolutionary histories when studying the relationships between functional traits and eutrophication.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Masami Fujiwara, Airi Simpson, Milton Torres-Ceron, Fernando Martinez-Andrade
Summary: Climate change is causing shifts in the geographic distributions of coastal fish species toward higher latitudes. The response of fish to environmental conditions differs depending on their life-history traits. This study investigated the associations among temporal patterns in fish presence-absence data, life-history traits, and environmental conditions in order to understand the mechanisms behind the effects of climate change on coastal fish communities. The results showed that summer conditions are important for driving tropicalization and that salinity and longevity are significant factors affecting fish species. These findings represent important progress in understanding the tropicalization of estuarine communities.
Article
Ecology
Jessica Cote, Lucie Kuczynski, Gael Grenouillet
Summary: This study found a strong association between morphological and ecological traits, as well as significant relationships between diversity indices computed on morphological and ecological traits, with the strongest relationship observed with traits related to habitat use. Therefore, the use of morphological data is promising for understanding ecological diversity, but the choice of diversity index and targeted ecological traits are crucial considerations.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ben Potter, Zachary J. Cannizzo, Blaine D. Griffen
Summary: This study examined the relationship between claw size, dietary habits, and fecundity for two primarily herbivorous crab species. The results showed that there is no predictive relationship between these traits in herbivorous crabs, indicating that identifying external morphological features to assess their diets remains elusive.
Article
Biology
Paraskevi K. Karachle, Anthi Oikonomou, Maria Pantazi, Konstantinos Stergiou, Argyro Zenetos
Summary: The study analyzed the biological traits of fish species in the Mediterranean Sea and examined factors influencing the entry of non-indigenous and neonative species. The results provide a baseline for future research and offer a useful tool for planning protection measures for native Mediterranean fish.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aimee E. Nicholson-Jack, Joanna L. Harris, Kirsty Ballard, Katy M. E. Turner, Guy M. W. Stevens
Summary: Understanding the spatial and temporal variation in presence of hitchhiker species with manta rays is crucial, as well as identifying factors influencing these associations. The relationships between manta rays and their hitchhikers are complex and require further investigation for effective conservation and management efforts.
Article
Plant Sciences
Liying Xu, Nana Zhang, Tongchao Wei, Bingyang Liu, Lanyi Shen, Yang Liu, Dounan Liu
Summary: This study revealed the variation characteristics of leaf functional traits of trees, shrubs, and vines in different urban locations. The leaf vein density of trees and shrubs showed significant differences between the two locations, whereas vines did not. Leaf vein density and stomatal density showed a significant positive correlation in both urban locations, as well as a positive correlation with specific leaf area and a negative correlation with leaf thickness. This study demonstrates the adaptation strategies of garden plant leaves to different habitats in urban areas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joseph D. DiBattista, Tanika C. Shalders, Sally Reader, Amanda Hay, Kerryn Parkinson, Robert J. Williams, Jemina Stuart-Smith, Mark McGrouther
Summary: This study aimed to re-evaluate the fish diversity in Sydney Harbour and explore its spatial and temporal distribution. The researchers generated an updated checklist based on verified records and newly available citizen science records. The results showed an increase of 15% in the number of fish species, with new species primarily attributed to citizen science programs and the influx of fish preferring warmer waters. Some areas with higher pollution levels also exhibited an overrepresentation of certain fish families.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pierre-Luc Chagnon
Summary: Traits play a crucial role in species' responses to environmental filters and their influence on ecosystem functions. Recently, there has been increasing interest in applying trait-based approaches to fungi, which control numerous biogeochemical processes. Defining fungal traits is a challenge, especially at the individual scale, but studying fungal communities can provide valuable insights into trait-based ecology.
Article
Ecology
Cristhiana Ropke, Tiago H. S. Pires, Jansen Zuanon, Carlos E. C. Freitas, Marina C. Hernandes, Flavia Souza, Sidineia Amadio
Summary: Understanding the factors that regulate temporal changes in population size is crucial in ecology for maintaining species interactions, ecosystem stability, and biodiversity conservation. This study examined the population stability of 70 Amazonian floodplain fish species in relation to life-history traits and fishing pressure, finding significant relationships with certain life-history traits but not with fishing pressure. The findings stress the importance of life-history traits in controlling population size variation and can inform fisheries and conservation management strategies.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Haoran Gu, Yuanfu Wang, Haoyu Wang, You He, Sihong Deng, Xingheng He, Yi Wu, Kaiyan Xing, Xue Gao, Xuefu He, Zhijian Wang
Summary: The study demonstrated that parents with contrasting ecological niches will result in significant postzygotic ecological isolation for parental resources. The poor foraging performance of hybrids for parental resources is mainly due to the decrease in foraging activity. Additionally, the hybrids exhibit fish spitting behavior, which is a typical example of incompatibility between intermediate traits and genetic behaviors.
FRONTIERS IN ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Jakub Zak, Milan Vrtilek, Matej Polacik, Radim Blazek, Martin Reichard
Summary: The diversity of life histories in the animal kingdom plays a significant role in the evolution of lifespans. Short-lived fish species are small, experience high predation, and inhabit warm shallow waters under specific ecological conditions. Studying these species can provide valuable insights into the evolutionary and mechanistic understanding of aging.
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Marine Cusa, Katie St John Glew, Clive Trueman, Stefano Mariani, Leah Buckley, Francis Neat, Catherine Longo
Summary: The increasing global demand for seafood products has led to more complex supply chains and challenges in tracing their origin and ensuring legal, sustainable sources. DNA-based methods can verify seafood authenticity at the species level, while verifying geographic origin remains more complex. Both genetic and stable isotope analyses have been used to determine point-of-origin with varying degrees of success, but selecting the right tool for each application is crucial. Ongoing research is needed to improve the application of these techniques for seafood point-of-origin validation.
REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Maria Cavedon, Bridgett VonHoldt, Mark Hebblewhite, Troy Hegel, Elizabeth Heppenheimer, Dave Hervieux, Stefano Mariani, Helen Schwantje, Robin Steenweg, Megan Watters, Marco Musiani
Summary: The study found differences and specialization in habitat selection and use among different ecotypes of caribou, as well as individual variations within the same ecotype. Genetic variation in SNPs played a key role in habitat selection in caribou, related to habitat and dietary specialization, and climatic adaptations. The associations between habitat and genes detected may lead to lack of resilience in the species, contributing to caribou endangerment.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Maria Cavedon, Bridgett VonHoldt, Mark Hebblewhite, Troy Hegel, Elizabeth Heppenheimer, Dave Hervieux, Stefano Mariani, Helen Schwantje, Robin Steenweg, Jessica Theoret, Megan Watters, Marco Musiani
Summary: Habitat fragmentation and loss pose significant threats to wide-ranging animals, including migratory species. The genetic basis of migratory behavior in endangered terrestrial mammals has not been studied before. In this study, the researchers found a genetic subdivision of caribou into Northern and Southern clusters and detected multiple genetic variants associated with migratory behavior. The propensity to migrate in caribou depends on their ancestry, suggesting that the loss of migratory trait in isolated populations may have long-lasting effects. These findings highlight the importance of genetic factors in understanding and conserving migratory behavior in endangered species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andjin Siegenthaler, Owen S. Wangensteen, Chiara Benvenuto, Riccardo Lollobrigidi, Stefano Mariani
Summary: This study investigates the niche overlap between two dominant epibenthic predators, the brown shrimp and the European green crab, in European estuarine soft-bottom environments using trophic DNA-metabarcoding. The results show differences in diet composition between the two predators, with the European green crab having a richer and more consistent diet compared to the brown shrimp.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marcin R. Penk, Michael Bruen, Christian K. Feld, Jeremy J. Piggott, Michael Christie, Craig Bullock, Mary Kelly-Quinn
Summary: This study aims to integrate ecosystem services considerations into river management and calibrate the model using expert workshop, legislation, and published literature. It found that deficiency of riparian shading is the main influencing factor for river ecosystem services, and sediment interacts synergistically with organic matter and phosphate to produce additional societal benefits.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
M. Kelly-Quinn, J. N. Biggs, S. Brooks, P. Fortuno, S. Hegarty, J. Jones, F. Regan
Summary: This paper proposes a framework for utilizing citizen science in the collection of data from small water bodies. It addresses data gaps and considers the elements to be addressed, and reviews appropriate tools and methods based on experience from freshwater citizen science projects.
Article
Fisheries
Linda Albonetti, Giulia Maiello, Alessia Cariani, Paolo Carpentieri, Alice Ferrari, Alice Sbrana, Peter Shum, Lorenzo Talarico, Tommaso Russo, Stefano Mariani
Summary: Conservation and management of chondrichthyans are important due to their vulnerability to fishing activities, and using eDNA metabarcoding can accurately assess bycatch composition and detect rare species. Chondrichthyan diversity is influenced by environmental variables and fishing effort. As DNA metabarcoding becomes a staple tool for biodiversity monitoring, it can provide additional insights into threatened and elusive megafauna.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
L. McGill, A. D. McDevitt, B. Hellemans, F. Neat, H. Knutsen, S. Mariani, H. Christiansen, T. Johansen, F. A. M. Volckaert, I Coscia
Summary: This study focuses on two commercially important gadoid species, the common ling and the blue ling, which have overlapping geographical distribution but different depth habitats. Genotyping-by-sequencing analysis revealed genetic differentiation in both species, with two major groups identified for each species. Fine-scale genetic structure was found along the coast of Norway for the common ling, while the blue ling showed stronger signals of differentiation related to adaptation to different depth habitats and cold temperatures.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giorgio Aglieri, Federico Quattrocchi, Stefano Mariani, Charles Baillie, Davide Spatafora, Antonio Di Franco, Gabriele Turco, Marco Tolone, Rosalia Di Gerlando, Marco Milazzo
Summary: By combining eDNA surveys, public registers, and Automatic Identification Systems data, we found significant positive relationships between fishing fleet activities and the taxonomic fish assemblage composition in eleven Mediterranean fishing ports. We identified 160 fish and 123 invertebrate OTUs, including non-indigenous species, suggesting that eDNA assessments of fishing harbours' waters can rapidly monitor marine biodiversity and reconstruct underreported fishing catches.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sara Gonzalez-Delgado, Owen S. Wangensteen, Carlos Sangil, Celso A. Hernandez, Beatriz Alfonso, Ana Z. Soto, Rocio Perez-Portela, Stefano Mariani, Jose Carlos Hernandez
Summary: Metabarcoding techniques have revolutionized ecological research by revealing hidden biodiversity. This study used DNA metabarcoding to assess the effects of ocean acidification on marine benthic communities. The results show that subtropical communities are expected to maintain high biodiversity levels under future ocean acidification.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Abayneh Melaku, Taffere Addis, Bezatu Mengistie, Girum Gebremeskel Kanno, Metadel Adane, Mary Kelly-Quinn, Sisay Ketema, Teklu Hailu, Dinaol Bedada, Argaw Ambelu
Summary: This study was conducted to assess menstrual hygiene management practices and influential factors among schoolgirls in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The findings revealed that a majority of girls used commercial disposable pads during menstruation but had limited access to emergency pads from schools. Many schools lacked essential facilities and resources such as water, soap, covered dustbins, sanitary pad changing rooms, and MHM education. The location of schools, availability of health clubs, prior knowledge about MHM, and access to emergency pads were significantly associated with the menstrual hygiene practices of schoolgirls.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Thomas I. Gibson, Gary Carvalho, Amy Ellison, Enrica Gargiulo, Tristan Hatton-Ellis, Lori Lawson-Handley, Stefano Mariani, Rupert A. Collins, Graham Sellers, Marco Antonio Distaso, Carlo Zampieri, Simon Creer
Summary: Fishes are important components of estuarine ecosystems, and assessing their biodiversity is crucial for understanding the health of these ecosystems. This study used environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to investigate fish assemblage composition in the River Dee estuary in Wales. The results showed that eDNA metabarcoding could enhance existing fish sampling methods by providing more comprehensive information on fish biodiversity.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Gert-Jan Jeunen, Miles Lamare, Jennifer Devine, Stefano Mariani, Sadie Mills, Jackson Treece, Sara Ferreira, Neil J. Gemmell
Summary: Given the challenges of monitoring the Southern Ocean through visual observations, this study explores the potential of marine sponge eDNA monitoring to assess the fish community in the region. The findings show that eDNA provides a more comprehensive view of the fish community compared to catch records, highlighting its potential for improving our understanding of this understudied ecosystem and aiding conservation efforts.
REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andhika P. Prasetyo, Joanna M. Murray, Muh. Firdaus A. K. Kurniawan, Naiara G. Sales, Allan D. McDevitt, Stefano Mariani
Summary: Illegal fishing, unregulated bycatch, and market demand for certain products are causing a rapid decline in shark and ray populations. Controlling the trade of endangered species is challenging due to various factors, but a new genetic approach using trace DNA fragments retrieved from trade leftovers shows promise in identifying traded species, even those that are difficult to recover from tissue samples. This approach could become a powerful and cost-effective monitoring tool in wildlife trade.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Charalampos Dimitriadis, Erika F. Neave, Peter Shum, Stefano Mariani, Manuela D'Amen, Ernesto Azzurro
Summary: In 2021, the presence of three Lessepsian yellowstripe barracuda and eight Indo-Pacific needle-spined sea urchin specimens were observed along the coasts of Zakynthos Island, with some of them found within the Marine Protected Area.
