Article
Environmental Sciences
Briac Monnier, Gerard Pergent, Miguel Angel Mateo, Philippe Clabaut, Christine Pergent-Martini
Summary: This article presents a study on estimating carbon stocks in Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Mediterranean region. The research utilizes biogeochemical analysis to reveal the high variability of organic and inorganic carbon stocks in different environmental conditions. The study provides valuable insights into the spatial heterogeneity of carbon stocks in seagrass sediments, improving the accuracy of blue carbon assessments.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christine Pergent-Martini, Gerard Pergent, Briac Monnier, Charles-Francois Boudouresque, Christophe Mori, Audrey Valette-Sansevin
Summary: Coastal marine vegetation, particularly the Mediterranean endemic species Posidonia oceanica, demonstrates high efficiency in carbon fixation and storage, making it a significant carbon sink in the efforts to mitigate climate change.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xavier Turon, Jesus Zarcero, Adria Antich, Owen Simon Wangensteen, Enric Ballesteros, Emma Cebrian, Candela Marco-Mendez, Teresa Alcoverro
Summary: Reliable biodiversity assessments are crucial for monitoring species decline, and DNA metabarcoding techniques can provide fast and comprehensive evaluation of diversity. However, standardized adaptations for each ecosystem are necessary for effective implementation. In this study, a protocol for metabarcoding seagrass meadows was developed and tested, revealing high diversity and clear differentiation between samples. This tool has the potential to deliver important data for the protection and management of seagrass habitats.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michele Leduc, Arnaud Abadie, Christophe Viala, Alban Bouchard, Laura Iborra, Quentin Fontaine, Gilles Lepoint, Michel Marengo, Gerard Pergent, Sylvie Gobert, Pierre Lejeune, Briac Monnier
Summary: Posidonia oceanica in Mediterranean develops a complex belowground structure capable of storing large amounts of carbon over thousands of years. Mapping techniques and sediment sampling were used to assess the size and variability of carbon stocks. This study quantifies the organic and inorganic carbon stocks in the P. oceanica matte of Calvi Bay using sub-bottom profiler imagery and sediment core analysis. The data revealed the heterogeneity of blue carbon stocks in seagrass meadows and discussed the variability of carbon storage capacity influenced by substrate.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nona S. R. Agawin, Adria Sunyer-Caldu, M. Silvia Diaz-Cruz, Aida Frank-Comas, Manuela Gertrudis Garcia-Marquez, Antonio Tovar-Sanchez
Summary: This study reveals the internal accumulation of certain UV filter components from sunscreen in the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean coasts, highlighting the importance of protecting seagrasses. More experimental studies are needed to understand the effects of UV filters on seagrasses and whether certain UV filters should be prohibited to protect this species.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ane Pastor, Ignacio A. Catalan, Jorge Terrados, Baptiste Mourre, Andres Ospina-Alvarez
Summary: Marine population connectivity is crucial for biodiversity and resource management. This study investigates the dispersal of the seagrass species Posidonia oceanica in the Balearic Islands and highlights the value of dispersal modeling and network analysis in conservation planning.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rafet Cagri Ozturk, Kenan Gedik, Ahmet Sahin, Yasar Ozvarol, Erhan Mutlu
Summary: The study investigated the concentrations of eight trace elements in Posidonia oceanica leaf blades and sediments sampled from 23 stations along the Turkish-Mediterranean Sea coast, revealing significant distribution differences among sampling stations. While most of the trace element concentrations varied significantly among stations without a consistent trend, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb in the sediment were determined as non-polluted based on sediment quality guidelines, with some stations showing moderate to heavy pollution for Cr, Ni, and As. The findings suggest that the western sites of the study area are heavily exposed to trace elements due to human activities, with significant positive correlations detected between anthropogenic and natural sourced trace elements.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guillem Roca, Javier Palacios, Sergio Ruiz-Halpern, Nuria Marba
Summary: This study presents one of the first experimental estimates of CO2 efflux from degraded seagrass sediments of Posidonia oceanica under future warming and hydrodynamic scenarios. The results suggest that exposure to hydrodynamics plays a key role in the remineralization of organic carbon under climate change conditions.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Briac Monnier, Lea Lehmann, Stephane Sartoretto, Christine Pergent-Martini, Miguel Angel Mateo, Gerard Pergent
Summary: The study focuses on the discovery of a dead scleractinian coral bank within a Posidonia oceanica matte core sampled during a coring survey in the northwestern Mediterranean. It provides insights into the stratigraphic sequence since the mid-Holocene, revealing the settlement, coexistence, and death of the coral bank over the past 4750 years. The analysis also suggests semi-millennial to millennial oscillations in annual growth rates of the coral, possibly influenced by climatic changes during different historical periods.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dimosthenis Traganos, Chengfa Benjamin Lee, Alina Blume, Dimitris Poursanidis, Hrvoje Cizmek, Julie Deter, Vesna Macic, Monica Montefalcone, Gerard Pergent, Christine Pergent-Martini, Aurora M. Ricart, Peter Reinartz
Summary: In this study, the researchers used advanced methods such as Earth Observation, cloud computing, open satellite data, and machine learning to map the spatial extent of the main seagrass species, P. oceanica, in the coastal Mediterranean region. They found that these seagrass meadows cover a total area of 19,020 km(2) across 22 Mediterranean countries. The results provide valuable information for the physical and monetary accounting of seagrass ecosystem services and can support national climate strategies and financing.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Arianna Pansini, Mar Bosch-Belmar, Manuel Berlino, Gianluca Sara, Giulia Ceccherelli
Summary: Seagrass meadows play a crucial role in maintaining coastal ecosystems, but their integrity is endangered by human disturbances. Active restoration is considered a reliable strategy for enhancing seagrass ecosystem recovery. However, valuable information on the effectiveness of past restoration actions and experimental efforts is crucial for making correct management decisions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Charles-Francois Boudouresque, Aurelie Blanfune, Gerard Pergent, Thierry Thibaut
Summary: Some seagrass species in the Mediterranean have declined, while others are progressing, potentially impacting the presence of other seagrasses. Natural recolonization has been faster and more widespread than previously thought, but sometimes inadequate, necessitating transplanting operations. Despite various proposed restoration techniques, long-term monitoring is often lacking.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Susana Llorens-Escrich, Elena Tamarit, Sebastian Hernandis, Noela Sanchez-Carnero, Miguel Rodilla, Isabel Perez-Arjona, Marek Moszynski, Vicente Puig-Pons, Jose Tena-Medialdea, Victor Espinosa
Summary: Using a low-cost acoustic method to estimate shoot density and cover of Posidonia oceanica meadows can indirectly indicate their health status. The vertical configuration of the sonar and the advantages of improved beam path and detection invariance against boat rolling make this method practical and effective.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
N. Sanchez-Carnero, D. Rodriguez-Perez, S. Llorens, V. Orenes-Salazar, A. Ortolano, J. A. Garcia-Charton
Summary: In this study, an acoustic methodology was used to map the habitat of Posidonia oceanica and classify the substrate and vegetation. The results show the distribution of substrate and vegetation, which can contribute to the continuous monitoring of Mediterranean seagrasses.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alice Rotini, Chiara Conte, Gidon Winters, Marlen I. I. Vasquez, Luciana Migliore
Summary: Seagrasses host diverse bacterial communities that can establish symbiotic relationships with the seagrass plants. This study used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to explore the microbiome associated with Posidonia oceanica leaves in two different geomorphological meadows. The results showed similar bacterial community structure and composition in both sites, indicating that P. oceanica maintains characteristic-associated bacterial communities even under different environmental conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Jose A. Zertuche-Gonzalez, Jose M. Sandoval-Gil, Laura K. Rangel-Mendoza, Alberto Galvez-Palazuelos, Jose M. Guzman-Calderon, Charles Yarish
Summary: The nutritional benefits of seaweeds have increased their demand in the western world for human consumption. A study in Mexico's Pacific coast commercial pilot-facility demonstrated pond-culture of Ulva, showing temperature as a key factor influencing seaweed growth performance.
JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica Pazzaglia, Fabio Badalamenti, Jaime Bernardeau-Esteller, Juan M. Ruiz, Vincenzo Maximiliano Giacalone, Gabriele Procaccini, Lazaro Marin-Guirao
Summary: This study applied thermo-priming treatment for the first time in seedlings of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica and found that primed seedlings performed better than unprimed ones during the re-occurring stress event, with unaltered photo-physiology and high expression levels of related genes. These findings offer new opportunities to improve conservation and restoration efforts in a future scenario of environmental changes.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica Pazzaglia, Alex Santillan-Sarmiento, Miriam Ruocco, Emanuela Dattolo, Luca Ambrosino, Lazaro Marin-Guirao, Gabriele Procaccini
Summary: The transcriptome response of different organs in seagrasses to single and multiple stressors (nutrient enrichment and temperature increase) was investigated. The study found that different organs exhibited organ-specific sensitivity depending on the plant's origin. Furthermore, the exposure to stress conditions induced the modulation of different biological processes and epigenetic mechanisms were also involved in the regulation of transcriptional reprogramming. These findings contribute to our understanding of seagrass response to abiotic stressors and highlight the importance of local pressures in a global warming scenario.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
L. Marin-Guirao, J. Bernardeau-Esteller, M. D. Belando, R. Garcia-Munoz, A. Ramos-Segura, T. Alcoverro, M. Minguito-Frutos, J. M. Ruiz
Summary: Seagrass ecosystems respond non-linearly to increasing pressures and environmental changes. Feedback mechanisms and phenotypic plasticity play important roles in buffering ecological thresholds. This study demonstrates the non-linear responses of seagrass populations to light reduction and highlights the potential of using compensatory responses as early warning indicators for ecosystem collapse.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ulisse Cardini, Lazaro Marin-Guirao, Luis M. Montilla, Ugo Marzocchi, Salvatore Chiavarini, Juri Rimauro, Grazia Marina Quero, Jillian M. Petersen, Gabriele Procaccini
Summary: This study demonstrates that the nested interactions between lucinid bivalves and seagrass can enhance the functioning of seagrass ecosystems. Contaminated sediments can improve the photosynthetic efficiency of seagrass, and the presence of lucinid bivalves further enhances this trend and promotes plant growth.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jose Miguel Sandoval-Gil, Juan M. Ruiz, Lazaro Marin-Guirao
Summary: Hypersaline conditions in coastal systems have profound effects on seagrass meadows and their socio-ecological benefits. Recent research has contributed significantly to understanding the physiological basis of seagrass-hypersalinity interactions, although most studies are limited to a few species. Photosynthesis and carbon metabolism are commonly studied variables, but other key metabolic processes are also attracting attention.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jessica Pazzaglia, Emanuela Dattolo, Miriam Ruocco, Alex Santillan-Sarmiento, Lazaro Marin-Guirao, Gabriele Procaccini
Summary: This study analyzed the dynamics of DNA methylation (DNAm) in marine plants in response to environmental changes. The results showed that temperature and nutrient conditions had significant effects on DNAm, highlighting the potential role of environmental factors in regulating species adaptation and phenotypic differences.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Judit Jimenez-Casero, Maria Dolores Belando, Jaime Bernardeau-Esteller, Lazaro Marin-Guirao, Rocio Garcia-Munoz, Jose Luis Sanchez-Lizaso, Juan Manuel Ruiz
Summary: In the Mediterranean, anthropogenic pressures, especially nutrient loads, have been moved to deeper off-shore areas to protect marine biodiversity. However, little attention has been given to the deepest areas of vulnerable marine habitats such as Posidonia oceanica. A study shows that off-shore nutrient discharge has a remote influence on the physiology and structure of deep P. oceanica meadows, even at distances within the km scale. These findings highlight the need to correct the underestimated critical distances between priority habitats and nutrient discharge points for effective conservation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jaime Bernardeau-Esteller, Jose Miguel Sandoval-Gil, Maria Dolores Belando, Aranzazu Ramos-Segura, Rocio Garcia-Munoz, Lazaro Marin-Guirao, Juan Manuel Ruiz
Summary: In coastal lagoons, marine benthic macrophyte meadows can function as temporary nitrogen sinks, limiting the availability of this nutrient for opportunistic organisms, thus playing a key role in resisting eutrophication.
Article
Plant Sciences
Maria Cristina Gambi, Valentina Esposito, Lazaro Marin-Guirao
Summary: Very small-sized shoots of Posidonia oceanica, called bonsai shoots, were discovered in the areas with high CO2 emissions and low pH off Panarea island. These bonsai shoots had significantly lower leaf surface and leaf biomass compared to normal-sized shoots collected within the vents and control sites unaffected by gas emissions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jose Miguel Sandoval-Gil, Mariana Sanchez-Barredo, Ricardo Cruz-Lopez, Jose Antonio Zertuche-Gonzalez, Rodrigo Beas-Luna, Julio Lorda, Gabriela Montano-Moctezuma
Summary: The spread of non-indigenous and invasive seaweeds has raised concerns about their potential effects on native seaweeds. Undaria pinnatifida is one of the most prolific non-indigenous species and has expanded rapidly in the Northeast Pacific, overlapping with native communities such as giant kelp forests. This study explored the physiological plasticity of U. pinnatifida and the native Macrocystis pyrifera under light limitation in the understory of a giant kelp forest, revealing the ecophysiological basis for the limited growth and survival of U. pinnatifida in this environment.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hung Manh Nguyen, Miriam Ruocco, Emanuela Dattolo, Federica Paola Cassetti, Sebastiano Calvo, Agostino Tomasello, Lazaro Marin-Guirao, Mathieu Pernice, Gabriele Procaccini
Summary: This study examined the adaptation of Posidonia oceanica to local environmental conditions, focusing on the Stagnone di Marsala coastal lagoon. Results showed higher salinity and temperature levels within the lagoon compared to the outer lagoon regions. Genetic analysis revealed genetic isolation and high clonality of the innermost site, with certain outlier loci associated with plant stress response and development regulation. This study provides important insights into the genetic basis of seagrass adaptation to local conditions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paula Bonet-Melia, Jose Miguel Sandoval-Gil, Guillermo Samperio-Ramos, Manuel Vivanco-Bercovich, Sergio R. Canino-Herrera, Reginaldo Durazo, Victor F. Camacho-Ibar, Ana Alexandre
Summary: Marine heatwaves can have detrimental effects on seagrasses, but knowledge about the impacts on their ecosystem services remains scarce. This study found that surfgrasses have high nitrogen uptake rates and biomass, making them effective biofilters for wastewater. However, experimental warming resulted in a significant decline in their ability to incorporate and assimilate nitrogen.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Patrizia Stipcich, Lazaro Marin-Guirao, Arianna Pansini, Federico Pinna, Gabriele Procaccini, Antonio Pusceddu, Santina Soru, Giulia Ceccherelli
Summary: This study assessed the effects of current and future marine heat waves on the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica and found that biochemical variables can serve as good indicators of seagrass heat stress. The study also highlighted the importance of the thermal environment in determining the tolerance of plants to heat.
FRONTIERS IN CLIMATE
(2022)
