Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexandra R. Rodriguez, Candela Marco-Mendez, Justin Campbell, Kenneth L. Heck
Summary: Climate change is impacting marine ecosystem community dynamics globally, with tropicalization posing threats to subtropical seagrass meadows.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Audrey E. Cartraud, Paul S. Lavery, Caitlin M. Rae, Glenn A. Hyndes
Summary: The study demonstrates that highly productive kelp can act as spatial subsidies to adjacent seagrass meadows, where they are assimilated by epiphytes and detritivores.
The input of kelp leads to an increase in density and biomass of certain marine organisms, indicating the supplementing role of allochthonous resources in a highly productive ecosystem.
Detritivores and epiphytes only assimilate a small portion of the released nutrients from the kelp, while previous research suggests that seagrass itself also absorbs a significant amount, highlighting the complexity of spatial subsidies.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
F. O. H. Smulders, E. S. Bakker, O. R. O'Shea, J. E. Campbell, O. K. Rhoades, M. J. A. Christianen
Summary: Understanding how herbivores shape the landscape is important and studying how they incorporate habitat features into their foraging behavior is crucial. However, there is limited knowledge about the influence of habitat structure on megaherbivore grazing in marine ecosystems. In this study, we introduced artificial structures at different scales in a seagrass meadow to investigate the response of green turtles. The results showed that the turtles significantly increased in density and mainly grazed and rested in the areas with structures, resulting in changes in seagrass bed structure and heterogeneity at the landscape scale.
Article
Limnology
Rocio Jimenez-Ramos, Luis G. Egea, Juan J. Vergara, Fernando G. Brun
Summary: Assessing the strength of seagrass-grazer links and identifying the mechanisms that regulate these relationships are crucial for understanding community and ecosystem structure and dynamics. Herbivory on temperate seagrass Cymodocea nodosa was evaluated in four locations, showing that between 46.59% and 74.08% of the annual leaf production is lost to herbivory. Herbivory rates increased with higher nitrogen content and shoot density for all types of consumers.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jacob Malte Molin, William Emil Groth-Andersen, Per Juel Hansen, Michael Kuhl, Kasper Elgetti Brodersen
Summary: Seagrasses provide crucial ecosystem services, but anthropogenic activities are causing global seagrass decline. This study investigates the effects of microplastic exposure on the photosynthesis and respiration of the seagrass Zostera marina and its associated epiphytes. The results show limited effects of short-term microplastic exposure on seagrass leaves and their epiphytes.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Udhi E. Hernawan, Susi Rahmawati, Rohani Ambo-Rappe, Nurul D. M. Sjafrie, Hadiyanto Hadiyanto, Deny S. Yusup, Aditya H. Nugraha, Yayu A. La Nafie, Wahyu Adi, Bayu Prayudha, Andri Irawan, Yusmiana P. Rahayu, Ermi Ningsih, Ita Riniatsih, Indarto H. Supriyadi, Kathryn McMahon
Summary: Seagrasses play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and maintaining ecosystem services. The ecological status of seagrass meadows in Indonesia is generally moderate, providing a baseline for conservation efforts and enabling the setting of specific management goals for proactive planning and progress tracking.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Alexandra G. Gulick, Robert A. Johnson, Laura A. Palma, Ashley M. Kusel, Clayton G. Pollock, Zandy Hillis-Starr, Alan B. Bolten, Karen A. Bjorndal
Summary: This study examined the effects of seagrass morphology and leaf nitrogen content on green turtle grazing behavior. The results showed that seagrass morphology significantly affected the forage intake of green turtles, while leaf nitrogen content had no effect. The turtles showed more efficient foraging in areas with shorter leaves and higher leaf biomass concentration. The study also found that the turtles selected shorter leaves for consumption in grazed areas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xavier Bunuel, Teresa Alcoverro, Javier Romero, Rohan Arthur, Juan M. Ruiz, Marta Perez, Yaiza Ontoria, Nuria Raventos, Enrique Macpherson, Hector Torrado, Jordi F. Pages
Summary: Climate change is not only affecting the individual life histories of species, but also altering key biotic interactions and causing community processes to unravel. As oceans warm, there may be an increase in the preference of Sarpa salpa towards Posidonia oceanica, potentially intensifying herbivory significantly.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Cecelia M. Gerstenbacher, Adrien C. Finzi, Randi D. Rotjan, Alyssa B. Novak
Summary: Microplastics have potential impacts on seagrass plants, epiphytes, and sediment processes and functions. They may harm seagrasses and epiphytes through impalement and light/gas blockage, increase toxin concentrations, and disrupt nutrient cycling and sediment characteristics.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(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
Anjali D. Boyd, Nia S. Walker, Stephanie R. Valdez, Y. Stacy Zhang, Andrew H. Altieri, Vladislav Gulis, Caitlin Crain, Brian Silliman
Summary: Research has found that snail grazing on live turtlegrass blades is common in the Caribbean. These snails not only graze on the grass directly, but also facilitate microbial infection in the live seagrass tissue, indirectly impacting the growth of turtlegrass. Further studies are needed to determine the generality and relative importance of direct and indirect effects of gastropod grazing on turtlegrass health.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
K. L. Heck, M. Samsonova, A. G. B. Poore, G. A. Hyndes
Summary: Recent studies have found little latitudinal effect on grazing rates in seagrass ecosystems, but several factors may confound these findings and potentially mask latitudinal trends in seagrass herbivory.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chi Huang, Carissa Pinon, Mehrube Mehrubeoglu, Kirk Cammarata
Summary: The spatiotemporal patterns in seagrass-epiphyte dynamics were studied using biomass measurements and scanned-image based metrics to assess the impact of excessive epiphyte accumulations on seagrass condition. Image analysis combined with biomass measures provides enhanced insight into the relationship between seagrass and epiphytes and how it varies with environmental conditions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yiqin Deng, Songlin Liu, Juan Feng, Yunchao Wu, Can Mao
Summary: Seagrass meadows, particularly Enhalus acoroides, can remove bacterial pathogens by trapping particles, while Thalassia hemprichii may inhibit bacterial pathogens by releasing antibacterial compounds. The mechanisms of bacterial pathogen removal by different seagrass species warrant further exploration in future studies.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Alexandra L. Bijak, Laura K. Reynolds, Ashley R. Smyth
Summary: This study examined the influence of historical and contemporary seagrass variables on sediment organic carbon storage. The results showed that historical seagrass cover, variability in cover, and species diversity were better predictors of storage than environmental variables.
Article
Oceanography
Celia Sitja, Manuel Maldonado, Carlos Farias, Jose L. Rueda
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pablo Marina, Javier Urra, Juan de Dios Bueno, Jose Luis Rueda, Serge Gofas, Carmen Salas
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Oceanography
Javier Urra, Desiree Palomino, Pablo Lozano, Emilio Gonzalez-Garcia, Carlos Farias, Angel Mateo-Ramirez, Luis Miguel Fernandez-Salas, Nieves Lopez-Gonzalez, Yolanda Vila, Covadonga Orejas, Patricia Puerta, Jesus Rivera, Lea-Anne Henry, Jose L. Rueda
Summary: Gazul MV in the northeastern Gulf of Cádiz is identified as a shallow mud volcano within the Shallow Field of Fluid Expulsion, which is considered an important area for biodiversity and geology. The study reveals diverse habitats and associated biodiversity in Gazul MV, while also highlighting anthropogenic impacts on the area.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Telmo Morato, Christopher K. Pham, Laurence Fauconnet, Gerald H. Taranto, Giovanni Chimienti, Erik Cordes, Carlos Dominguez-Carrio, Pablo Duran Munoz, Hronn Egilsdottir, Jose-Manuel Gonzalez-Irusta, Anthony Grehan, Dierk Hebbeln, Lea-Anne Henry, Georgios Kazanidis, Ellen Kenchington, Lenaick Menot, Tina N. Molodtsova, Covadonga Orejas, Berta Ramiro-Sanchez, Manuela Ramos, J. Murray Roberts, Luis Rodrigues, Steve W. Ross, Jose L. Rueda, Mar Sacau, David Stirling, Marina Carreiro-Silva
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
J. Urra, P. Marina, A. Rojas Garcia, E. Leon Duarte, H. Gallardo-Roldan, B. Orue Montaner, M. Lozano, J. M. Serna, A. Garrido, A. J. Ibanez Yuste, A. Terron-Sigler, J. Baro, J. L. Rueda, T. Garcia
Summary: This study focused on assessing and quantifying discards generated by clam fisheries in the northern Alboran Sea. Molluscs dominated in terms of abundance and biomass, with discard levels peaking in winter. Multivariate analyses revealed different assemblages related to targeted bivalve species, indicating transitions between surface sands and deeper biocoenosis.
Article
Fisheries
Jose Antonio Caballero-Herrera, Serge Gofas, Jose Luis Rueda
Summary: A new species of gastropod, Episcomitra angelesae, is described from the Alboran Sea, with a habitat that is unusual in the Mediterranean Sea. The description is based on video footage obtained from remotely operated vehicles.
MEDITERRANEAN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Luis Somoza, Jose Luis Rueda, Francisco J. Gonzalez, Blanca Rincon-Tomas, Teresa Medialdea, Olga Sanchez-Guillamon, Michael Hoppert, Juan T. Vazquez, Pedro Madureira, Esther Santofimia, Enrique Lopez-Pamo, Desiree Palomino, Jose Eugenio Ortiz, Lorena Blanco, Maria del Carmen Fernandez-Puga, L. M. Fernandez-Salas, Joachim Reitner
Summary: Extensive beds of the deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus mauritanicus linked to active cold seeps were found for the first time on Al Gacel mud volcano in the Gulf of Cadiz. High methane concentrations were observed in the water column above the mussel beds, and other chemosymbiotic species were also discovered in the area. Al Gacel mud volcano is considered one of the most active mud volcanoes in the region, delivering significant amounts of hydrocarbon fluids that support extensive chemosynthesis-based communities.
Article
Oceanography
Patricia Puerta, Angela Mosquera-Gimenez, Olga Renones, Carlos Dominguez-Carrio, Jose Luis Rueda, Javier Urra, Marina Carreiro-Silva, Jordi Blasco-Ferre, Yaiza Santana, Cristina Gutierrez-Zarate, Pedro Velez-Belchi, Jesus Rivera, Telmo Morato, Covadonga Orejas
Summary: The presence of different water masses in deep-sea benthic ecosystems can influence species distribution and community structure. This study investigates the influence of the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) on deep-sea megabenthic assemblages along the western branch of the MOW in the North Atlantic. The results suggest that substrate type and water masses both play a role in shaping the structure and diversity of the assemblages, with the MOW potentially enhancing biodiversity in some deep-sea megabenthic communities.
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
E. Gonzalez-Garcia, A. Mateo-Ramirez, M. P. Maroto Castano, G. Bruque, C. Farias, N. Lopez-Gonzalez, A. Punzon, J. L. Rueda
Summary: This study provides estimates of the bottom trawling activity, catches and landings in a mud volcano field in the Spanish margin of the Gulf of C ' adiz from 2007 to 2012. The results show a high bottom trawling activity and catches in sandy and muddy bottoms, while deeper areas and areas with hard and detritic bottoms have low activity. The study emphasizes the importance of implementing bottom trawling regulations in sectors with vulnerable and/or threatened habitats to achieve a sustainable balance between fishing activities and habitat conservation.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Cristina Ciercoles, Cristina Garcia-Ruiz, Pere Abello, Manuel Hidalgo, Pedro Torres, Maria Gonzalez, Angel Mateo-Ramirez, Jose Luis Rueda
Summary: This study analyzes the composition, structure, and distribution of decapod crustacean assemblages in the northern Alboran Sea and the Gulf of Vera. Depth and geographical location were found to be the main factors influencing the distribution of decapod species in the study area.
Article
Plant Sciences
Angel Mateo-Ramirez, Concepcion Iniguez, Luis Miguel Fernandez-Salas, Ricardo F. Sanchez-Leal, Carlos Farias, Maria Jesus Bellanco, Juan Gil, Jose L. Rueda
Summary: The invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae has recently spread to Europe from the western Pacific, causing damage to native coastal ecosystems and ecosystem services. Large amounts of detached thalli of R. okamurae were found on deep-sea bottoms of the Gulf of Cadiz, indicating a potential threat to both coastal and deep-sea habitats. Laboratory experiments showed that the collected unattached macroalgae from deep-sea locations were healthy and capable of photosynthesis even after long periods of darkness, indicating their resilience and invasive potential.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Javier Cerrillo-Escoriza, Francisco Jose Lobo, Angel Puga-Bernabeu, Jose Luis Rueda, Patricia Barcenas, Olga Sanchez-Guillamon, Jose Miguel Serna Quintero, Jose Luis Perez Gil, Yelvana Murillo, Jose Antonio Caballero-Herrera, Adrian Lopez-Quiros, Isabel Mendes, Jose Noel Perez-Asensio
Summary: This study investigates the density, distribution, sources, and impact of marine litter in the Motril, Carchuna, and Calahonda canyons in the Alboran Sea. The Carchuna Canyon has a higher density and variety of marine litter compared to the Motril and Calahonda canyons. The litter in the canyons mainly originates from coastal activities such as beach occupation, agricultural practices, and fishing.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jose Antonio Caballero-Herrera, Javier Urra, Serge Gofas, Carmen Salas, Patricia Barcenas, Marina Gallardo-Nunez, Elena Moya-Urbano, Jesus Olivero, Jose L. Rueda
Summary: A study on the molluscs of Chella Bank and its surroundings found 299 taxa, with two new records to Spanish waters and one to the Alboran Sea. The high species richness observed could be attributed to the location, hydrological characteristics, and topographical heterogeneity of the area.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Olga Sanchez-Guillamon, Jose L. Rueda, Claudia Wienberg, Gemma Ercilla, Juan Tomas Vazquez, Maria Gomez-Ballesteros, Javier Urra, Elena Moya-Urbano, Ferran Estrada, Dierk Hebbeln
Summary: “The study found that these carbonate mounds may have formed during the favorable climatic conditions for cold-water corals in the late Pleistocene. They are currently covered with typical bathyal sedimentary habitat species, but remains of potential mound-forming species were also detected in the form of fossils.”
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Luis Somoza, Jose L. Rueda, Olga Sanchez-Guillamon, Teresa Medialdea, Blanca Rincon-Tomas, Francisco J. Gonzalez, Desiree Palomino, Pedro Madureira, Enrique Lopez-Pamo, Luis M. Fernandez-Salas, Esther Santofimia, Ricardo Leon, Egidio Marino, Maria del Carmen Fernandez-Puga, Juan T. Vazquez
Summary: This study integrated five case studies of vulnerable deep-sea benthic habitats in different geological settings in the mid-latitude NE Atlantic Ocean. Data and images of these habitats were collected using ROV sensors. The distribution of deep-sea coral aggregations, sponge aggregations, and other habitats were found to be influenced by water mass properties and local factors such as hydrocarbon seeps and hydrothermal vents.
OCEANS-SWITZERLAND
(2021)