Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107894
Solveig Brochmann , Jan Heuschele , Torben Lode , Tjalling Jager , Josefin Titelman , Katrine Borgå
Natural stressors, including predation risk, can affect the response of organisms to anthropogenic contamination. Copper, used as an antifouling agent, can affect non-target organisms. We tested for effects of excess copper on survival with and without predator cues in five species of coastal copepods. We exposed adult copepods to four copper concentrations (0–1350 μg L−1, 48h) on an automated imaging platform and analysed the data using the reduced General Unified Threshold model for Survival (GUTS) to detect potential species differences in underlying toxico-kinetics and -dynamics. Calanoid copepods had elevated mortality during early copper exposure compared to a harpacticoid and a cyclopoid species. Species-specific dominant rate constants, which represents the time it takes for damage to reach a steady state, best explained the time-dependent toxicity. Over time, most predicted mortalities converged to a similar level regardless of species. Predation risk reduced mortality at the intermediate copper concentration, potentially explained by reduced copper bioavailability by binding of copper to kairomone molecules, or other intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Models like GUTS can reveal the underlying toxicity mechanisms and improve toxicity predictions in a multi-stressor world.
{"title":"Acute effects of copper exposure and predation risk in five coastal copepods","authors":"Solveig Brochmann , Jan Heuschele , Torben Lode , Tjalling Jager , Josefin Titelman , Katrine Borgå","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107894","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107894","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural stressors, including predation risk, can affect the response of organisms to anthropogenic contamination. Copper, used as an antifouling agent, can affect non-target organisms. We tested for effects of excess copper on survival with and without predator cues in five species of coastal copepods. We exposed adult copepods to four copper concentrations (0–1350 μg L<sup>−1</sup>, 48h) on an automated imaging platform and analysed the data using the reduced General Unified Threshold model for Survival (GUTS) to detect potential species differences in underlying toxico-kinetics and -dynamics. Calanoid copepods had elevated mortality during early copper exposure compared to a harpacticoid and a cyclopoid species. Species-specific dominant rate constants, which represents the time it takes for damage to reach a steady state, best explained the time-dependent toxicity. Over time, most predicted mortalities converged to a similar level regardless of species. Predation risk reduced mortality at the intermediate copper concentration, potentially explained by reduced copper bioavailability by binding of copper to kairomone molecules, or other intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Models like GUTS can reveal the underlying toxicity mechanisms and improve toxicity predictions in a multi-stressor world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107894"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146100335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107890
Oumaima Salhi , Bernard Lasserre , Adélaïde Le Grand , Philippe Douzenel , Mikaël Kedzierski , Anthony Magueresse , Monia Trabelsi , Lazhar Mhadhbi , Olivier Sire , Véronique Le Tilly
This study investigates the individual and combined effects of cadmium (Cd2+) and poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), a biodegradable macroplastic, on the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum (P. tricornutum). Interestingly, co-exposure with PBAT mitigates Cd2+ toxicity, except at high Cd2+ concentrations. Using a non-invasive Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy protocol with robust acquisition parameters and principal component analysis, specific biochemical changes in membrane composition were monitored, with notable decreases in carbohydrate and lipid contents, while protein levels remained unaltered. Morphological observations revealed a shift toward the oval morphotype under exposure to Cd2+ and PBAT, alone and in combination, featuring a stress response. Additionally, the light-harvesting pigments, chlorophyll-a and fucoxanthin, increased in a dose-dependent manner upon Cd2+ exposure, while no significant β-carotene changes were observed, except at high Cd2+ concentrations in the presence of PBAT. This effect is further amplified under co-exposure conditions, the presence of PBAT leading to a marked increase in all three pigments, β-carotene included. The experimental protocol, which involved the aging of PBAT macroplastics in seawater for a short period, suggests that the degradation products of PBAT themselves are responsible for these observed biological effects. It is worth noting that morphotype shifts occur at lower Cd2+ concentrations than those affecting photosynthesis and photoprotective systems. These findings highlight the potential of P. tricornutum membrane fingerprints and morphotype shifts as sensitive ecotoxicological indicators of metal and plastic pollution, particularly in relation to degradation by-products in marine environments.
{"title":"Membrane fingerprints and morphotype shifts in Phaeodactylum tricornutum co-exposed to cadmium and PBAT macroplastics as ecotoxicological indicators","authors":"Oumaima Salhi , Bernard Lasserre , Adélaïde Le Grand , Philippe Douzenel , Mikaël Kedzierski , Anthony Magueresse , Monia Trabelsi , Lazhar Mhadhbi , Olivier Sire , Véronique Le Tilly","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107890","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107890","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the individual and combined effects of cadmium (Cd<sup>2+</sup>) and poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), a biodegradable macroplastic, on the marine diatom <em>Phaeodactylum tricornutum (P. tricornutum)</em>. Interestingly, co-exposure with PBAT mitigates Cd<sup>2+</sup> toxicity, except at high Cd<sup>2+</sup> concentrations. Using a non-invasive Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy protocol with robust acquisition parameters and principal component analysis, specific biochemical changes in membrane composition were monitored, with notable decreases in carbohydrate and lipid contents, while protein levels remained unaltered. Morphological observations revealed a shift toward the oval morphotype under exposure to Cd<sup>2+</sup> and PBAT, alone and in combination, featuring a stress response. Additionally, the light-harvesting pigments, chlorophyll-a and fucoxanthin, increased in a dose-dependent manner upon Cd<sup>2+</sup> exposure, while no significant β-carotene changes were observed, except at high Cd<sup>2+</sup> concentrations in the presence of PBAT. This effect is further amplified under co-exposure conditions, the presence of PBAT leading to a marked increase in all three pigments, β-carotene included. The experimental protocol, which involved the aging of PBAT macroplastics in seawater for a short period, suggests that the degradation products of PBAT themselves are responsible for these observed biological effects. It is worth noting that morphotype shifts occur at lower Cd<sup>2+</sup> concentrations than those affecting photosynthesis and photoprotective systems. These findings highlight the potential of <em>P. tricornutum</em> membrane fingerprints and morphotype shifts as sensitive ecotoxicological indicators of metal and plastic pollution, particularly in relation to degradation by-products in marine environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107890"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146113589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Temporarily closed estuarine ecosystems (TCEs) are ecologically sensitive environments increasingly impacted by anthropogenic pressures and biological invasions. This study employs a mass-balanced trophic model using the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) framework to evaluate long-term changes in the structure and function of the Veli-Akkulam Estuary, a small TCE on the southwest coast of India. Based on field data from 2022 to 2023, the model integrates 17 functional groups, including invasive alien species such as Oreochromis mossambicus, O. niloticus, and Pterygoplichthys pardalis. Model outputs were compared with historical assessments from 1993 to 2008–2010 to examine decadal-scale shifts in ecosystem properties and dynamics.
Key ecological indicators such as mean trophic level of the catch (2.69), transfer efficiency (7.69 %), and Finn's Cycling Index (2.64 %) point to a simplified, detritus-dominated food web with reduced energy cycling and declining trophic maturity. Biomass is concentrated at lower trophic levels, while apex predators and native piscivores have markedly declined. Mixed Trophic Impact analysis revealed strong negative interactions between invasive species, particularly O. mossambicus, and native fish groups, suggesting competitive displacement and altered trophic relationships. High niche overlap further supports the hypothesis of dietary competition between invasive and native taxa, contributing to trophic reorganization.
System-level metrics, including a relative ascendancy of 37.42% and system overhead of 62.58%, indicate reduced ecosystem organization and rising instability. These trends reflect a transition from a functionally complex system to one increasingly dominated by opportunistic and invasive species. The study underscores the utility of Ecopath with Ecosim-based modelling in diagnosing trophic degradation and informing adaptive management. This study provides the first decadal Ecopath model demonstrating invasion-driven trophic simplification in a temporarily closed tropical estuary, and offers a replicable framework for assessing cumulative ecological impacts in tropical estuarine systems impacted by invasive species.
暂时封闭河口生态系统是受人为压力和生物入侵影响日益严重的生态敏感环境。本研究采用了一个质量平衡的营养模型，使用Ecopath with Ecosim （EwE）框架来评估印度西南海岸的一个小型TCE——Veli-Akkulam河口的结构和功能的长期变化。该模型基于2022年至2023年的野外数据，整合了17个功能群，包括入侵外来物种如Oreochromis mossambicus、O. niloticus和Pterygoplichthys pardalis。将模型输出与1993年至2008-2010年的历史评估结果进行比较，以检验生态系统特性和动态的年代际变化。关键的生态指标，如渔获物的平均营养水平（2.69）、转移效率（7.69%）和芬恩循环指数（2.64%）表明，这是一个简化的、以碎屑为主的食物网，能量循环减少，营养成熟度下降。生物量集中在低营养层，而顶端捕食者和本地鱼食性动物明显减少。混合营养影响分析显示，入侵物种（尤其是莫sambicus）与本地鱼类之间存在强烈的负相互作用，表明竞争位移和营养关系的改变。高生态位重叠进一步支持了入侵和本地类群之间的饮食竞争假说，有助于营养重组。系统级指标，包括37.42%的相对优势和62.58%的系统开销，表明生态系统组织减少，不稳定性上升。这些趋势反映了从一个功能复杂的系统向一个日益由机会主义和入侵物种主导的系统的转变。该研究强调了基于ecosim模型的Ecopath在诊断营养退化和告知适应性管理方面的效用。本研究提供了第一个十年代际生态模型，展示了暂时关闭的热带河口入侵驱动的营养简化，并为评估入侵物种对热带河口系统的累积生态影响提供了一个可复制的框架。
{"title":"Bio-invasion and decadal changes in the trophic dynamics of a temporarily closed estuary: An Ecopath model from Veli-Akkulam Estuary, Kerala, India","authors":"Regi Syamala Ramachandrannair , Kiranya Bella , Sreekanth Giri Bhavan , Smrithy Raj , Appukuttannair Biju Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107895","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107895","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Temporarily closed estuarine ecosystems (TCEs) are ecologically sensitive environments increasingly impacted by anthropogenic pressures and biological invasions. This study employs a mass-balanced trophic model using the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) framework to evaluate long-term changes in the structure and function of the Veli-Akkulam Estuary, a small TCE on the southwest coast of India. Based on field data from 2022 to 2023, the model integrates 17 functional groups, including invasive alien species such as <em>Oreochromis mossambicus</em>, <em>O. niloticus</em>, and <em>Pterygoplichthys pardalis</em>. Model outputs were compared with historical assessments from 1993 to 2008–2010 to examine decadal-scale shifts in ecosystem properties and dynamics.</div><div>Key ecological indicators such as mean trophic level of the catch (2.69), transfer efficiency (7.69 %), and Finn's Cycling Index (2.64 %) point to a simplified, detritus-dominated food web with reduced energy cycling and declining trophic maturity. Biomass is concentrated at lower trophic levels, while apex predators and native piscivores have markedly declined. Mixed Trophic Impact analysis revealed strong negative interactions between invasive species, particularly <em>O. mossambicus</em>, and native fish groups, suggesting competitive displacement and altered trophic relationships. High niche overlap further supports the hypothesis of dietary competition between invasive and native taxa, contributing to trophic reorganization.</div><div>System-level metrics, including a relative ascendancy of 37.42% and system overhead of 62.58%, indicate reduced ecosystem organization and rising instability. These trends reflect a transition from a functionally complex system to one increasingly dominated by opportunistic and invasive species. The study underscores the utility of Ecopath with Ecosim-based modelling in diagnosing trophic degradation and informing adaptive management. This study provides the first decadal Ecopath model demonstrating invasion-driven trophic simplification in a temporarily closed tropical estuary, and offers a replicable framework for assessing cumulative ecological impacts in tropical estuarine systems impacted by invasive species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107895"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In tropical coastal ecosystems, monsoonal rainfall is a critical driver of seasonal variability, inducing shifts in hydrological parameters such as temperature, salinity, and nutrient concentrations, which subsequently regulate zooplankton community structure. This study investigated the influence of the southwest monsoon on coastal water quality and zooplankton composition along the Mumbai coast, India. Sampling was conducted in the pre-monsoon (May 2022) and post-monsoon (September 2022) periods, corresponding to early (EMP) and later (LMP) monsoonal phases, during which the region receives 1500–2000 mm of precipitation. Analyses revealed distinct hydrological changes and a significant reorganisation of the zooplankton assemblage between phases. Total zooplankton abundance was lower in the EMP compared to the LMP. Among the 25 taxonomic groups identified, Copepoda dominated the community, represented by 27 species (23 Calanoida, 2 Harpacticoida, and 2 Cyclopoida), with families Acartidae and Paracalanidae comprising 70 % of the copepod population. Statistical and biological trait-based analyses demonstrated significant temporal shifts in copepod community composition and functional structure. Temperature, salinity, and nutrient levels were identified as the primary environmental factors shaping the distribution of copepod functional groups. Eleven copepod taxa served as indicator species for specific monsoonal phases. Trophic structure analysis showed a prevalence of omnivorous copepods during the EMP, likely due to reduced phytoplankton availability under lower nutrient concentrations and fluctuating salinity, favouring opportunistic feeding. In contrast, the LMP, characterised by elevated nutrient inputs and stabilised salinity, supported a more complex food web with a balanced representation of herbivorous, omnivorous, carnivorous, and detritivorous functional groups. Herbivores were numerically dominant in both periods. The increased co-dominance of meroplankton (pelagic larvae of benthic invertebrates) during the LMP highlighted their ecological role in coupling benthic and pelagic subsystems. These findings elucidate the mechanistic links between monsoonal hydrography and zooplankton functional ecology, providing a scientific basis for informed conservation and management of monsoon-influenced coastal ecosystems.
{"title":"Monsoon mysteries: Impact of rainfall-induced hydrographic changes on coastal zooplankton communities","authors":"Tanmoy Nandy , Sabyasachi Sautya , Santosh Gaikwad , Rakesh P.S. , Balaram Sahu","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107896","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107896","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In tropical coastal ecosystems, monsoonal rainfall is a critical driver of seasonal variability, inducing shifts in hydrological parameters such as temperature, salinity, and nutrient concentrations, which subsequently regulate zooplankton community structure. This study investigated the influence of the southwest monsoon on coastal water quality and zooplankton composition along the Mumbai coast, India. Sampling was conducted in the pre-monsoon (May 2022) and post-monsoon (September 2022) periods, corresponding to early (EMP) and later (LMP) monsoonal phases, during which the region receives 1500–2000 mm of precipitation. Analyses revealed distinct hydrological changes and a significant reorganisation of the zooplankton assemblage between phases. Total zooplankton abundance was lower in the EMP compared to the LMP. Among the 25 taxonomic groups identified, Copepoda dominated the community, represented by 27 species (23 Calanoida, 2 Harpacticoida, and 2 Cyclopoida), with families Acartidae and Paracalanidae comprising 70 % of the copepod population. Statistical and biological trait-based analyses demonstrated significant temporal shifts in copepod community composition and functional structure. Temperature, salinity, and nutrient levels were identified as the primary environmental factors shaping the distribution of copepod functional groups. Eleven copepod taxa served as indicator species for specific monsoonal phases. Trophic structure analysis showed a prevalence of omnivorous copepods during the EMP, likely due to reduced phytoplankton availability under lower nutrient concentrations and fluctuating salinity, favouring opportunistic feeding. In contrast, the LMP, characterised by elevated nutrient inputs and stabilised salinity, supported a more complex food web with a balanced representation of herbivorous, omnivorous, carnivorous, and detritivorous functional groups. Herbivores were numerically dominant in both periods. The increased co-dominance of meroplankton (pelagic larvae of benthic invertebrates) during the LMP highlighted their ecological role in coupling benthic and pelagic subsystems. These findings elucidate the mechanistic links between monsoonal hydrography and zooplankton functional ecology, providing a scientific basis for informed conservation and management of monsoon-influenced coastal ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107896"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146137557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107884
J. de Azevedo , J.N. Franco , M. Dolbeth , H.S. Meyer , A. Barreiro , E.A. Salas-Leitón , F. Arenas
Climate change (CC) is driving shifts in marine ecosystems, particularly affecting temperate and subtropical marine forests, which are critical for biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Dominated by canopy-forming seaweeds, these forests are sensitive to CC-induced stressors, such as rising temperatures and tropicalisation, which favour turf-forming algae and increase the abundance of herbivorous fish, threatening ecosystem structure and function. Along the western coast of Portugal in Southern Europe, the herbivorous fish Sarpa salpa plays a key role in tropicalisation, potentially exacerbating the decline of cold-water seaweeds, whilst the Iberian upwelling system may offer localised protection through cooler conditions. This study combines stomach content analysis, subtidal surveys, functional trait analyses, fish landing records, and sea surface temperature (SST) data across the North, Centre, and South regions to assess the ecological role of S. salpa. Results confirmed a preference for brown algae, including habitat-forming species, with clear regional variation: kelps dominated diets in the North, whilst Cystoseira s.l. and turf-forming species prevailed in the Centre and South. Fish landing analyses revealed region-specific dynamics: landings in the North increased with higher SST, those in the Centre were unaffected by temperature, and those in the South were negatively correlated with SST. These findings highlight the potential threat of S. salpa to temperate marine forests under CC.
{"title":"Rising herbivory pressure of Sarpa salpa and the emerging threat to Southern European marine forests","authors":"J. de Azevedo , J.N. Franco , M. Dolbeth , H.S. Meyer , A. Barreiro , E.A. Salas-Leitón , F. Arenas","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107884","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107884","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change (CC) is driving shifts in marine ecosystems, particularly affecting temperate and subtropical marine forests, which are critical for biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Dominated by canopy-forming seaweeds, these forests are sensitive to CC-induced stressors, such as rising temperatures and tropicalisation, which favour turf-forming algae and increase the abundance of herbivorous fish, threatening ecosystem structure and function. Along the western coast of Portugal in Southern Europe, the herbivorous fish <em>Sarpa salpa</em> plays a key role in tropicalisation, potentially exacerbating the decline of cold-water seaweeds, whilst the Iberian upwelling system may offer localised protection through cooler conditions. This study combines stomach content analysis, subtidal surveys, functional trait analyses, fish landing records, and sea surface temperature (SST) data across the North, Centre, and South regions to assess the ecological role of <em>S. salpa</em>. Results confirmed a preference for brown algae, including habitat-forming species, with clear regional variation: kelps dominated diets in the North, whilst <em>Cystoseira s.l.</em> and turf-forming species prevailed in the Centre and South. Fish landing analyses revealed region-specific dynamics: landings in the North increased with higher SST, those in the Centre were unaffected by temperature, and those in the South were negatively correlated with SST. These findings highlight the potential threat of <em>S. salpa</em> to temperate marine forests under CC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107884"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Natural disasters impose acute environmental stressors that can drastically reshape marine populations. Abrupt changes in habitat, resulting from hypoxia due to upwelling and seismic-induced tsunamis, are known chronic events, but their effects on marine taxa are poorly studied. This study investigates the genomic and mitochondrial responses of two coastal fish species, Aphos porosus and Normanichthys crockeri, to two sequential disturbances: a hypoxic upwelling event in 2008 and a seismic-induced tsunami in 2010 in Coliumo Bay, Chile. Whole-genome and mitochondrial DNA analyses may reveal strong genetic differentiation and reduced genetic diversity in N. crockeri, indicating a demographic bottleneck and adaptive shifts. While A. porosus could exhibited genomic resilience, likely due to parental care and sex-biased dispersal, with moderate mitochondrial divergence and increased matrilineal diversity post-disturbance. Functional annotations highlighted possible signatures of stress response, metabolic adaptation, and mitochondrial plasticity. These findings may underscore the complex interplay of ecological traits, environmental stressors, and genetic mechanisms driving population resilience and structuring in marine systems.
{"title":"Genomic resilience to sequential environmental perturbations in two sympatric costal fish species","authors":"Maribet Gamboa , Florence Tellier , Constanza Millán-Medina , Diego Silva , Eduardo Hernández-Miranda","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107893","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107893","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural disasters impose acute environmental stressors that can drastically reshape marine populations. Abrupt changes in habitat, resulting from hypoxia due to upwelling and seismic-induced tsunamis, are known chronic events, but their effects on marine taxa are poorly studied. This study investigates the genomic and mitochondrial responses of two coastal fish species, <em>Aphos porosus</em> and <em>Normanichthys crockeri</em>, to two sequential disturbances: a hypoxic upwelling event in 2008 and a seismic-induced tsunami in 2010 in Coliumo Bay, Chile. Whole-genome and mitochondrial DNA analyses may reveal strong genetic differentiation and reduced genetic diversity in <em>N. crockeri</em>, indicating a demographic bottleneck and adaptive shifts. While <em>A. porosus</em> could exhibited genomic resilience, likely due to parental care and sex-biased dispersal, with moderate mitochondrial divergence and increased matrilineal diversity post-disturbance. Functional annotations highlighted possible signatures of stress response, metabolic adaptation, and mitochondrial plasticity. These findings may underscore the complex interplay of ecological traits, environmental stressors, and genetic mechanisms driving population resilience and structuring in marine systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107893"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107891
Qingling Zhang , Xinyan Mao , Yifei Luo , Xinyu Guo , Jie Shi
In summer, the East China Sea (ECS) faces ecological challenges like harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, and jellyfish blooms, linked to nutrient distributions influenced by Changjiang Diluted Water (CDW), Kuroshio intrusion, and Zhejiang Coastal Upwelling (ZCU). The inconsistent interannual variations of these processes complicate nutrient dynamics. This study used the Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis to reveal the interannual variations (1993–2022) of summer dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentrations in the ECS. We demonstrated that interannual variability in southerly wind strength was a key regulator controlling the relative influence of CDW and ZCU on surface nutrients. Weaker southerly wind combined with stronger Changjiang discharge (e.g., 1999, 2002, 2020) enhanced the nearshore influence of CDW and reduced the ZCU intensity. This suppressed DIP supply and biological consumption of DIN, leading to accumulated surface DIN but depleted surface DIP in the Zhejiang Coastal (ZC) region. Conversely, stronger southerly wind combined with stronger Changjiang discharge drove the CDW moving offshore that increased offshore DIN concentrations. Simultaneously, the stronger southerly wind also intensified ZCU that enhanced coastal DIP supply and biological DIN uptake, resulting in reduced coastal surface DIN. Critically, we identify the distinct drivers for bottom DIP. Weaker ZCU led to increasing (decreasing) of bottom DIP concentrations in an area deeper (shallower) than 20 m, while stronger Kuroshio intrusion substantially boosted bottom DIP, influencing productivity in both ZC region and the East Zhejiang coastal (EZC) region. The intricate interplay of these physically driven nutrient fluxes, characterized by differing N/P ratios, underpinned the ECS's complex and variable summer nutrient structures with profound implications for understanding its ecological responses.
{"title":"Relationships of the summer nutrient concentrations in the East China Sea with the Changjiang diluted water, upwellings and Kuroshio intrusion, from an interannual perspective","authors":"Qingling Zhang , Xinyan Mao , Yifei Luo , Xinyu Guo , Jie Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107891","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107891","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In summer, the East China Sea (ECS) faces ecological challenges like harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, and jellyfish blooms, linked to nutrient distributions influenced by Changjiang Diluted Water (CDW), Kuroshio intrusion, and Zhejiang Coastal Upwelling (ZCU). The inconsistent interannual variations of these processes complicate nutrient dynamics. This study used the Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis to reveal the interannual variations (1993–2022) of summer dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentrations in the ECS. We demonstrated that interannual variability in southerly wind strength was a key regulator controlling the relative influence of CDW and ZCU on surface nutrients. Weaker southerly wind combined with stronger Changjiang discharge (e.g., 1999, 2002, 2020) enhanced the nearshore influence of CDW and reduced the ZCU intensity. This suppressed DIP supply and biological consumption of DIN, leading to accumulated surface DIN but depleted surface DIP in the Zhejiang Coastal (ZC) region. Conversely, stronger southerly wind combined with stronger Changjiang discharge drove the CDW moving offshore that increased offshore DIN concentrations. Simultaneously, the stronger southerly wind also intensified ZCU that enhanced coastal DIP supply and biological DIN uptake, resulting in reduced coastal surface DIN. Critically, we identify the distinct drivers for bottom DIP. Weaker ZCU led to increasing (decreasing) of bottom DIP concentrations in an area deeper (shallower) than 20 m, while stronger Kuroshio intrusion substantially boosted bottom DIP, influencing productivity in both ZC region and the East Zhejiang coastal (EZC) region. The intricate interplay of these physically driven nutrient fluxes, characterized by differing N/P ratios, underpinned the ECS's complex and variable summer nutrient structures with profound implications for understanding its ecological responses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107891"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146113150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) aim to preserve species, habitats, and the Nature Contributions to People they support. In the sub-Antarctic MPAs Namuncurá – Burdwood Bank I and II, the primary conservation features are the rich and abundant benthic assemblages across two distinct habitats: the plateau and the slope of the bank. Currently, these MPAs face significant threats from anthropogenic CO2 emissions, which drive climate change and ocean acidification processes. Here, we establish an ecological baseline by analysing the diversity and structural patterns of benthic assemblages to evaluate MPA effectiveness, monitor climate change impacts, and inform management strategies. Comparisons were performed across three areas: the MPA, the Beagle Channel, and the Atlantic shelf of Tierra del Fuego, and between zones and habitats within the MPA. Sampling was conducted at depths of 90–710 m using bottom trawls, with megafauna identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Uni- and multivariate analyses revealed marked differences across areas. A total of 236 taxa were distinguished, but only 16 were shared among all the three areas, while 167 were unique to the MPAs. The habitats were characterized by different biotas, with sponges (mainly Demospongiae) dominating shallower environments and calcifying taxa, such as corals and echinoderms, predominating in deeper habitats. High β-diversity turnover within the MPAs suggests that the current zonation may inadequately protect benthic habitats, which is further exacerbated by ocean acidification predictions. Our findings highlight the biodiversity and conservation value in two opensea sub-Antarctic MPAs, providing a basis for effective management and the assessment of ecological responses to environmental change.
海洋保护区（MPAs）旨在保护物种、栖息地以及它们所支持的自然对人类的贡献。在亚南极海洋保护区namuncura - Burdwood Bank I和II中，主要的保护特征是丰富的底栖生物组合跨越两个不同的栖息地：高原和河岸斜坡。目前，这些海洋保护区面临着人为二氧化碳排放的重大威胁，二氧化碳排放推动了气候变化和海洋酸化过程。在此，我们通过分析底栖生物群落的多样性和结构模式来建立生态基线，以评估海洋保护区的有效性，监测气候变化的影响，并为管理策略提供信息。在三个区域进行了比较：海洋保护区、比格尔海峡和火地岛的大西洋大陆架，以及海洋保护区内的区域和栖息地之间的比较。利用底拖网在90-710米的深度进行取样，在尽可能低的分类水平上确定了巨型动物。单变量和多变量分析显示了不同地区之间的显著差异。共鉴定出236个分类群，但3个地区共有的分类群只有16个，167个是保护区特有的。浅层以海绵类为主，深层以珊瑚、棘皮类等钙化类群为主。海洋保护区内β-多样性的高更替表明，目前的地带性可能无法充分保护底栖生物栖息地，海洋酸化预测进一步加剧了这一问题。本研究结果强调了两个亚南极公海海洋保护区的生物多样性和保护价值，为有效管理和评估生态对环境变化的响应提供了依据。
{"title":"Deeper waters, more calcifiers: Spatial variation in benthic assemblages highlight conservation challenges in sub-Antarctic Marine Protected areas","authors":"Lucía Bergagna , Luciana Riccialdelli , Gustavo Lovrich , Gisela A. Morán , Laura Schejter , Gabriela Palomo , Ricardo Sahade","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107889","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107889","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) aim to preserve species, habitats, and the Nature Contributions to People they support. In the sub-Antarctic MPAs Namuncurá – Burdwood Bank I and II, the primary conservation features are the rich and abundant benthic assemblages across two distinct habitats: the plateau and the slope of the bank. Currently, these MPAs face significant threats from anthropogenic CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, which drive climate change and ocean acidification processes. Here, we establish an ecological baseline by analysing the diversity and structural patterns of benthic assemblages to evaluate MPA effectiveness, monitor climate change impacts, and inform management strategies. Comparisons were performed across three areas: the MPA, the Beagle Channel, and the Atlantic shelf of Tierra del Fuego, and between zones and habitats within the MPA. Sampling was conducted at depths of 90–710 m using bottom trawls, with megafauna identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Uni- and multivariate analyses revealed marked differences across areas. A total of 236 taxa were distinguished, but only 16 were shared among all the three areas, while 167 were unique to the MPAs. The habitats were characterized by different biotas, with sponges (mainly Demospongiae) dominating shallower environments and calcifying taxa, such as corals and echinoderms, predominating in deeper habitats. High β-diversity turnover within the MPAs suggests that the current zonation may inadequately protect benthic habitats, which is further exacerbated by ocean acidification predictions. Our findings highlight the biodiversity and conservation value in two opensea sub-Antarctic MPAs, providing a basis for effective management and the assessment of ecological responses to environmental change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107889"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146137536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107886
Ian A. Knuckey , Matt Koopman , Brendan Kelaher , Russell B. Millar , Paul E. McShane
High intensity noise associated with seismic surveys of the sea floor can cause harm or alter the behaviour of aquatic animals. In south eastern Australia, a marine seismic survey (MSS) acquisition area overlapped with commercial fishing grounds on which eastern school whiting (Sillago flindersi) and tiger flathead (Platycephalus richardsoni) are targeted. To assess the effect on commercial catch rates of a MSS, commercial Danish seine vessels were deployed in stratified random surveys of seismic acquisition areas and adjacent control areas within a 11,000 km2 fishing ground. Despite the considerable natural spatial and temporal variation in catch rates of each fish species, catch rates were reduced by 99 % for whiting and by 75 % for flathead immediately following the MSS compared with control areas. Significant negative impacts were observed to persist for at least 10 months for whiting. Although randomized survey data were not available from before the MSS, a M-BACI analysis of commercial logbook data in the years preceding and up to 10 months post seismic acquisition revealed a significant reduction in the catch rates of whiting, but not flathead. Cooperative fleet dynamics may have contributed to hyperstability of catch rates masking MSS effects on flathead. The lack of observed mortalities or visible physiological or morphological abnormalities for fish caught post-MSS indicates that either fish moved out of the MSS acquisition area or otherwise avoided capture. Overall, our results demonstrate that impacts of MSS on fisheries can range from negligible to substantial, depending on the species, location and extent of overlap of the MSS acquisition area with fishing grounds.
{"title":"Seismic acquisition causes substantial decrease in catch rates of commercially-important fish","authors":"Ian A. Knuckey , Matt Koopman , Brendan Kelaher , Russell B. Millar , Paul E. McShane","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107886","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107886","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High intensity noise associated with seismic surveys of the sea floor can cause harm or alter the behaviour of aquatic animals. In south eastern Australia, a marine seismic survey (MSS) acquisition area overlapped with commercial fishing grounds on which eastern school whiting (<em>Sillago flindersi</em>) and tiger flathead (<em>Platycephalus richardsoni</em>) are targeted. To assess the effect on commercial catch rates of a MSS, commercial Danish seine vessels were deployed in stratified random surveys of seismic acquisition areas and adjacent control areas within a 11,000 km<sup>2</sup> fishing ground. Despite the considerable natural spatial and temporal variation in catch rates of each fish species, catch rates were reduced by 99 % for whiting and by 75 % for flathead immediately following the MSS compared with control areas. Significant negative impacts were observed to persist for at least 10 months for whiting. Although randomized survey data were not available from before the MSS, a M-BACI analysis of commercial logbook data in the years preceding and up to 10 months post seismic acquisition revealed a significant reduction in the catch rates of whiting, but not flathead. Cooperative fleet dynamics may have contributed to hyperstability of catch rates masking MSS effects on flathead. The lack of observed mortalities or visible physiological or morphological abnormalities for fish caught post-MSS indicates that either fish moved out of the MSS acquisition area or otherwise avoided capture. Overall, our results demonstrate that impacts of MSS on fisheries can range from negligible to substantial, depending on the species, location and extent of overlap of the MSS acquisition area with fishing grounds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107886"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107887
Ilaria D'Aniello , Maria Nardiello , Carmen Arena , Denis Badocco , Alberto Barausse , Alberto Colletti , Roberto Danovaro , Erika Fabbrizzi , Marta Formentin , Simonetta Fraschetti , Folco Giomi , Valerio Matozzo , Isabella Moro , Katiuscia Petrosillo , Chiara Silvestrini , Ermenegilda Vitale , Marco Munari
The increasing CO2 concentration is a major cause of the climate change phenomenon. Concurrently, the same increase is leading to ocean acidification (OA), which is projected to decrease seawater pH by 0.4 units by 2100. Here we investigated the potential impacts of OA on the canopy-forming brown macroalga Gongolaria barbata from the Venice Lagoon. One-year-old individuals were maintained in mesocosms under two pH levels: 8.1 (current ambient value) and 7.7 (the end-of-the-century value predicted under the current scenario of anthropogenic CO2 emissions). The physiological responses of the algae were assessed during the experiment in terms of oxygen production and consumption, and maximal PSII photochemical efficiency. At the end of the experiment, we analyzed the percentage of mature receptacles, algal growth rate and the total polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity as indicators of the stress response. The significant decrease in polyphenolic content indicates the impairment of the defence mechanisms, which could make the algae more vulnerable to grazing under acidified conditions. Yet, conversely, our results suggest that changes in pH levels do not significantly affect the physiological processes, growth or fertility of the algae. These findings suggest that while OA may weaken defence mechanisms, the preservation of physiological and reproductive functions would still support the potential of G. barbata populations from the Venice Lagoon to act as donor sources for restoration efforts, highlighting their resistance to the acidified conditions expected in the future.
{"title":"Resilience of the macroalgae Gongolaria barbata under ocean acidification: physiological responses and restoration perspective","authors":"Ilaria D'Aniello , Maria Nardiello , Carmen Arena , Denis Badocco , Alberto Barausse , Alberto Colletti , Roberto Danovaro , Erika Fabbrizzi , Marta Formentin , Simonetta Fraschetti , Folco Giomi , Valerio Matozzo , Isabella Moro , Katiuscia Petrosillo , Chiara Silvestrini , Ermenegilda Vitale , Marco Munari","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107887","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107887","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing CO<sub>2</sub> concentration is a major cause of the climate change phenomenon. Concurrently, the same increase is leading to ocean acidification (OA), which is projected to decrease seawater pH by 0.4 units by 2100. Here we investigated the potential impacts of OA on the canopy-forming brown macroalga <em>Gongolaria barbata</em> from the Venice Lagoon. One-year-old individuals were maintained in mesocosms under two pH levels: 8.1 (current ambient value) and 7.7 (the end-of-the-century value predicted under the current scenario of anthropogenic CO<sub>2</sub> emissions). The physiological responses of the algae were assessed during the experiment in terms of oxygen production and consumption, and maximal PSII photochemical efficiency. At the end of the experiment, we analyzed the percentage of mature receptacles, algal growth rate and the total polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity as indicators of the stress response. The significant decrease in polyphenolic content indicates the impairment of the defence mechanisms, which could make the algae more vulnerable to grazing under acidified conditions. Yet, conversely, our results suggest that changes in pH levels do not significantly affect the physiological processes, growth or fertility of the algae. These findings suggest that while OA may weaken defence mechanisms, the preservation of physiological and reproductive functions would still support the potential of <em>G. barbata</em> populations from the Venice Lagoon to act as donor sources for restoration efforts, highlighting their resistance to the acidified conditions expected in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"216 ","pages":"Article 107887"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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