Pub Date : 2024-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109039
Morwenna Grigg , Anna Cucknell , Kerry Marten , Thea Cox , Chris Yesson
Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that play crucial roles in blue carbon capture and coastal protection, as well as providing a critical feeding and nursery habitat for several species. However, the extent of seagrass meadows has drastically decreased around the UK coastline since the 1930s. As such, restoration of Zostera spp. seagrasses is a growing field for academics and practitioners, yet for Zostera noltei (dwarf eelgrass) in particular, restoration is hampered by knowledge of current distributions and where to restore. Habitat suitability modelling is a valuable tool for mapping and can be applied by practitioners at a site-specific scale to identify potential areas for restoration. Here we have created a Maximum Entropy (maxent) habitat suitability model to predict Z. noltei suitability in the Greater Thames Estuary based on seven environmental variables at a 10-m resolution within an intertidal boundary. Using areas of higher suitability to identify restoration potential, our results indicate 602.9 Ha of “good” suitable habitat for potential restoration around existing Z. noltei beds in the Thames, Medway and Swale Estuaries. Despite reasonable predictive accuracy, our model was limited by the availability, resolution and extent of important environmental variables such as sediment type. Nonetheless, we believe this is a valuable tool for practitioners in the initial stage of site selection at a local scale for Z. noltei restoration projects in the UK.
{"title":"Habitat suitability modelling for restoration of intertidal seagrass, Zostera noltei: A case study from the Greater Thames Estuary, UK","authors":"Morwenna Grigg , Anna Cucknell , Kerry Marten , Thea Cox , Chris Yesson","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109039","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109039","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that play crucial roles in blue carbon capture and coastal protection, as well as providing a critical feeding and nursery habitat for several species. However, the extent of seagrass meadows has drastically decreased around the UK coastline since the 1930s. As such, restoration of <em>Zostera</em> spp. seagrasses is a growing field for academics and practitioners, yet for <em>Zostera noltei</em> (dwarf eelgrass) in particular, restoration is hampered by knowledge of current distributions and where to restore. Habitat suitability modelling is a valuable tool for mapping and can be applied by practitioners at a site-specific scale to identify potential areas for restoration. Here we have created a Maximum Entropy (maxent) habitat suitability model to predict <em>Z. noltei</em> suitability in the Greater Thames Estuary based on seven environmental variables at a 10-m resolution within an intertidal boundary. Using areas of higher suitability to identify restoration potential, our results indicate 602.9 Ha of “good” suitable habitat for potential restoration around existing <em>Z. noltei</em> beds in the Thames, Medway and Swale Estuaries. Despite reasonable predictive accuracy, our model was limited by the availability, resolution and extent of important environmental variables such as sediment type. Nonetheless, we believe this is a valuable tool for practitioners in the initial stage of site selection at a local scale for <em>Z. noltei</em> restoration projects in the UK.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 109039"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142720273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109045
N.V. Solovjova
The article proposes an approach to simulating ecological risk dynamics in the shelf ecosystems based on synthesizing the probabilistic, dynamic simulation and the observation data. Objective of this work is to demonstrate the ecological risk dependence not only on the external factors, but also on the ecosystem intra-annual natural dynamics. Shelf ecosystem dynamic model and the ecological risk probabilistic model are introduced for this purpose. The article selects contrasting in productivity ecosystems of the Caspian and Arctic shelves as the simulation objects. The dynamic model makes it possible to compute annual variations in all its main components including the phytoplankton, zooplankton and nekton biomass, as well as in the nutrient concentrations (nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) and in the suspended and dissolved organic matter. The probabilistic risk model uses computation results according to the dynamic ecosystem model and the observation data. Computation is used in considering the technogenic stressors action in course of the oil fields development on the shelf. Testing the hypothesis on the ecosystem productivity influence on the final risk assessment is the purpose of selecting the contrasting ecosystems. Namely, it is a hypothesis on the ER reduced level in the low-productivity shelf ecosystems compared to those highly productive exposed to the technogenic stressors influence. The obtained results demonstrate significant dependence of the risk values not only on the stressor effects, but also on the intra-annual natural dynamics in the ecosystem state. Analysis of the risk computation results in regard to the highly productive Caspian ecosystem and the low-productivity Arctic shelf ecosystem demonstrates that risk assessment is not depending on the productivity level.
{"title":"Dynamics of the shelf ecosystem ecological risk: Model assessment","authors":"N.V. Solovjova","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109045","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109045","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The article proposes an approach to simulating ecological risk dynamics in the shelf ecosystems based on synthesizing the probabilistic, dynamic simulation and the observation data. Objective of this work is to demonstrate the ecological risk dependence not only on the external factors, but also on the ecosystem intra-annual natural dynamics. Shelf ecosystem dynamic model and the ecological risk probabilistic model are introduced for this purpose. The article selects contrasting in productivity ecosystems of the Caspian and Arctic shelves as the simulation objects. The dynamic model makes it possible to compute annual variations in all its main components including the phytoplankton, zooplankton and nekton biomass, as well as in the nutrient concentrations (nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) and in the suspended and dissolved organic matter. The probabilistic risk model uses computation results according to the dynamic ecosystem model and the observation data. Computation is used in considering the technogenic stressors action in course of the oil fields development on the shelf. Testing the hypothesis on the ecosystem productivity influence on the final risk assessment is the purpose of selecting the contrasting ecosystems. Namely, it is a hypothesis on the ER reduced level in the low-productivity shelf ecosystems compared to those highly productive exposed to the technogenic stressors influence. The obtained results demonstrate significant dependence of the risk values not only on the stressor effects, but also on the intra-annual natural dynamics in the ecosystem state. Analysis of the risk computation results in regard to the highly productive Caspian ecosystem and the low-productivity Arctic shelf ecosystem demonstrates that risk assessment is not depending on the productivity level.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 109045"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142719747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109040
Manuel Novillo , Eugenia Moreira , Mariano Elisio , Gustavo Macchi , Esteban Barrera-Oro , Mario La Mesa
Understanding the life history traits of Antarctic fish species is crucial for effective management and conservation purposes. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the reproductive dynamics, age and growth characteristics in Trematomus newnesi, a common nototheniid species in the High-Antarctic zone. Field observations conducted in Potter Cove, South Shetland Islands, revealed significant variations in photoperiod and water temperature from November to March, with water temperatures reaching a peak in mid-December. The gonadosomatic index, as a proxy of gonad development, increased exponentially in both sexes from November to March. Sex steroid plasma levels, particularly testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2), showed significant temporal variations, with a significant increase in the period when late vitellogenesis was evident, suggesting the proximity of final maturation and spawning. Age estimation through otolith readings provided a range of ages up to five years for both sexes. Comparison with previous studies on T. newnesi from other Antarctic areas highlighted similarities in reproductive patterns and differences in growth parameters. Photoperiod and an increase in temperature resulted to be trigger factors promoting vitellogenesis in T. newnesi, ending in an early austral autumn spawning event. The environmental cues and reproductive data recorded at Potter Cove suggest that this area serves as a spawning ground for T. newnesi. Likewise, larval hatching was estimated to occur from early to mid-August, after an egg incubation period of four months. Overall, this study provides insights into the life history traits of T. newnesi, as a valuable contribution for appropriate management and conservation of Antarctic fish populations.
了解南极鱼类的生活史特征对于有效管理和保护至关重要。本研究对南极高纬度地区常见的蝾螈（Trematomus newnesi）的繁殖动态、年龄和生长特征进行了全面评估。在南设得兰群岛波特湾进行的实地观察显示，11月至次年3月期间，光周期和水温变化显著，12月中旬水温达到峰值。作为性腺发育指标的性腺发育指数在 11 月至 3 月期间呈指数增长。性类固醇血浆水平，特别是睾酮（T）和雌二醇（E2），显示出显著的时间变化，在卵黄发生晚期显著增加，表明最终成熟和产卵期临近。通过耳石读数对雌雄鲑鱼的年龄进行了估计，结果表明雌雄鲑鱼的年龄最大可达 5 岁。与之前对其他南极地区的 T. newnesi 进行的研究进行比较后发现，它们的繁殖模式相似，但生长参数不同。光周期和温度的升高是促进 T. newnesi 卵黄发生的触发因素，最终导致了早秋的产卵活动。波特湾记录的环境线索和繁殖数据表明，该地区是蝾螈的产卵地。同样，经过四个月的卵孵化期后，幼体孵化估计发生在八月初至八月中旬。总之，这项研究提供了对新霓虹鲑生活史特征的深入了解，为适当管理和保护南极鱼类种群做出了宝贵贡献。
{"title":"A comprehensive study of the life history traits of Trematomus newnesi (Pisces, Notothenioidei) off the South Shetland Islands","authors":"Manuel Novillo , Eugenia Moreira , Mariano Elisio , Gustavo Macchi , Esteban Barrera-Oro , Mario La Mesa","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109040","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109040","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the life history traits of Antarctic fish species is crucial for effective management and conservation purposes. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the reproductive dynamics, age and growth characteristics in <em>Trematomus newnesi</em>, a common nototheniid species in the High-Antarctic zone. Field observations conducted in Potter Cove, South Shetland Islands, revealed significant variations in photoperiod and water temperature from November to March, with water temperatures reaching a peak in mid-December. The gonadosomatic index, as a proxy of gonad development, increased exponentially in both sexes from November to March. Sex steroid plasma levels, particularly testosterone (T) and estradiol (E<sub>2</sub>), showed significant temporal variations, with a significant increase in the period when late vitellogenesis was evident, suggesting the proximity of final maturation and spawning. Age estimation through otolith readings provided a range of ages up to five years for both sexes. Comparison with previous studies on <em>T. newnesi</em> from other Antarctic areas highlighted similarities in reproductive patterns and differences in growth parameters. Photoperiod and an increase in temperature resulted to be trigger factors promoting vitellogenesis in <em>T. newnesi</em>, ending in an early austral autumn spawning event. The environmental cues and reproductive data recorded at Potter Cove suggest that this area serves as a spawning ground for <em>T. newnesi</em>. Likewise, larval hatching was estimated to occur from early to mid-August, after an egg incubation period of four months. Overall, this study provides insights into the life history traits of <em>T. newnesi</em>, as a valuable contribution for appropriate management and conservation of Antarctic fish populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 109040"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142720281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109046
Ryszard Kornijów , Krzysztof Pawlikowski , Magdalena Jakubowska-Lehrmann , Joanna Całkiewicz , Katarzyna Smolarz , Aleksander Drgas , Marcin Białowąs
Rangia cuneata, an invasive species originating from the Atlantic coasts of North America, has rapidly established itself in various European brackish habitats over the last two decades. Despite its significant ecological, commercial, and invasive implications, understanding of the species' burrowing behaviour remains limited. This study investigates the influence of seasons (winter at 8 °C versus summer at 22 °C) on the burrowing patterns of two clam size classes (small, ≥16 mm to <25 mm, and large, ≥25 mm to ≤36 mm) in two distinct substrates (intact cores of hard sandy versus soft silty sediment). The specimens and sediment were sourced from the recently invaded brackish Vistula Lagoon in the southern Baltic. The analysis revealed that larger clams from soft sediment exhibited thinner shells and a higher soft tissue energy value than those from hard sediment. While the condition index remained unaffected by the substrate, burrowed clams moved vertically several millimetres daily. In winter, clams generally buried deeper, although small clams consistently reached greater depths in soft sediment during summer. Three temporary clam behaviours were identified: shells protruding above the sediment (mainly in winter, indicating compromised physiological conditions), shells buried with an extended, visible siphon (most frequently observed in both seasons, especially during winter in soft sediment), and shells buried with a retracted, invisible siphon (more prolonged in summer, independent of sediment type). Interestingly, neither burial depth nor vertical mobility showed a clear association with the organisms' sex. The study's findings contribute to the understanding of the adaptive processes of R. cuneata, providing insights into how it adjusts to recently colonised, cold-water habitats.
{"title":"Burrowing behaviour of estuarine clam Rangia cuneata outside its native range","authors":"Ryszard Kornijów , Krzysztof Pawlikowski , Magdalena Jakubowska-Lehrmann , Joanna Całkiewicz , Katarzyna Smolarz , Aleksander Drgas , Marcin Białowąs","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Rangia cuneata</em>, an invasive species originating from the Atlantic coasts of North America, has rapidly established itself in various European brackish habitats over the last two decades. Despite its significant ecological, commercial, and invasive implications, understanding of the species' burrowing behaviour remains limited. This study investigates the influence of seasons (winter at 8 °C versus summer at 22 °C) on the burrowing patterns of two clam size classes (small, ≥16 mm to <25 mm, and large, ≥25 mm to ≤36 mm) in two distinct substrates (intact cores of hard sandy versus soft silty sediment). The specimens and sediment were sourced from the recently invaded brackish Vistula Lagoon in the southern Baltic. The analysis revealed that larger clams from soft sediment exhibited thinner shells and a higher soft tissue energy value than those from hard sediment. While the condition index remained unaffected by the substrate, burrowed clams moved vertically several millimetres daily. In winter, clams generally buried deeper, although small clams consistently reached greater depths in soft sediment during summer. Three temporary clam behaviours were identified: shells protruding above the sediment (mainly in winter, indicating compromised physiological conditions), shells buried with an extended, visible siphon (most frequently observed in both seasons, especially during winter in soft sediment), and shells buried with a retracted, invisible siphon (more prolonged in summer, independent of sediment type). Interestingly, neither burial depth nor vertical mobility showed a clear association with the organisms' sex. The study's findings contribute to the understanding of the adaptive processes of <em>R. cuneata</em>, providing insights into how it adjusts to recently colonised, cold-water habitats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 109046"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142720282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109038
Thomas A. Schlacher , Michael A. Weston , Shane Orchard , Brendan P. Kelaher , Brooke Maslo , Jenifer E. Dugan , David M. Hubbard , Leonardo Costa , Melanie J. Bishop , Kristal N. Kostoglu , Ben L. Gilby , Christofer J. Henderson , Teresa Amaro , Serena Lucrezi , Christian Crosby , Michael Elliott , Kyle A. Emery , Fanini Lucia , Patrick A. Hesp , Howard Kirsty , Aaron N. Wiegand
1
Ocean shores are among the most spectacular and sought-after sites for leisure activities, including ‘nature and wilderness experiences’. Some of these activities can involve the use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) driven across extensive stretches of sandy coastlines. Yet, this recreation mode can be controversial because of environmental, cultural, social, and ethical concerns. However, ORV users often question the putative impacts, especially the ecological aspects.
2
Here, we review the available published data about the ecological impacts of vehicles on coastal plants. We focus on vegetation because of its critical role in coastal resilience and its foundational role in the structure and function of dune-beach systems. The principal type of evidence is a formal meta-analysis of effect sizes that can be unambiguously linked to ORV use.
3
The evidence of serious ecological harm caused by ORVs to plants of beach-dune habitats is geographically widespread, extensive in taxonomic coverage (253 species, 174 genera, and 64 families), sizeable in the magnitude of reported impacts (443 records) and statistically robust (significant negative departures from zero responses).
4
Vegetation stressed by ORVs typically has substantially reduced abundance, cover, biomass, area, occurrence, diversity, and productivity. ORVs also significantly alter the composition and structure of assemblages.
5
Degradation occurs rapidly, with the first few vehicle passes causing most of the damage. Thresholds of impact can be exceptionally low (one or two cars separated by weeks), implying that in many cases, dunes and the back-shore of beaches have extremely limited resilience to repeat traffic by off-road vehicles: No ‘safe threshold’ of use may exist.
6
Recovery after closure to off-road vehicles is highly variable, depending on species traits (slower for woody shrubs) and habitat conditions (slower for back-dunes). It can be protracted, with some assemblages typically taking around a decade or more to recover.
7
The exceptionally low tolerance of many coastal plant species and habitats translates into policies to phase out ORV use on ocean shores and dunes. Spatial closures and strict controls should be the mainstay of management interventions, supplemented by novel approaches seeking to identify where and when environmentally safe and benign practices may exist and whether these can be culturally and ethically acceptable.
{"title":"Adverse impacts of off-road vehicles on coastal dune vegetation are widespread, substantial, and long-lasting: Evidence from a global meta-analysis of sandy beach-dune systems","authors":"Thomas A. Schlacher , Michael A. Weston , Shane Orchard , Brendan P. Kelaher , Brooke Maslo , Jenifer E. Dugan , David M. Hubbard , Leonardo Costa , Melanie J. Bishop , Kristal N. Kostoglu , Ben L. Gilby , Christofer J. Henderson , Teresa Amaro , Serena Lucrezi , Christian Crosby , Michael Elliott , Kyle A. Emery , Fanini Lucia , Patrick A. Hesp , Howard Kirsty , Aaron N. Wiegand","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109038","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109038","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>1</h3><div>Ocean shores are among the most spectacular and sought-after sites for leisure activities, including ‘nature and wilderness experiences’. Some of these activities can involve the use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) driven across extensive stretches of sandy coastlines. Yet, this recreation mode can be controversial because of environmental, cultural, social, and ethical concerns. However, ORV users often question the putative impacts, especially the ecological aspects.</div></div><div><h3>2</h3><div>Here, we review the available published data about the ecological impacts of vehicles on coastal plants. We focus on vegetation because of its critical role in coastal resilience and its foundational role in the structure and function of dune-beach systems. The principal type of evidence is a formal meta-analysis of effect sizes that can be unambiguously linked to ORV use.</div></div><div><h3>3</h3><div>The evidence of serious ecological harm caused by ORVs to plants of beach-dune habitats is geographically widespread, extensive in taxonomic coverage (253 species, 174 genera, and 64 families), sizeable in the magnitude of reported impacts (443 records) and statistically robust (significant negative departures from zero responses).</div></div><div><h3>4</h3><div>Vegetation stressed by ORVs typically has substantially reduced abundance, cover, biomass, area, occurrence, diversity, and productivity. ORVs also significantly alter the composition and structure of assemblages.</div></div><div><h3>5</h3><div>Degradation occurs rapidly, with the first few vehicle passes causing most of the damage. Thresholds of impact can be exceptionally low (one or two cars separated by weeks), implying that in many cases, dunes and the back-shore of beaches have extremely limited resilience to repeat traffic by off-road vehicles: No ‘safe threshold’ of use may exist.</div></div><div><h3>6</h3><div>Recovery after closure to off-road vehicles is highly variable, depending on species traits (slower for woody shrubs) and habitat conditions (slower for back-dunes). It can be protracted, with some assemblages typically taking around a decade or more to recover.</div></div><div><h3>7</h3><div>The exceptionally low tolerance of many coastal plant species and habitats translates into policies to phase out ORV use on ocean shores and dunes. Spatial closures and strict controls should be the mainstay of management interventions, supplemented by novel approaches seeking to identify where and when environmentally safe and benign practices may exist and whether these can be culturally and ethically acceptable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 109038"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142719748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109042
Carlos Dominguez-Carrió , Andrea Gori , Joan Lluís Riera , Katleen Robert , Susana Requena , Covadonga Orejas , Claudio Lo Iacono , Claude Estournel , Josep-Maria Gili
Extensive knowledge exists about the ecology of gorgonian species dwelling in coastal areas of the Mediterranean, but less information is available regarding populations found in deep circalittoral and bathyal environments. In recent years, the use of marine imaging technology has led to the discovery of dense coral gardens below SCUBA depths. This is the case of Eunicella cavolini (Koch, 1887) populations dwelling on the continental shelf off Cap de Creus (northwestern Mediterranean), an area included in a Site of Community Importance (SCI) of the Natura 2000 Network. We characterized the environmental niche of this species using a combination of density data extracted from 60 underwater video transects (80–400 m depth) and a set of environmental factors of a geomorphologic, oceanographic and human nature. Populations of E. cavolini develop within a restricted combination of environmental conditions, predominantly in areas of the mid continental shelf (95–110 m depth) characterized by a mixture of substrates (gravels, pebbles and rocks) with intermediate yearly average bottom current velocities (0.11–0.13 m s−1) and where no records of bottom trawling activity were registered in the years prior to the surveys. The species forms dense aggregations that average 6–8 col·m−2, with local high-density peaks above 15 col·m−2. Areas suitable for the development of E. cavolini were modelled by means of a Random Forest algorithm, which predicted that an area extending over 14 ha could potentially host populations with densities over 5 col·m−2. Bottom current velocity emerged as the most important factor determining the spatial distribution of the species, followed by depth and presence of rocks. Colony height measurements indicated that populations are dominated by small-to-medium sized colonies, with average colony height positively correlated with gorgonian density. The reduced average colony height observed might respond to the strong bottom current regime characteristic of Cap de Creus, but also to the increased likelihood of larger colonies to be captured as by-catch by trammel nets, a common type of fishing gear used in the area. This study provides relevant information about the ecology of E. cavolini populations dwelling on deep circalittoral habitats, useful for policymakers when formulating specific management measures to foster the conservation of this species inside the SCI. Additionally, the data provided could assist on the restoration actions already taking place in Cap de Creus, and be used as baseline data to monitor the evolution of E. cavolini populations through time once management plans are implemented.
{"title":"Environmental niche, spatial distribution and size structure of shelf-dwelling populations of the gorgonian Eunicella cavolini (Koch, 1887) in NW Mediterranean","authors":"Carlos Dominguez-Carrió , Andrea Gori , Joan Lluís Riera , Katleen Robert , Susana Requena , Covadonga Orejas , Claudio Lo Iacono , Claude Estournel , Josep-Maria Gili","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Extensive knowledge exists about the ecology of gorgonian species dwelling in coastal areas of the Mediterranean, but less information is available regarding populations found in deep circalittoral and bathyal environments. In recent years, the use of marine imaging technology has led to the discovery of dense coral gardens below SCUBA depths. This is the case of <em>Eunicella cavolini</em> (Koch, 1887) populations dwelling on the continental shelf off Cap de Creus (northwestern Mediterranean), an area included in a Site of Community Importance (SCI) of the Natura 2000 Network. We characterized the environmental niche of this species using a combination of density data extracted from 60 underwater video transects (80–400 m depth) and a set of environmental factors of a geomorphologic, oceanographic and human nature. Populations of <em>E. cavolini</em> develop within a restricted combination of environmental conditions, predominantly in areas of the mid continental shelf (95–110 m depth) characterized by a mixture of substrates (gravels, pebbles and rocks) with intermediate yearly average bottom current velocities (0.11–0.13 m s<sup>−1</sup>) and where no records of bottom trawling activity were registered in the years prior to the surveys. The species forms dense aggregations that average 6–8 col·m<sup>−2</sup>, with local high-density peaks above 15 col·m<sup>−2</sup>. Areas suitable for the development of <em>E. cavolini</em> were modelled by means of a Random Forest algorithm, which predicted that an area extending over 14 ha could potentially host populations with densities over 5 col·m<sup>−2</sup>. Bottom current velocity emerged as the most important factor determining the spatial distribution of the species, followed by depth and presence of rocks. Colony height measurements indicated that populations are dominated by small-to-medium sized colonies, with average colony height positively correlated with gorgonian density. The reduced average colony height observed might respond to the strong bottom current regime characteristic of Cap de Creus, but also to the increased likelihood of larger colonies to be captured as by-catch by trammel nets, a common type of fishing gear used in the area. This study provides relevant information about the ecology of <em>E. cavolini</em> populations dwelling on deep circalittoral habitats, useful for policymakers when formulating specific management measures to foster the conservation of this species inside the SCI. Additionally, the data provided could assist on the restoration actions already taking place in Cap de Creus, and be used as baseline data to monitor the evolution of <em>E. cavolini</em> populations through time once management plans are implemented.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 109042"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142720293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109029
Francisco Bonin-Font , Antoni Martorell-Torres , Miguel Martin Abadal , Caterina Muntaner-González , Bo Miquel Nordfeldt-Fiol , Yolanda González-Cid , Gabriel Oliver-Codina , Julia Máñez-Crespo , Xesca Reynés , Laura Pereda , Gema Hernan , Fiona Tomás
This paper describes an advanced methodology to monitor and assess, in temporal series, meadows of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica. The process includes, the following steps: (a) exploring marine regions of certain biological interest with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles equipped with cameras looking downwards, (b) taking images continuously during missions of preprogrammed trajectories, (c) processing the images off-line to build colour photomosaics, (d) segmenting seagrass from the background in every image using a pretrained Neural Network, (e) computing the same photomosaics but using the segmented images, and (f) computing automatically the bottom coverage of the seagrass counting the proportion of pixels labelled positively. This procedure avoids the involvement of divers, allows increasing depth, extension and duration of missions and offers 2D maps of the whole inspected areas in a single view, which allows us to get more accurate coverage measurements than those obtained with traditional techniques.
Experiments have been performed with datasets collected in areas of the Balearic Islands colonized with P. oceanica seagrass and subject to low and high touristic and anchoring pressure during high season, repeating the same transects in consecutive years in order to obtain interannual results. Data obtained with this methodology permit a direct biological qualitative, quantitative and temporal analysis and interpretation, such as the percentage of temporal decline of seagrass coverage in some of the surveyed areas and the annual increase of the meadows extension in others.
{"title":"Measuring the temporal evolution of seagrass Posidonia oceanica coverage using autonomous marine robots and Deep Learning","authors":"Francisco Bonin-Font , Antoni Martorell-Torres , Miguel Martin Abadal , Caterina Muntaner-González , Bo Miquel Nordfeldt-Fiol , Yolanda González-Cid , Gabriel Oliver-Codina , Julia Máñez-Crespo , Xesca Reynés , Laura Pereda , Gema Hernan , Fiona Tomás","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper describes an advanced methodology to monitor and assess, in temporal series, meadows of the seagrass <em>Posidonia oceanica</em>. The process includes, the following steps: (a) exploring marine regions of certain biological interest with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles equipped with cameras looking downwards, (b) taking images continuously during missions of preprogrammed trajectories, (c) processing the images off-line to build colour photomosaics, (d) segmenting seagrass from the background in every image using a pretrained Neural Network, (e) computing the same photomosaics but using the segmented images, and (f) computing automatically the bottom coverage of the seagrass counting the proportion of pixels labelled positively. This procedure avoids the involvement of divers, allows increasing depth, extension and duration of missions and offers 2D maps of the whole inspected areas in a single view, which allows us to get more accurate coverage measurements than those obtained with traditional techniques.</div><div>Experiments have been performed with datasets collected in areas of the Balearic Islands colonized with <em>P. oceanica</em> seagrass and subject to low and high touristic and anchoring pressure during high season, repeating the same transects in consecutive years in order to obtain interannual results. Data obtained with this methodology permit a direct biological qualitative, quantitative and temporal analysis and interpretation, such as the percentage of temporal decline of seagrass coverage in some of the surveyed areas and the annual increase of the meadows extension in others.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 109029"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142720394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study characterized the mangrove flooding regime in both preserved and degraded conditions. One-year time series of flooding within the mangroves were analyzed using the Fast Fourier and Wavelet transform to determine the correlation between the hydrological connectivity and mangrove flood regime modulators (tide, wind, and rainfall). The semi-diurnal tide (0.053 m2/Hz) was the primary modulator of the mangrove flooding regime in Cozumel Island; in Terminos Lagoon, the diurnal tide had a higher amplitude (0.081 m2/Hz) compared to Cozumel, both tides characteristic of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. In Terminos, the sea breeze (diurnal) was an essential modulator (coherence 1) of changes in mangrove flooding when the influence of the tide decreased. However, wind was not a significant modulator of mangrove flooding in Cozumel. In both sites, rainfall did not modulate the flood regime except for a few events when approximately 10 mm of rainfall accumulated in 3-h periods. Tide, wind, and rainfall influenced the flood regimes of degraded sites less than preserved sites. We observed prolonged periods of exposed soil or standing water in degraded sites due to the lack of hydrological connectivity. Continuous monitoring of mangrove flooding is crucial for detecting of changes and preventing degradation. Identifying these changes accurately is essential for implementing effective hydrological restoration strategies. In Cozumel Island and Terminos Lagoon, the dead mangrove areas have significant potential for vegetation recovery due to the absence of physical barriers to their development.
{"title":"Hydrological connectivity in preserved and degraded microtidal mangroves in Mexico","authors":"Haydée López-Adame , Rosela Pérez-Ceballos , Ismael Mariño-Tapia , M. Susana Alvarado-Barrientos , Arturo Zaldívar-Jiménez , Jorge López-Portillo","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109035","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109035","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study characterized the mangrove flooding regime in both preserved and degraded conditions. One-year time series of flooding within the mangroves were analyzed using the Fast Fourier and Wavelet transform to determine the correlation between the hydrological connectivity and mangrove flood regime modulators (tide, wind, and rainfall). The semi-diurnal tide (0.053 m<sup>2</sup>/Hz) was the primary modulator of the mangrove flooding regime in Cozumel Island; in Terminos Lagoon, the diurnal tide had a higher amplitude (0.081 m<sup>2</sup>/Hz) compared to Cozumel, both tides characteristic of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. In Terminos, the sea breeze (diurnal) was an essential modulator (coherence 1) of changes in mangrove flooding when the influence of the tide decreased. However, wind was not a significant modulator of mangrove flooding in Cozumel. In both sites, rainfall did not modulate the flood regime except for a few events when approximately 10 mm of rainfall accumulated in 3-h periods. Tide, wind, and rainfall influenced the flood regimes of degraded sites less than preserved sites. We observed prolonged periods of exposed soil or standing water in degraded sites due to the lack of hydrological connectivity. Continuous monitoring of mangrove flooding is crucial for detecting of changes and preventing degradation. Identifying these changes accurately is essential for implementing effective hydrological restoration strategies. In Cozumel Island and Terminos Lagoon, the dead mangrove areas have significant potential for vegetation recovery due to the absence of physical barriers to their development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"313 ","pages":"Article 109035"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142743631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109036
Jaclyn F. Torkelson, Mark A. Teece
Nearshore coastal systems provide habitat and food for millions of organisms worldwide. While it has been argued that nutrients are readily transferred between coastal ecosystems, this is not always the case. To study the cycling of organic matter and trace metals, we analyzed the lipid and trace metal content of seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and coral reefs surface sediments. Preserved in surface sediment are the nutrients that were not readily transferred outside of the ecosystem, creating a record of allochthonous materials. Lipids within the surface sediment can be a food source or biological markers to determine the origin of organic matter, making it a vital tool when studying organic matter cycling. While metals can be detrimental, many metals are essential for an ecosystem to function properly and can be stored within surface sediments. We found that surface sediments can act as a catchment of trace metals such as Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn and mangroves forests sequestering more metals than any other ecosystem type. Previously research has indicated that a strong correlation exists between trace metals and organic matter. However, here no correlation was found between trace metals and organic matter content for mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs; suggesting that the two cycles are mostly independent. The surface sediment surrounding mangrove forests acted as a net sink of organic matter and trace metals, while organic matter was quickly cycled through seagrass meadows and coral reefs. Endemic organic matter from each ecosystem was likely rapidly degraded and remineralized bacteria before being exported out of the system instead of being preserved in its original form. Existing research suggests a consistent correlation between organic matter and trace metals. However, the findings of this study suggest no uniform relationship between organic matter and trace metals across near shore coastal ecosystems. We instead suggest individually assessing ecosystem and study areas to determine correlations between organic matter and trace metals.
{"title":"Cycling of organic matter and trace metals in nearshore coastal ecosystem sediments","authors":"Jaclyn F. Torkelson, Mark A. Teece","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109036","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109036","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nearshore coastal systems provide habitat and food for millions of organisms worldwide. While it has been argued that nutrients are readily transferred between coastal ecosystems, this is not always the case. To study the cycling of organic matter and trace metals, we analyzed the lipid and trace metal content of seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and coral reefs surface sediments. Preserved in surface sediment are the nutrients that were not readily transferred outside of the ecosystem, creating a record of allochthonous materials. Lipids within the surface sediment can be a food source or biological markers to determine the origin of organic matter, making it a vital tool when studying organic matter cycling. While metals can be detrimental, many metals are essential for an ecosystem to function properly and can be stored within surface sediments. We found that surface sediments can act as a catchment of trace metals such as Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn and mangroves forests sequestering more metals than any other ecosystem type. Previously research has indicated that a strong correlation exists between trace metals and organic matter. However, here no correlation was found between trace metals and organic matter content for mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs; suggesting that the two cycles are mostly independent. The surface sediment surrounding mangrove forests acted as a net sink of organic matter and trace metals, while organic matter was quickly cycled through seagrass meadows and coral reefs. Endemic organic matter from each ecosystem was likely rapidly degraded and remineralized bacteria before being exported out of the system instead of being preserved in its original form. Existing research suggests a consistent correlation between organic matter and trace metals. However, the findings of this study suggest no uniform relationship between organic matter and trace metals across near shore coastal ecosystems. We instead suggest individually assessing ecosystem and study areas to determine correlations between organic matter and trace metals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 109036"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142720396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109037
Stefania Chiesa , Tommaso Petochi , Rossella Boscolo Brusà , Saša Raicevich , Federica Cacciatore , Gianluca Franceschini , Camilla Antonini , Carola Vallini , Valentina Bernarello , Federica Oselladore , Matteo Ciani , Laura Di Blasio , Maria Paola Campolunghi , Franca Baldessin , Luca Boldrin , Giovanna Marino
The blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (family Portunidae) is a native species of Western Atlantic coasts, from Canada to Argentina. Due to its ecological plasticity, it has shown high invasive capabilities outside its native range of distribution and it is nowadays widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea. Since spring 2023, the number of records and the reported abundance of blue crabs along Italian coasts have been dramatically increasing, raising concerns for the possible impacts deriving from its invasion, particularly in the Northern Adriatic Sea coastal lagoons, a major shellfish production area of Italy. The present paper reports a first assessment of i) blue crab occurrence and spread in two coastal lagoons of the Veneto Po Delta, mainly exploited for Manila clam aquaculture, and ii) the related impacts of blue crab on Manila clam production. Results from two surveys conducted in Summer (July) and Autumn (October) 2023 in Sacca del Canarin and Sacca degli Scardovari showed i) very high occurrence of the blue crab in both lagoons, with higher concentration in Sacca del Canarin, and numerous ovigerous females, especially in Summer, ii) high Manila clam loss up to 100%, with clam shells showing signs of blue crab predation up to 56% and seed absence in natural recruitment areas. The results highlight the need and urgency to establish a structured monitoring plan on a larger scale, both spatial and temporal, to better assess the extent of blue crab invasion, its impacts on ecosystems and on shellfish farming and fishing activities. This is undoubtedly necessary to define the best strategies for blue crab containment and management.
蓝蟹（Callinectes sapidus Rathbun，1896 年）（梭子蟹科）是西大西洋沿岸从加拿大到阿根廷的原生物种。由于其生态可塑性，它在其原生分布区之外表现出很强的入侵能力，如今广泛分布于地中海。自 2023 年春季以来，意大利沿海的青蟹记录数量和报告丰度急剧增加，这引起了人们对青蟹入侵可能造成的影响的担忧，特别是在北亚得里亚海沿海泻湖，这是意大利主要的贝类生产区。本文首次评估了 i) 蓝蟹在威尼托波河三角洲两个沿海泻湖（主要用于马尼拉蛤养殖）的出现和扩散情况，以及 ii) 蓝蟹对马尼拉蛤产量的相关影响。2023 年夏季（7 月）和秋季（10 月）在 Sacca del Canarin 和 Sacca degli Scardovari 进行的两次调查结果显示：i）蓝蟹在这两个泻湖中的出现率非常高，在 Sacca del Canarin 的出现率更高，而且有大量的产卵雌蟹，尤其是在夏季；ii）马尼拉蛤损失率高达 100%，蛤壳上有高达 56% 的蓝蟹捕食痕迹，而且在自然繁殖区没有种子。这些结果凸显了在更大范围内制定结构化监测计划的必要性和紧迫性，包括空间和时间，以更好地评估蓝蟹入侵的程度、对生态系统的影响以及对贝类养殖和捕捞活动的影响。这对于确定遏制和管理蓝蟹的最佳战略无疑是必要的。
{"title":"Impacts of the blue crab invasion on Manila clam aquaculture in Po Delta coastal lagoons (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy)","authors":"Stefania Chiesa , Tommaso Petochi , Rossella Boscolo Brusà , Saša Raicevich , Federica Cacciatore , Gianluca Franceschini , Camilla Antonini , Carola Vallini , Valentina Bernarello , Federica Oselladore , Matteo Ciani , Laura Di Blasio , Maria Paola Campolunghi , Franca Baldessin , Luca Boldrin , Giovanna Marino","doi":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109037","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109037","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The blue crab <em>Callinectes sapidus</em> Rathbun, 1896 (family Portunidae) is a native species of Western Atlantic coasts, from Canada to Argentina. Due to its ecological plasticity, it has shown high invasive capabilities outside its native range of distribution and it is nowadays widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea. Since spring 2023, the number of records and the reported abundance of blue crabs along Italian coasts have been dramatically increasing, raising concerns for the possible impacts deriving from its invasion, particularly in the Northern Adriatic Sea coastal lagoons, a major shellfish production area of Italy. The present paper reports a first assessment of i) blue crab occurrence and spread in two coastal lagoons of the Veneto Po Delta, mainly exploited for Manila clam aquaculture, and ii) the related impacts of blue crab on Manila clam production. Results from two surveys conducted in Summer (July) and Autumn (October) 2023 in Sacca del Canarin and Sacca degli Scardovari showed i) very high occurrence of the blue crab in both lagoons, with higher concentration in Sacca del Canarin, and numerous ovigerous females, especially in Summer, ii) high Manila clam loss up to 100%, with clam shells showing signs of blue crab predation up to 56% and seed absence in natural recruitment areas. The results highlight the need and urgency to establish a structured monitoring plan on a larger scale, both spatial and temporal, to better assess the extent of blue crab invasion, its impacts on ecosystems and on shellfish farming and fishing activities. This is undoubtedly necessary to define the best strategies for blue crab containment and management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50497,"journal":{"name":"Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science","volume":"312 ","pages":"Article 109037"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142720280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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