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Costa V, Sciutteri V, Consoli P, Manea E, Menini E, Andaloro F, Romeo T, Danovaro R. Volcanic-associated ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea: a systematic map and an interactive tool to support their conservation. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15162. [PMID: 37013142 PMCID: PMC10066691 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, pockmarks and seamounts are widely distributed on the ocean floor. Over the last fifty years, the knowledge about these volcanic-associated marine ecosystems has notably increased, yet available information is still limited, scattered, and unsuitable to support decision-making processes for the conservation and management of the marine environment.
Methods
Here we searched the Scopus database and the platform Web of Science to collect the scientific information available for these ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea. The collected literature and the bio-geographic and population variables extracted are provided into a systematic map as an online tool that includes an updated database searchable through a user-friendly R-shiny app.
Results
The 433 literature items with almost one thousand observations provided evidence of more than 100 different volcanic-associated marine ecosystem sites, mostly distributed in the shallow waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Less than 30% of these sites are currently included in protected or regulated areas. The updated database available in the R-shiny app is a tool that could guide the implementation of more effective protection measures for volcanic-associated marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea within existing management instruments under the EU Habitats Directive. Moreover, the information provided in this study could aid policymakers in defining the priorities for the future protection measures needed to achieve the targets of the UN Agenda 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Costa
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Amendolara, Italy
| | - Valentina Sciutteri
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Messina, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Consoli
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Messina, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Manea
- Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques (LECOB), Sorbonne Université, Banyuls sur Mer, France
| | - Elisabetta Menini
- Nicholas School of Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, United States
| | - Franco Andaloro
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Palermo, Italy
| | - Teresa Romeo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Milazzo, Italy
- National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Milazzo, Italy
| | - Roberto Danovaro
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
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The chronicles of a small invader: the canal, the core and the tsunami. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02979-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Ecological and Biotechnological Relevance of Mediterranean Hydrothermal Vent Systems. MINERALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/min12020251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Marine hydrothermal systems are a special kind of extreme environments associated with submarine volcanic activity and characterized by harsh chemo-physical conditions, in terms of hot temperature, high concentrations of CO2 and H2S, and low pH. Such conditions strongly impact the living organisms, which have to develop adaptation strategies to survive. Hydrothermal systems have attracted the interest of researchers due to their enormous ecological and biotechnological relevance. From ecological perspective, these acidified habitats are useful natural laboratories to predict the effects of global environmental changes, such as ocean acidification at ecosystem level, through the observation of the marine organism responses to environmental extremes. In addition, hydrothermal vents are known as optimal sources for isolation of thermophilic and hyperthermophilic microbes, with biotechnological potential. This double aspect is the focus of this review, which aims at providing a picture of the ecological features of the main Mediterranean hydrothermal vents. The physiological responses, abundance, and distribution of biotic components are elucidated, by focusing on the necto-benthic fauna and prokaryotic communities recognized to possess pivotal role in the marine ecosystem dynamics and as indicator species. The scientific interest in hydrothermal vents will be also reviewed by pointing out their relevance as source of bioactive molecules.
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Helber SB, Procaccini G, Belshe EF, Santillan-Sarmiento A, Cardini U, Bröhl S, Schmid M, Reuter H, Teichberg M. Unusually Warm Summer Temperatures Exacerbate Population and Plant Level Response of Posidonia oceanica to Anthropogenic Nutrient Stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:662682. [PMID: 34290722 PMCID: PMC8287906 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.662682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Posidonia oceanica is a key foundation species in the Mediterranean providing valuable ecosystem services. However, this species is particularly vulnerable towards high coastal nutrient inputs and the rising frequency of intense summer heat waves, but their combined effect in situ has received little attention so far. Here, we investigated the effects of in situ nutrient addition during an unusually warm summer over a 4-month period, comparing different morphological, physiological and biochemical population metrics of seagrass meadows growing in protected areas (Ischia) with meadows already exposed to significant anthropogenic pressure (Baia - Gulf of Pozzuoli). Our study highlights that the effects of warmer than usual summer temperatures on the population level of seagrass meadows can be exacerbated if the plants are already exposed to higher anthropogenic pressures. Morphological and population level indicators mainly changed over time, possibly impacted by season and the warmer temperatures, and displayed more pronounced reductions in seagrasses from impacted sites. The additional nutrient supply had even more deleterious effects, as shown by a decrease in approximately 67% in cover in fertilized plots at high impacted sites and 33% at low impacted sites. Moreover, while rhizome starch concentration showed a seasonal increase in plants from low impacted sites it displayed a trend of a 27% decrease in fertilized plots of the high impacted sites. Epiphyte biomass was approximately four-fold higher on leaves of plants growing in impacted sites and even doubled with the additional nutrient input. Predicting and anticipating stress in P. oceanica is of crucial importance for conservation and management efforts, given the limited colonizing and reproductive ability and extremely slow growth of this ecosystem engineer. Our results suggest that monitoring efforts should focus especially on leaf area index (LAI), carbohydrate concentrations in the rhizomes, and epiphyte cover on leaves as indicators of the onset of stress in Posidonia oceanica, which can be used by decision makers to take appropriate measures before damage to the ecosystem becomes irreversible, minimize future human interference and strengthen the resilience of these important ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B. Helber
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH, Bremen, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- *Correspondence: Stephanie B. Helber,
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - E. Fay Belshe
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH, Bremen, Germany
| | - Alex Santillan-Sarmiento
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- Faculty of Engineering, National University of Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador
| | - Ulisse Cardini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefanie Bröhl
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH, Bremen, Germany
| | - Michael Schmid
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH, Bremen, Germany
| | - Hauke Reuter
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mirta Teichberg
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH, Bremen, Germany
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