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Odebiri O, Archbold J, Glen J, Macreadie PI, Malerba ME. Excluding livestock access to farm dams reduces methane emissions and boosts water quality. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:175420. [PMID: 39128522 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Farm dams, also known as 'agricultural ponds', are ubiquitous features of agricultural landscapes globally. Those accessed by livestock have high methane (CH4) emissions per unit area relative to other freshwater systems. Fencing dams and installing water troughs to prevent livestock from entering the dams are promising strategies to improve water quality and substantially reduce their carbon footprints. However, previous studies only measured the effects of fencing on methane diffusive emissions without considering ebullitive fluxes (i.e., methane bubbles), which is often the dominant emission pathway in smaller water bodies. Also, data is lacking on how the benefits of fencing farm dams vary across seasons. Using Australia as a test case, this study investigates the benefit of fencing off farm dams by monitoring total CH4 (diffusion + ebullition) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in summer and winter. Fenced dams had 72 % lower CH4 emissions in summer and 92 % lower in winter than unfenced dams. Similarly, CO2-equivalent (CO2 + CH4) fluxes were lower in fenced dams by 59 % in summer and 73 % in winter. Fenced dams had higher water quality, with 51 % less total dissolved nitrogen, 57 % less phosphorous, and 23-49 % more dissolved oxygen. Average daily air temperature was a key predictor of CH4 emissions from farm dams, underscoring the importance of considering temporal dynamics for estimating yearly farm dam emissions. We confirmed that excluding livestock from entering farm dams using fences significantly mitigates CH4 emissions and enhances water quality, and these benefits are maintained seasonally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omosalewa Odebiri
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia.
| | - Jake Archbold
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Joshua Glen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Peter I Macreadie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia; Biosciences and Food Technology Discipline, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Martino E Malerba
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia; Biosciences and Food Technology Discipline, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
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2
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Williams J, Pettorelli N, Hartmann AC, Quinn RA, Plaisance L, O'Mahoney M, Meyer CP, Fabricius KE, Knowlton N, Ransome E. Decline of a distinct coral reef holobiont community under ocean acidification. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:75. [PMID: 38627822 PMCID: PMC11022381 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01683-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microbes play vital roles across coral reefs both in the environment and inside and upon macrobes (holobionts), where they support critical functions such as nutrition and immune system modulation. These roles highlight the potential ecosystem-level importance of microbes, yet most knowledge of microbial functions on reefs is derived from a small set of holobionts such as corals and sponges. Declining seawater pH - an important global coral reef stressor - can cause ecosystem-level change on coral reefs, providing an opportunity to study the role of microbes at this scale. We use an in situ experimental approach to test the hypothesis that under such ocean acidification (OA), known shifts among macrobe trophic and functional groups may drive a general ecosystem-level response extending across macrobes and microbes, leading to reduced distinctness between the benthic holobiont community microbiome and the environmental microbiome. RESULTS We test this hypothesis using genetic and chemical data from benthic coral reef community holobionts sampled across a pH gradient from CO2 seeps in Papua New Guinea. We find support for our hypothesis; under OA, the microbiome and metabolome of the benthic holobiont community become less compositionally distinct from the sediment microbiome and metabolome, suggesting that benthic macrobe communities are colonised by environmental microbes to a higher degree under OA conditions. We also find a simplification and homogenisation of the benthic photosynthetic community, and an increased abundance of fleshy macroalgae, consistent with previously observed reef microbialisation. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate a novel structural shift in coral reefs involving macrobes and microbes: that the microbiome of the benthic holobiont community becomes less distinct from the sediment microbiome under OA. Our findings suggest that microbialisation and the disruption of macrobe trophic networks are interwoven general responses to environmental stress, pointing towards a universal, undesirable, and measurable form of ecosystem changed. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake Williams
- Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Nathalie Pettorelli
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Aaron C Hartmann
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Robert A Quinn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Laetitia Plaisance
- Laboratoire Evolution Et Diversité Biologique, CNRS/UPS, Toulouse, France
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | - Michael O'Mahoney
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | - Chris P Meyer
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | | | - Nancy Knowlton
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | - Emma Ransome
- Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK.
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3
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Bell JJ, Strano F, Broadribb M, Wood G, Harris B, Resende AC, Novak E, Micaroni V. Sponge functional roles in a changing world. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2023; 95:27-89. [PMID: 37923539 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Sponges are ecologically important benthic organisms with many important functional roles. However, despite increasing global interest in the functions that sponges perform, there has been limited focus on how such functions will be impacted by different anthropogenic stressors. In this review, we describe the progress that has been made in our understanding of the functional roles of sponges over the last 15 years and consider the impacts of anthropogenic stressors on these roles. We split sponge functional roles into interactions with the water column and associations with other organisms. We found evidence for an increasing focus on functional roles among sponge-focused research articles, with our understanding of sponge-mediated nutrient cycling increasing substantially in recent years. From the information available, many anthropogenic stressors have the potential to negatively impact sponge pumping, and therefore have the potential to cause ecosystem level impacts. While our understanding of the importance of sponges has increased in the last 15 years, much more experimental work is required to fully understand how sponges will contribute to reef ecosystem function in future changing oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Francesca Strano
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Manon Broadribb
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Gabriela Wood
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Ben Harris
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Anna Carolina Resende
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Emma Novak
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Valerio Micaroni
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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4
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Hendricks A, Mackie CM, Luy E, Sonnichsen C, Smith J, Grundke I, Tavasoli M, Furlong A, Beiko RG, LaRoche J, Sieben V. Compact and automated eDNA sampler for in situ monitoring of marine environments. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5210. [PMID: 36997631 PMCID: PMC10063616 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32310-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Using environmental DNA (eDNA) to monitor biodiversity in aquatic environments is becoming an efficient and cost-effective alternative to other methods such as visual and acoustic identification. Until recently, eDNA sampling was accomplished primarily through manual sampling methods; however, with technological advances, automated samplers are being developed to make sampling easier and more accessible. This paper describes a new eDNA sampler capable of self-cleaning and multi-sample capture and preservation, all within a single unit capable of being deployed by a single person. The first in-field test of this sampler took place in the Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada alongside parallel samples taken using the typical Niskin bottle collection and post-collection filtration method. Both methods were able to capture the same aquatic microbial community and counts of representative DNA sequences were well correlated between methods with R[Formula: see text] values ranging from 0.71-0.93. The two collection methods returned the same top 10 families in near identical relative abundance, demonstrating that the sampler was able to capture the same community composition of common microbes as the Niskin. The presented eDNA sampler provides a robust alternative to manual sampling methods, is amenable to autonomous vehicle payload constraints, and will facilitate persistent monitoring of remote and inaccessible sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre Hendricks
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Edward Luy
- Dartmouth Ocean Technologies Inc, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Colin Sonnichsen
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Dartmouth Ocean Technologies Inc, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - James Smith
- Dartmouth Ocean Technologies Inc, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Iain Grundke
- Dartmouth Ocean Technologies Inc, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
| | - Mahtab Tavasoli
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Robert G Beiko
- Dartmouth Ocean Technologies Inc, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Julie LaRoche
- Dartmouth Ocean Technologies Inc, Dartmouth, NS, Canada
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Vincent Sieben
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
- Dartmouth Ocean Technologies Inc, Dartmouth, NS, Canada.
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5
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Kushida Y, Imahara Y, Wee HB, Fernandez-Silva I, Fromont J, Gomez O, Wilson N, Kimura T, Tsuchida S, Fujiwara Y, Higashiji T, Nakano H, Kohtsuka H, Iguchi A, Reimer JD. Exploring the trends of adaptation and evolution of sclerites with regards to habitat depth in sea pens. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13929. [PMID: 36164604 PMCID: PMC9508890 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Octocorals possess sclerites, small elements comprised of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) that are important diagnostic characters in octocoral taxonomy. Among octocorals, sea pens comprise a unique order (Pennatulacea) that live in a wide range of depths. Habitat depth is considered to be important in the diversification of octocoral species, but a lack of information on sea pens has limited studies on their adaptation and evolution across depth. Here, we aimed to reveal trends of adaptation and evolution of sclerite shapes in sea pens with regards to habitat depth via phylogenetic analyses and ancestral reconstruction analyses. Colony form of sea pens is suggested to have undergone convergent evolution and the loss of axis has occurred independently across the evolution of sea pens. Divergences of sea pen taxa and of sclerite forms are suggested to depend on habitat depths. In addition, their sclerite forms may be related to evolutionary history of the sclerite and the surrounding chemical environment as well as water temperature. Three-flanged sclerites may possess the tolerance towards the environment of the deep sea, while plate sclerites are suggested to be adapted towards shallower waters, and have evolved independently multiple times. The common ancestor form of sea pens was predicted to be deep-sea and similar to family Pseudumbellulidae in form, possessing sclerites intermediate in form to those of alcyonaceans and modern sea pens such as spindles, rods with spines, and three-flanged sclerites with serrated edges sclerites, as well as having an axis and bilateral traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Kushida
- Faculty of Geo-Environmental Science, Rissho University, Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan,Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan,International Center for Island Studies Amami Station, Kagoshima University, Amami, Kagoshima, Japan,Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yukimitsu Imahara
- Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan,Kuroshio Biological Research Foundation, Otsuchi, Kochi, Japan,Octocoral Research Laboratory, Wakayama, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Hin Boo Wee
- Institut Perubahan Iklim, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Iria Fernandez-Silva
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Campus Universitario, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Jane Fromont
- Collections & Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Oliver Gomez
- Collections & Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Nerida Wilson
- Collections & Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia, Australia,School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Taeko Kimura
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, Tsu, Mie, Japan
| | - Shinji Tsuchida
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Fujiwara
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takuo Higashiji
- Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Okinawa Churashima Foundation, Motobu, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Nakano
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hisanori Kohtsuka
- Misaki Marine Biological Station, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Akira Iguchi
- Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan,Research Laboratory on Environmentally-Conscious Developments and Technologies [E-Code], National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - James Davis Reimer
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan,Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
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6
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Leung JYS, Zhang S, Connell SD. Is Ocean Acidification Really a Threat to Marine Calcifiers? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 980+ Studies Spanning Two Decades. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2107407. [PMID: 35934837 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202107407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ocean acidification is considered detrimental to marine calcifiers, but mounting contradictory evidence suggests a need to revisit this concept. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to critically re-evaluate the prevailing paradigm of negative effects of ocean acidification on calcifiers. Based on 5153 observations from 985 studies, many calcifiers (e.g., echinoderms, crustaceans, and cephalopods) are found to be tolerant to near-future ocean acidification (pH ≈ 7.8 by the year 2100), but coccolithophores, calcifying algae, and corals appear to be sensitive. Calcifiers are generally more sensitive at the larval stage than adult stage. Over 70% of the observations in growth and calcification are non-negative, implying the acclimation capacity of many calcifiers to ocean acidification. This capacity can be mediated by phenotypic plasticity (e.g., physiological, mineralogical, structural, and molecular adjustments), transgenerational plasticity, increased food availability, or species interactions. The results suggest that the impacts of ocean acidification on calcifiers are less deleterious than initially thought as their adaptability has been underestimated. Therefore, in the forthcoming era of ocean acidification research, it is advocated that studying how marine organisms persist is as important as studying how they perish, and that future hypotheses and experimental designs are not constrained within the paradigm of negative effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Y S Leung
- Faculty of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, P. R. China
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - Sam Zhang
- Faculty of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, P. R. China
| | - Sean D Connell
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
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7
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Abstract
Corallium rubrum has been exploited by humankind for centuries. The long-term exploitation dynamics of this species make it even more important today to increase protection and restoration efforts as it provides a significant range of ecosystem services. This becomes even more important in areas where natural recovery is hindered or unlikely. So far, only very few experiments have been carried out in the past, investigating suitable techniques for the successful transplantation of this species. For this reason, a review was conducted in order to synthesize previous results and identify the most promising methodologies. Additionally, six different transplantation techniques were tested and discussed in the context of the review. Five techniques used fragments for transplantation, while one used newly settled larvae on PVC-tiles. Shallow C. rubrum colonies often grow upside down under crevices and rims as well as in caves, making the transplantation of fragments comparatively challenging. Here, C. rubrum was transplanted upside down under crevices using a PVC-grid in combination with epoxy putty to hold fragments in place, and the results indicated the potential benefits of this technique. In a novel approach, shallow colonies, and larvae on settling plates were also transferred to deeper areas, suggesting that mesophotic populations can be restored to reconstruct pre-exploitation conditions. Attaching the colonies to the roof of crevices provided a level of survivorship consistent with conventional erect transplantations of colonies on rock bottom but had the advantage of being more removed from sedimentation and anthropogenic disturbance. Future work must develop permanent grid-mounting methods for use in the crevices before this approach can be further explored for large-scale restoration efforts.
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8
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Murage P, Batalha HR, Lino S, Sterniczuk K. From drug discovery to coronaviruses: why restoring natural habitats is good for human health. BMJ 2021; 375:n2329. [PMID: 34610952 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n2329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Peninah Murage
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, Pathfinder Initiative, London, UK
| | | | - Silvia Lino
- Sea4Us, Biotecnologia e Recursos Marinhos, Portugal
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9
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Martins Neto J, Bernardino AF, Netto SA. Rhodolith density influences sedimentary organic matter quantity and biochemical composition, and nematode diversity. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 171:105470. [PMID: 34492367 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Rhodolith beds increase the seabed complexity and are hotspots of biodiversity. Despite the crucial ecosystem services provided by rhodoliths, they are threatened by global change and local anthropogenic impacts. In this study, conducted on one of the largest beds of calcareous algae in the world located on the continental shelf of eastern Brazil, we tested whether the higher complexity of the seabed within rhodolith beds could explain the spatial biodiversity patterns of free-living nematodes. Our results show that beds with the highest densities of rhodoliths are associated with higher sedimentary organic matter (OM) contents and by a different biochemical composition. The higher OM nutritional quantity and nutritional quality, as shown by higher biopolymeric C contents and higher values of the protein to carbohydrate ratio, respectively, were associated with higher abundance, biomass, and diversity of nematode genera, thus supporting our hypothesis. Though based on a correlative approach, the results of this study suggest that a decrease in density of rhodoliths caused by human impacts may affect benthic biodiversity and, consequently, the range of ecosystem services they provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Martins Neto
- Marine Science Laboratory, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Brazil
| | - Angelo F Bernardino
- Department of Oceanography, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
| | - Sérgio A Netto
- Marine Science Laboratory, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Tubarão, Brazil.
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10
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Bevilacqua S, Airoldi L, Ballesteros E, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Boero F, Bulleri F, Cebrian E, Cerrano C, Claudet J, Colloca F, Coppari M, Di Franco A, Fraschetti S, Garrabou J, Guarnieri G, Guerranti C, Guidetti P, Halpern BS, Katsanevakis S, Mangano MC, Micheli F, Milazzo M, Pusceddu A, Renzi M, Rilov G, Sarà G, Terlizzi A. Mediterranean rocky reefs in the Anthropocene: Present status and future concerns. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2021; 89:1-51. [PMID: 34583814 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Global change is striking harder and faster in the Mediterranean Sea than elsewhere, where high levels of human pressure and proneness to climate change interact in modifying the structure and disrupting regulative mechanisms of marine ecosystems. Rocky reefs are particularly exposed to such environmental changes with ongoing trends of degradation being impressive. Due to the variety of habitat types and associated marine biodiversity, rocky reefs are critical for the functioning of marine ecosystems, and their decline could profoundly affect the provision of essential goods and services which human populations in coastal areas rely upon. Here, we provide an up-to-date overview of the status of rocky reefs, trends in human-driven changes undermining their integrity, and current and upcoming management and conservation strategies, attempting a projection on what could be the future of this essential component of Mediterranean marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislao Bevilacqua
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, Italy.
| | - Laura Airoldi
- Stazione Idrobiologica di Chioggia "Umberto D'Ancona", Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Dipartimento di Beni Culturali, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | | | - Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Boero
- Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy; National Research Council, Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (CNR-IAS), Genoa, Italy
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Emma Cebrian
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-CSIC, Girona, Spain
| | - Carlo Cerrano
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Joachim Claudet
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, Paris, France
| | - Francesco Colloca
- Department of Integrative Ecology, Stazione Zoologica A. Dohrn-National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Coppari
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Franco
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Sicily, Palermo, Italy
| | - Simonetta Fraschetti
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Joaquim Garrabou
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain; Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France
| | - Giuseppe Guarnieri
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Guidetti
- National Research Council, Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (CNR-IAS), Genoa, Italy; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica A. Dohrn-National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Naples, Italy
| | - Benjamin S Halpern
- National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States; Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | | | - Maria Cristina Mangano
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Sicily, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fiorenza Micheli
- Hopkins Marine Station and Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA, United States
| | - Marco Milazzo
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Pusceddu
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Monia Renzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, Italy
| | - Gil Rilov
- National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel
| | - Gianluca Sarà
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Terlizzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
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11
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Carlson RR, Evans LJ, Foo SA, Grady BW, Li J, Seeley M, Xu Y, Asner GP. Synergistic benefits of conserving land-sea ecosystems. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
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Multiple impacts of microplastics can threaten marine habitat-forming species. Commun Biol 2021; 4:431. [PMID: 33785849 PMCID: PMC8010021 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01961-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastics are recognised as a potential global threat to marine ecosystems, but the biological mechanisms determining their impact on marine life are still largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of microplastics on the red coral, a long-lived habitat-forming organism belonging to the Corallium genus, which is present at almost all latitudes from shallow-water to deep-sea habitats. When exposed to microplastics, corals preferentially ingest polypropylene, with multiple biological effects, from feeding impairment to mucus production and altered gene expression. Microplastics can alter the coral microbiome directly and indirectly by causing tissue abrasions that allow the proliferation of opportunistic bacteria. These multiple effects suggest that microplastics at the concentrations present in some marine areas and predicted for most oceans in the coming decades, can ultimately cause coral death. Other habitat-forming suspension-feeding species are likely subjected to similar impacts, which may act synergistically with climate-driven events primarily responsible for mass mortalities.
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García Pinillos R. One welfare impacts of COVID-19 - A summary of key highlights within the one welfare framework. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021; 236:105262. [PMID: 33612900 PMCID: PMC7885704 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
One Welfare describes the interconnection between animal welfare, human wellbeing and their physical and social environment. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the cause of COVID-19 and emerged as a human pathogen in 2019 although is thought to have a zoonotic source. The original wildlife reservoir and any potential intermediate hosts have not yet been identified. The combination of the virus zoonotic condition together with the impacts of disease control measures has exposed clear interconnections between animals, people and their environment from both a health and a welfare perspective. The One Welfare Framework comprises five sections that can help understand the different One Welfare levels on which the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world. This paper uses the One Welfare Framework to provide an overview of examples, within each of the five sections, where evidence is and/or can be made available to document COVID-19 impacts on One Welfare. The paper identifies a number of areas where further research and evidence gathering is required to better understand the different One Welfare impacts. Based on evidence summarised in this paper the author recommends that those responsible for managing the COVID-19 impacts and for planning the future recovery phase of the pandemic should consider adopting a holistic approach, including both health and welfare, by adopting & One Health, One Welfare & policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca García Pinillos
- One Welfare C.I.C, Kemp House, Kemp House 160 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom
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