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Digka N, Patsiou D, Hatzonikolakis Y, Raitsos DE, Skia G, Koutsoubas D, Dimitriadis C, Tsangaris C. Microplastic ingestion in mussels from the East Mediterranean Sea: Exploring its impacts in nature and controlled conditions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174268. [PMID: 38925375 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic ingestion poses a significant concern for a plethora of marine organisms due to its widespread presence in marine ecosystems. Despite growing scientific interest, the effects on marine biota are not yet well understood. This study investigates the ingestion of microplastics (MPs) by mussels from various marine environments and assesses the associated effects that can be induced by MPs and associated toxic chemicals. Biomarkers of oxidative stress (catalase, lipid peroxidation), biotransformation (glutathione S-transferase), genotoxicity (micronuclei frequency) and neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase) were employed. Mussels, considered reliable bioindicators of MPs pollution, were sampled by hand from diverse locations under varied anthropogenic pressures, including a highly touristic Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Ionian Sea, a mussel farm and a fish farm in the Aegean Sea. The results revealed the highest MP ingestion in mussels from the fish farm [0.21 ± 0.04 (SE) MPs/g or 0.63 ± 0.12 (SE) MPs/Ind.], likely due to plastic aquaculture equipment use. Stereoscopic observation revealed fibers, as the predominant shape of ingested MPs across all sites, and μFTIR polymer identification revealed the presence of various types, with polyethylene (PE) and polyamide (PA) being the most abundant. Significant physiological alterations in mussels related to MP ingestion levels were observed through biomarkers indicative of oxidative stress and biotransformation, as well as the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR index). However, laboratory experiments with mussels exposed to controlled increasing PE concentrations for four weeks, did not show significant effects triggered by the PE ingestion, possibly indicating other environmental factors, such as contaminants from aquaculture environments, may influence biomarker levels in the field. Despite the observed effects, MP ingestion rates in mussels from the field were relatively low compared to other studies. Future research should continue to investigate the interactions between MPs and marine organisms in diverse environments to better understand and mitigate their impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikoletta Digka
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon- Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece; Department of Marine Sciences, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81132 Mytilene, Greece.
| | - Danae Patsiou
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon- Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
| | - Yannis Hatzonikolakis
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon- Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece; Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Dionysios E Raitsos
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Georgina Skia
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Drosos Koutsoubas
- Management unit of Zakynthos and Ainos national parks and protected areas of Ionian islands, Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency, 29100 Zakynthos, Greece
| | - Charalampos Dimitriadis
- Management unit of Zakynthos and Ainos national parks and protected areas of Ionian islands, Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency, 29100 Zakynthos, Greece
| | - Catherine Tsangaris
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon- Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
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Simantiris N. The impact of climate change on sea turtles: Current knowledge, scientometrics, and mitigation strategies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 923:171354. [PMID: 38460688 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171354] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Sea turtles are one of the most significant groups of marine species, playing a key role in the sustainability and conservation of marine ecosystems and the food chain. These emblematic species are threatened by several natural and anthropogenic pressures, and climate change is increasingly reported as one of the most important threats to sea turtles, affecting sea turtles at all stages of their life cycle and at both their marine and coastal habitats. The effect of climate change is expressed as global warming, sea-level rise, extreme storms, and alterations in predation and diseases' patterns, posing a potentially negative impact on sea turtles. In this systematic review, the author presented the current knowledge and research outcomes on the impact of climate change on sea turtles. Moreover, this study determined trends and hotspots in keywords, country collaborations, authors, and publications in the field through a scientometric analysis. Finally, this article reviewed proposed mitigation strategies by researchers, marine protected area (MPA) managers, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to reduce the impact of climate change on the conservation of sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Simantiris
- MEDASSET (Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles), Likavittou 1C, Athens, 10632, Greece; Ionian University, Department of Informatics, Corfu, 49132, Greece.
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Digka N, Patsiou D, Kaberi H, Krasakopoulou E, Tsangaris C. Microplastic ingestion and its effects οn sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus: A field study in a coastal East Mediterranean environment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115613. [PMID: 37820450 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115613] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as an increasing threat to the marine environment, but little is known about their effects on benthic organisms, including sea urchins, when ingested. For this purpose, wild sea urchins (P. lividus) and seafloor sediment samples were investigated across three coastal areas of Zakynthos Island (Ionian Sea), each exposed to different anthropogenic pressures, revealing a consistent pattern in MP abundance, shape, and color. Biomarkers related to oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and genotoxicity showed no significant effects of MP ingestion in the sea urchins, except for a positive correlation between GST activity and ingested MPs, suggesting a possible activation of their detoxification system in response to MP ingestion. While MP concentrations in sea urchins and sediments were within the low range reported in the global literature, it remains crucial to conduct further investigations in areas with MP pollution approaching predicted levels to fully comprehend the potential effects of MP pollution on marine organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikoletta Digka
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece; Department of Marine Sciences, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81132 Mytilene, Greece.
| | - Danae Patsiou
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
| | - Helen Kaberi
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
| | - Evangelia Krasakopoulou
- Department of Marine Sciences, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81132 Mytilene, Greece
| | - Catherine Tsangaris
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), 46.7 km, Athinon-Souniou Ave., P.O. Box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
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Himpson K, Dixon S, Le Berre T. Evaluation of sea turtle morbidity and mortality within the Indian Ocean from 12 years of data shows high prevalence of ghost net entanglement. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289167. [PMID: 37556405 PMCID: PMC10411791 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289167] [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: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities can negatively affect sea turtle populations. Quantifying the effect of human actions on these threatened species can help guide management strategies to reduce adverse impacts. However, such assessments require extensive effort and resources and as such have not been carried out in many areas of important sea turtle habitat, including the Republic of the Maldives (Maldives). Here, we utilise 12 years of data (2010-2022) collected from marine turtle stranding and rehabilitation cases from across the Maldives to identify the key threats in this region. Olive ridley turtles were found stranded or injured most frequently (74.7% of total cases), along with hawksbill (15.2%), and green (10.1%) turtles. Anthropogenic factors were the primary cause of injury or stranding in 75.2% of cases with entanglement in ghost fishing gear being the most common (66.2% of all cases). Other causes of morbidity, such as from turtles being kept as pets (5.6%), boat strikes (<1%), bycatch (<1%), and poaching (<1%) were recorded less frequently. Olive ridley turtles were more likely to have injuries associated with entanglement than other species and showed a peak in admissions during the northeast monsoon, in the period following the known arribada nesting season in nearby India. Turtles admitted to rehabilitation following entanglement were released a mean of 70 days sooner and had 27.5% lower mortality rates than for other causes of admission. This study highlights the high prevalence of ghost net entanglement of sea turtles within the Maldives. The topic of ghost fishing is of global importance and international cooperation is critical in tackling this growing issue.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon Dixon
- Reefscapers Ltd Plc, Malé, Republic of the Maldives
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Mazaris AD, Dimitriadis C, Papazekou M, Schofield G, Doxa A, Chatzimentor A, Turkozan O, Katsanevakis S, Lioliou A, Abalo-Morla S, Aksissou M, Arcangeli A, Attard V, El Hili HA, Atzori F, Belda EJ, Ben Nakhla L, Berbash AA, Bjorndal KA, Broderick AC, Camiñas JA, Candan O, Cardona L, Cetkovic I, Dakik N, de Lucia GA, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Diryaq S, Favilli C, Fortuna CM, Fuller WJ, Gallon S, Hamza A, Jribi I, Ben Ismail M, Kamarianakis Y, Kaska Y, Korro K, Koutsoubas D, Lauriano G, Lazar B, March D, Marco A, Minotou C, Monsinjon JR, Naguib NM, Palialexis A, Piroli V, Sami K, Sönmez B, Sourbès L, Sözbilen D, Vandeperre F, Vignes P, Xanthakis M, Köpsel V, Peck MA. Priorities for Mediterranean marine turtle conservation and management in the face of climate change. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 339:117805. [PMID: 37043912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117805] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
As climate-related impacts threaten marine biodiversity globally, it is important to adjust conservation efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. Translating scientific knowledge into practical management, however, is often complicated due to resource, economic and policy constraints, generating a knowledge-action gap. To develop potential solutions for marine turtle conservation, we explored the perceptions of key actors across 18 countries in the Mediterranean. These actors evaluated their perceived relative importance of 19 adaptation and mitigation measures that could safeguard marine turtles from climate change. Of importance, despite differences in expertise, experience and focal country, the perceptions of researchers and management practitioners largely converged with respect to prioritizing adaptation and mitigation measures. Climate change was considered to have the greatest impacts on offspring sex ratios and suitable nesting sites. The most viable adaptation/mitigation measures were considered to be reducing other pressures that act in parallel to climate change. Ecological effectiveness represented a key determinant for implementing proposed measures, followed by practical applicability, financial cost, and societal cost. This convergence in opinions across actors likely reflects long-standing initiatives in the Mediterranean region towards supporting knowledge exchange in marine turtle conservation. Our results provide important guidance on how to prioritize measures that incorporate climate change in decision-making processes related to the current and future management and protection of marine turtles at the ocean-basin scale, and could be used to guide decisions in other regions globally. Importantly, this study demonstrates a successful example of how interactive processes can be used to fill the knowledge-action gap between research and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonios D Mazaris
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Charalampos Dimitriadis
- Management Unit of Zakynthos and Ainos National Parks and Protected Areas of the Ionian Islands, Zakynthos, Greece
| | - Maria Papazekou
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Gail Schofield
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Aggeliki Doxa
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Anastasia Chatzimentor
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Oguz Turkozan
- Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Aydın, Turkiye
| | | | - Aphrodite Lioliou
- Managing Authority of European Territorial Cooperation Programmes (INTERREG), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sara Abalo-Morla
- Institut d' Investigació per a La Gestió de Zones Costaneres (IGIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain; Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo (COV-IEO), CSIC, Vigo, Spain
| | - Mustapha Aksissou
- Laboratoire Ecologie, Systématique, Conservation de La Biodiversité (LESCB), Faculté des Sciences de Tétouan, Université Abdelmalek Essaâdi, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Antonella Arcangeli
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Fabrizio Atzori
- Marine Protected Area Capo Carbonara, Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy
| | - Eduardo J Belda
- Institut d' Investigació per a La Gestió de Zones Costaneres (IGIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
| | - Lobna Ben Nakhla
- Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC), Tunisia
| | - Ali A Berbash
- Protected Area and Biodiversity Section, Nature Conservation Department, Ministry of Environment, Libya
| | - Karen A Bjorndal
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Juan A Camiñas
- Asociación Herpetológica Española (AHE), Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain
| | - Onur Candan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkiye
| | - Luis Cardona
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ilija Cetkovic
- University of Montenegro - Institute of Marine Biology, Kotor, Montenegro
| | - Nabigha Dakik
- Management Unit of Tyre Coast Nature Reserve, Tyre, Lebanon
| | - Giuseppe Andrea de Lucia
- IAS-CNR, Institute of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council Oristano Section, Torregrande, Italy
| | | | - Salih Diryaq
- Ministry of Environment - Sirte Branch, Sirte, Libya
| | | | | | - Wayne J Fuller
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | | | - Imed Jribi
- Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Manel Ben Ismail
- Iberostar Group - Sustainability Department - Wave of Change, Hammamet, Tunisia; Notre Grand Bleu Association, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Yiannis Kamarianakis
- Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Yakup Kaska
- Pamukkale University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Denizli, Turkiye; Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (DEKAMER), Muğla, Turkiye
| | - Kastriot Korro
- Wildlife and Health Research Center, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
| | - Drosos Koutsoubas
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Greece
| | - Giancarlo Lauriano
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - ISPRA, Rome, Italy
| | - Bojan Lazar
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia; Marine Science Program, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Pula, Croatia
| | - David March
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, UK; Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Adolfo Marco
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, C/Américo Vespucio, S/n, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | | | - Nahla M Naguib
- Biodiversity Department, Nature Conservation Sector, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), Egypt
| | | | - Vilma Piroli
- University of Shkodra "Luigj Gurakuqi", Shkoder, Albania
| | - Karaa Sami
- Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de La Mer Tunisie, Tunisia
| | - Bektaş Sönmez
- Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Suşehri Timur Karabal Vocational School, Suşehri, Sivas, Turkiye
| | - Laurent Sourbès
- Management Unit of Zakynthos and Ainos National Parks and Protected Areas of the Ionian Islands, Zakynthos, Greece
| | - Doğan Sözbilen
- Pamukkale University, Acipayam Vocational School, Veterinary Department, Denizli, Turkiye
| | - Frederic Vandeperre
- Institute of Marine Sciences - Okeanos, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Pierre Vignes
- Faculty of Education, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya
| | - Michail Xanthakis
- Management Unit of Zakynthos and Ainos National Parks and Protected Areas of the Ionian Islands, Zakynthos, Greece
| | - Vera Köpsel
- Institut für Marine Ökosystem- und Fischereiwissenschaften (IMF), Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Myron A Peck
- Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, (Texel), Netherlands
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Neves-Ferreira I, Mello-Fonseca J, Ferreira CEL. Photo-identification shows the spatio-temporal distribution of two sea turtle species in a Brazilian developmental foraging ground. MARINE BIOLOGY 2023; 170:83. [PMID: 37251697 PMCID: PMC10198603 DOI: 10.1007/s00227-023-04226-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Sea turtles spend most of their life cycle in foraging grounds. Research in developmental habitats is crucial to understanding individual dynamics and to support conservation strategies. One approach to gather information in foraging grounds is the use of cost-effective and non-invasive techniques that allow public participation. The present study aimed to use photographic-identification (photo-ID) to investigate the spatio-temporal distribution of Chelonia mydas and Eretmochelys imbricata. Furthermore, we describe fibropapillomatosis occurrence. This work was carried out at subtropical rocky reefs of the Brazilian coast in Arraial do Cabo (22°57'S, 42°01'W), within a sustainable conservation unit. A total of 641 images were obtained through social media screening (n = 447), citizen science (n = 168), or intentional capture (n = 26) dated between 2006 and 2021. Additionally, 19 diving forms (between 2019 and 2021) were received from citizen scientists. All diving forms presented at least one turtle. Photo-ID identified 174 individuals of C. mydas, with 45 being resighted, while E. imbricata had 32 individuals, with 7 individuals resighted. The median interval between the first and last individual sighting was 1.7 years for C. mydas and 2.4 years for E. imbricata. Fibropapillomatosis was only observed in C. mydas, with a prevalence of 13.99% (20 of 143 individuals) and regression in 2 individuals (10.00%). Our results indicated that Arraial do Cabo is an important development area with individuals residing for at least 6 years. This study demonstrated that social media, along with photo-ID, can be useful to provide sea turtle estimates in a foraging ground using a non-invasive, low-cost method. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00227-023-04226-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Neves-Ferreira
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Lab, Department of Marine Biology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ Brazil
| | - Juliana Mello-Fonseca
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Lab, Department of Marine Biology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ Brazil
| | - Carlos E. L. Ferreira
- Reef System Ecology and Conservation Lab, Department of Marine Biology, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ Brazil
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Papafitsoros K, Adam L, Schofield G. A social media-based framework for quantifying temporal changes to wildlife viewing intensity. Ecol Modell 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.110223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Leitão ATTS, Alves MDDO, dos Santos JCP, Bezerra B. Instagram as a data source for sea turtle surveys in shipwrecks in Brazil. Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. T. T. S. Leitão
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Biologia Animal, Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamento e Conservação, Departamento de Zoologia, Centro de Biociências Universidade Federal de Pernambuco Recife Brazil
| | - M. D. de O Alves
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas Faculdade Frassinetti do Recife – FAFIRE Recife Brazil
| | - J. C. P. dos Santos
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco UFRPE / Unidade Acadêmica de Serra Talhada – UAST Serra Talhada Brazil
| | - B. Bezerra
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Biologia Animal, Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamento e Conservação, Departamento de Zoologia, Centro de Biociências Universidade Federal de Pernambuco Recife Brazil
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Schofield G, Papafitsoros K, Chapman C, Shah A, Westover L, Dickson LC, Katselidis KA. More aggressive sea turtles win fights over foraging resources independent of body size and years of presence. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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10
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Analyzing the Spatio-Temporal Distribution and Network Structure of Ecotourism Flow in Zhangjiajie. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14052496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Tourism flow is an important monitoring indicator for the industrial operation of ecotourism destinations, crucial in its planning, development, and marketing. Based on the travel journal data of popular tourism websites, this paper analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution, network structure, and the coupling characteristics between ecotourism flow and traffic accessibility in Zhangjiajie using standard deviation ellipse, social network analysis, kernel density estimation, and a spatial coupling model. The main results are as follows: (1) In terms of time distribution, the ecotourism flow in Zhangjiajie is mainly short-term tourism, with significant seasonal differences. (2) In terms of spatial structure, the ecotourism flow in Zhangjiajie presents a polygonal distribution of “core-edge”, forming a dense distribution area of Wulingyuan–Tianmen Mountain–Huanglongdong ecotourism flow. (3) In terms of spatial and temporal distribution, the connection intensity between the core area of ecotourism flow in Zhangjiajie and other scenic spots increases as the tourism length of stay increases. However, the radiation scope is mainly in the surrounding ecotourism scenic spots. (4) The coupling degree of ecotourism flow and traffic accessibility in Zhangjiajie is high, but the coupling coordination degree remains low on the whole. In addition, there is a serious mismatch between ecotourism flow and traffic accessibility in Zhangjiajie.
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Schofield G, Dickson LCD, Westover L, Dujon AM, Katselidis KA. COVID-19 disruption reveals mass-tourism pressure on nearshore sea turtle distributions and access to optimal breeding habitat. Evol Appl 2021; 14:2516-2526. [PMID: 34548882 PMCID: PMC8444759 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantifying the extent to which animals detect and respond to human presence allows us to identify pressure (disturbance) and inform conservation management objectively; however, obtaining baselines against which to compare human impact is hindered in areas where human activities are already well established. For example, Zakynthos Island (Greece, Mediterranean) receives around 850,000 visitors each summer, while supporting an important loggerhead sea turtle rookery (~300 individuals/season). The coronavirus (COVID-19)-driven absence of tourism in May-June 2020 provided an opportunity to evaluate the distribution dynamics of this population in the absence (2020) vs. presence (2018 and 2019) of visitors using programmed unmanned aerial system (UAS) surveys. Ambient sea temperature transitioned from suboptimal for breeding in May to optimal in late June, with turtle distribution appearing to shift from shallow (to benefit from waters 3-5°C above ambient) to deeper waters in 2018 and 2019, but not 2020. The 2020 data set demonstrated that increased tourism pressure, not temperature, drives turtles offshore. Specifically, >50% of turtles remained within 100 m of shore at densities of 25-50 visitors/km, even when sea temperature rose, with 2018 and 2019 data supporting this trend. Reduced access to warmer, nearshore waters by tourism could delay the onset of nesting and increase the length of the egg maturation period between nesting events (internesting interval) at this site. A coastal refuge zone could be delimited in May-June where touristic infrastructure is minimal, but also where turtles frequently aggregate. In conclusion, sea turtles appear capable of perceiving changes in the level of human pressure at fine spatial and temporal scales and adjusting their distribution accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gail Schofield
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK
| | - Liam C D Dickson
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK
| | - Lucy Westover
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Bristol UK
| | - Antoine M Dujon
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia
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Marco A, Martins S, Martín-Rábano A, Lopes S, Clarke LJ, Abella E. Risk assessment of wildlife-watching tourism in an important endangered loggerhead turtle rookery. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2021. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife-watching tourism is a non-exploitative activity that can contribute to sustainable economic development of coastal communities. However, it is important to assess the potential impact and implement best practices to mitigate any negative effects of such tourism. We studied this issue on Boa Vista (Cabo Verde), which supports around 60% of nesting activity of one of the most endangered loggerhead turtle rookeries globally. Between 2013 and 2016, authorized turtle watching involved 4942 tourists, generating a mean annual direct income of >USD 289000 and the direct creation of >250 jobs. On João Barrosa beach, which supports around 20% of nests and 48% of turtle-watching activity on the island, we tested the influence of turtle watching on nesting behavior, reproduction and nest-site fidelity. Nesting females observed by tourists spent significantly less time on nest-camouflaging behavior, although all other phases of nesting were unaffected. There were no statistically significant differences between the re-nesting frequency of females watched (n = 187) and non-watched (n = 972) by tourists. We found no evidence that the current turtle-watching intensity has an effect on turtle reproduction. Turtle poaching remains a severe threat on beaches with no turtle watching, although it has strongly decreased on beaches with tourist visits. We suggest tour guides follow best practice guidelines to minimize disturbance, specifically retreating from the immediate vicinity of a female during nest camouflaging to mitigate the observed impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Marco
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, C/ Américo Vespucio s/n, Sevilla 41092, Spain
- BIOS.CV, C/ Sta Isabel s/n, Sal Rei, 5211 Boa Vista, Cabo Verde
| | - S Martins
- BIOS.CV, C/ Sta Isabel s/n, Sal Rei, 5211 Boa Vista, Cabo Verde
| | - A Martín-Rábano
- BIOS.CV, C/ Sta Isabel s/n, Sal Rei, 5211 Boa Vista, Cabo Verde
| | - S Lopes
- Direcção Geral do Ambiente, Cha d’ Areia s/n, Praia, 332A Santiago Island, Cabo Verde
| | - LJ Clarke
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - E Abella
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, C/ Américo Vespucio s/n, Sevilla 41092, Spain
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Jaskuła R, Kolanowska M, Michalski M, Schwerk A. From Phenology and Habitat Preferences to Climate Change: Importance of Citizen Science in Studying Insect Ecology in the Continental Scale with American Red Flat Bark Beetle, Cucujus clavipes, as a Model Species. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12040369. [PMID: 33924259 PMCID: PMC8074780 DOI: 10.3390/insects12040369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Studies of widely distributed species often are problematic as such research usually needs to engage a lot of time, a large team of field workers, and big financial support before good quality data will be collected. Citizen scientists allow to study different aspects of species biology and ecology with significantly reduced basic operational costs of such studies. Based on the data deposited in the iNaturalist database, we studied the ecology of the American flat bark beetle in the entire area of its species range. The results clearly show high value of citizen science, particularly in studies focused on habitat preferences and phenology in both recognized subspecies of this taxon. Abstract The American red flat bark beetle, Cucujus clavipes, is a wide distributed saproxylic species divided into two subspecies: ssp. clavipes restricted to eastern regions of North America and ssp. puniceus occurring only in western regions of this continent. Unique morphological features, including body shape and body coloration, make this species easy to recognize even for amateurs. Surprisingly, except some studies focused on physiological adaptations of the species, the ecology of C. clavipes was almost unstudied. Based on over 500 records collected by citizen scientists and deposited in the iNaturalist data base, we studied phenological activity of adult beetles, habitat preferences and impact of future climate change for both subspecies separately. The results clearly show that spp. clavipes and ssp. puniceus can be characterized by differences in phenology and macrohabitat preferences, and their ranges do not overlap at any point. Spp. clavipes is found as more opportunistic taxon occurring in different forests as well as in urban and agricultural areas with tree vegetation always in elevations below 500 m, while elevational distribution of ssp. puniceus covers areas up to 2300 m, and the beetle was observed mainly in forested areas. Moreover, we expect that climate warming will have negative influence on both subspecies with the possible loss of proper niches at level even up to 47–70% of their actual ranges during next few decades. As the species is actually recognized as unthreatened and always co-occurs with many other species, we suggest, because of its expected future habitat loss, to pay more attention to conservationists for possible negative changes in saproxylic insects and/or forest fauna in North America. In addition, as our results clearly show that both subspecies of C. clavipes differ ecologically, which strongly supports earlier significant morphological and physiological differences noted between them, we suggest that their taxonomical status should be verified by molecular data, because very probably they represent separate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radomir Jaskuła
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Marta Kolanowska
- Department of Geobotany and Plant Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź, Poland;
- Department of Biodiversity Research, Global Change Research Institute AS CR, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Michalski
- Department of Experimental Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź, Poland;
| | - Axel Schwerk
- Department of Landscape Art, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland;
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