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Hanley ME, Firth LB, Foggo A. Victim of changes? Marine macroalgae in a changing world. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 133:1-16. [PMID: 37996092 PMCID: PMC10921835 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad185] [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: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Marine macroalgae ('seaweeds') are a diverse and globally distributed group of photosynthetic organisms that together generate considerable primary productivity, provide an array of different habitats for other organisms, and contribute many important ecosystem functions and services. As a result of continued anthropogenic stress on marine systems, many macroalgal species and habitats face an uncertain future, risking their vital contribution to global productivity and ecosystem service provision. SCOPE After briefly considering the remarkable taxonomy and ecological distribution of marine macroalgae, we review how the threats posed by a combination of anthropogenically induced stressors affect seaweed species and communities. From there we highlight five critical avenues for further research to explore (long-term monitoring, use of functional traits, focus on early ontogeny, biotic interactions and impact of marine litter on coastal vegetation). CONCLUSIONS Although there are considerable parallels with terrestrial vascular plant responses to the many threats posed by anthropogenic stressors, we note that the impacts of some (e.g. habitat loss) are much less keenly felt in the oceans than on land. Nevertheless, and in common with terrestrial plant communities, the impact of climate change will inevitably be the most pernicious threat to the future persistence of seaweed species, communities and service provision. While understanding macroalgal responses to simultaneous environmental stressors is inevitably a complex exercise, our attempt to highlight synergies with terrestrial systems, and provide five future research priorities to elucidate some of the important trends and mechanisms of response, may yet offer some small contribution to this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mick E Hanley
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, UK
| | - Louise B Firth
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, UK
| | - Andy Foggo
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, UK
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2
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Diehl N, Li H, Scheschonk L, Burgunter-Delamare B, Niedzwiedz S, Forbord S, Sæther M, Bischof K, Monteiro C. The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima I: recent advances in a changing climate. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 133:183-212. [PMID: 38109285 PMCID: PMC10921839 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad173] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima is a Laminariales species widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Its physiology and ecology have been studied since the 1960s, given its ecological relevance on western temperate coasts. However, research interest has been rising recently, driven mainly by reports of negative impacts of anthropogenically induced environmental change and by the increased commercial interest in cultivating the species, with several industrial applications for the resulting biomass. SCOPE We used a variety of sources published between 2009 to May 2023 (but including some earlier literature where required), to provide a comprehensive review of the ecology, physiology, biochemical and molecular biology of S. latissima. In so doing we aimed to better understand the species' response to stressors in natural communities, but also inform the sustainable cultivation of the species. CONCLUSION Due to its wide distribution, S. latissima has developed a variety of physiological and biochemical mechanisms to adjust to environmental changes, including adjustments in photosynthetic parameters, modulation of osmolytes and antioxidants, reprogramming of gene expression and epigenetic modifications, among others summarized in this review. This is particularly important because massive changes in the abundance and distribution of S. latissima have already been observed. Namely, presence and abundance of S. latissima has significantly decreased at the rear edges on both sides of the Atlantic, and increased in abundance at the polar regions. These changes were mainly caused by climate change and will therefore be increasingly evident in the future. Recent developments in genomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics have clarified the existence of genetic differentiation along its distributional range with implications in the fitness at some locations. The complex biotic and abiotic interactions unraveled here demonstrated the cascading effects the disappearance of a kelp forest can have in a marine ecosystem. We show how S. latissima is an excellent model to study acclimation and adaptation to environmental variability and how to predict future distribution and persistence under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Diehl
- Marine Botany, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Huiru Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ministry of Education), Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | | | - Bertille Burgunter-Delamare
- Matthias Schleiden Institute of Genetics, Bioinformatics and Molecular Botany, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Sarina Niedzwiedz
- Marine Botany, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Silje Forbord
- Department of Fisheries and New Biomarine Industry, SINTEF Ocean AS, 7465 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Maren Sæther
- Seaweed Solutions AS, Bynesveien 50C, 7018 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kai Bischof
- Marine Botany, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Catia Monteiro
- CIBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources – InBIO Associate Laboratory, Campus of Vairão, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus of Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
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3
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Wright LS, Simpkins T, Filbee-Dexter K, Wernberg T. Temperature sensitivity of detrital photosynthesis. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 133:17-28. [PMID: 38142363 PMCID: PMC10921823 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad167] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Kelp forests are increasingly considered blue carbon habitats for ocean-based biological carbon dioxide removal, but knowledge gaps remain in our understanding of their carbon cycle. Of particular interest is the remineralization of detritus, which can remain photosynthetically active. Here, we study a widespread, thermotolerant kelp (Ecklonia radiata) to explore detrital photosynthesis as a mechanism underlying temperature and light as two key drivers of remineralization. METHODS We used meta-analysis to constrain the thermal optimum (Topt) of E. radiata. Temperature and light were subsequently controlled over a 119-day ex situ decomposition experiment. Flow-through experimental tanks were kept in darkness at 15 °C or under a subcompensating maximal irradiance of 8 µmol photons m-2 s-1 at 15, 20 or 25 °C. Photosynthesis of laterals (analogues to leaves) was estimated using closed-chamber oxygen evolution in darkness and under a saturating irradiance of 420 µmol photons m-2 s-1. KEY RESULTS T opt of E. radiata is 18 °C across performance variables (photosynthesis, growth, abundance, size, mass and fertility), life stages (gametophyte and sporophyte) and populations. Our models predict that a temperature of >15 °C reduces the potential for E. radiata detritus to be photosynthetically viable, hence detrital Topt ≤ 15 °C. Detritus is viable under subcompensating irradiance, where it performs better than in darkness. Comparison of net and gross photosynthesis indicates that elevated temperature primarily decreases detrital photosynthesis, whereas darkness primarily increases detrital respiration compared with optimal experimental conditions, in which detrital photosynthesis can persist for ≥119 days. CONCLUSIONS T opt of kelp detritus is ≥3 °C colder than that of the intact plant. Given that E. radiata is one of the most temperature-tolerant kelps, this suggests that photosynthesis is generally more thermosensitive in the detrital phase, which partly explains the enhancing effect of temperature on remineralization. In contrast to darkness, even subcompensating irradiance maintains detrital viability, elucidating the accelerating effect of depth and its concomitant light reduction on remineralization to some extent. Detrital photosynthesis is a meaningful mechanism underlying at least two drivers of remineralization, even below the photoenvironment inhabited by the attached alga.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luka Seamus Wright
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth,Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth,Australia
| | - Taylor Simpkins
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth,Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth,Australia
| | - Karen Filbee-Dexter
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth,Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth,Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth,Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth,Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
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4
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Saldaña PH, Angelini C, Bertness MD, Altieri AH. Dead foundation species drive ecosystem dynamics. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:294-305. [PMID: 37923644 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Foundation species facilitate communities, modulate energy flow, and define ecosystems, but their ecological roles after death are frequently overlooked. Here, we reveal the widespread importance of their dead structures as unique, interacting components of ecosystems that are vulnerable to global change. Key metabolic activity, mobility, and morphology traits of foundation species either change or persist after death with important consequences for ecosystem functions, biodiversity, and subsidy dynamics. Dead foundation species frequently mediate ecosystem stability, resilience, and transitions, often through feedbacks, and harnessing their structural and trophic roles can improve restoration outcomes. Enhanced recognition of dead foundation species and their incorporation into habitat monitoring, ecological theory, and ecosystem forecasting can help solve the escalating conservation challenges of the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick H Saldaña
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Mark D Bertness
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Andrew H Altieri
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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5
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Pérez G, O'Leary BC, Allegri E, Casal G, Cornet CC, de Juan S, Failler P, Fredriksen S, Fonseca C, Furlan E, Gil A, Hawkins JP, Maréchal JP, McCarthy T, Roberts CM, Trégarot E, van der Geest M, Simide R. A conceptual framework to help choose appropriate blue nature-based solutions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 352:119936. [PMID: 38218164 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119936] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Biodiversity loss and climate change have severely impacted ecosystems and livelihoods worldwide, compromising access to food and water, increasing disaster risk, and affecting human health globally. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have gained interest in addressing these global societal challenges. Although much effort has been directed to NbS in urban and terrestrial environments, the implementation of NbS in marine and coastal environments (blue NbS) lags. The lack of a framework to guide decision-makers and practitioners through the initial planning stages appears to be one of the main obstacles to the slow implementation of blue NbS. To address this, we propose an integrated conceptual framework, built from expert knowledge, to inform the selection of the most appropriate blue NbS based on desired intervention objectives and social-ecological context. Our conceptual framework follows a four incremental steps structure: Step 1 aims to identify the societal challenge(s) to address; Step 2 highlights ecosystem services and the underlying biodiversity and ecological functions that could contribute to confronting the societal challenge(s); Step 3 identify the specific environmental context the intervention needs to be set within (e.g. the spatial scale the intervention will operate within, the ecosystem's vulnerability to stressors, and its ecological condition); and Step 4 provides a selection of potential blue NbS interventions that would help address the targeted societal challenge(s) considering the context defined through Step 3. Designed to maintain, enhance, recover, rehabilitate, or create ecosystem services by supporting biodiversity, the blue NbS intervention portfolio includes marine protection (i.e., fully, highly, lightly, and minimally protected areas), restorative activities (i.e., active, passive, and partial restoration; rehabilitation of ecological function and ecosystem creation), and other management measures (i.e., implementation and enforcement of regulation). Ultimately, our conceptual framework guides decision-makers toward a versatile portfolio of interventions that cater to the specific needs of each ecosystem rather than imposing a rigid, one-size-fits-all model. In the future, this framework needs to integrate socio-economic considerations more comprehensively and be kept up-to-date by including the latest scientific information.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bethan C O'Leary
- Department of Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom; Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, YO10 5NG, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Allegri
- Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici and Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, CMCC@Ca'Foscari - Edificio Porta dell'Innovazione, 2nd Floor - Via della Libertà, 12, 30175, Venice, Italy; Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, I-30170, Venice, Italy
| | - Gema Casal
- National Centre for Geocomputation, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Cindy C Cornet
- Centre for Blue Governance, Portsmouth Business School, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 3DE, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia de Juan
- The Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, IMEDEA (UIB-CSIC), C/Miquel Marques 21, Esporles, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Pierre Failler
- Centre for Blue Governance, Portsmouth Business School, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 3DE, United Kingdom
| | - Stein Fredriksen
- Institute of Marine Research, Nye Flødevigveien 20, 4817, His, Norway; University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, PO Box 1066 Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - Catarina Fonseca
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, 9500-321, Ponta Delgada, Portugal; MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Elisa Furlan
- Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici and Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, CMCC@Ca'Foscari - Edificio Porta dell'Innovazione, 2nd Floor - Via della Libertà, 12, 30175, Venice, Italy; Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari Venice, I-30170, Venice, Italy
| | - Artur Gil
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, 9500-321, Ponta Delgada, Portugal; IVAR - Research Institute for Volcanology and Risk Assessment, University of the Azores, 9500-321, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Julie P Hawkins
- Department of Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tim McCarthy
- National Centre for Geocomputation, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Callum M Roberts
- Department of Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Ewan Trégarot
- Centre for Blue Governance, Portsmouth Business School, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 3DE, United Kingdom
| | - Matthijs van der Geest
- Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 57, 1780 AB, Den Helder, the Netherlands
| | - Rémy Simide
- Oceanographic Institute Paul Ricard, Embiez Island, France.
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6
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Hurd CL, Gattuso JP, Boyd PW. Air-sea carbon dioxide equilibrium: Will it be possible to use seaweeds for carbon removal offsets? JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2024; 60:4-14. [PMID: 37943584 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13405] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
To limit global warming below 2°C by 2100, we must drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and additionally remove ~100-900 Gt CO2 from the atmosphere (carbon dioxide removal, CDR) to compensate for unavoidable emissions. Seaweeds (marine macroalgae) naturally grow in coastal regions worldwide where they are crucial for primary production and carbon cycling. They are being considered as a biological method for CDR and for use in carbon trading schemes as offsets. To use seaweeds in carbon trading schemes requires verification that seaweed photosynthesis that fixes CO2 into organic carbon results in CDR, along with the safe and secure storage of the carbon removed from the atmosphere for more than 100 years (sequestration). There is much ongoing research into the magnitude of seaweed carbon storage pools (e.g., as living biomass and as particulate and dissolved organic carbon in sediments and the deep ocean), but these pools do not equate to CDR unless the amount of CO2 removed from the atmosphere as a result of seaweed primary production can be quantified and verified. The draw-down of atmospheric CO2 into seawater is via air-sea CO2 equilibrium, which operates on time scales of weeks to years depending upon the ecosystem considered. Here, we explain why quantifying air-sea CO2 equilibrium and linking this process to seaweed carbon storage pools is the critical step needed to verify CDR by discrete seaweed beds and nearshore and open ocean aquaculture systems prior to their use in carbon trading.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Hurd
- Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - J-P Gattuso
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
- Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, Paris, France
| | - P W Boyd
- Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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7
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Wernberg T, Thomsen MS, Baum JK, Bishop MJ, Bruno JF, Coleman MA, Filbee-Dexter K, Gagnon K, He Q, Murdiyarso D, Rogers K, Silliman BR, Smale DA, Starko S, Vanderklift MA. Impacts of Climate Change on Marine Foundation Species. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2024; 16:247-282. [PMID: 37683273 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-042023-093037] [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] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Marine foundation species are the biotic basis for many of the world's coastal ecosystems, providing structural habitat, food, and protection for myriad plants and animals as well as many ecosystem services. However, climate change poses a significant threat to foundation species and the ecosystems they support. We review the impacts of climate change on common marine foundation species, including corals, kelps, seagrasses, salt marsh plants, mangroves, and bivalves. It is evident that marine foundation species have already been severely impacted by several climate change drivers, often through interactive effects with other human stressors, such as pollution, overfishing, and coastal development. Despite considerable variation in geographical, environmental, and ecological contexts, direct and indirect effects of gradual warming and subsequent heatwaves have emerged as the most pervasive drivers of observed impact and potent threat across all marine foundation species, but effects from sea level rise, ocean acidification, and increased storminess are expected to increase. Documented impacts include changes in the genetic structures, physiology, abundance, and distribution of the foundation species themselves and changes to their interactions with other species, with flow-on effects to associated communities, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning. We discuss strategies to support marine foundation species into the Anthropocene, in order to increase their resilience and ensure the persistence of the ecosystem services they provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Wernberg
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
- Flødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Mads S Thomsen
- Marine Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Julia K Baum
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Melanie J Bishop
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John F Bruno
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Melinda A Coleman
- National Marine Science Centre, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Karen Filbee-Dexter
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
- Flødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Karine Gagnon
- Flødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
| | - Qiang He
- Coastal Ecology Lab, MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Daniel Murdiyarso
- Center for International Forestry Research-World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Bogor, Indonesia
- Department of Geophysics and Meteorology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Kerrylee Rogers
- School of Earth, Atmospheric, and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Starko
- Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia;
| | - Mathew A Vanderklift
- Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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8
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van der Mheen M, Wernberg T, Pattiaratchi C, Pessarrodona A, Janekovic I, Simpkins T, Hovey R, Filbee-Dexter K. Substantial kelp detritus exported beyond the continental shelf by dense shelf water transport. Sci Rep 2024; 14:839. [PMID: 38191572 PMCID: PMC10774291 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-51003-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Kelp forests may contribute substantially to ocean carbon sequestration, mainly through transporting kelp carbon away from the coast and into the deep sea. However, it is not clear if and how kelp detritus is transported across the continental shelf. Dense shelf water transport (DSWT) is associated with offshore flows along the seabed and provides an effective mechanism for cross-shelf transport. In this study, we determine how effective DSWT is in exporting kelp detritus beyond the continental shelf edge, by considering the transport of simulated sinking kelp detritus from a region of Australia's Great Southern Reef. We show that DSWT is the main mechanism that transports simulated kelp detritus past the continental shelf edge, and that export is negligible when DSWT does not occur. We find that 51% per year of simulated kelp detritus is transported past the continental shelf edge, or 17-29% when accounting for decomposition while in transit across the shelf. This is substantially more than initial global estimates. Because DSWT occurs in many mid-latitude locations around the world, where kelp forests are also most productive, export of kelp carbon from the coast could be considerably larger than initially expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam van der Mheen
- School of Biological Sciences and UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- School of Biological Sciences and UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, Nye Flødevigveien 20, His, 4817, Norway
| | - Charitha Pattiaratchi
- Oceans Graduate School and UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Albert Pessarrodona
- School of Biological Sciences and UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ivica Janekovic
- Oceans Graduate School and UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Taylor Simpkins
- School of Biological Sciences and UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Renae Hovey
- School of Biological Sciences and UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Karen Filbee-Dexter
- School of Biological Sciences and UWA Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, Nye Flødevigveien 20, His, 4817, Norway
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9
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Pessarrodona A, Franco-Santos RM, Wright LS, Vanderklift MA, Howard J, Pidgeon E, Wernberg T, Filbee-Dexter K. Carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation using macroalgae: a state of knowledge review. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1945-1971. [PMID: 37437379 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The conservation, restoration, and improved management of terrestrial forests significantly contributes to mitigate climate change and its impacts, as well as providing numerous co-benefits. The pressing need to reduce emissions and increase carbon removal from the atmosphere is now also leading to the development of natural climate solutions in the ocean. Interest in the carbon sequestration potential of underwater macroalgal forests is growing rapidly among policy, conservation, and corporate sectors. Yet, our understanding of whether carbon sequestration from macroalgal forests can lead to tangible climate change mitigation remains severely limited, hampering their inclusion in international policy or carbon finance frameworks. Here, we examine the results of over 180 publications to synthesise evidence regarding macroalgal forest carbon sequestration potential. We show that research efforts on macroalgae carbon sequestration are heavily skewed towards particulate organic carbon (POC) pathways (77% of data publications), and that carbon fixation is the most studied flux (55%). Fluxes leading directly to carbon sequestration (e.g. carbon export or burial in marine sediments) remain poorly resolved, likely hindering regional or country-level assessments of carbon sequestration potential, which are only available from 17 of the 150 countries where macroalgal forests occur. To solve this issue, we present a framework to categorize coastlines according to their carbon sequestration potential. Finally, we review the multiple avenues through which this sequestration can translate into climate change mitigation capacity, which largely depends on whether management interventions can increase carbon removal above a natural baseline or avoid further carbon emissions. We find that conservation, restoration and afforestation interventions on macroalgal forests can potentially lead to carbon removal in the order of 10's of Tg C globally. Although this is lower than current estimates of natural sequestration value of all macroalgal habitats (61-268 Tg C year-1 ), it suggests that macroalgal forests could add to the total mitigation potential of coastal blue carbon ecosystems, and offer valuable mitigation opportunities in polar and temperate areas where blue carbon mitigation is currently low. Operationalizing that potential will necessitate the development of models that reliably estimate the proportion of production sequestered, improvements in macroalgae carbon fingerprinting techniques, and a rethinking of carbon accounting methodologies. The ocean provides major opportunities to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and the largest coastal vegetated habitat on Earth should not be ignored simply because it does not fit into existing frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Pessarrodona
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Western Australia, Australia
- Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Dr., Suite 600, Arlington, VA, USA
- International Blue Carbon Institute, 42B Boat Quay, Singapore, 049831, Singapore
| | - Rita M Franco-Santos
- CSIRO Environment, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, 6009, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Luka Seamus Wright
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Western Australia, Australia
- CSIRO Environment, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, 6009, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mathew A Vanderklift
- CSIRO Environment, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, 6009, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer Howard
- Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Dr., Suite 600, Arlington, VA, USA
- International Blue Carbon Institute, 42B Boat Quay, Singapore, 049831, Singapore
| | - Emily Pidgeon
- Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Dr., Suite 600, Arlington, VA, USA
- International Blue Carbon Institute, 42B Boat Quay, Singapore, 049831, Singapore
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Western Australia, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, Nye Flødevigveien 20, His, 4817, Norway
| | - Karen Filbee-Dexter
- UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Western Australia, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, Nye Flødevigveien 20, His, 4817, Norway
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10
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Kosek K, Kukliński P. Impact of kelp forest on seawater chemistry - A review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115655. [PMID: 37839130 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115655] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Kelp forests, globally distributed in cool temperate and polar waters, are renowned for their pivotal role in supporting species diversity and fostering macroalgae productivity. These high-canopy algal ecosystems dynamically influence their surroundings, particularly by altering the physicochemical properties of seawater. This review article aims to underscore the significance of kelp forests in modifying water masses. By serving as effective carbon sinks through the absorption of bicarbonate (HCO3-) and carbon dioxide (CO2) for photosynthesis, kelp forests mitigate nearby acidity levels while enhancing dissolved oxygen concentrations, essential for sustaining diverse marine communities. Additionally, kelp beds have exhibited the need to use inorganic ions (NO3-, NO2-, PO43-) from seawater in order to grow, albeit with associated increases in NH4+ concentrations. Specific examples and findings from relevant studies will be presented to illustrate the profound impact of kelp forests on seawater chemistry, emphasizing their vital role in marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaudia Kosek
- Marine Ecology Department, Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland.
| | - Piotr Kukliński
- Marine Ecology Department, Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
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11
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Krasovec M, Hoshino M, Zheng M, Lipinska AP, Coelho SM. Low Spontaneous Mutation Rate in Complex Multicellular Eukaryotes with a Haploid-Diploid Life Cycle. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad105. [PMID: 37140022 PMCID: PMC10254074 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The spontaneous mutation rate µ is a crucial parameter to understand evolution and biodiversity. Mutation rates are highly variable across species, suggesting that µ is susceptible to selection and drift and that species life cycle and life history may impact its evolution. In particular, asexual reproduction and haploid selection are expected to affect the mutation rate, but very little empirical data are available to test this expectation. Here, we sequence 30 genomes of a parent-offspring pedigree in the model brown alga Ectocarpus sp.7, and 137 genomes of an interspecific cross of the closely related brown alga Scytosiphon to have access to the spontaneous mutation rate of representative organisms of a complex multicellular eukaryotic lineage outside animals and plants, and to evaluate the potential impact of life cycle on the mutation rate. Brown algae alternate between a haploid and a diploid stage, both multicellular and free living, and utilize both sexual and asexual reproduction. They are, therefore, excellent models to empirically test expectations of the effect of asexual reproduction and haploid selection on mutation rate evolution. We estimate that Ectocarpus has a base substitution rate of µbs = 4.07 × 10-10 per site per generation, whereas the Scytosiphon interspecific cross had µbs = 1.22 × 10-9. Overall, our estimations suggest that these brown algae, despite being multicellular complex eukaryotes, have unusually low mutation rates. In Ectocarpus, effective population size (Ne) could not entirely explain the low µbs. We propose that the haploid-diploid life cycle, combined with extensive asexual reproduction, may be additional key drivers of the mutation rate in these organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Krasovec
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 7232 Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM), Observatoire Océanologique, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Masakazu Hoshino
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Min Zheng
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Agnieszka P Lipinska
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susana M Coelho
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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12
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Reflecting on 2022. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001957. [PMID: 36525462 PMCID: PMC9803267 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
As 2022 draws to a close, we look back at some of the recent changes that have taken place at PLOS Biology, highlight some of our editors' favorite moments from the past year across the life sciences, and thank our editors, authors and peer-reviewers.
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