Marine Biology Commons^™

Phytoplankton Thermal Trait Parameterization Alters Community Structure And Biogeochemical Processes In A Modeled Ocean, Stephanie I. Anderson, Clara Fronda, Andrew D. Barton, Sophie Clayton, Tatiana A. Rynearson, Stephanie Dutkiewicz

OES Faculty Publications

Phytoplankton exhibit diverse physiological responses to temperature which influence their fitness in the environment and consequently alter their community structure. Here, we explored the sensitivity of phytoplankton community structure to thermal response parameterization in a modelled marine phytoplankton community. Using published empirical data, we evaluated the maximum thermal growth rates (μ_max) and temperature coefficients (Q₁₀; the rate at which growth scales with temperature) of six key Phytoplankton Functional Types (PFTs): coccolithophores, cyanobacteria, diatoms, diazotrophs, dinoflagellates, and green algae. Following three well-documented methods, PFTs were either assumed to have (1) the same μ_max and …

Methane Emissions In Seagrass Meadows As A Small Offset To Carbon Sequestration, Yvonne Y. Y. Yau, Gloria Reithmaier, Caludia Majtényi-Hill, Oscar Serrano, Nerea Piñeiro-Juncal, Martin Dahl, Miguel A. Mateo, Stefano Bonaglia, Isaac R. Santos

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Seagrass meadows are effective carbon sinks due to high primary production and sequestration in sediments. However, methane (CH4) emissions can partially counteract their carbon sink capacity. Here, we measured diffusive sediment-water and sea-air CO2 and CH4 fluxes in a coastal embayment dominated by Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean Sea. High-resolution timeseries observations revealed large spatial and temporal variability in CH4 concentrations (2–36 nM). Lower sea-air CH4 emissions were observed in an area with dense seagrass meadows compared to patchy seagrass. A 6%−40% decrease of CH4 concentration in the surface water around noon indicates that photosynthesis likely limits CH4 fluxes. Sediments …

Seagrass Posidonia Escarpments Support High Diversity And Biomass Of Rocky Reef Fishes, Oscar Serrano Gras, Karina Inostroza, Glenn Hyndes, Alan M. Friedlander, Eduard Serrano, Caitlin Rae, Enric Ballesteros

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Although seagrass meadows form a relatively homogenous habitat, escarpments, which form three-dimensional structures and originate from the erosion of seagrass peat, can provide important habitat for reef fishes. Here, we compare fish assemblages and habitat structural complexity among seagrass Posidonia australis escarpments and canopies, as well as limestone reef habitats, to understand the role of seagrass escarpments as reef fish habitat in Shark Bay, Western Australia. The total number of fish species, fish biomass, and top predator biomass were significantly higher in seagrass escarpments and reef habitats than in seagrass canopies due to lower habitat structural complexity and thus becoming …

Disparate Population And Holobiont Structure Of Pocilloporid Corals Across The Red Sea Gradient Demonstrate Species-Specific Evolutionary Trajectories, Carol Buitrago-López, Anny Cárdenas, Benjamin C.C. Hume, Thierry Gosselin, Fabian Staubach, Manuel Aranda, Daniel J. Barshis, Yvonne Sawall, Christian R. Voolstra

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Global habitat degradation heightens the need to better understand patterns of genetic connectivity and diversity of marine biota across geographical ranges to guide conservation efforts. Corals across the Red Sea are subject to pronounced environmental differences, but studies so far suggest that animal populations are largely connected, excepting evidence for a genetic break between the northern-central and southern regions. Here, we investigated population structure and holobiont assemblage of two common pocilloporid corals, Pocillopora verrucosa and Stylophora pistillata, across the Red Sea. We found little evidence for population differentiation in P. verrucosa, except for the southernmost site. Conversely, S. …

Corals At The Edge Of Environmental Limits: A New Conceptual Framework To Re-Define Marginal And Extreme Coral Communities, Verena Schoepf, Justin H. Baumann, Daniel J. Barshis, Nicola K. Browne, Emma F. Camp, Steeve Comeau, Christopher E. Cornwall, Héctor M. Guzmán, Bernhard Riegl, Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpa, Brigitte Sommer

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The worldwide decline of coral reefs has renewed interest in coral communities at the edge of environmental limits because they have the potential to serve as resilience hotspots and climate change refugia, and can provide insights into how coral reefs might function in future ocean conditions. These coral communities are often referred to as marginal or extreme but few definitions exist and usage of these terms has therefore been inconsistent. This creates significant challenges for categorising these often poorly studied communities and synthesising data across locations. Furthermore, this impedes our understanding of how coral communities can persist at the edge …

Levels Of Autotrophy And Heterotrophy In Mesophotic Corals Near The End Photic Zone, Amy Carmignani, Veronica Z. Radice, Kathryn M. Mcmahon, Alex I. Holman, Karen Miller, Kliti Grice, Zoe Richards

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Mesophotic corals live at ~30-150 m depth and can sustain metabolic processes under light-limited conditions by enhancing autotrophy through specialized photoadaptations or increasing heterotrophic nutrient acquisition. These acclimatory processes are often species-specific, however mesophotic ecosystems are largely unexplored and acclimation limits for most species are unknown. This study examined mesophotic coral ecosystems using a remotely operated vehicle (Ashmore Reef, Western Australia at 40–75m depth) to investigate the trophic ecology of five species of scleractinian coral (from genera Leptoseris, Pachyseris, and Craterastrea) using stable isotope analyses (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) of host and symbiont tissues …

A Multi-Taxon Analysis Of European Red Lists Reveal Major Threats To Biodiversity, Axel Hochkirch, Melanie Bilz, Catarina C. Ferreira, Anja Danielczak, David Allen, Ana Nieto, Carlo Rondinini, Kate Harding, Craig Hilton-Taylor, Caroline M. Pollock, Mary Seddon, Jean-Christophe Vié, Keith N. A. Alexander, Emily Beech, Manuel Biscoito, Yoan Braud, Ian J. Burfield, Filippo Maria Buzzetti, Marta Cálix, Kent E. Carpenter, Ning Labbish Chao, Dragan Chobanov, Maarten J. M. Christenhusz, Bruce B. Collette, Mia T. Comeros-Raynal, Neil Cox, Matthew Craig, Annabelle Cuttelod, William R. T. Darwall, Benoit Dodelin, Nicholas K. Dulvy, Eve Englefield, Michael F. Fay, Nicholas Fettes, Jörg Freyhof, Silvia García, Mariana García Criado, Michael Harvey, Nick Hodgetts, Christina Ieronymidou, Vincent J. Kalkman, Shelagh P. Kell, James Kemp, Sonia Khela, Richard V. Lansdown, Julia M. Lawson, Danna J. Leaman, Joana Magos Brehm, Nigel Maxted, Rebecca M. Miller, Eike Neubert, Baudewijn Odé, David Pollard, Riley Pollom, Rob Pople, Juan José Presa Asensio, Gina M. Ralph, Hassan Rankou, Malin Rivers, Stuart P. M. Roberts, Barry Russell, Alexander Sennikov, Fabien Soldati, Anna Staneva, Emilie Stump, Andy Symes, Dmitry Telnov, Helen Temple, Andrew Terry, Anastasiya Timoshyna, Chris Van Swaay, Henry Väre, Rachel H. L. Walls, Luc Willemse, Brett Wilson, Jemma Window, Emma G. E. Wright, Thomas Zuna-Kratky

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Biodiversity loss is a major global challenge and minimizing extinction rates is the goal of several multilateral environmental agreements. Policy decisions require comprehensive, spatially explicit information on species’ distributions and threats. We present an analysis of the conservation status of 14,669 European terrestrial, freshwater and marine species (ca. 10% of the continental fauna and flora), including all vertebrates and selected groups of invertebrates and plants. Our results reveal that 19% of European species are threatened with extinction, with higher extinction risks for plants (27%) and invertebrates (24%) compared to vertebrates (18%). These numbers exceed recent IPBES (Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity …

Microplastic Accumulation In The Digestive Tract Of Young-Of-Year Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks (Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae) In The Grand Strand, Sc, Andrew Curtis Sitlinger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the presence and accumulation of microplastic fibers in the digestive tract and livers of young-of-year Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks (Rhizopriondon terraenovae) from two sampling locations along the Grand Strand of South Carolina. R. terraenovae is a small, mesopredatory elasmobranch found abundantly along northwestern Atlantic Ocean coastlines. Thirty specimens of R. terraenovae were collected from May through August of 2020. Microplastics were found in all specimens. A total of 672 plastic particles were identified over the course of the study, with an average of 22.4 ± 10.5 (SD) plastics per specimen. The majority of the plastics were classified …

Performance Analysis: Using The Northern Sea Route As An Alternative To Traditional Routes, Liangkun Xu, Qing Yu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The grounding accident of M/V EVER GIVEN in the Suez Canal causes a catastrophic loss on shipping companies. Alternatively, previous studies have presented encouraging findings of the remarkable benefits of time and cost saving in the Northern sea route (NSR) due to extend the ice-free time and shorten the distance. Ships using the NSR could shorten as much as 40% of the sailing distance from China (Shanghai) to Europe (Rotterdam) compared with the traditional route via the Suez Canal. This paper investigates the economic potential of using the NSR as a cost-effective route in comparison with Suez Canal Route (SCR) …

Numerical And Approximate Analytic Solutions Of Second- Order Nonlinear Boundary Value Problems, Chein-Shan Liu, Jian-Hung Shen, Yung-Wei Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The shooting method consists of guessing unknown initial values, transforming a second-order nonlinear boundary value problem (BVP) to an initial value problem and integrating it to obtain the values at the right end to match the specified boundary condition, which acts as a target equation. In the shooting method, the key issue is accurately solving the target equation to obtain highly precise initial values. Due to the implicit and nonlinear property, we develop a generalized derivative-free Newton method (GDFNM) to solve the target equation, which offers very accurate initial values. Numerical examples are examined to show that the shooting method …

Optimization Of Circular Silencers Internally Hybridized With Multiple Reverse Chambers Using The Ga Method, Min-Chie Chiu, Ying-Chun Chang, Tian-Syung Lan, Ho-Sheng Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

A noise abatement method using an eigen function in conjunction with an optimizer (Genetic Algorithm) under a space-constrain situation is proposed in this study concerning a high order wave propagation effect. An eigen function is used to describe an acoustical field and shorten the acoustical model in a four-pole transfer matrix form. The system’s four-pole matrix estimates the Transmission Loss (TL) for the silencers by multiplying individual four-pole matrices.

Additionally, a case study of an air compressor’s broadband noise elimination is introduced. Three types of circular reverse silencers (silencers A-C) internally hybridized with multiple straight chambers are adopted to efficiently …

Numerical Investigation Of The Uncertainty Of Typhoon Wave Parameters Retrieval Using Hf Radar, Toan Duy Dao, Hwa Chien

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The aim of this study was to identify the sources of uncertainties of typhoon wave field monitoring using HF radar and to quantitatively assess the bias of the wave parameters, such as significant wave height and mean period, retrieved under various conditions. The strategy was to apply a purely numerical simulation of the Doppler-range spectra and then compare the estimation results to the target. For the quantitative investigation, a numerical test-bed was established. The test-bed was used to simulate the Doppler spectra based on Barrick’s (1972) theory by using the input of the directional wave spectra. The typhoon wave spectra …

A Fused Data Based Real-Time Collision Warning System For Ferries In The Yangtze River, Xiaojia Liu, Ke Zhang, Han Xue, Yingtang Li

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The risks for ferries in the Yangtze River are relatively high, as they frequently cross the main traffic flows, leading to more intersections with other upwards and downwards ships. Although some studies have developed many models to assess collision risks in the Yangtze River, collision warning studies on ferries are scant. Meanwhile, most of the current collision studies evaluate risk based on AIS data, which are incapable of providing real-time ship information as they are discrete-time series data. In this work, fused data combining radar and AIS data are applied in a real-time ship collision warning model to assess the …

Experimental Study Of The Effect Of A Solid Wing Conveyor On Marine Debris Collection, Erik Sugianto, Jeng-Horng Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Marine debris is a global problem that has not been resolved. This has encouraged the emergence of marine debris cleaning technologies, one of which is a conveyor ship. However, how effective conveyors are in collecting waste has not been studied. In this paper, experimental research on conveyors as marine debris collectors is investigated. The capability of catamarans with or without solid wing conveyors to collect marine debris is explored. Three kinds of marine debris collection models are used: no-wing conveyor, a 12.5-cm-long wing conveyor, and an 18.75-cm-long wing conveyor. Artificial marine debris (AMD) is spread on the water surface in …

Solving Nonlinear Boundary Value Problems With Nonlinear Integral Boundary Conditions By Local And Nonlocal Boundary Shape Functions Methods, Chein-Shan Liu, Yung-Wei Chen, Jian-Hung Shen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The paper considers the second-order nonlinear boundary value problem (NBVP), which is equipped with nonlinear integral boundary conditions (BCs). Two novel iterative algorithms are developed to overcome the difficulty of NBVP with double nonlinearities involved. In the first iterative algorithm, two nonlocal shape functions incorporating the linear integral terms are derived, and a nonlocal boundary shape function (NBSF) is formulated to assist the solution. Let the solution be the NBSF so that the NBVP can be exactly transformed into an initial value problem. The new variable is a free function in the NBSF, and its initial values are given. For …

Larval Ecology Of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus): New Insights From Otolith Microstructure, Biotic, And Abiotic Analyses From The Gulf Of Mexico And Mediterranean Sea, Estrella Malca

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT), Thunnus thynnus, spawn in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and the Mediterranean Sea (MED). Spawning occurs within narrow temporal and environmental parameters. Efforts to characterize growth of ABT in wild conditions revealed a wide range of growth variability during the early life stages. This series of studies examined potential biotic and abiotic influences of larval growth from seven ABT cohorts, and identified several key drivers of growth for this commercially valuable species. A detailed investigation of larval dynamics using otolith microstructure was conducted as follows. First, companion growth curves and stable isotope analysis from the same …

Workshops Report For Mesophotic And Deep Benthic Community Fish, Mobile Invertebrates, Sessile Invertebrates And Infauna, Rachel Bassett, Stacey L. Harter, Randy Clark, Ian Zink, Katherine Hornick, Jennifer Hart, Hanna Bliska, Melissa Carle, Tracey Sutton, Amanda Demopoulos, Andy David, Kristopher Benson, Jill Bourque, Martha Nizinski, Nancy Prouty, Stephanie Sharuga, Alicia Caporaso, Jennifer Le, Jennifer Herting, Cheryl Morrison, Matthew Poti

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Reports

Two workshops with subject matter experts in the appropriate fields, were held in November and December 2021 to elicit guidance and feedback from the broader mesophotic and deep benthic scientific community. These workshops focused on best practices/approaches and identifying data gaps relative to habitat assessment and evaluation goals of the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Community (MDBC) restoration portfolio. The first workshop was a combined effort of the Habitat Assessment and Evaluation (HAE) Project Team and the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) Program. Industrial Economics, Inc. (IEc) provided extensive workshop planning, organizing, execution, and facilitation support during all stages of the workshop. Based …

Nexus Between Animal Welfare, Environment, And Sustainable Development: Resource Document, Wellbeing International

Nexus – UNEP – Animal Welfare, Environment, Sustainable Development

This Resource Document has been developed to explore the Nexus (links) between Animal Welfare, the Environment, and Sustainable Development. The document includes relevant citations and reports addressing the topics encompassed by the Nexus. It will be maintained as a “living document” (subject to revision) in the WellBeing International Studies Repository. The original document and subsequent revisions will be kept in the Repository to provide a record of the changes.

Mesoptroph, A Database Of Trophic Parameters To Study Interactions In Mesopelagic Food Webs, Mónica A. Silva, Catarina T. Fonseca, M. Pilar Olivar, Ainhoa Bernal, Jérôme Spitz, Tiphaine Chouvelon, Sigrún Jonasdottir, Ana Colaço, Vanda Carmo, Tracey Sutton, Gui Menezes, Tone Falkenhaug, Odd Aksel Bergstad, Sergi Pérez-Jorge

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Mesopelagic organisms play a crucial role in marine food webs, channelling energy across the predator-prey network and connecting depth strata through their diel vertical migrations. The information available to assess mesopelagic feeding interactions and energy transfer has increased substantially in recent years, owing to the growing interest and research activity in the mesopelagic realm. However, such data have not been systematically collated and are difficult to access, hampering estimation of the contribution of mesopelagic organisms to marine ecosystems. Here we present MesopTroph, a georeferenced database of diet, trophic markers, and energy content of mesopelagic and other marine taxa compiled from …

Key To The Species Of Tortanidae Tortanus Occurring In The China Seas, Chang-Tai Shih, Qing-Chao Chen, Yang-Chi Lan, Shih-Hui Hsiao, Chi-Yu Weng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

No abstract provided.

Key To The Species Of Tharybidae Neoscolecithrix Occurring In The China Seas, Chang-Tai Shih, Qing-Chao Chen, Yang-Chi Lan, Shih-Hui Hsiao, Chi-Yu Weng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

No abstract provided.

Key To The Species Of Temoridae Temora Occurring In The China Seas, Chang-Tai Shih, Qing-Chao Chen, Yang-Chi Lan, Shih-Hui Hsiao, Chi-Yu Weng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

No abstract provided.

Key To The Species Of Subeucalanidae Subeucalanus Occurring In The China Seas, Chang-Tai Shih, Qing-Chao Chen, Yang-Chi Lan, Shih-Hui Hsiao, Chi-Yu Weng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

No abstract provided.

Key To The Species Of Spinocalanidae Spinocalanus Occurring In The China Seas, Chang-Tai Shih, Qing-Chao Chen, Yang-Chi Lan, Shih-Hui Hsiao, Chi-Yu Weng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

No abstract provided.

Key To The Species Of Spinocalanidae Monacilla Occurring In The China Seas, Chang-Tai Shih, Qing-Chao Chen, Yang-Chi Lan, Shih-Hui Hsiao, Chi-Yu Weng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

No abstract provided.

Key To The Species Of Scolecitrichidae Scottocalanus Occurring In The China Seas, Chang-Tai Shih, Qing-Chao Chen, Yang-Chi Lan, Shih-Hui Hsiao, Chi-Yu Weng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

No abstract provided.

Key To The Species Of Scolecitrichidae Scolecitrichopsis Occurring In The China Seas, Chang-Tai Shih, Qing-Chao Chen, Yang-Chi Lan, Shih-Hui Hsiao, Chi-Yu Weng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

No abstract provided.

Key To The Species Of Scolecitrichidae Scolecithrix Occurring In The China Seas, Chang-Tai Shih, Qing-Chao Chen, Yang-Chi Lan, Shih-Hui Hsiao, Chi-Yu Weng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

No abstract provided.

Key To The Species Of Scolecitrichidae Scolecithricella Occurring In The China Seas, Chang-Tai Shih, Qing-Chao Chen, Yang-Chi Lan, Shih-Hui Hsiao, Chi-Yu Weng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

No abstract provided.

Key To The Species Of Scolecitrichidae Scaphocalanus Occurring In The China Seas, Chang-Tai Shih, Qing-Chao Chen, Yang-Chi Lan, Shih-Hui Hsiao, Chi-Yu Weng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

No abstract provided.