The capacity of coral reefs to provide ecosystem services is widely recognized, but this ability depends on continued carbonate production within the coral community. The Islas Marías archipelago (21° 29.5′ N–106° 15′ W) is subject to minimal anthropic pressures. This archipelago serves as a model to study the influence of environmental variables [e.g., sea surface temperature (SST), upwelling periods

A central objective of ecological research is to understand the causes and links of diversity. Trophic and morphological variation has been recognized as the baseline to determine communities’ functional arrangement; however, few morphological structures have been explored. In the present study, the fish assemblage of two contrasting localities within the Gulf of Mexico, the Campeche Bank (CB) and

To confirm the distribution of the allopolyploid and ancestral species in the Matsukawaura Lagoon in a hybrid zone between Neopyropia yezoensis and Neopyropia tenera, molecular marker analyses and culture experiments were performed using collected blades. All the blades examined, except for one blade identified as N. tenera, exhibited nuclear genotypes of both species, but only the chloroplast haplotype

Leatherback marine turtles are the largest extant turtles with some individuals measuring up to 2 m in carapace length. In addition, this species remains in oceanic habitat during much its life, making it difficult to investigate its ontogeny from hatchling to adult stage. Furthermore, distinct chondro-osseous (cartilage and bone) tissue morphology has led to speculation that sexual maturity may be

In the mobile sedimentary environment of San Antonio Bay (northern Patagonia), where hard substrate is scarce, the mussel Brachidontes rodriguezii dominates the intertidal zone, there being covered by the introduced epibiotic barnacle Balanus glandula. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution and the recruitment of B. glandula on different non-living substrates (cobbles, biogenic debris)

It is imperative to understand the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools in tropical mangrove systems considering the diminished C storage potential and increasing nutrient loading in a global context due to rising anthropogenic disturbances. Here, we report that the Mangalavanam Coastal Wetland (MCW), a tropical mangrove stand, is a C-rich environment, with high sediment total organic carbon (70.35 ± 23

The speckled shrimp Metapenaeus monoceros is a commercially important penaeid shrimp in the Indo-West Pacific region including Bangladesh. Phylogenetics of penaeid shrimps is still a debatable issue, and molecular variation within the species is large. This study focused on the phylogeography of M. monoceros, including an assessment of the phylogenetic relationships among seven other Metapenaeus species

Tide pools are important environments for several fish species, as they offer essential resources such as shelter and food. Thus, understanding the relationships of the ichthyofauna with the habitat structural characteristics in tide pools is important to understand the distribution patterns of fish assemblages in shallow environments. This study investigated how the habitat structure in tide pools

Five mass extinction events in earth's history each resulted in major oceanic species loss. All of these appear to be associated with significant atmospheric aerosol loading and a reduction in sunlight intensity at the surface. Importantly for marine species, it is not only the intensity of the incident light, but also its colour that is important as, within the ocean, only light with wavelengths less

Deep-water canopy-forming algae Gongolaria montagnei var. compressa and Ericaria zosteroides (Fucales: Ochrophyta) co-exist in mixed populations, the first taxa dominating at the upper limit of distribution (20 m) and the second at the lower limit (40 m). This depth distribution pattern is consistent with the photosynthetic performances of both taxa, with E. zosteroides showing higher photosynthetic

Zooxanthellae are dinoflagellate algae belonging to the family Symbiodiniaceae that provide energy and oxygenation to corals, allowing them to develop a high calcification rate. Additionally, some species of these algal symbionts seem to be related to coral resistance to particular environmental conditions, and such responses have a high potential to cope with climate change and related phenomena.

Pelagic seabirds are tied to their breeding colonies throughout their long-lasting breeding season, but at the same time, they have to feed in a highly dynamic marine environment where prey abundance and availability rapidly change across space and seasons. Here, we describe the foraging movements of yelkouan shearwater Puffinus yelkouan, a seabird endemic to the Mediterranean Sea that spends its entire

Multi-species foraging associations occur when one or more species forage together. However, these associations have not yet been studied during tool use in fishes. Observations were made of the graphic tuskfish Choerodon graphicus (De Vis 1885) in New Caledonia to determine whether other fishes attended it during tool-use events. A new subtype of attendant associations, "scavenging at anvil", formed

Framework-building corals create the three-dimensional structure of coral reefs and are subject to predation from fishes, echinoderms, and gastropods. Anthropogenic stressors can magnify the effects of such top-down pressure on foundation species. The gastropod Coralliophila violacea (Kiener, 1836) depletes coral energy reserves via predation, potentially increasing coral susceptibility to land-based

Porcelain crabs that inhabit contrasting environments along the Southeastern Pacific coast have developed physiological adaptive responses to the harsh environmental conditions. However, it is not yet known if these responses are already present in early life stages, in embryos, for example, which are more vulnerable to environmental fluctuations than adults. In this study, we subjected ovigerous female

We used the unsupervised machine learning technique to evaluate the environmental factors responsible for modulating the spatial and seasonal distribution of caridean shrimps from a southeastern region of the Brazilian coast. Samplings were collected from seven transects with an artisanal shrimp fishery boat with two double-rig nets. Samplings occurred every month from October 2008 to September 2009

Brachyuran crabs of the family Pinnotheridae De Haan are a classic example of symbiotic lifestyle. Here, we described the host-use pattern, relative growth and sexual dimorphism of Austinixa patagoniensis (Rathbun 1918), a symbiont of the ghost shrimp Callichirus major (Say 1818). We use these analyses to test the A. patagoniensis mating system considering that monogamous species inhabit their respective

Several attempts have been made to find universal zonation schemes for the benthic fauna in sandy beaches. Usually, the nature and number of zones are not fixed and depend on the beach type and temporal changes in environmental characteristics. We characterized spatial and temporal variations in the structure of macrobenthic communities on an Amazonian macrotidal sandy beach (Farol Beach, Algodoal-Maiandeua

Sand waves are dynamic and regular bedforms that are ubiquitous in sandy shelf seas. However, information about the ecological characteristics (e.g., benthic community structure) and their spatial variability within these habitats is very limited. To address this knowledge gap, we undertook a field campaign in summer 2017 to investigate the macrofaunal community composition of a sand wave area off

The Strait of Sicily (SoS) is a key area in the Central Mediterranean Sea characterized by high biodiversity and demersal fisheries productivity. Further, it is traditionally considered the main biogeographic boundary between the Western and Eastern basins of the Mediterranean. Due to the poor knowledge on the benthos composition and distribution in this area, we created the first inventory of megazoobenthos

In the present study, prokaryotic communities from nine sponge species, two octocoral species, sediment and seawater were assessed from Maldivian coral reefs. All host species contained prokaryotic communities, which were distinct from those found in sediment and seawater. Certain host species, however, contained relatively high abundances of environmental OTUs, that is, OTUs recorded in sediment and/or

Climate change is promoting fast poleward expansion in many tropical marine fish species. With projected increases in sea surface temperatures, there is significant scope for increased range expansions in the future. However, the strength and consequences of density‐driven competitive interactions between vagrant and resident fishes are largely unknown. Here, we investigate how the density effects

The eastern Arabian Sea has a unique and permanent oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) extending along the western continental margin of India. The Arabian Sea OMZ is a site of intense denitrification, contributing to 20% of the global oceanic denitrification, playing a significant role in the nitrogen cycle. This study reveals the members of the culturable marine bacterial communities thriving and functioning

This study is the first assessment on how short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) move within the Gulf of Mexico. In April 2018, seven adult animals were tagged using location-only satellite transmitters in the south-western Gulf (18°59′N and 95°19′W). When tagged, all animals were in a medium-size aggregation that split after a week and followed two routes, indicating that the initial

To assess whether amphipods' habitat choice and feeding preference for a specific seaweed species are based on nutritional value or structural complexity, and to evaluate the role of chemical cues in the amphipod choice, we carried out laboratory experiments using amphipods (Ampithoe marcuzzii) and seaweeds from different divisions (Chlorophyta, Ochrophyta, and Rhodophyta). To evaluate feeding preference

Information on the population biology of alien species in non-natural areas is essential to understanding their impacts on native species. Here, we investigated the life-history traits, the propagule pressure and the supply potential of Athanas nitescens in a non-native area. Sampling was monthly performed from April 2015 to March 2016 in an inter-tidal estuary in the south-eastern Brazilian coast

Rhodoliths are recognised as providing critical ecosystem services in nearshore systems through habitat provision. We tested the influence of rhodolith hosts and habitat on the diversity and composition of sessile and motile invertebrates found associated with two species of rhodolith. Investigations of cryptofauna were undertaken at three beds within the Bay of Islands, northern New Zealand. Lithothamnion

Determining the drivers of key ecological processes of commercial marine species is important to acquire basic and essential knowledge for fisheries management and conservation. Here we report on a long-term monitoring of the settlement of the European spiny lobster, Palinurus elephas, the most commercially important spiny lobster species in the Mediterranean and north-eastern Atlantic. Densities of

The present study investigated the relationship of sediment attributes to meiofaunal composition pattern and its food source in the Kongsfjord. Sediment in the fjord is dominated with silty clay fractions. Ten meiofaunal groups contributed to the meiofaunal composition in the fjord with the dominance of foraminiferans, nematodes and tintinnids. The total density of fauna ranged from 1 ind./10 cm2 to

Macroalgae constitute an important habitat for several marine invertebrates, and their biomass and structural complexity modulates the abundance and diversity of species that live on them. Overall, fluctuations in algae biomass inflict fluctuations in the abundance of the associated mobile macrofauna, but the structure of the community may vary according to how each group/species uses the resources

Photosynthetic features and dark respiration of different species of dominant canopy-forming algae of the Order Fucales (Phaeophyceae) consistently change with depth. Photosynthetic efficiency (α) and light at compensation (Ic) change according to the amount of light available at each depth, α increasing and Ic decreasing with depth. However, the values of light at saturation (Ik) do not show any depth

Biodiversity studies might help to understand the ecological dynamics of regions under the influence of upwelling and serve as a baseline to conservation and management strategies. Here, we evaluated the alpha (species richness and Shannon-Wienner index – H’) and beta (Bray Curtis index) diversities of a Brachyura assemblage within a depth gradient (5, 10, 15, 25, 35, and 45 m) in the Macaé region

To evaluate the specific validity of the Caspian pipefish Syngnathus caspius, we used a comparative molecular species delimitation method on a COI barcode library of Syngnathus, as well as principles of genealogical concordance. Comparative species delimitation allowed us to delineate putative species without a priori assignment of individuals to nominal species, while genealogical concordance extended

Amphipoda are a diverse and important faunal component of deep‐sea habitats worldwide. However, relatively little is known about species that are associated with cold‐water corals, in particular concerning their genetic diversity, population genetic processes, population differentiation, and potential host specificity. We exemplarily investigate these questions studying three pleustid species—Stenopleustes

Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) (Orcinus orca) are an endangered population in the United States and Canada, partly due to declines of their primary prey species, Chinook salmon. Prey availability influences various aspects of SRKW behavior, including distribution patterns and social structure. Yet, it is unclear to what extent a limited prey source influences the frequency of surface‐active

The pattern of resource allocation into multiple life‐history traits can vary with the environment; for example, high temperatures generally facilitate growth. Changes in investment in growth due to temperature may alter the allocation to other traits that are in trade‐off with that. Here, we investigated the trade‐off between growth and reproduction and whether the proportion of allocation to these

The Persian Gulf and Oman Sea are characterized by an interesting paleoclimatic history and different ecological settings, and offer a unique study area to investigate the genetic structure of marine organisms including fishes. The Ornate goby Istigobius ornatus is widely distributed throughout the tropical Indo‐West Pacific including the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. Here, we present the population structure

Individual specimens of Myripristis jacobus Cuvier, 1829 and Scarus taeniopterus Lesson, 1829 were collected from Gopalpur‐on‐sea, Odisha coast, Bay of Bengal. Both the fish samples were assigned species level tags using the conventional taxonomic methods. The capture of both the fish species is of particular interest in that they were new to the Bay of Bengal. Molecular analysis using the mitochondrial

Certain concentration of metal may influence survival in embryonic stages, reducing the birthrate and hatching emergence. This study aimed to evaluate concentration of metal in eggs and hatchlings of Dermochelys coriacea and correlate metal concentrations in eggs with hatching and emergence success. The samples were collected at Biological Reserve Station, ES, Brazil. At the nests' opening, unhatched

Metazoan/microbial bioconstructions, or biostalactites (BSTs), discovered in submarine caves of Apulia c. 20 years ago—and later found in several shallow‐water Mediterranean caves—are receiving increasing attention in the last years. Examination of a single BST from the “lu Lampiùne” cave (Apulia), at the limit between the Adriatic and the Ionian seas, has been addressed for the first time in this

Inbreeding depression strongly affects the biological fitness of organisms throughout their life cycle. These negative effects are more pronounced in species with low dispersal potentials, where mating among relatives is more likely. However, in some species, an outbreeding depression could be expressed when local adaptive and genetic beneficial interactions are disrupted when mating occurs between

Within the same population, nesting green turtles (Chelonia mydas) might exploit different niches by exhibiting polymorphic foraging strategies and/or inhabiting geographically distinct foraging areas. This is crucial information for the conservation of this species. Here, we used stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) to test for differences in a population of green turtles nesting

Coral reefs are highly diverse and productive ecosystems, and certain oceanographic processes, such as El Niño, have resulted in severe coral bleaching and mortality of reef‐building corals and to the global decline of the area covered by coral reefs. Here, we report the response of corals and both green and red filamentous and coralline algae from the central Mexican Pacific coast to the 2015–16 El

In this paper, we provide the first evidence of a bloom formation of coccolithophore Syracosphaera halldalii in a salt‐wedge estuary of Krka River (Mediterranean Sea), during stratified conditions. The increase of coccolithophore abundance was firstly noticed in August 2017 and occurred again in October 2017. The increased abundance appeared over wide salinity (16.9–35.3) and temperature ranges (16

Costal upwelling and other oceanographic features exert important effects on neritic and benthic communities, causing variations in the reproduction and survival of organisms. Here, we assessed the population structure, sex ratio, recruitment, and reproduction of the caridean shrimp Nematopalaemon schmitti near the Cabo Frio upwelling area in southeastern Brazil. In total, 759 individuals were captured

The knowledge of the population structure of a given species is of great importance for its conservation and for the management of its fishing exploitation, especially for sharks. The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier Péron&Lesueur, 1822) is an apex predator species that is currently listed as “Near Threatened” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species

Amiantis purpurata is the dominant clam of shallow subtidal soft bottom communities in Buenos Aires province where it is a major prey item of economically important fish and gastropods as well as anemones. Despite its significant role in the benthic food web, there are few studies dealing with the population biology of this species. Growth, age, mortality, and production along with reproductive patterns

This study aims to investigate biometric parameters and epiphytic algae on the leaves of three seagrass species Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa, and Halophila stipulacea, which co‐occur in Eastern coast of Tunisia (islet of Kaboudia, Chebba). Sampling was conducted at six stations (5 m depth) during March 2017. Biometrical measurements showed that shoot density and leaf surface area of P. oceanica

Demographics of co‐occurring species can often be diagnosed through population genomic analyses of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These data can define population structure, gene flow, and candidate regions in the genome that potentially reflect local adaptations. They can also gauge whether populations are demographically “open” or “closed” (i.e., with global or local recruitment). We derived

This study aimed to compare the spatio‐temporal distribution of demographic groups of Hepatus pudibundus in the Ubatuba Bay, São Paulo, Brazil, over a 20‐year interval. Two 1‐year samplings were conducted: the 1st period (P1) ran from September 1995 to August 1996 and the 2nd period (P2) ran from September 2016 to August 2017. Samples were taken from five stations that differed in depth (5, 10, and

The cruise conducted in the spring inter‐monsoon (pre‐monsoon) of April 2015 in the frame of a funded project epitomized an open ocean survey that allowed procuring a quasi‐synoptic picture of cyclopoid copepod community structure in 18 open ocean stations of the Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep archipelago, off the southwestern Indian coast, based on the analysis of standing stock and composition in the

Differently from the North Atlantic Ocean, only few examples of sponge grounds are known from the Mediterranean Sea, mainly thriving in the deep sea. In this study, a novel temperate mesophotic ecosystem dominated by massive keratose sponges is reported from the Ligurian deep continental shelf. An extensive Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) survey allowed to study the structure and large‐scale distribution

Coral reefs’ high productivity has been attributed mainly to photosymbioses between the coral animal and algae of the family Symbiodiniaceae, with recognition that the host can increase algal photosynthesis by concentrating nutrients and enhancing the efficiency of light absorption. Here, we propose that an additional effect, consumption of carbohydrate by the host, may also enhance algal photosynthesis

Deep‐sea ecosystems are fragile yet diverse habitats that are sensitive to disturbance. In the northern Gulf of Mexico deepwater extraction of hydrocarbons led to the accidental release of four million barrels of oil from the Macondo wellhead in 2010. The release of oil combined with the addition of dispersant at depth and the resulting delivery of oiled “marine snow” led to dramatic disruptions of

Ocean acidification and warming are likely to affect the structure and functioning of marine benthic communities. This study experimentally examined the effects of ocean acidification and warming on trophic interactions within a maerl bed community by using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis. Two three‐month experiments were conducted in winter and summer seasons with four different combinations

Many Caribbean reefs have shifted from coral dominance to macroalgal dominance, often by brown algae such as Dictyota and Lobophora. However, the north side of Cayman Brac in the Cayman Islands is dominated seasonally by the green macroalga Microdictyon (percent cover of Microdictyon is 4% in the winter and ~40% of the reef in the summer), although it is absent from the south side of the island and

The increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration in the last few decades has resulted in a decrease in oceanic pH. In this study, we assessed the natural variability of pH in coastal waters off Goa, eastern Arabian Sea. pHT showed large variability (7.6–8.1) with low pH conditions during south‐west monsoon (SWM), and the variability is found to be associated with upwelling rather than freshwater runoff

Globally, baleen whales were severely depleted by historic whaling. Recovering populations have been observed to alter their behaviour. These changes have been attributed to climate change in some cases and raise concerns over the successful recovery of baleen whale populations. Current data‐driven statistical habitat and behavioural models have proven useful for addressing questions of whale distribution

Recolonization patterns of benthic assemblages after relict sand dredging were investigated in an area offshore of Capo d’Anzio (central Tyrrhenian Sea). Surveys were performed before, during, and after dredging in 2007. Sampling stations were located within and outside the dredging site in water depths between 40 and 56 m. Defaunation due to sand extraction was the main impact observed in the inner

The inflow of terrestrial groundwater into the ocean is increasingly recognized as an important local source of nutrients and pollutants to coastal ecosystems. Although there is evidence of a link between fresh submarine groundwater discharge (SGD)‐derived nutrients and primary producer and primary consumer abundances, the effects of fresh SGD on the productivity of higher trophic levels such as ichthyofaunal