Frontiers in Marine Science最新文献

{"title":"Integrative assessment of fish diversity in abalone raft culture areas of the Pingtan Sea, China, based on traditional fishing and eDNA metabarcoding","authors":"Chao Ma, Tongjin Wu, Yong Liu, Chunyan Xu, Zhidong Zhuang, Sunzhong Ye, Jiandi Cai","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2026.1806085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1806085","url":null,"abstract":"As offshore aquaculture expands globally, understanding how farming facilities integrate into and influence marine ecosystems is critical. This study evaluated the ecosystem functions of abalone raft culture in the Pingtan sea area, China, by employing an integrative framework that combined traditional sampling (gillnets and pots) with environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. Surveys were conducted from March to August 2024 to compare fish diversity and community characteristics between a raft culture area (RA) and a control area (CA). Traditional surveys identified 35 fish species in the RA, significantly higher than the 27 species found in the CA. The dominant species in the RA were identified as Sebastiscus marmoratus and Siganus fuscescens. In the RA, both the Margalef richness (2.326) and Shannon-Wiener diversity (1.853) indices were significantly higher than those in the CA ( <jats:italic>P&amp;lt;</jats:italic> 0.05), while the catch per unit effort (CPUE) for gillnets and pots increased by 25.7% and 33.0%, respectively. In parallel, eDNA metabarcoding detected 68 fish species across 12 orders and 41 families, successfully identifying key pelagic species such as Sardinella aurita and Clupanodon punctatus that were frequently missed by traditional gear. Alpha diversity analysis confirmed a significantly higher diversity level in the RA, and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) revealed a profound separation in community structure between the two habitats ( <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &amp;lt; 0.0001). These results demonstrate that abalone raft culture facilities significantly enhance fish diversity (as shown by eDNA and traditional surveys) and resource abundance (as indicated by higher CPUE in traditional surveys) by increasing habitat heterogeneity through physical structures and restructuring food webs via nutrient enrichment. These findings suggest that these facilities function as “de facto” artificial reefs, providing a scientific basis for the “aquaculture-ranching” integration model and offering a standardized monitoring paradigm for the ecological management of coastal aquaculture zones globally.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147753345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Two decades of citizen science reveal spatial biases and conservation gaps for elasmobranchs along the Mozambican coast","authors":"Dércio Maoze, Jule Buschmann, Acácio Chechene, David van Beuningen, Mario Lebrato","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2026.1804041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1804041","url":null,"abstract":"Citizen science platforms play a crucial role in filling knowledge gaps and documenting global biodiversity trends, especially in under-sampled regions such as the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Here, we assessed the contribution of citizen science data to elasmobranch records in Mozambique, examining species composition, spatio-temporal patterns, and conservation status. This study helps inform policy revision, targeted monitoring, and national reporting in Mozambique using existing citizen science datasets. Using 408 elasmobranch records from the <jats:italic>iNaturalist</jats:italic> platform collected between 2007 and 2025, we documented 44 species and noted that species records increased significantly over the last decade, particularly since 2019. Rays dominated the dataset, particularly the Dasyatiids and Mobuliids, whereas sharks were primarily represented by Carcharhiniids and Rhincodontiids. A high proportion of recorded species (71%) were classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List, with 10% listed as Critically endangered, 51% as Endangered, 38% as Vulnerable. Most records (82%) were classified as research grade, supporting the reliability of <jats:italic>iNaturalist</jats:italic> data for scientific applications. Overall, the <jats:italic>iNaturalist</jats:italic> dataset accounted for 32% of the 137 elasmobranch species previously reported from past studies in Mozambique. Observations were spatially biased toward southern areas of Mozambique, especially Inhambane and Maputo provinces, reflecting known inconsistencies in sampling effort in central and northern regions. Record density overlapped strongly with Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA), which accounted for over 90% of all records, whereas only 17% of records overlapped with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), revealing a clear mismatch between priority areas and formal protection. Our findings demonstrate that citizen science provides a valuable and cost-effective complementary tool to traditional surveys and can meaningfully inform conservation planning, identify protection gaps, and support evidence-based management in data-limited contexts such as Mozambique and the WIO region.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term distribution patterns and northward shift signals of the box jellyfish Carybdea brevipedalia in Korean waters","authors":"Gunhee Sung, Jinho Chae, Jaeyeong Park, Jeong Ha Kim","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2026.1822820","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1822820","url":null,"abstract":"<jats:italic>Carybdea brevipedalia</jats:italic> is the only cubozoan species reported from Korean waters and is a major cause of jellyfish stings during summer along the southern coast and around Jeju Island. This study examined long-term spatiotemporal distribution patterns and potential signals of northward range change by integrating our researcher-led surveys (2013–2025) with nationwide monitoring records from the National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS; 2011–2025). An occurrence level (OL) index was applied as a common reference to evaluate relative occurrence across methods. Results showed a regionally uneven distribution pattern, with the southern coast consistently representing the main occurrence area, sporadic records from Jeju Island, and increasingly frequent records along the East Sea coast after 2020. Repeated field confirmations in the southern East Sea and a northward shift of the northernmost confirmed record from Hwajin (36°15′N) in 2020 to Hupo (36°40′N) in 2025 together suggest a possible northward expansion of the species distribution. However, the lack of field-based confirmations in the northern East Sea, despite continued observer-reported cases in the nationwide program, suggests that intensified monitoring and expert-led field verification are needed, while accounting for uneven survey effort, method-dependent detectability, and identification uncertainty. Given the diverse cubozoan taxa reported from adjacent Japanese waters, strengthened surveillance around Jeju Island and the southern coast is also warranted to assess potential introductions of previously unrecorded species. Overall, these findings support an integrated monitoring framework that combines sensitive nocturnal light attraction with underwater observation and specimen-based confirmation to improve preparedness for range changes and localized outbreaks.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"628 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Numerical study on crashworthiness of monopile-supported offshore wind turbine due to iceberg considering fluid-structure interaction","authors":"Ruoxuan Li, Mengyao Xing, Zhi-Xin Xiong","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2026.1826951","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1826951","url":null,"abstract":"As offshore wind energy expands into cold-region waters, offshore wind turbines (OWTs) are increasingly exposed to ice-structure interaction. In this study, a three-dimensional fluid-structure interaction (FSI) model was developed in LS-DYNA to simulate the dynamic response of a typical 5 MW monopile-supported OWT subjected to ice impact. The model explicitly accounts for coupled interactions among ice, water, and structure. A systematic parametric study was conducted to explain the effects of ice speed, shape, size, and immersion ratio on the peak impact force, structural energy absorption, local indentation depth, and tower-top acceleration and displacement responses. The response metrics were normalized to conduct a sensitivity analysis. The overall results indicate that ice speed has the greatest influence on the structural response, followed by ice shape, ice size, and the immersion ratio. These findings help improve the understanding of the ice-structure impact mechanism.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From action to legislation: challenges and enhancements of the regulatory frameworks concerning China’s blue carbon sink trading","authors":"Chuanliang Wang, Zhaoxin Liu, Aiping Wang","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2026.1815655","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1815655","url":null,"abstract":"<jats:italic>The Ecological Environment Code of the People’s Republic of China</jats:italic> has incorporated ecosystem carbon sinks into the legal system, yet there remains a lack of specialized legislation for blue carbon sink trading, with obvious normative limitations in its supervision and management. This research mainly adopts a combined research method integrating normative analysis, legal doctrine analysis, and qualitative policy text analysis. It systematically reviews China’s existing laws and policies related to carbon sinks and analyzes the institutional status of blue carbon sink trading supervision and management from three dimensions: subject, content, and liability. The study identifies three core problems in the current supervision system: vague and nominal allocation of powers and responsibilities among regulatory subjects with prominent functional overlaps; missing and imbalanced transaction process rules lacking systematic planning; and a weak and formalistic accountability mechanism with unclear responsibility boundaries. To enhance the regulatory frameworks, at least three areas should be addressed: first, clarify the rules of regulatory entities, and build a complementary, professional and efficient supervision mechanism. Second, enhance rules of the regulatory bodies, along with rules for the declaration and registration of blue carbon sink projects. Finally, strengthen rules of legal liabilities for the supervision and management of blue carbon sink trading, clarifying the provisions on the legal liabilities of relevant entities, and enhancing the effectiveness of legal liability pursuit.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Upwelling intensity structures free-living and particle-associated bacterial communities in an eastern boundary upwelling system","authors":"Omar Arzola, Valentina Córdova-Alarcón, Orlando Astudillo, Carlos Henríquez-Castillo, Carla Trigo, Alexander Galán, Katherina Brokordt, Roxana González","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2026.1791547","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1791547","url":null,"abstract":"Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUS) are among the most productive oceanic regions, driven by the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich, and low-oxygen waters. These systems are increasingly affected by climate change, with intensified upwelling activity in frequency, strength, and duration, potentially reshaping microbial communities and their ecosystem functions. Furthermore, upwelling activity is not only subject to long-term climate change but also responds to natural variability across multiple scales, from intra-seasonal to decadal, which also modulates the timing and characteristics of upwelling events. Despite their ecological relevance, bacterial communities in upwelling zones remain poorly characterized. Here, we aimed to determine how upwelling intensity shapes bacterial community structure and predicted their functional potential in Tongoy Bay, a key coastal upwelling area in the southeastern Pacific, using high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing from monthly seawater samples collected over one year at 9 m depth. Community composition was evaluated across physicochemical gradients and bacterial lifestyles (free-living - FL vs. particle-associated - PA). Marked compositional and functional differences were observed between both fractions: FL communities were dominated by stable core taxa such as Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria across conditions, whereas PA communities showed stronger temporal variability and responded more dynamically to upwelling intensity, with enrichment of the NS5 marine group, <jats:italic>Psychrobacter</jats:italic> , and Bdellovibrionaceae during intense events. Functionally, PA fractions exhibited higher relative abundances of pathways linked to carbon degradation (aerobic and anaerobic chemoheterotrophy, fermentation) and sulfur cycling. In contrast, FL fractions were enriched in photoautotrophy and nitrification-related functions, reflecting niche specialization. Differential abundance analysis using LEfSe identified taxa differentially enriched along the upwelling gradient: intense upwelling favored NS5 marine group, <jats:italic>Psychrobacter</jats:italic> , and the families Bdellovibrionaceae and Moraxellaceae; moderate upwelling was associated with Nitrosococcales, Methylophagaceae, and <jats:italic>Jannaschia cystaugens</jats:italic> ; and relaxation periods favored Actinobacteriota, Nocardioidaceae, and Alcanivoraceae. Potential pathogens such as <jats:italic>Vibrio kanaloae</jats:italic> , <jats:italic>V. crassostreae</jats:italic> , and <jats:italic>V. pectinicida</jats:italic> were detected during intense upwelling. These findings underscore the ecological importance of lifestyle-specific bacterial shifts under upwelling variability and highlight the role of bacteria in biogeochemical cycling, pollutant degradation, and ecosystem resilience in productive coastal systems under changing climatic conditions.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"99 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the role of seaweed farming in ocean acidification mitigation: insights from high-frequency observations","authors":"Fiona Teevan-Kamhawi, Hongjie Wang","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2026.1812478","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1812478","url":null,"abstract":"The oceanic uptake of anthropogenic CO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> has resulted in ocean acidification (OA). Macroalgae farming has the potential to mitigate OA by removing CO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> from the surface water via photosynthesis. However, continuous <jats:italic>in-situ</jats:italic> observations of marine carbonate chemistry related to macroalgae farming remain limited, leaving its effectiveness in addressing OA uncertain. To address these knowledge gaps, this study examined a 2-acre <jats:italic>Saccharina latissima</jats:italic> , sugar kelp, farm located at Point Judith, Rhode Island, as a case study to assess the potential of sugar kelp aquaculture in mitigating local OA. Over the full growing season from December 2022 to May 2023, high-temporal-resolution (every 30–60 minutes) measurements of surface temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH were taken inside and outside the kelp farm. The results demonstrate that sugar kelp farming does not significantly impact the carbonate system, thus providing negligible OA mitigation locally. Specifically, a temporary, local-scale CO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> reduction and higher pH occurred during very early kelp growth in early February, but was reversed by a higher surface CO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> , exaggerating OA, starting in mid-February. Over the entire observation period, kelp growth resulted in a 5.1 ± 11.6 μatm increase of <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> CO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> per week compared to the control site in the surface, a signal which is small compared to the substantial natural variability. However, the minimal <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> CO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> difference at the kelp farm may be reflective of the relatively small cultivation area (2 acres) or depressed growth of phytoplankton, resulting from nutrient competition between the kelp and <jats:italic>in-situ</jats:italic> phytoplankton. This study underscores the need for future sustained observations to evaluate the impact of seaweed cultivation on OA mitigation and the carbon cycle at the ecosystem scale.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"69 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New records of Priacanthus arenatus in the Mediterranean Sea: morphological and molecular evidence with biogeographic insights","authors":"Luca Castriota, Manuela Falautano, Alessandro Nota, Francesco Tiralongo","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2026.1784319","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1784319","url":null,"abstract":"We report two new records of the Atlantic bigeye, <jats:italic>Priacanthus arenatus</jats:italic> Cuvier, 1829, from Italian waters (Ionian Sea and Strait of Sicily), confirmed through morphological and molecular analyses. The species has previously been reported in the Mediterranean only twice, in the Gulf of Cagliari and the Strait of Messina. Morphometric and meristic data were compared with literature values, and phylogenetic analyses based on COI sequences confirmed species identity and suggested affinity with an eastern Atlantic haplotype. Ecological implications and taxonomic considerations are discussed.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147753346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of resilience evolution in China’s coastal ports from the temporal-spatial perspective","authors":"Xiangyu Yin, Jie Huang, Feier Teng, Qi Xu","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2026.1818983","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1818983","url":null,"abstract":"Against a backdrop of frequent global emergencies, heightened uncertainty in the shipping environment, and increasing complexity in port operations, the risk shocks faced by port systems have significantly intensified. Enhancing the comprehensive resilience of ports has thus become a critical task in port development. To systematically characterize the evolution of resilience in China’s coastal ports, this study examines 10 representative coastal ports from 2013 to 2022. An evaluation framework for port resilience is constructed across three dimensions—absorption capacity, adaptation capacity, and recovery capacity—using the Entropy Weighting‑TOPSIS combined model for comparative analysis. The findings demonstrate that overall port resilience in China’s coastal ports showed a steady upward trend during the study period, though significant disparities existed among different ports. Spatially, port resilience exhibited a pattern of “strongest in the east, followed by the south, with notable variations in the north.” Shanghai Port and Ningbo‑Zhoushan Port formed high‑resilience core zones, while small and medium‑sized ports still exhibited significant shortcomings in resilience. The findings of this study provide a reference basis for enhancing the risk response capabilities of China’s coastal ports and promoting high‑quality port development. The observed spatial heterogeneity suggests that targeted resilience‑building strategies are needed for different port clusters, particularly for smaller ports with limited infrastructure and financial buffers.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147743785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gas hydrate recycling: overview and future directions","authors":"Zachary F. M. Burton, Yongkoo Seol","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2026.1804991","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1804991","url":null,"abstract":"Natural gas hydrates are an important component of the global and oceanic biogeochemical cycle. However, much remains to be understood about gas hydrate systems, including processes resulting in the accumulation of high-concentration deposits. Gas hydrate recycling is a prominent mechanism in producing elevated hydrate saturations near the base of the gas hydrate stability zone (BGHSZ). During gas hydrate recycling, the BGHSZ moves upward relative to a given interval of hydrate-bearing sediment (i.e., hydrate-bearing sediment moves downward relative to the BGHSZ), causing hydrate to dissociate into water and free gas that may be “recycled” by migrating buoyantly upward and being reincorporated into the new GHSZ. This iterative process progressively enriches hydrate deposits via successive hydrate destabilization and re-accumulation. The purpose of this review is to: (1) describe the gas hydrate recycling process, (2) outline potential drivers of hydrate recycling, and (3) discuss knowledge gaps and opportunities for future research.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147743786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}