Frontiers in Marine Science最新文献

{"title":"The carbon reduction effect of ESG performance: empirical evidence from Chinese shipping enterprises","authors":"Jinpei Li, Jiaxin Suo, Yixuan Huang, Xiangdong Sun","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2025.1575398","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1575398","url":null,"abstract":"Environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices have become a crucial pathway for the sustainable development of enterprises, and so have shipping enterprises. Based on the unbalanced panel data of China’s A-share listed shipping enterprises from 2009 to 2022, this study uses a multiple regression model to empirically test the impact of ESG performance on carbon emission reduction and its regional heterogeneity. The findings indicate that ESG performance significantly reduces the carbon emission intensity of shipping enterprises, a conclusion that remains robust across various robustness tests and endogenetic analyses. Further heterogeneity analysis reveals that the carbon emission reduction effect of ESG performance is more pronounced in the southern region. These results underscore the importance of strengthening ESG capabilities as a key strategy for promoting the low-carbon transition of shipping enterprises and achieving sustainable development.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"103 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143745090","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":"Age and growth of Todaropsis eblanae (Ommastrephidae) through comparison of statoliths, beaks and eye lenses","authors":"Blondine Agus, Pietro Battaglia, Andrea Bellodi, Rita Cannas, Elisabetta Coluccia, Danila Cuccu","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2025.1567441","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1567441","url":null,"abstract":"The age composition of <jats:italic>Todaropsis eblanae</jats:italic> from the Sardinian waters (western Mediterranean Sea) was studied for the first time through the analysis of growth increments and the comparison of three structures: statoliths, beaks and eye lenses. The analysis was performed on 270 wild specimens of both sexes at different sizes (45-200 mm of mantle length; 6.98-443 g of total weight) and maturity stages (immature, maturing and mature) caught from July to September by trawl net. Significant differences in growth and length-weight relationship were observed between sexes, due to females reach a larger size than males. All the three structures had dimensions positively correlated with the size of the animals and showed clearly readable growth increments. Low values of IAPE, CV and PA confirmed the accuracy and good reproducibility of age readings. Eye lenses showed a very high number of growth increments (106-640), and a daily deposition was excluded. In contrast, beaks and statoliths showed NI values (70-316 and 73-310, respectively) always consistent with the size and maturity of the specimens, then a daily deposition has been suggested and their value compared. Moreover, the Mann-Whitney W-test confirmed a highly significant relationship between the number of growth increments in beaks and statoliths, suggesting that the beak can be considered a valid alternative to statoliths for age estimation in <jats:italic>T. eblanae</jats:italic>. The absolute growth rates confirm that females grow faster than males. Both sexes showed a higher initial growth rate, which gradually decreases, with the highest values at the age of 101-151 days, before reaching sexual maturity. According to a semelparous cycle, the estimated ages for the largest mature female (310-316 days) and male (288-292 days) suggest a lifespan of less than one year. Overall, the age and growth results reported, although referred to a specific area and a short sampling, could represent useful knowledge for a correct evaluation and management of this important commercial species in the future.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143745089","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":"Seasonal spatial distribution patterns of AmphiOctopus ovulum in the East China Sea: current status future projections under various climate change scenarios","authors":"Linlin Yang, Min Xu, Yan Cui, Shuhao Liu","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2025.1573253","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1573253","url":null,"abstract":"Currently, there is also little up to date information on the the current population status and life history traits of <jats:italic>AmphiOctopus ovulum</jats:italic>, a very often seen cephalopod species in the East China Sea. It is therefore important to figure out the seasonal spatial distribution of this species, both in terms of number and biomass, and the environmental variables which determine them. Additionally, climate change plays an important role in determining the characteristics of individual species and thus on the ecosystems they inhabit. We set out to understand the responses of <jats:italic>A. ovulum</jats:italic> to habitat variables and to make projections based on the climate change scenarios described in the IPCC’s SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 criteria. We carried out seasonal bottom trawling surveys in the East China Sea region during 2018 and 2019 to fill this knowledge gap. Our results showed that the average individual size values ranged from 17.80−43.00 g·ind<jats:sup>-1</jats:sup> in spring and 23.49−33.00 g·ind<jats:sup>-1</jats:sup> in summer; the measured sea bottom temperature, sea bottom salinity, and depth value ranges were 10.81−27.06°C, 31.73–35.25‰, and 91–103 m independently in spring to winter. Our study showed that <jats:italic>A. ovulum</jats:italic> was distributed in the area between 27°–29°N, 122.5°–125°E during spring to autumn, and expanded into the area between 26.5°–32.5°N, 121°–124.5°E in winter. The core habitat of <jats:italic>A. ovulum</jats:italic> was centered on the area between 27.5°–28°N, 122.5°–123.5°E, and can be expected to expand to the northeast and southwest independently under the most likely global warming scenarios. Our results will benefit the development of suitable conservation measures for cephalopod habitats, and incorporate the impacts of climate change into fisheries management programs.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"75 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143745028","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":"Elemental analysis in the scales of commercially important coastal fishes and their connections with fish feeding habits and habitats","authors":"Md. Sohel Parvez, Md. Imdadul Hoque, Md. Nurul Momen Siddique, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Edina Baranyai, Zsófi Sajtos, Boglárka Döncző, Haithem Aib, Md. Abdul Kader, Edina Simon, Herta Czédli","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2025.1546313","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1546313","url":null,"abstract":"Fish scales absorb different elements into the calcified matrix from surrounding waters as well as from the foods consumed. Scales microchemistry is drawing rising attention for its applicability in a wide range of fields, including environmental and ecological studies. The article represents an elemental analysis of the scales of five commercially important coastal fishes: <jats:italic>Tenualosa ilisha, Sillaginopsis panijus, Lates calcarifer, Otolithoides pama, and Rhinomugil corsula</jats:italic>. The concentrations of different essential and trace elements were measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and their distribution on scales was mapped using micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF). The detected elements were categorized into five groups based on their overall mean concentrations: the most, considerable, moderate, low, and least available. The concentration (mg kg<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>) of Ca was the highest (107472.32-181002.76) followed by P (41572.43-79042.02) among the elements in the studied fish scales, independent of species. The hierarchy of the overall mean concentration of elements was Ca&amp;gt;P&amp;gt;S&amp;gt;Mg&amp;gt;Na&amp;gt;K&amp;gt;Sr&amp;gt;Zn&amp;gt;Fe&amp;gt;Al&amp;gt;Ba&amp;gt;Mn&amp;gt;Cu&amp;gt;Cr. Element concentrations varied across fish feeding habits and habitats. Carnivore fish were found to have higher concentrations of K, Sr, and lower Fe than that in planktivore fish. The concentrations of Cr, Fe, S, Sr, and Zn were higher in demersal fish’s scales, whereas pelagic fish were found to have higher levels of Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and P. Element: Ca ratios, especially Sr: Ca, Mn: Ca, and Ba: Ca ratios, have potential implications as habitat signatures. Typically, fish otoliths are used for environmental and ecological purposes that involve cutting and sacrificing the sample. Employing scales instead could be a non-lethal alternative, crucial for sustainable fisheries management, especially for rare, vulnerable, or migratory fish.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143745088","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":"Morphology and evolution of submarine sand ridges and sand waves off the southwestern coast of Hainan Island, China","authors":"Yonghang Li, Huiqiang Yao, Zongheng Chen, Weidong Luo, Shi Zhang","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2025.1561392","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1561392","url":null,"abstract":"A substantial quantity of sedimentary sand bodies, including sand ridges, sand waves, and sand ripples, have been developed off the southwest coast of Hainan Island, China, with submarine sand ridges exhibiting the most considerable development scale. Determining the distribution, morphology, and evolutionary characteristics of the submarine sand ridges is crucial for exploiting marine sand resources and investigating engineering geological hazards. A comprehensive assessment of the study area was conducted utilizing marine survey techniques, including single-beam echo sounding, multi-beam echo sounding, side-scan sonar, single-channel seismic, and sediment sampling. The findings indicate the presence of eight substantial submarine sand ridges in the study area, delineated by tidal scour gullies and predominantly oriented in a NW-SE direction, with an average length of 21.3 km, an average width of 2.9 km, and an average height of 13.3 m. The sand ridges have a high-angle oblique bedding configuration. The grain size distribution of sediments in the study area is generally characterized by coarser near the shore and relatively finer away from the shore. The sediment type of the sand ridges is mainly sand-grade sediments (i.e., mean grain size Mz &amp;lt; 4Φ). A significant quantity of linear and barchan sand waves has developed within the sand ridge field, exhibiting variations in morphology, distribution, and scale. The coexistence and transformation of micro-geomorphic units, including sand waves, sand patches, and sand sheets, alongside sand ridges, reflect the complexity of the bedform-sediment-hydrodynamic system in the study area. The formation of the sand ridges may result from the late alteration of the ancient nearshore residual sand body. The study area revealed the presence of erosion-dominated, erosional-depositional, and deposition-dominated sand ridges, leading to the proposal of a development and evolution model for these sand ridges.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143745087","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":"Hybrid machine learning algorithms accurately predict marine ecological communities","authors":"Luciana Erika Yaginuma, Fabiane Gallucci, Danilo Cândido Vieira, Paula Foltran Gheller, Simone Brito de Jesus, Thais Navajas Corbisier, Gustavo Fonseca","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2025.1458014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1458014","url":null,"abstract":"Predicting ecological communities is highly challenging but necessary to establish effective conservation and monitoring programs. This study aims to predict the spatial distribution of nematode associations from 25 m to 2500 m water depth over an area of 350,000 km² and understand the major oceanographic processes influencing them. The study considered data from 245 nematode genera and 44 environmental parameters from 100 stations. Data was analyzed by means of a hybrid machine learning (ML) approach, which combines unsupervised and supervised methods. The unsupervised phase detected that the nematodes were geographically structured in six associations, each with representative genera. In the supervised stage, these associations were modeled as a function of the environmental features by five supervised algorithms (Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, k-Nearest Neighbors, Naive Bayes, and Stochastic Gradient Boosting), using 80% of the samples for training, leaving the remaining for testing. Among them, the random forest was the best model with an accuracy of 86.4% in the test portion. The Random Forest (RF) model recognized 8 environmental features as significant in predicting the associations. Depth, the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water near the bottom, the quality and quantity of phytodetritus, the proportion of coarse sand and carbonate, the sediment skewness, pH, and redox potential were the most important features structuring them. The inference of each association across the whole study area was based on the modeling results of the 8 significant environmental features. This model still correctly classified 90% of test data. Such findings demonstrated that it is possible to infer the spatial distribution of the nematode associations using only a small set of environmental features. The recommendation is thus to permanently monitor these environmental variables and run the ML models. Implementing ML approaches in monitoring programs of benthic systems will increase our prediction capacity, reduce monitoring costs, and, ultimately, support the conservation of marine systems.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143736620","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":"Observed seasonal evolution and origins of the western Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass","authors":"Chuanjie Wei, Xiaohui Tang, Kai Ge, Anqi Xu, Yuanlong Li, Yong Jiang, Zengrui Rong, Fei Yu","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2025.1556069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1556069","url":null,"abstract":"The Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM) is one of the most prominent hydrological features of the Yellow Sea. As a low-temperature, nutrient-rich subsurface water mass, the YSCWM fundamentally regulates biogeochemical cycles, functions of marine ecosystems, and fishery resources of the YS. In boreal summer, the YSCWM shows a robust triple-core structure, in which the western component, dubbed the “western YSCWM”, is revisited in this study. Through analyzing <jats:italic>in-situ</jats:italic> observational data collected by research cruises of the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS) and Lagrangian tracing experiments based on a high-resolution ocean model, we provide a thorough investigation for seasonal evolution and origins of the western YSCWM. <jats:italic>In-situ</jats:italic> observations during 2006-2007 and 2014-2015 suggest that the western YSCWM bears a tight connection to the colder coastal waters near the Shandong Peninsula and achieves the coldest temperature in summer. Analysis of model simulations confirms that the cooling of the western YSCWM in spring and summer is caused mainly by southward cold-water transport of the Shandong Coastal Current (SDCC) from the Shandong coasts and the northern Yellow Sea. We also reveal a contribution of the Subei Shoal water via the Subei Coastal Current (SCC) in summer, which plays a critical role in the quick vanishing of the western YSCMW in early autumn. These findings contribute to our understanding of the formation, seasonal evolution, and heat budgets of the YSCWM.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143736619","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":"Exploring the drivers of otolith Sr/Ca during the early life stages of Larimichthys polyactis: insights from cultured and wild populations","authors":"Zhongjie Kang, Dade Song, Hushun Zhang, Long Liang, Chengbin Zhang, Tao Jiang, Fei Zhu, Ying Xiong","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2025.1513070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1513070","url":null,"abstract":"Otolith Sr/Ca profiles are widely used to investigate early life migration and habitat use in both diadromous and oceanodromous fishes. This study focuses on <jats:italic>Larimichthys polyactis</jats:italic>, an oceanodromous species of significant ecological and commercial importance in East Asian waters. This study investigates the influence of environmental factors on the otolith Sr/Ca ratios during its early life stages (ELS). In Experiment A, we analyzed both laboratory-reared specimens—maintained under stable temperature (19–21°C) and salinity (27–28 PSU) conditions—and wild-captured specimens. The results revealed a consistent decline in Sr/Ca ratios throughout the ELS in both groups, suggesting that temperature and salinity may not be the primary drivers of otolith Sr/Ca ratios during early development. In Experiment B, Sr/Ca ratios in the core (incubation stage) and edge (recently spawned stage) zones of otoliths from both wild and laboratory-reared adult fish were compared. Sr/Ca ratios were significantly higher in the core zone than in the edge zone, indicating that maternal influences are may not be the main cause of elevated Sr/Ca ratios in the otolith core. Collectively, these findings suggest that otolith Sr/Ca ratios during ELS in <jats:italic>L. polyactis</jats:italic> are more affected by the ontogenetic developmental stage than by environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, or maternal effects. This challenges previous assumptions about the dominance of environmental factors in shaping otolith chemistry and highlights the need for more nuanced interpretations of Sr/Ca data, especially in studies of oceanodromous fishes. When utilizing otolith microchemistry to reconstruct life history, it is essential to minimize physiological effects through controlled culture experiments to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the results.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"132 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143734114","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":"Occurrence frequency, molecular evolution and phylogenetic utility of Ulva-specific chloroplast group II intron infA-62 family","authors":"Feng Liu, Shuangle Jin, Jang Kyun Kim, Xiaochan Wu, Jing Wang","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2025.1557121","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1557121","url":null,"abstract":"Chloroplast intron <jats:italic>infA</jats:italic>-62 as a degenerated group II intron family was previously observed to exist specifically in <jats:italic>infA</jats:italic> genes of chloroplast/plastid genomes (plastomes) in the genus <jats:italic>Ulva</jats:italic> (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta). To understand occurrence frequency, molecular evolution and phylogenetic utility of this intron family in <jats:italic>Ulva</jats:italic> species, in this study, we conducted more sampling tests based on newly designed specific primers, analyzed evolutionary features of its secondary structures, and employed intron <jats:italic>infA</jats:italic>-62 for phylogenetic analysis of <jats:italic>Ulva</jats:italic> species. The 100% occurrence frequency of this intron has been observed in <jats:italic>Ulva</jats:italic> plastomes, supporting its acquisition by the earliest progenitor of <jats:italic>Ulva</jats:italic> species. The GC content of this intron family is unprecedentedly low (21.0-25.2%) for group II introns. The intron <jats:italic>infA</jats:italic>-62 family is classified as an atypical form of ORF-less group IIB-like secondary structures. Some new evolutionary features have been revealed in this intron family, including the extremely low GC content in some domains (e.g. domains IB, ICa, ID2, IDa, II and IV), a very short stem in domain I, a drastically changing domain IC2, and a completely degenerated domain IV. Secondary structures of this intron family showed progressive RNA structural deviations and species-specific variations during the <jats:italic>Ulva</jats:italic> evolution. Nine mutation hotspots have been detected in loop regions of domains IA, IB, IC1, IC2, ICa, IDa, II, IV and VI. The ML phylogenetic tree constructed based on the nucleotide sequences of intron <jats:italic>infA</jats:italic>-62 showed that <jats:italic>Ulva</jats:italic> species were classified into two clades representing two <jats:italic>Ulva</jats:italic> lineages, <jats:italic>Ulva</jats:italic> I and II, which was consistent with those based on organelle multigene datasets. Our evidences show that intron <jats:italic>infA</jats:italic>-62 coevolved with the plastomes during the evolution and speciation of <jats:italic>Ulva</jats:italic> species. The intron <jats:italic>infA</jats:italic>-62 that combines primary sequence and secondary structure can be used as an efficient phylogenetic marker for identification and classification of <jats:italic>Ulva</jats:italic> species.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143734110","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":"Impact chains for the deep seafloor: assessing pressures footprint under limited knowledge and uncertainty","authors":"Fábio L. Matos, Ana Hilário, Heliana Teixeira","doi":"10.3389/fmars.2025.1532964","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1532964","url":null,"abstract":"Pressures on the marine environment threaten biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services. Current marine environmental policies, such as the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive, require the assessment of combined effects and the application of ecosystem-based management approaches to maintain or achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) of marine ecosystems. We mapped the major activities and pressures affecting deep-sea benthic habitats in the mainland component of the Portuguese EEZ to assess their combined effects and support decision-making on management and conservation. Activities related to marine traffic, fisheries, and climate change processes are among the most prevalent in the study area. As a data-poor case study, most of the pressure layers were only partially mapped due to a lack of information or the inadequacy of the available data on activities to derive suitable proxies of pressure intensity. Pressures related to chemical changes, chemicals and other pollutants were the most widespread, while abrasion and damage were the most geographically limited. Endogenic pressures dominate in bathyal benthic habitats and decrease their prevalence with depth, while exogenic pressures are more widespread in the abyss than in the bathyal area. Benthic habitats in the bathyal zone, closer to the 200-meter bathymetric contour, consistently exhibited higher combined effect scores, suggesting higher risk of potential impacts on these ecosystem components. Research directed towards these areas is required to assess the state of these habitats and develop conservation and restoration measures, if necessary, to achieve GES. A continuous support for open-access databases containing high-quality, standardized, and harmonized marine data is crucial for future assessments of the combined effects of human pressures on deep-sea ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":12479,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Marine Science","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143734113","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}