Marine environmental research最新文献

{"title":"Exploring the over-wintering and over-summering mechanisms of Ulva prolifera from physiological and transcriptome perspectives and their impacts on green tides","authors":"Hongtao Liu ,&nbsp;Tingting Wu ,&nbsp;Jianheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Peimin He","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107310","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107310","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Since 2007, the South Yellow Sea region of China has endured the world's largest recurrent green tide disaster for 18 consecutive years, resulting in substantial economic losses and ecological risks. <em>Ulva prolifera</em> the dominant species in these green tides, demonstrates remarkable tolerance to both elevated and reduced temperatures, with its thermal adaptation mechanisms critically linked to seasonal outbreak dynamics. This study established three temperature regimes (5 °C, 20 °C, and 30 °C) based on recent extreme temperature records from the Yellow Sea region to systematically evaluate growth rates, photosynthetic performance, pigment profiles, antioxidant enzyme activities, and transcriptomic responses of <em>U. prolifera</em>. Results revealed optimal growth at 15–25 °C, with significant growth inhibition beyond this range. Elevated temperature (30 °C) induced modest increases in photosynthetic fluorescence parameters and pigment content, coupled with pronounced enhancement of peroxidase (POD) activity. Conversely, low-temperature exposure (5 °C) substantially suppressed both photosynthetic efficiency and pigment levels, while eliciting only marginal POD activation. Transcriptomic profiling demonstrated distinct survival strategies: Low temperatures triggered the activation of the protein synthesis pathway and basal metabolic maintenance to prolong viability, whereas high temperatures activated antioxidant defenses and metabolic reprogramming to sustain photosynthetic function and nutrient cycling. Machine learning analysis revealed that proteins related to protein modification and cell differentiation exhibited strong responses under temperature stress. These temperature-responsive regulatory networks underpin the seasonal proliferation patterns of <em>U. prolifera</em> green tides. The findings advance mechanistic understanding of its overwintering and summer endurance strategies, offering critical theoretical frameworks for ecological management and mitigation technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 107310"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144322292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Population connectivity of vulnerable Brazilian parrotfishes","authors":"Karis Itchel Tuñón Valdés ,&nbsp;Juliana Beltramin De Biasi ,&nbsp;Natalia C. Roos ,&nbsp;João Lucas Leão Feitosa ,&nbsp;Luísa V.M.V. de Queiroz-Véras ,&nbsp;Guilherme O. Longo ,&nbsp;Carlos E.L. Ferreira ,&nbsp;Alexandre Schiavetti ,&nbsp;Carlos Werner Hackradt ,&nbsp;Fabiana Cézar Félix-Hackradt","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107293","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107293","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parrotfishes are iconic tropical and subtropical reef fishes, where they consume primary producers and contribute to reef bioerosion. Despite their ecological importance, parrotfishes have been threatened by overfishing worldwide. Understanding patterns of genetic diversity and connectivity is therefore essential for identifying conservation priorities and guiding management strategies for parrotfishes. Here, we evaluated the genetic diversity, connectivity, and gene flow of <em>Sparisoma frondosum</em> and <em>S. axillare</em>, two vulnerable and endemic Brazilian parrotfishes. A total of 104 samples of <em>S. frondosum</em> and 173 of <em>S. axillare</em> were collected along the Brazilian coast (from 00°50′S 44°15′W to 27°30′S 48°31′W). By assessing 11 microsatellite loci in <em>S. frondosum</em> and 16 in <em>S. axillare</em>, we found <em>H</em>_<em>o</em> &lt; <em>H</em>_e; with strong structuring near the southern end of its distribution at the subtropical reefs of Rio de Janeiro state (RJ) for <em>S. frondosum,</em> and in the isolated Trindade and Martim Vaz Archipelago (IT) for <em>S. axillare</em>. No significant correlation was found between genetic differentiation and geographical distance, suggesting that factors other than spatial distance play key roles in shaping their genetic structures. Both species respond differently to marine barriers, and the observed patterns were discussed in light of how overfishing may be influencing genetic connectivity. Coastal populations require coordinated management along the Brazilian coast, while the genetic structuring in distant islands and at the southern range limits highlights connectivity constraints and potential vulnerability to environmental change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 107293"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144314233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contrasting natural and anthropic historical changes in two estuarine systems on the Brazilian coast: Benthic foraminiferal-based Paleo-Ecological Quality Status","authors":"Júlia Sambugaro ,&nbsp;Isabela Santos Kropiwiec ,&nbsp;Luiz Gustavo Pereira ,&nbsp;Joel Augusto S. Sarmiento ,&nbsp;Renê H. Magalhães ,&nbsp;Eduardo Siegle ,&nbsp;Rubens César Lopes Figueira ,&nbsp;Maria Virgínia Alves Martins ,&nbsp;Vincent M.P. Bouchet ,&nbsp;Fabrizio Frontalini ,&nbsp;Silvia Helena de Mello e Sousa","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study uses a multiproxy approach to investigate two estuarine ecosystems located along the Brazilian Atlantic coast and their historical changes. In the last century, the Santos-São Vicente-Bertioga Estuary (Santos) has been subjected to anthropogenic influences such as heavy industrialization and the construction of the Santos Port. The Caravelas-Nova Viçosa Estuary (Caravelas) has preserved most of its pristine condition but has been mainly affected by naturally driven changes after the opening of a new inlet around the 1960s. We use sedimentological, geochemical, and benthic foraminiferal indices to investigate the distinct drivers of environmental changes throughout the history of these two estuaries. Different biotic indices were tested to assess the Paleo-Ecological Quality Status (Paleo-EcoQS): the diversity index exp(H'_bc), the Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR) computed based on local reference conditions, the Tolerant Species Index (TSI) and the Enhanced Benthic Foraminifera Oxygen Index (EBFOI). The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) highlights the systems' responses to different causes of impact, either anthropogenic or natural. In Santos, the PCA indicates a strong association between sediment composition, heavy metal enrichment, and the prevalence of stress-tolerant species, reflecting a decline in the Paleo-EcoQS linked to industrial and urban pressures. Caravelas exhibits a dynamic response to natural processes, with positive PCA scores correlated with organic matter inputs and sediment dynamics, suggesting resilience despite fluctuating environmental conditions. This work shows the importance of sedimentary records in distinguishing between natural and human-induced impacts, having great scientific and social relevance both for biomonitoring and informing conservation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 107306"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144501973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Large salinity fluctuations affect the biovolume and biomass of keystone estuarine copepods","authors":"Letícia Borges Leite ,&nbsp;Tatiane Martins Garcia ,&nbsp;Carolina Coelho Campos ,&nbsp;José Pedro Vieira Arruda Júnior ,&nbsp;Mauro de Melo Júnior ,&nbsp;Marcelo Oliveira Soares","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107308","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107308","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Small planktonic copepods are abundant on coasts, forming the basis of food webs. Size-based normalized biovolume spectra are increasingly used to study plankton and the impacts of droughts. Biovolume is a key indicator of plankton characteristics and biomass, but research on biovolume in estuarine hypersalinity is limited. Our study estimated the biovolume and biomass of keystone tolerant species (e.g., <em>Oithona</em>) to assess salinity fluctuations impact in a tropical estuarine system. Copepod sampling and salinity measurements were taken bimonthly over a year during extreme drought and short rainfall events. We found higher biovolume under mild hypersalinity (∼48 and 55) and the lowest under meso- and eusalinity (∼11 and 37). The biomass responded similarly to biovolume, except in February when the biovolume was high but density was low. These variations were linked to copepod sensitivity to great salinity fluctuations. In this regard, the stress-tolerant species thrived under lower diversity and milder hypersalinity during the dry season. Great freshwater input from heavy and short rainfall represents a disturbance to keystone estuarine organisms such as <em>Oithona</em> spp. that face low water input and high temperatures during most of the year in a semi-arid coast. This led to a reduction in biovolume and biomass of these organisms during meso- and euhaline regimes. Our findings suggest that moderate stress conditions benefit <em>Oithona</em> biomass, while extreme environmental conditions (e.g., episodic floods) exceed their tolerance, providing insights into how climate change and extreme weather events may affect estuarine populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 107308"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144307362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combining methods for detection of bycatch hotspot areas of marine megafauna species in and around critical rookeries and foraging areas","authors":"Nikolaos Simantiris ,&nbsp;Charalampos Dimitriadis ,&nbsp;Stavros Xirouchakis ,&nbsp;Marios-Dimitrios Voulgaris ,&nbsp;Evangelia Beka ,&nbsp;Martha Z. Vardaki ,&nbsp;Georgios Karris","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107299","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107299","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bycatch, the incidental catch of non-target species, threatens marine megafauna such as sea turtles and sea birds in the Mediterranean region. Identifying bycatch hotspots is essential to guide mitigation measures and target audiences. In the Mediterranean Sea, South Ionian Sea in Greece is a major marine habitat, including critical nesting areas, for sea turtles, and an important breeding and foraging habitat for sea birds. This work combined methodologies to identify bycatch hotspots through a vulnerability assessment and questionnaire surveys utilising both scientific data and local ecological knowledge (LEK). The study determined the major bycatch hotspots for sea turtles and sea birds, evaluated the potential impact on both species, and discussed mitigation measures to reduce the impact of bycatch and effectively protect this economically and ecologically important ecosystem. Our approach and outcomes may well contribute to a science-based and LEK included, adaptive management framework regarding the establishment or revision of Marine Protected Areas in the study area and elsewhere across critical marine habitats for sea turtles and sea birds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 107299"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144314231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synchronous responses to tidal restriction by seawall construction across fish and plankton communities in Yangtze River Estuary","authors":"Jiayi Fan ,&nbsp;Jianan Li ,&nbsp;Yusen Xie ,&nbsp;Haoran Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaodong Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107312","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tidal restriction caused by seawall construction exerts profound impacts on coastal wetland ecosystems, typically aimed at restoring vegetation and avian diversity. However, studies on non-target aquatic organisms under tidal restriction remain scarce. In our study, we hypothesized congruent responses of fish, zooplankton, and phytoplankton communities to tidal restriction between naturally unrestricted creeks and tide-restricted marshlands in Chongming Dongtan, Yangtze River Estuary. Shifts in community structure were observed across all three taxonomic groups but lacked statistical significance, likely due to the early stage of seawall construction and semi-regulated operation of sluices in the Dongtan wetland. Notably, biodiversity disparities emerged primarily in higher trophic levels, with declining trends in fish and zooplankton diversity in tide-restricted areas, whereas phytoplankton communities exhibited comparable diversity between habitats. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed a significant negative effect of salinity on fish communities, with no detectable top-down or bottom-up cascading effects in aquatic food chains, further indicating that abiotic factors outweigh biological interactions in governing ecosystem dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 107312"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144314234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trends in the study and impacts of brine discharge on benthic communities","authors":"Juan F. Hernández-Bentancor,&nbsp;Rodrigo Riera","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing global demand for potable water has led to a growing reliance on desalination technologies. However, these processes produce hypersaline brine as a byproduct, which is typically discharged into the marine environment. The ecological consequences of such discharges have become an important area of research, particularly with regard to the protection of sensitive coastal habitats. Among the most affected are benthic communities—organisms living on or near the seabed—which serve as reliable bioindicators due to their sensitivity to environmental change. Despite rising interest in this topic, empirical data on benthic responses to brine exposure remain limited, especially in regions with extensive desalination infrastructure but insufficient ecological monitoring. Benthic fauna are commonly categorized into macrofauna and meiofauna based on size, yet research has predominantly focused on macrofaunal communities. This review synthesizes findings from 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles to assess the effects of brine discharge on benthic abundance, species richness, and diversity. The analysis reveals that while both macrofauna and meiofauna generally exhibit reduced abundance in response to brine exposure, their species richness and diversity often increase, possibly due to shifts in community composition favouring more tolerant taxa. Furthermore, the spatial extent of these ecological impacts correlates with the concentration of discharged brine. To substantiate these patterns and address existing knowledge gaps, particularly concerning meiofauna, further site-specific studies and enhanced long-term monitoring are essential. These efforts will be critical for improving our understanding of brine-induced stress on marine ecosystems and for guiding the development of more sustainable desalination practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 107281"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144307364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"River inflow and seawater intrusion shape distinct phytoplankton communities in jinghai bay, a coastal bay of the Yellow Sea","authors":"Jinchang Sui ,&nbsp;Dongsheng Ding ,&nbsp;Yan Zhang ,&nbsp;Lin Zhu ,&nbsp;Zhengguo Cui ,&nbsp;Jun Sun ,&nbsp;Yuqiu Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107309","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107309","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phytoplankton are key primary producers that shape the structure and function of estuarine ecosystems. However, the distinct effects of riverine inputs and seawater intrusion on phytoplankton communities remain unclear. This study investigated the seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton in Jinghai Bay during spring and summer 2023, focusing on the contrasting influences of river inflow and seawater intrusion. Our data revealed two distinct zones: a river-influenced zone (RIZ) with low salinity and high nutrients, and a seawater-intrusion zone (SIZ) with high salinity and low nutrients. In spring, the SIZ exhibited higher phytoplankton abundance and evenness, while the RIZ showed greater species richness. During summer, the RIZ had higher abundance and simplified dominant species, whereas the SIZ maintained higher diversity and evenness. Environmental drivers also differed between the two zones: phytoplankton dynamics in the RIZ were mainly shaped by DIN, DIP, and temperature, while those in the SIZ were governed by salinity gradients. Redundancy analysis further revealed that salinity positively correlated with phytoplankton diversity in the SIZ but negatively with dominant species in the RIZ. These findings suggest that river inflow promotes phytoplankton growth by altering community composition, while seawater intrusion imposes salinity-driven selection. Overall, our results highlight the contrasting mechanisms through which river inflow and seawater intrusion regulate phytoplankton traits in estuarine ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 107309"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144314232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spectral characteristics of organic matter from algae and its complexation with copper: a case study of Ulva prolifera","authors":"Tian-Zi Zhang ,&nbsp;Li-Min Zhou ,&nbsp;Yu-Yuan Wang ,&nbsp;Lu Han ,&nbsp;Xiao-Yan Cao ,&nbsp;Gui-Peng Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107305","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107305","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The changes in dissolved organic matter (DOM) during algal decay play a crucial role in the biochemical processes in nearshore ecosystems. The decay processes of <em>Ulva prolifera</em> under dark and light conditions were simulated in laboratory to investigate the characteristics of the DOM released during its settlement. The spectral characteristics of <em>Ulva prolifera</em>-DOM were analyzed using ultraviolet–visible spectra (UV–Vis) and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy combined with parallel factor analysis (EEMs-PARAFAC), and the copper complexation characteristics were evaluated by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). It was found that the DOM derived from <em>Ulva prolifera</em> decay contained labile substances and was sensitive to light, which had significant metal complexation abilities. In dark, relatively high molecular weight DOM was released and then transformed into humic-like substances with a high degree of humification and aromaticity. DOM with stronger copper complexation ability and more copper complexing sites gradually became the dominant. EEMs-PARAFAC showed the DOM was composed of humic-like components C1, C3, tryptophan-like component C2, fulvic acid-like component C4, and tyrosine-like component C6 in the dark degradation, while under light, the DOM was composed of C1, C2, C3, C6 and fulvic acid-like component C5. Lower levels of DOM were released under light. Fulvic acid was the main component with a relatively low degree of humification. The copper complexation capacity (CuCC) and conditional stability constants (log <em>K</em>) increased first and then declined rapidly, with the data significantly lower than those of the degradation in dark at the end of the experiment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 107305"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144330570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wind-tide modulated net ecosystem metabolism in a Changjiang River Estuary aquaculture zone during mid-autumn","authors":"Di Wu ,&nbsp;Kui Wang ,&nbsp;Guoquan Wang ,&nbsp;Qinglin Mu ,&nbsp;Wei Fan ,&nbsp;Dawei Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107302","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107302","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Changjiang River Estuary (CRE) supports critical fisheries and aquaculture industries. Net Ecosystem Metabolism (NEM) serves as a key indicator for assessing aquaculture ecosystem health, providing early warning of hypoxia risks, determining environmental carrying capacity, and guiding scientific aquaculture management. However, the hydrologic regime of the CRE, influenced by monsoons and strong tides, makes the combined effects of high-frequency wind and tidal variations on NEM dynamics poorly understood. In this study, we deployed a high-resolution <em>in-situ</em> profiler at a mussel aquaculture site in the CRE during September–October 2022 to continuously measure parameters, including dissolved oxygen (DO), at 1-min intervals. We then applied a one-dimensional DO mass balance model to quantify NEM variations and elucidate the driving mechanisms under contrasting wind and tidal conditions. Results indicated a predominantly heterotrophic ecosystem, with a mean NEM value of −6.0 ± 27.4 mmol m⁻² h⁻¹. Mechanistic analysis revealed that wind and tidal forces regulate NEM by modulating the frontal dynamics between the Changjiang River Diluted Water (CDW) and the Taiwan Warm Current (TWC). Northerly winds enhanced heterotrophy by intensifying CDW dominance and terrestrial organic matter inputs. In contrast, easterly winds coupled with spring tides promoted autotrophy through the onshore advection of shelf surface waters (SSW). Tidal cycles further regulated NEM through vertical mixing-mediated benthic nutrient output, resulting in higher autotrophy during spring tides. These findings, derived from high-frequency observations, highlight the acute sensitivity of estuarine metabolism to shifts in dominant water masses. They provide essential insights for adaptive management strategies, such as implementing real-time environmental monitoring and selecting species aligned with water mass dynamics, to enhance aquaculture sustainability amidst climate variability. Nevertheless, limitations in the temporal scope (mid-autumn period) and localized geography necessitate future investigations into seasonal/interannual NEM variations across broader spatial scales. Integrating wider drivers, including river discharge and climate change, will yield more robust data support and mechanistic analysis for developing predictive models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18204,"journal":{"name":"Marine environmental research","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 107302"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144330569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}