Regional Studies in Marine Science最新文献

{"title":"Urban Beach Evolution in Saint Louis, Senegal (West Africa) using Shore-Based Camera Video Monitoring as a Management Tool","authors":"Amadou Diouf ,&nbsp;Cheikh Omar Tidjani Cissé ,&nbsp;Rafael Almar ,&nbsp;Baba Sy ,&nbsp;Boubou Aldiouma Sy ,&nbsp;Adelaide Taveneau ,&nbsp;Issa Sakho ,&nbsp;Bamol Ali Sow ,&nbsp;Grégoire Abessolo Ondoa ,&nbsp;Abdoulaye Ndour ,&nbsp;Kader Ba ,&nbsp;Erwin W.J. Bergsma ,&nbsp;Ibrahima Camara","doi":"10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104050","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the effectiveness of shore-based camera video monitoring for tracking nearshore waves and morphological evolution of an urban sandy beach, Saint Louis, Senegal (West Africa) within the framework of an engineering protection project. The research aims to support coastal monitoring initiatives for erosion management by employing various methods to estimate parameters such as wave characteristics, shoreline position, and bathymetry using video cameras. Beyond the typical seasonal variations induced by the oceanic regime, video observations well capture wave variations, and show significant morphological responses, including the gradual migration of the inner sandbar from intermediate depths towards the upper beach over several months during the summer of 2021. These findings underscore the need for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms governing these exchanges, and highlight the importance of improving observations of the morphological land-sea continuum through video technology and potentially satellite tools at scarce documented sites such as encountered in developing countries. Such advances are critical to the development of more effective, data-driven coastal management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21070,"journal":{"name":"Regional Studies in Marine Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 104050"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143135614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Large polluted river plumes threats sustainable mariculture in the Baia da Ilha Grande","authors":"A.F.O. Andrade ,&nbsp;C. Lima ,&nbsp;L. Bacha ,&nbsp;M.A.P. Oliveira ,&nbsp;L. Leomil ,&nbsp;C.E. Rezende ,&nbsp;J.C.F.A. Wasserman ,&nbsp;P.M.S. Costa ,&nbsp;S., R. Costa ,&nbsp;E. Siegle ,&nbsp;C. Thompson ,&nbsp;F.L. Thompson ,&nbsp;F.S. Landuci","doi":"10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104049","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104049","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ilha Grande Bay (BIG) has sustained significant scallop production, but its production has declined in the last ten years, possibly due to pollution and global changes. Rivers in BIG that cross densely populated areas are a primary source of sewage pollution. The study aimed to analyze the abundance of coliform bacteria during the dry and rainy seasons in ten rivers in BIG and in five sites near scallop farms. Subsequently, a model was developed to estimate the dispersion of bacteria in this Bay. The model combines bacterial abundance values and a Lagrangian hydrodynamic approach. The results showed high levels of fecal contamination at the monitored points, being above those indicated for shellfish farming and recreation. The spatial variation of the levels of fecal indicator bacteria in the river water is related to the human population living within a radius of 3.1 km² from the mouth of each river basin. The dispersion model obtained from the river plumes showed that the ten river plumes correspond to an area of 11.700 km². Mambucaba, Jacuecanga and Jacareí account for 7.320 km² (62 % of the river's plumes). These three rivers are also among the most polluted (up to 10.000 CFU/mL of coliforms). The synergistic effects of reduced ocean circulation in winter and high precipitation in summer exacerbate coliform levels within the BIG, which is detrimental to bivalve mariculture. The proposed model serves as a useful tool for the establishment of new mariculture farms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21070,"journal":{"name":"Regional Studies in Marine Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 104049"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143355560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"The feasibility of estimating biological parameters using electronic length frequency analysis (ELEFAN): The Bohai Sea as a case study","authors":"Yue Jin ,&nbsp;Harry Gorfine ,&nbsp;Xianshi Jin ,&nbsp;Xiujuan Shan","doi":"10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biological parameter estimation is crucial for modeling fish population dynamics to inform fishery management. However, biological data are mostly inadequate for the modeling except for few exploited species. Body length is readily obtainable and can be input to ELEFAN (electronic length frequency analysis), offering simplicity and accessibility, albeit with limitations. In order to test the feasibility of estimating biological parameters using ELEFAN, we used fishery independent surveys of stocks in the Bohai Sea (BS), where performance evaluation and revised fisheries management strategies are needed, as a case study. We analyzed the variation in biological characteristics of ten species encompassing teleosts, crustaceans and cephalopod prevalent in the BS, over four consecutive seasons (from December, 2016 to November 2017), selected for their representativeness of biodiversity, varying life history traits, and significance in fisheries. ELEFAN outputs showed that seven of ten species had high (&gt; 0.70) exploitation rates (<em>E</em>), but some values are hard to explain in ecological and economic sense. Long-lived species comprised more cohorts with lower instantaneous mortality rates (<em>Z</em>, <em>F</em>, and <em>M</em>) than short-lived species. High instantaneous mortality rates from ELEFAN likely stem from fishing gear selectivity, seasonal migration, and errors in asymptotic length due to truncated length data. Monthly mean body size distribution variation for each species may reflect spawning behavior and summer fishing moratorium impact. However, feeding ecology and breeding strategies should be enhanced due to current insufficient data collection. We clarified the current biological status and ecological importance of these species, provided population dynamic parameters for fisheries management and baseline information for future comparison of long-term biological variation among species. This may serve as guidance for practitioners in other countries deciding upon what kinds of data should be collected for scientific assessments of their fisheries, and caution is needed when using ELEFAN for parameter estimation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21070,"journal":{"name":"Regional Studies in Marine Science","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 104046"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"eDNA uncovers hidden fish diversity in the coral reef ecosystems of Karimunjawa National Park, Indonesia","authors":"Muhammad Danie Al Malik ,&nbsp;Ambariyanto Ambariyanto ,&nbsp;Retno Hartati ,&nbsp;Nining Nursalim ,&nbsp;Nenik Kholilah ,&nbsp;Eka Maya Kurniasih ,&nbsp;Aji Wahyu Anggoro ,&nbsp;Rian Prasetia ,&nbsp;Yuliana Syamsyuni ,&nbsp;Fauzi Muh ,&nbsp;Ni Kadek Dita Cahyani","doi":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103945","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103945","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a powerful tool for swiftly assessing coral reef ecosystems, particularly for detecting fish diversity. This study focused on employing eDNA to investigate fish biodiversity and its functional traits in the Karimunjawa National Park (KNP), Indonesia. The use of eDNA and then validating with visual census results to reveal fish diversity was implemented across four management zones within the park (i.e., the core zone at Taka Malang, the protection zone at Menjangan Kecil Island, the tourism zone at Cilik Island, and an open access location at Genting Island). Sampling involved collecting one liter of seawater per site, filtering, and processing to target the 12S locus, and then sequencing using the MinION machine (Oxford nanopore). The eDNA results show higher species diversity in the tourism zone compared to the core, protection, and open access zones. However, beta diversity analysis revealed no significant differences in community composition between the zones. Moreover, this research revealed 147 species belonging to 31 families, with 60 % species and 30 % families identified solely through eDNA, that were not covered by the visual census. This research also reveals that eDNA is an excellent approach to detecting functional trait diversity, including environment preference and migratory and nocturnal behavior. This research underscores the potential of eDNA for evaluating fish diversity in KNP, proposing a combined eDNA and visual census approach to fill existing gaps in biodiversity assessment. Such integration promises to bolster conservation efforts within Marine Protection Areas like KNP.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21070,"journal":{"name":"Regional Studies in Marine Science","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 103945"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143170366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Tidal currents and atmospheric inorganic nitrogen contribute to diurnal variation of dissolved nutrients and chlorophyll a concentrations in Mirs Bay, Hong Kong","authors":"Ho Wen Lo ,&nbsp;Xu Yu ,&nbsp;Hanzhe Chen ,&nbsp;Wai Ching Chu ,&nbsp;Nga Man Chung ,&nbsp;Sze Wing Lau ,&nbsp;Jinjian Li ,&nbsp;Shumin Liang ,&nbsp;Kezheng Liao ,&nbsp;Henry Charles James Thomas ,&nbsp;Ziyan Wang ,&nbsp;Zijing Zhang ,&nbsp;Jian Zhen Yu ,&nbsp;Benoit Thibodeau","doi":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103941","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103941","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The surface layer of central Mirs Bay exhibits high chlorophyll a concentrations despite having lower dissolved nitrate levels than other parts of Hong Kong. It is hypothesised that tidal currents and atmospheric inorganic nitrogen bring in nutrients that could be rapidly consumed by primary producers. We conducted fieldwork campaigns in September and December 2022 to test these hypotheses. Surface seawater was obtained hourly in September and half-hourly in December, and concentrations of chlorophyll a and dissolved nutrients were determined. Nitrogen content of aerosols was measured by a newly-developed online analyser. In September, we observed peaks in dissolved nutrients and chlorophyll a after receding tides, which may have transported nutrients from the surrounding land. In December, there were anomalous nutrient and chlorophyll peaks that could not be attributed to low tides. These peaks may be responses to the overnight deposition of atmospheric nitrogen. Our dataset thus supports our hypotheses and highlights the need for further investigation to quantify the impact of both tidal currents and atmospheric deposition on carbon export to and oxygen consumption in bottom waters. The rapid changes observed could also be due to tidal currents transporting nutrients and chlorophyll a simultaneously. Follow-up studies can repeat the fieldwork using Lagrangian (i.e. following tidal currents) instead of Eulerian (i.e. static sampling points) sampling. Moreover, current results indicate strong diurnal variability in chlorophyll a and suggest that existing monitoring efforts may be biased, depending on their timing during the day and/or the season.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21070,"journal":{"name":"Regional Studies in Marine Science","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 103941"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143170367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Comparative feeding analysis between the Chilean eagle ray Myliobatis chilensis (Philippi, 1982) and the Peruvian eagle ray Myliobatis peruvianus (Garman, 1913) from northern Peru","authors":"Nelly Peña-Cutimbo ,&nbsp;Francisco Córdova-Zavaleta ,&nbsp;Monica Velarde-Vílchez ,&nbsp;Astrid Jimenez ,&nbsp;Sergio Pingo ,&nbsp;Paquita Ramirez ,&nbsp;Javier Castañeda ,&nbsp;Jaime De La Cruz ,&nbsp;Jeffrey C. Mangel ,&nbsp;Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto","doi":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103915","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103915","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study analyzed the diets of eagle rays in northern Peru to understand their intraspecific and interspecific feeding patterns, as well as their roles in the marine ecosystem. We obtained 109 stomachs with contents from Chilean eagle ray <em>Myliobatis chilensis</em> and 81 from Peruvian eagle ray <em>Myliobatis peruvianus</em>, between December 2020 and November 2021 in northern Peru (6º47'54\"S and 79º59'30\"W, San Jose, Lambayeque). The results show that <em>M. chilensis</em> has a benthic-pelagic feeding behavior with 14 prey families identified in its diet. The Peruvian anchovy <em>Engraulis ringens</em>, unidentified polychaetes, and families Onuphidae, Sternaspidae, Opheliidae, among others preys, were identified. On the other hand, <em>M. peruvianus</em> consumed Nassariidae, unidentified mollusks, unidentified polychaetes, and Veneridae, among other preys. We also found that both rays are secondary consumers with a restricted diet breadth (<em>B</em>_<em>i</em> &lt; 0.6), where <em>M. chilensis</em> showed significant differences in diet by season and size class, while <em>M. peruvianus</em> only by size class. This study provides new information about eagle rays and is the first study to compare their diets. Furthermore, it also provides evidence of trophic segregation; however, given some overlap of some prey groups, low ecological redundancy. Finally, this study provides key information for the conservation of eagle rays in an important marine ecosystem in the eastern Pacific Ocean.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21070,"journal":{"name":"Regional Studies in Marine Science","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 103915"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143170368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Influence of precipitation and currents on the inter and intra-annual fluctuation in the distribution of microplastics in the coastal environment of Kochi, Eastern Arabian Sea, southwest coast of India","authors":"Keziya James ,&nbsp;V. Kripa ,&nbsp;Shelton Padua ,&nbsp;G. Vineetha ,&nbsp;R. Parvathy","doi":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103999","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103999","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The inter- and intra-annual variations in the distribution of microplastics in surface waters and sediments of the Kochi waters were evaluated for 2019 and 2021 concurrent to the variable precipitation patterns. In both surface water and sediments, microplastic concentration was evidently high in 2021 than in 2019 reflecting the growing severity of plastic pollution in the coastal environment of Kochi. Spatial analysis revealed consistently higher microplastic concentration in both surface water and sediment at the inlet station irrespective of the sampling years. Intra-annually, the distribution of microplastics showed a positive relation with rainfall, indicating the determining role of precipitation in microplastic transport and distribution in the coastal environments. The study also revealed the influence of coastal currents in the spatial distribution of microplastics between the sampling locations positioned from coast to offshore. White and blue coloured fragments of polyethylene microplastics dominated the study region irrespective of the sampling periods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21070,"journal":{"name":"Regional Studies in Marine Science","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 103999"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143170615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Evaluation of China's coastal ecological restoration policies based on multi-source flow theory","authors":"Bin Yuan ,&nbsp;Yuping Zhong ,&nbsp;Mengjiao Sun ,&nbsp;Peng Yang ,&nbsp;Jinpeng Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103987","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103987","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Analysing coastal zone ecological restoration policies is significant for carrying out coastal zone environmental restoration and protection. Based on the perspective of multi-source flow theory, this paper constructs the evaluation system of coastal zone ecological restoration policies and adopts the text mining method and Policy Model and Critique index evaluation method to carry out a comprehensive assessment of coastal zone ecological restoration policies, to provide a comprehensive and in-depth analytical perspective for the process of coastal zone ecological restoration policy formulation. The results of the study show that in general the 36 coastal zone ecological restoration policies with Policy Model and Critique indexes are within a reasonable range, of which 9 policies are of excellent level, 23 policies are of good level, and 4 policies are of acceptable level, but the overall rating is not high, and there is no perfect grade policy. In the policy source stream, there is insufficient synergy among the issuing bodies of coastal zone ecological restoration policies; in the political source stream, the incentives are incomplete, the policy perspectives are single, and the structure of policy tools is unbalanced. For this reason, the optimization of coastal zone ecological restoration policies is proposed from policy source flow and political source flow, with a view to providing a practical basis and theoretical reference for improving the scientificity and effectiveness of coastal zone ecological restoration policy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21070,"journal":{"name":"Regional Studies in Marine Science","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 103987"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143170619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Utilizing LISS-4 satellite imagery and support vector machine for mangrove and wetland mapping in part of coastal Maharashtra, India","authors":"Padmanav Pallavi ,&nbsp;Sindhuja Kasthala ,&nbsp;D. Parthasarathy ,&nbsp;K. Narayanan ,&nbsp;A.B. Inamdar","doi":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103972","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103972","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) such as mangroves and wetlands are crucial for maintaining the biodiversity and provide many ecosystem services. However, these areas are increasingly getting susceptible to various climatic and non-climatic stressors. This study focuses on Mumbai and the coastal region of the Palghar district in Maharashtra, which is known for such ESAs and face pressures from developmental activities. The aim of the study is to analyse changes in land-use land-cover (LULC) patterns in these regions from 2010 to 2020, with a particular focus on mangroves and wetlands. To assess LULC changes in the study region, we utilised high-resolution LISS-IV satellite imagery to identify the ESAs accurately. A Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier was employed due to its effectiveness in accurately classifying complex and overlapping land use classes. Additionally, the band rationing technique was used to highlight the desired land features. Accuracy assessment of the SVM classification yielded an overall accuracy of 85.57 % for 2010 and 92.05 % for 2020. The results revealed a 15 % decline in the mangrove cover in coastal Palghar, whereas Mumbai experienced a 16 % increase. Similarly, wetland cover in coastal Palghar showed a concerning 19 % decrease, with no notable change in Mumbai between 2010 and 2020. The results suggest that expansion of built-up areas is encroaching upon other land-use classes, highlighting urbanisation and development activities as a major contributor reducing the extent of coastal ESAs and vegetation cover. The findings of the study highlights the need for immediate measures to protect these critical areas and reduce the impacts of urbanization and unsustainable development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21070,"journal":{"name":"Regional Studies in Marine Science","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 103972"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143170621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"A temperate gorgonian coral garden in the shallow sublittoral off Buenos Aires, Argentina","authors":"Pablo Ezequiel Meretta,&nbsp;Gabriel Genzano","doi":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103971","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103971","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the previously unknown <em>Banco Patria</em>, a rocky reef located near Mar del Plata, Argentina. The reef stands out for its unique composition – coquina, a sedimentary rock formed from shells and sand – in contrast to the neighboring quartzite outcrops. SCUBA dives (26–32 m depth) were conducted to characterize the reef's topography, geology, and biological community. This reef is dominated by the unbranched, azooxanthellate soft coral <em>Tripalea clavaria,</em> reaching up to 240 colonies per square meter. This represents the first record of a coral garden in shallow waters of the Argentinean Continental Shelf (Buenos Aires). <em>Tripalea clavaria</em> densities are considerably lower in shallower areas and on quartzite outcrops. The <em>Banco Patria</em> reef community is characterized by a high abundance of filter feeders, including gorgonian, hydroids, bryozoans, and sponges. They play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and provide food for other members of the community. Notably, blue mussels, ubiquitous in neighboring reefs, are entirely absent at this reef. The complex topography of <em>Banco Patria</em> provides a haven for a diverse assemblage of fish species, which utilize the reef's intricate structure for feeding, refuge, and reproduction, including typical reef fish such as the Brazilian sandperch, the Patagonian grouper, and the <em>cocherito</em> and big transient school of silver and red porgy. The reef's unique composition, substrate characteristics, and distinctive community highlight its ecological significance. Monitoring programs, educational initiatives, and government action are crucial to safeguarding this unique and potentially vulnerable reef ecosystem.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21070,"journal":{"name":"Regional Studies in Marine Science","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 103971"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143171057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}