Xenia Sarropoulou, D. Tsaparis, K. Tsagarakis, N. Badouvas, C. Tsigenopoulos
{"title":"Different patterns of population structure and genetic diversity of three mesopelagic fishes in the Greek Seas","authors":"Xenia Sarropoulou, D. Tsaparis, K. Tsagarakis, N. Badouvas, C. Tsigenopoulos","doi":"10.12681/mms.28567","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.28567","url":null,"abstract":"Mesopelagic fishes are among the most abundant groups of vertebrates on Earth. Despite their unique biological and ecological traits, research in this group has been particularly scarce. The present study investigates the intraspecific genetic diversity of three mesopelagic fishes (Hygophum benoiti, Maurolicus muelleri, and Benthosema glaciale) in the Greek Seas. Analyses of three mitochondrial DNA genes (COI, 12S, and 16S) from a total of 168 samples revealed a lack of genetic structure for M. muelleri and B. glaciale across the studied area. However, H. benoiti specimens from the Corinthian Gulf were differentiated from the rest of the populations, suggesting that the limited connection between the Corinthian and neighboring seas may act as a barrier to gene flow. Furthermore, the COI data of this study were co-analyzed with publicly available sequences, demonstrating lack of phylogeographic structure for all three species through their distribution range. Therefore, even though indications of genetic differentiation were observed, the three mesopelagic fishes are generally characterized by genetic homogeneity, which may be the result of their recent evolutionary history.","PeriodicalId":51128,"journal":{"name":"Mediterranean Marine Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2022-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43726379","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}
Katerina Sofoulaki, I. Kalantzi, C. Zeri, A. Machias, S. Pergantis, M. Tsapakis
{"title":"Sardine and anchovy as bioindicators of metal content in Greek coastal waters","authors":"Katerina Sofoulaki, I. Kalantzi, C. Zeri, A. Machias, S. Pergantis, M. Tsapakis","doi":"10.12681/mms.29426","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.29426","url":null,"abstract":"Metal and element concentrations (Li, Na, Mg, P, Ca, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Pd, Cd, Cs, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb, U) were monitored in the tissues of sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) from six Greek coastal areas subjected to different natural and anthropogenic forcings in order to be assessed as bioindicator species of marine metal pollution. Sardine and anchovy provided a thorough view of the metal pollution load of each site in accordance with local pollution sources. The wide range of pressures applied in Elefsina Gulf and Thermaikos Gulf are depicted in the large number and the kind of elements reaching maximum concentrations among the sites (e.g. Pb, Cu, Hg, As in Elefsina Gulf, and Cd, Ni, P in Thermaikos Gulf) while in the rest of the sites (Amvrakikos Gulf, Strymonian Sea, Thracian Sea, Artemisium Straits), few elements were found at maximum levels. Statistically significant site-specific differences in metal content were detected. The differentiation in metal content of the fish tissues among the sites could be attributed to anthropogenic pressures, different background levels and environmental conditions. Sardine and anchovy can be evaluated as appropriate, reliable and useful bioindicator species of marine metal pollution.","PeriodicalId":51128,"journal":{"name":"Mediterranean Marine Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2022-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44165123","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}
Francesco Cipolletta, Ademy Russo, D. D’Alelio, F. Margiotta, D. Sarno, A. Zingone, M. Montresor
{"title":"Vertical distribution of Pseudo-nitzschia in the Gulf of Naples across the seasons","authors":"Francesco Cipolletta, Ademy Russo, D. D’Alelio, F. Margiotta, D. Sarno, A. Zingone, M. Montresor","doi":"10.12681/mms.28147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.28147","url":null,"abstract":"Pseudo-nitzschia is a widespread genus of marine pennate diatoms comprising 58 species of which 28 can produce the neurotoxin domoic acid, causative of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP). Species of the genus are found in both oceanic and coastal waters where they can form large blooms. The timing and magnitude of blooms is generally described based on water samples collected at the surface, while limited information is available on cell distribution within the water column. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the vertical (0-50 m) distribution of Pseudo-nitzschia species identified in light microscopy using weekly samples collected in the Gulf of Naples (Italy) across an annual cycle (April 2006-April 2007). Physical variables and nutrient concentrations were also monitored. The genus is primarily abundant in surface waters, where spring blooms of P. cf. delicatissima and two morphotypes of P. galaxiae were related to the presence of a water layer with low salinity and high concentration of inorganic nutrients. Blooms of P. cf. pseudodelicatissima, P. allochrona and P. multistriata were recorded at surface during the summer-early autumn, when the water column was stratified and nutrient concentrations were low. Our observations confirmed the marked seasonality of Pseudo-nitzschia species described at our study site with light microscopy and molecular approaches, with species virtually absent from surface waters for long periods of the year. However, the high quantitative resolution applied in this study allowed to reveal low concentrations of Pseudo-nitzschia species/species complexes throughout the water column over the year. Since Pseudo-nitzschia do not produce benthic resting stages, their presence in deeper waters suggests that these species rely on rare overwintering cells that can function as bloom inocula.","PeriodicalId":51128,"journal":{"name":"Mediterranean Marine Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2022-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48760013","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}
M. Toma, M. Bo, R. Cattaneo-Vietti, S. Canese, M. Canessa, R. Cannas, F. Cardone, L. Carugati, A. Cau, G. Corriero, M. C. Follesa, M. Mercurio, S. Greco, F. Andaloro, G. Bavestrello
{"title":"Basin-scale occurrence and distribution of mesophotic and upper bathyal red coral forests along the Italian coasts","authors":"M. Toma, M. Bo, R. Cattaneo-Vietti, S. Canese, M. Canessa, R. Cannas, F. Cardone, L. Carugati, A. Cau, G. Corriero, M. C. Follesa, M. Mercurio, S. Greco, F. Andaloro, G. Bavestrello","doi":"10.12681/mms.28052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.28052","url":null,"abstract":"The analysis of 879 ROV dives carried out along the Italian coasts on hard substrata at mesophotic and upper bathyal depths (40-775 m) allowed us to evaluate the current basin-scale presence, relative abundance, bathymetric limits, and habitat preferences of one of the most charismatic Mediterranean habitat-former anthozoan species, Corallium rubrum (Linnaeus, 1758). The species is widespread, and its occurrence ranged from 13% of the explored sites in Ionian Calabria to a hotspot of approximately 80% in Sardinia. Population relative densities were generally low (< 10 colonies m-2), except along the Sardinian coasts and in some areas along the Apulian coast. Almost no red coral colonies were observed between 60 m and 590 m in the nine explored offshore seamounts in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas. A distinctive coastal distribution discontinuity was found in the Ionian Sea. The optimum bathymetric distribution was between 75 m and 125 m, and no colonies were found below 247 m. Red coral colonies showed a preference for biogenic habitats dominated by crustose coralline algae (CCA) and vertical substrata. The species was absent on iron wrecks. Corallium rubrum disappeared from 14% of the historical fishing banks, while it was confirmed in 86% of them, some of which have been deeply harvested in the past. In particular, the still flourishing Sardinian populations could be supported by the high reproductive potential and favourable hydrodynamic conditions in the area.","PeriodicalId":51128,"journal":{"name":"Mediterranean Marine Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2022-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44486442","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":"The last hope: the struggle for survival of fan mussels in the Gulf of Erdek, Sea of Marmara, Turkey","authors":"U. Karadurmuş, M. Sari","doi":"10.12681/mms.28474","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.28474","url":null,"abstract":"This study presents the results of the first broad-scale assessment of the spatial distribution of the fan mussel (Pinna nobilis Linnaeus, 1758) population in the Gulf of Erdek (Sea of Marmara, Turkey), based on underwater surveys. The population density and structure of mussels were estimated by diving along strip transects between the shoreline and a depth of 15.8 m, in a study area of 9080 km2. A total of 2164 mussels were counted, of which 78.8% were alive, and 21.2% were dead in 29 sites. The mean density was calculated as 18.3 ± 3.3 ind·100 m-2, and recorded densities reached 71.2 ind·100 m-2 among the studied sites. Although mussel density was very high (>15 ind·100 m-2) in nine sites, dead mussels were also recorded in the gulf. Benthic habitats, depth range, and exposure levels seem to play a crucial role in the spatial distribution and survival of fan mussels. The average height (± SE) was calculated as 19.5 ± 0.35 cm and 24.9 ± 0.37 cm for alive and dead mussels, respectively. The percentage of juveniles (≤20 cm) was 57% in the population, and they dominated in seagrass meadow beds and shallow waters. Despite many deaths due to uncertain causes, the results indicate a partially promising scenario for the fan mussel population in the Gulf of Erdek and highlight the existence of many alive juveniles that could play a primary role in the sustainability of the population. This situation is not static, as anthropogenic changes and human activities could affect population welfare in the future. These high-density sites need to be protected, and protection measures in these locations should include all effects that may cause incidental mortality.","PeriodicalId":51128,"journal":{"name":"Mediterranean Marine Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2022-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42705510","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}
C. Stamouli, A. Zenetos, Argyrios Kallianiotis, E. Voultsiadou
{"title":"Megabenthic invertebrate diversity in Mediterranean trawlable soft bottoms: a synthesis of current knowledge","authors":"C. Stamouli, A. Zenetos, Argyrios Kallianiotis, E. Voultsiadou","doi":"10.12681/mms.29165","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.29165","url":null,"abstract":"Mediterranean bottom trawling is generally characterised by a highly diversified mixed catch, composed of fish, cephalopods,crustaceans, and other megabenthic invertebrates. Although management of Mediterranean trawling requires a multispecies approach on a community basis, this does not seem to be the case in the relevant literature. Herein, we present an extensive review ofthe existing knowledge on megabenthic invertebrate communities, focusing on the trawlable bottoms. A total of 207 publicationsfrom 1930 to the early 2021 was collected and classified into seven research areas. Research effort on soft bottom megabenthicinvertebrates of trawlable grounds was higher for the Western Mediterranean and the depth zone of 50-200 m. Overall, 1,797 taxawere reported belonging to different taxonomic groups, the most diverse of which were Mollusca, Crustacea, Polychaeta, andPorifera. Among the reported taxa, 43 species are alien to the Mediterranean Sea, and 42 are included in the lists of threatened/ endangered and protected species under the Barcelona and Bern Conventions. The Western Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea werethe ecoregions with the highest number of megabenthic invertebrate species reported from trawlable grounds. All Mediterraneanecoregions were grouped according to their megabenthic fauna at a similarity level of 27%. The present work compiles the knownscattered information, highlights knowledge gaps, and underlines the need for time series data on the megabenthic communitiesof the Mediterranean fishing grounds.","PeriodicalId":51128,"journal":{"name":"Mediterranean Marine Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2022-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44368865","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":"Ocean Literacy across the Mediterranean Sea region in the Era of 2030 Agenda and the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)","authors":"P. Koulouri, Athanasios Mogias, V. Gerovasileiou","doi":"10.12681/mms.30099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.30099","url":null,"abstract":" \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":51128,"journal":{"name":"Mediterranean Marine Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2022-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45982191","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}
M. Cheimonopoulou, P. Koulouri, Monica Previati, G. Realdon, Melita Mokos, Athanasios Mogias
{"title":"Implementation of a new research tool for evaluating Mediterranean Sea Literacy (MSL) of high school students: A pilot study","authors":"M. Cheimonopoulou, P. Koulouri, Monica Previati, G. Realdon, Melita Mokos, Athanasios Mogias","doi":"10.12681/mms.29712","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.29712","url":null,"abstract":"The Mediterranean Sea is recognized as a key component in the development, economy, and culture of European, North African, and Middle East countries. With respect to heterogeneity across the region in different sectors, Ocean Literacy, though still in its infancy, is nevertheless a requisite for a better understanding of the two-way interaction between the Sea and its people. In the present study, marine issues in relation to the content knowledge of 154 high school students from the Mediterranean region were investigated by using a structured questionnaire based on the recently published Mediterranean Sea Literacy guide. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics to portray frequencies and knowledge scores of the participants, and inferential statistics to assess the effects of grade level on students’ knowledge. The study which focused for the first time on the unique features of the Mediterranean marine ecosystems, found the level of content knowledge of the participants to be low to moderate. It is therefore of the utmost importance for the organizations and networks working on marine issues in the Mediterranean Sea to develop synergies and coordinate research programmes to broaden engagement with human societies in the region.","PeriodicalId":51128,"journal":{"name":"Mediterranean Marine Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45627906","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}
F. Alvisi, E. Baldrighi, S. Merlino, M. Locritani, M. Panfili, S. Colella, Simona Bronco, F. Cicogna, S. Coiai, Emily H. King
{"title":"Walking on the Sea Traces: Developing a platform to bring Ocean Literacy and Citizen Science at Home","authors":"F. Alvisi, E. Baldrighi, S. Merlino, M. Locritani, M. Panfili, S. Colella, Simona Bronco, F. Cicogna, S. Coiai, Emily H. King","doi":"10.12681/mms.26931","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.26931","url":null,"abstract":"We describe the process of the development of a citizen science platform on Ocean Literacy designed and implemented during the lockdown period of 2020. As restrictions due to the COVID-19 health emergency did not allow researchers to organise public events and field data collection activities related to Ocean Literacy, we decided to take advantage of this situation by building an online platform to bring Ocean Literacy issues directly into citizens' homes. The massive use of digital tools by all civic communities during this time has allowed us to implement this idea and make it effective. The pandemic control measures then provided a unique opportunity to focus citizen attention on the collection of household data and information and to highlight the more or less direct connections between citizens' lifestyles and the eco-marine system. Short questionnaires were used to ascertain and highlight citizens' household behaviours and daily attitudes during the lockdown towards water use, seafood consumption and plastic material use and disposal. Data and information were also proposed, collected and analyzed in terms of: general environmental awareness of the respondents, perception regarding their purchasing choices during this particular period, as well as any changes in lifestyles and habits during the lockdown with respect to previous periods. The collected data allow us to improve our knowledge on some aspects of people domestic habits as well as their perception vs. real knowledge about the proposed environmental issues. We also realized that it is increasingly crucial for scientists to directly and extensively involve people and schools in educational and outreach activities and events as a good practice of science-society interaction. But to achieve good results we also need to develop appropriate communication tools and effective involvement strategies to promote their widespread participation in citizen science projects.","PeriodicalId":51128,"journal":{"name":"Mediterranean Marine Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47129004","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}
A. Zenetos, P. Albano, Eduardo Lopez Garcia, N. Stern, K. Tsiamis, Marika Galanidi
{"title":"Established non-indigenous species increased by 40% in 11 years in the Mediterranean Sea","authors":"A. Zenetos, P. Albano, Eduardo Lopez Garcia, N. Stern, K. Tsiamis, Marika Galanidi","doi":"10.12681/mms.29106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.29106","url":null,"abstract":"Using a 2010 review of non-indigenous species (NIS) reported in the Mediterranean Sea as a baseline, this study undertakes a paramount revision of the non-indigenous species list in the region up to December 2021, re-evaluating the established, casual and failed introduction events of over 1366 taxa. In the light of new data and expert judgement, 14 species have been removed from the “established list” of the Mediterranean Sea inventory. The total number of validated NIS is close to 1000—751 established taxa and 242 casual taxa—while 23 species are considered as failed introduction. The rest are tagged as cryptogenic (58 taxa), questionable (70 taxa) or excluded (223 taxa). Mollusca have the highest diversity among established and casual NIS (230 taxa), followed by Pisces and Crustacea with 173 and 170 NIS respectively. The changes in establishment status reveal an accelerated rate of establishment (13%) between January 2020 and December 2021 (>6% yearly), compared to an establishment rate of 27% in the period 2011–2021 (<3% yearly). This increased establishment success is more pronounced in Crustacea (47%) and Pisces (43%) than in Polychaeta (27%) and phytobenthos (30%). In the period 2011–2021, 42% of the newly reported species were established (149 out of 352). On a shorter timescale, out of 79 new species reported in the period 2020–2021, 17 NIS (21.5%) have already established, a figure well above the 10% prediction of invasion theory on establishment success for Mediterranean marine NIS.","PeriodicalId":51128,"journal":{"name":"Mediterranean Marine Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44217071","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}