Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems最新文献

{"title":"Why Do Large Dugong Aggregations Persist in Continuous Seagrass Meadows Despite Anthropogenic Disturbances Around Hawar Island, Bahrain","authors":"Abdulqader Khamis,&nbsp;Jordi F. Pagès,&nbsp;Rohan Arthur,&nbsp;Elrika D'Souza,&nbsp;Nadir A. Hameid,&nbsp;Ebrahim Al Khalifa,&nbsp;Ahmed Mohamed,&nbsp;Jasim Al-Bastaki,&nbsp;Khalifa Al-Ammari,&nbsp;Ameer Abdulla Eweida,&nbsp;Teresa Alcoverro","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70157","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Spatially explicit aggregations of wide-ranging marine mammals are important conservation targets. Determining why particular sites sustain such aggregations is crucial to ensure effective science-based management. In Bahrain, large dugong aggregations (defined as &gt; 50 dugongs) persist predictably around Hawar Island, occupying these waters year-round at two core aggregation sites. In this study, key environmental, ecological and anthropogenic factors associated with the distribution of these aggregations were evaluated. For this, spatially explicit data from historical records, structured interviews, satellite imagery, habitat cartographies and field ecological surveys were combined and modelled. The two aggregation sites corresponded to winter and summer dugong feeding grounds. There was no indication of localized warm water discharges; surface temperatures at these sites were similar to surrounding waters. The sites were &gt; 80% covered by shallow (3–9 m) stretches of seagrass, encompassed by extensive sheltered meadows (&gt; 400 km²) that were composed of three pioneer seagrass species. A binomial generalized linear model indicated that the presence of seagrass meadows was the primary factor associated with the distributional patterns of large dugong aggregations around Bahrain. These meadows overlapped with historically important fishing grounds and received constant boat traffic, subjecting dugongs and their key habitats to intensifying threats associated with fishing gear and boats. The persistence of large dugong aggregations depends on the maintenance of extensive, unfragmented, healthy seagrass meadows. This requires collaborative regional spatial planning, and the establishment of an effectively managed transboundary protected area that regulates coastal development, net fishing and motorized vessels.</p>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aqc.70157","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"A Baseline for the Conservation of the Native and Protected Centrostephanus longispinus (Philippi, 1845) and the Management of the Invasive Diadema setosum (Leske, 1778) (Echinoidea: Diadematidae) in the Mediterranean Sea","authors":"Marchesi Veronica,&nbsp;Cerrano Carlo,&nbsp;Gambardella Chiara,&nbsp;Pulido Mantas Torcuato,&nbsp;Roveta Camilla,&nbsp;Santana Mendonça de Oliveira Jessica Luana,&nbsp;Turicchia Eva,&nbsp;Ponti Massimo,&nbsp;Cristina Gioia Di Camillo","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70155","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70155","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Centrostephanus longispinus</i> (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) is an endemic and protected sea urchin species of the Mediterranean Sea. Another long-spined sea urchin, <i>Diadema setosum</i> from the Red Sea, entered the Mediterranean Sea in 2006 and rapidly spread throughout the eastern basin. As a keystone competitive grazer, <i>D. setosum</i> has the potential to cause significant alterations in the native benthic community assemblages. The main objectives of this work were (i) to provide a synthesis of main morphological and ecological traits of Diadematidae, (ii) to determine the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of the endemic and the invasive sea urchin species, (iii) to identify critical areas where conservation efforts for <i>C. longispinus</i> and management strategies for <i>D. setosum</i> should be prioritized and (iv) to implement a simple protocol for training researchers and citizen scientists in species identification. The largest dataset on spatial and temporal distribution of the two species at Mediterranean scale was obtained from different sources, while Generalized Additive Models were implemented to forecast probability of species presence across the basin. The north-western Mediterranean emerged as a hotspot for <i>C. longispinus</i>, highlighting it as a key area for conserving this endemic species and studying its population dynamics. In contrast, data collection needs to be intensified in the eastern Adriatic, Levantine and central-eastern Mediterranean regions, where current information is limited or lacking. The Aegean and Ionian seas emerged as priority regions for assessing invasion risk posed by <i>D. setosum</i>, where applying the proposed identification protocol will be essential to prevent misidentification with the native species.</p>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aqc.70155","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"The Effect of Transplantation Depth on the Restoration Success of Gongolaria barbata (Fucales) in the Mediterranean Sea","authors":"Marletta Giuliana,&nbsp;Sacco Domenico,&nbsp;Danovaro Roberto,&nbsp;Bianchelli Silvia","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70151","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70151","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the Mediterranean Sea, <i>Cystoseira sensu latu</i> species are experiencing a severe decline, and in the last decades, many restoration attempts have been carried out to contrast such decline. Available experience suggests that the choice of the restoration site can be more important than the methodology used. As an example, episodic events, such as intense storms, can cause the loss of the transplants used for restoration attempts, hampering the long-term success of the interventions. Here, we tested the success of restoration of the macroalga <i>Gongolaria barbata</i> at different outplanting water depths along the Conero Riviera (Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean Sea). After growth of <i>G. barbata</i> individuals in mesocosms, they were transplanted at 1, 1.5, and 3 m depth. During the monitoring period ad sea (from late July to December 2023), two strong storms were recorded. The highest success in terms of survival and growth rates increased with increasing transplanting depth. This study confirmed that, even within a narrow bathymetric range, transplantation at deeper depths of the upper infralittoral zone can reduce the impact of wave energy enhancing the success of restoration interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aqc.70151","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144108814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Risso's Dolphin Site Fidelity in the Western Mediterranean Sea: The Importance of Submarine Canyons","authors":"Oriol Giralt Paradell,&nbsp;Clara Castillo,&nbsp;Núria Marco,&nbsp;Sílvia Juncà,&nbsp;Ricard Marcos,&nbsp;Joan Giménez","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70154","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70154","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Knowledge on the distribution of species provides baseline information towards their conservation and the management of human activities affecting them. For endangered species, such as the Risso's dolphin (<i>Grampus griseus</i>) in the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting the areas within their distribution range to which individuals regularly return can reveal patterns of site fidelity. For Risso's dolphin, this information is scarce in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, photo identification was used to assess Risso's dolphin site fidelity patterns in the Garraf submarine canyon system (NW Mediterranean Sea). Data collected along 237 boat surveys between 2017 and 2023 resulted in 56 sightings and 364 unique individuals. Eight Site Fidelity Indices (SFIs) were calculated for each individual based on three indicators: Occurrence, Permanence and Periodicity. A divisive hierarchical clustering analysis based on the eight SFIs was used to detect different degrees of residency. Individuals seen in more than 2 months were divided into three clusters and defined as seasonal residents, regular and occasional visitors, whereas individuals seen only in 1 month were considered to be transient. Results show the importance of the Garraf submarine canyon system for Risso's dolphin and highlight the need to expand the photo identification studies to further regions to better understand the distribution and movements of the species in a wider context in the western Mediterranean Sea.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143930277","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":"Morphological and Molecular Evidence of the Presence of the Ninespined Stickleback Pungitius pungitius (Linnaeus, 1758) Within Ukrainian Gasterosteids, Including New mtDNA Haplotypes—Which Issue for Fish Conservation in Ukraine?","authors":"Halyna Gabrielczak,&nbsp;Yuliia Kutsokon,&nbsp;Volodymyr Yuryshynets,&nbsp;Yuriy Kvach","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70150","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Gasterosteidae, a family of marine, brackish and fresh water fish, is represented in Ukraine by the genera <i>Pungitius</i> and <i>Gasterosteus</i>. Among these, only the species <i>Pungitius platygaster</i> has hitherto been identified. However, our findings based on molecular cox1 DNA barcoding of collected material have confirmed the additional presence of <i>Pungitius pungitius</i> in the Dnipro River in Ukraine. This species has long remained hidden from scientific scrutiny, due to its diminutive size, lack of commercial significance and morphological similarities with a sister species. Our molecular DNA barcoding analysis has allowed the conclusive identification of this elusive species and provided an insight into its distribution and ecological relevance within inland waters in Ukraine. To examine and compare the haplotype diversity, we analysed our data of <i>P. platygaster</i>, <i>P. pungitius</i> and <i>Gasterosteus aculeatus</i> with those available in public repositories. Our findings demonstrate the presence of novel haplotypes in the region for all species. This support the theory <i>P. pungitius</i> is not a recent invasion in the region. Our findings demonstrate valuable role of advanced molecular methodologies in unravelling the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems, particularly in the case of overlooked and often marginalized taxa. We also explore the current worldwide and regional conservation status of the species, contributing to the future studies and the population management.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143925822","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":"Freshwater Fish Species of Vietnam: Species Richness, Endemism and IUCN's One Plan Approach to Conservation","authors":"Philipp Ginal,&nbsp;Nils Behr,&nbsp;Sabine Harrer,&nbsp;Tao Dinh Nguyen,&nbsp;Truong Quang Nguyen,&nbsp;Minh Duc Le,&nbsp;Thomas Ziegler,&nbsp;Dennis Rödder","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70133","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70133","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Vietnam is among the top countries in terms of biodiversity. Despite continuous new discoveries, its freshwater ichthyofauna remains understudied, with persistent taxonomic challenges, including new species descriptions, taxonomic reclassifications, the presence of non-native species and the need of topical threat analyses. Vietnam's waterbodies are estimated to host more than 1000 fish species, and yet only 730 and 498 freshwater fish species are listed in Fishbase and Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes, respectively (including synonyms, diadromous and non-native species). To provide an up-to-date status of Vietnam's ichthyofauna, this study aims to evaluate its species richness and conservation concerns. In line with the IUCN's One Plan Approach and given the topical conservation campaign ‘Vietnamazing’, we also assessed the involvement of zoos and aquaria in maintaining and breeding Vietnamese freshwater fish species. As a result, a total of 647 native freshwater fish species were identified in Vietnam with 270 non-threatened, 44 threatened and 333 not evaluated or data-deficient species according to the IUCN Red List, as well as 219 endemic taxa. Two major species richness hotspots were found in the Mekong and Red River Deltas. The third but less rich hotspot was found in the Truong Son Mountain Range. Protected areas (PAs) in these hotspot regions covered a maximum of 166 species per PA. In total, 87 Vietnamese freshwater fish species were kept in 287 zoos worldwide, of which 15 were threatened. The results underscore the importance of Vietnam's PAs and the pivotal role of zoos in supporting One Plan Approach conservation efforts for threatened and endemic species. We recommend the establishment of new PAs in the Mekong and Red River deltas. Furthermore, increased funding for rangers and public awareness campaigns as well as stronger legislation for fishery are needed to protect Vietnam's ichthyofauna effectively.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143925821","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":"Evidences of Seasonal Aggregations and Breaching Behaviour of Blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus) and Spinner (C. brevipinna) Sharks in a Southwest Atlantic Marine Protected Area","authors":"Fernanda Andreoli Rolim,&nbsp;Pedro Furtado Costa Rodrigues,&nbsp;Otto Bismarck Fazzano Gadig,&nbsp;Fábio dos Santos Motta,&nbsp;Marco Antonio Light Slerca,&nbsp;Nathan Lagares Franco Araujo,&nbsp;Leonardo Mitrano Neves","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70153","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70153","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study indicates a seasonal aggregation behaviour in Blacktip (<i>Carcharhinus limbatus</i>) and Spinner (<i>C. brevipinna</i>) sharks over 6 years of data in Ilha Grande Bay, a warm temperate bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Observations from visual surveys, drone footage and Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) deployments revealed mixed-species aggregations, reaching a maximum of 113 individuals, and recorded the first instances of breaching behaviour of sharks in the Southwest Atlantic. These aggregations occurred seasonally during austral autumn and winter in a shallow cove near a nuclear power plant, partially within a no-take marine protected area. Understanding these behaviours provides valuable insights for effective management and conservation strategies in the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aqc.70153","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143919880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"By-Catch of Grey Seals in Fish Traps in the German Baltic Sea—From Incidents to Mitigation and Fisheries Regulation","authors":"Linda Westphal,&nbsp;Vivica von Vietinghoff,&nbsp;Timo Moritz,&nbsp;Henning von Nordheim,&nbsp;Thomas Schaarschmidt,&nbsp;Jens-Peter Teifke,&nbsp;Peter Wohlsein,&nbsp;Ingmar Piroch,&nbsp;Timm Harder,&nbsp;Patricia König,&nbsp;Dirk Höper,&nbsp;Harald Benke,&nbsp;Michael Dähne","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70147","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In autumn 2017, an unusual mortality event of Baltic grey seals (<i>Halichoerus grypus grypus</i>) occurred at the German Baltic coast. An alarming 23 carcasses of healthy, well-fed, male large grey seals were found in a confined area in the Greifswald Bay (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) in &lt; 10 weeks from September to December. From 1997 to 2016, only a total of 30 grey seal carcasses were found along the entire coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with an annual maximum of eight seals in 2014. Pathological investigations were conducted on 19 seals, showing acute cardiac and circulatory failure of unknown origin. However, toxicological, virological, bacteriological and other presumed causes of acute death could be excluded. These findings in combination with inquiries about fishing permits in that region indicated that the seals likely died as by-catch in a fyke net. A legal complaint was therefore filed because of the death of the legally protected grey seal. Although no offender was finally identified, this caused a series of consequences. Public prosecutors encouraged the fisheries authority to establish precautionary provisions. The use of scientific data and fishermen's expertise in by-catch prevention techniques and regulations resulted in a new provision for fyke net permits in the Greifswald Bay. Since 2020, the entrance opening size for fyke nets must now not exceed 75-cm circumference and no more comparable suspected by-catch cases of grey seals were found in this area until 2022, emphasizing the potential of technical modifications of fishing gear to mitigate marine mammal by-catch. This study shows how effective conservation measures established based on provisions, media attention, pathological assessments, scientific long-term data sets and open-minded efforts can protect a marine species from fisheries by-catch.</p>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aqc.70147","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143914499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Multi-Species Fish Habitat Preferences for Various Modified Concrete Armouring Designs to Enhance Shoreline Biodiversity","authors":"Acacia Frempong-Manso,&nbsp;Kevin A. Adeli,&nbsp;Samuel J. Woods,&nbsp;Chris K. Elvidge,&nbsp;Keith Van de Riet,&nbsp;Steven J. Cooke","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70148","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Human actions, such as the construction of concrete retaining walls as a form of shoreline armouring, pose an increasing threat to freshwater ecosystems. Conventional concrete armouring methods frequently result in habitat homogenization, which has a detrimental effect on aquatic biodiversity. This laboratory study examined the habitat preferences of four fish species (Yellow Perch [<i>Perca flavescens</i>], Bluegill [<i>Lepomis macrochirus</i>], Banded Killifish [<i>Fundulus diaphanus</i>] and Rock Bass[<i>Ambloplites rupestris</i>]) experimentally introduced to three types of concrete armouring treatment panels with different surface relief depths (5.08 cm, 7.62 cm and 10.16 cm) intended to create structural complexity paired with a flat wall control panel in 20 min dichotomous choice behavioural assays. We found that both species and treatment had a significant impact on space use, with the proportion of time spent near the different treatment panels varying among species. Compared to the treatment panels, fish spent less time near the flat control panels on average, indicating that the treatments' increased structural complexity provided more desirable habitat. Bluegill spent more time near the treatment panels than Banded Killifish and Yellow Perch, while Rock Bass spent more time near the treatment panels than Banded Killifish. As such, future efforts to implement such armouring in the field should consider using panels with a diversity of reliefs to ensure that these structures provide benefit to a wide range of fishes. Our findings highlight the possibility of using novel concrete armouring designs as alternatives to flat retaining walls to improve habitat complexity and benefit freshwater biodiversity where armouring is required.</p>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aqc.70148","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143909325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Cryptofaunal Diversity in a Southwestern Atlantic Rhodolith Bed—Morphology Effect Versus Depth","authors":"André Macedo,&nbsp;Gabrielle Koerich,&nbsp;Carlos Eduardo Peixoto Dias,&nbsp;Tainá Luchese Gaspar,&nbsp;Barbara Segal,&nbsp;Eduardo Bastos,&nbsp;Paulo Antunes Horta","doi":"10.1002/aqc.70149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70149","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Rhodolith beds are ecologically important benthic habitats formed by coralline red algae, found across a wide range of latitudes and depths. They provide crucial ecosystem services, including climate change mitigation and biodiversity support, yet remain understudied. Rhodoliths are known to influence the diversity and abundance of associated cryptofauna through their structural complexity and microhabitat provision. In this study, we examined the cryptofaunal community associated with two rhodolith-forming species, <i>Lithophyllum atlanticum</i> and <i>Melyvonnea erubescens</i>, with distinct growth forms, in a rhodolith bed located at a no-take area in the Southwestern Atlantic. We evaluated the effects of rhodolith structural complexity, depth and seasons on cryptofaunal community composition. Our findings revealed significant differences in cryptofaunal composition between the two species at different depths. Structural characteristics, such as volume and branch density, varied between species and influenced their associated fauna. Depth and season seem to indirectly impact community distribution, as well branch density appears to be the most relevant driver influencing cryptofaunal assemblage differences. Our findings reinforce the ecological importance of rhodolith beds and highlight the need for further research to better understand their conservation and ecological significance. Protecting sensitive rhodolith beds from potential impacts is crucial for preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. Therefore, any discussion or management changes that impact its conservation status must consider different aspects of its biology as well as its ecological relationships with associated fauna and flora.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":55493,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems","volume":"35 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143905164","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}