Epibiosis in Aquatic Environments

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 1466

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
Interests: marine zoology; marine ecology; fish morphology; marine pollution; fishes adaptations; fish histology; fish pathology; fish distribution; marine genomics; aquaculture

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
Interests: marine biology; taxonomy; trophic ecology; otholits science
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Interactions among living organisms have determined their evolutive history. Biotic substrates represent potential habitat opportunities for epibionts, developing their life history beyond external surfaces. The ecological associations among animal organisms represent a topic that has not been extensively investigated but is constantly evolving. The epibiosis also represents a potential facilitative mechanism for the settlement of non-indigenous species. The interspecific interaction between basibionts and epibionts often provides favorable ecological conditions for the colonization of new habitats based on non-native species, driving the invasion process. Additionally, in this era, abiotic anthropogenic substrates, which pollute natural environments, have direct impacts on population dynamics and community composition, offering more potential colonizable habitats. Researchers have sought to investigate the biology of aquatic epibionts and distribution results that are essential in current applied zoology and conservation, updating the biodiversity knowledge base for habitat protection and restoration. Moreover, new descriptions and ways of monitoring of epibiont species on different natural and artificial substrates could be essential in investigating ecosystem processes based on invasive or alien species for a specific area.

We are pleased to invite submissions from authors from around the world that deal with different aquatic habitats to enhance the knowledge base on epibionts’ biology and their interactions. Submissions should explore the role of epibiosis in aquatic environments and the effect of basibiont/epibiont relationships on ecosystem evolution driving forces.

In this Special Issue, both original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Epibiont interactions;
  • Biological features of epibiont organisms;
  • Experimental trials involving epibionts;
  • Epibiont update checklists;
  • Geographical literature reviews;
  • Plastisphere interactions;
  • Anthropogenic impacts on epibiont interactions;
  • The recent occurrence of epibiont species;
  • The impact of on-native species on epibiont communities;
  • Relations between non-native basibionts and non-native epibionts.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.

Dr. Marco Albano
Dr. Claudio D’Iglio
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • conservation
  • biodiversity
  • animals
  • aquatic environments
  • marine biology
  • marine zoology
  • marine ecology
  • radiation biology
  • interspecific interactions
  • evolution

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 4589 KiB  
Article
Variation in the Health Status of the Mediterranean Gorgonian Forests: The Synergistic Effect of Marine Heat Waves and Fishing Activity
by Martina Canessa, Rosella Bertolotto, Federico Betti, Marzia Bo, Alessandro Dagnino, Francesco Enrichetti, Margherita Toma and Giorgio Bavestrello
Biology 2024, 13(8), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13080642 - 21 Aug 2024
Viewed by 993
Abstract
Over the past thirty years, the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata in the Mediterranean Sea has faced increasing threats, including heat waves and human activities such as artisanal and recreational fishing. Epibiosis on damaged gorgonian colonies is generally used as an indirect indication of [...] Read more.
Over the past thirty years, the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata in the Mediterranean Sea has faced increasing threats, including heat waves and human activities such as artisanal and recreational fishing. Epibiosis on damaged gorgonian colonies is generally used as an indirect indication of stressed conditions. The density and height of P. clavata and the percentage of colonies affected by epibiosis and entangled in lost fishing gear were monitored to investigate the phenomenon and its trend over time in the Ligurian Sea. Analyses were based on transects collected during ROV campaigns between 2015 and 2022 at depths of 33–90 m. A strong correlation was observed between fishing efforts in the study area and the level of epibiosis. Maximal percentages of colonies affected by epibiosis and entanglement were recorded at depths of 50–70 m. Temporally, marine heat waves before 2019 were identified as the primary cause of damage to P. clavata. The decrease in epibiosis percentages after 2019, despite the 2022 heat wave, may be due to a quick recovery ability of the populations and a reduction in fishing activities during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Long-term monitoring programmes are essential to understand the changes in marine benthic communities exposed to different stressors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epibiosis in Aquatic Environments)
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