Biodiversity and Population Ecology of Marine Invertebrates

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024 | Viewed by 1774

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Thessaly, Greece
Interests: marine ecology; marine biodiversity; marine invertebrates; marine biology, marine aquaculture; population dynamics

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Thessaly, Greece
Interests: demersal fisheries; artificial reefs; integrated coastal zone management; aquaculture; environmental impact assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine invertebrates are essential components of coastal and ocean ecosystems. Their biodiversity is astonishing, with thousands of species inhabiting oceans and seas worldwide. Understanding this diversity is crucial for assessing the health of marine ecosystems and identifying conservation priorities. Moreover, marine invertebrates offer unique insights into the impacts of environmental change and anthropogenic activities on our oceans. Their pivotal roles in ecological dynamics and the intricate relationships they form within these habitats underscore the significance of studying their biodiversity and population ecology. As we face growing threats to marine environments, the need for rigorous, interdisciplinary research on marine invertebrates is more pressing than ever. By investigating their biodiversity and population ecology, we aim to enrich our understanding of these vital creatures and contribute to the preservation of the oceans' delicate balance. This Special Issue is dedicated to shedding light on the multifaceted world of marine invertebrates and their critical ecological functions.

We would like to invite papers on the topic of "Biodiversity and Population Ecology of Marine Invertebrates". Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Contributions should delve into various aspects of marine invertebrates, encompassing taxonomic, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives. Submissions should emphasize the complex interactions within and between invertebrate species, their adaptations to changing environments, and their implications for ecosystem health and sustainability. Authors are encouraged to explore innovative methodologies and share empirical research that can further our knowledge and guide future conservation efforts.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Alexios Lolas
Dr. Dimitris Klaoudatos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodiversity hotspots
  • population dynamics
  • ecological interactions
  • habitat diversity
  • biogeography
  • environmental impact
  • ecosystem engineers
  • biodiversity indices

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 1369 KiB  
Article
Variation in the Occurrence of Salp and Doliolid Assemblages in the Northeastern East China Sea from 2019 to 2023
by Hyung-Uk Choi, Young Seok Jeong, Seohwi Choo and Ho Young Soh
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(6), 862; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12060862 - 22 May 2024
Viewed by 524
Abstract
This study characterizes the distribution of salp and doliolid species in the northeastern East China Sea during spring and autumn and identifies the factors that regulate their abundance. The data were collected over four years (2019–2023, except 2020). During the survey period, the [...] Read more.
This study characterizes the distribution of salp and doliolid species in the northeastern East China Sea during spring and autumn and identifies the factors that regulate their abundance. The data were collected over four years (2019–2023, except 2020). During the survey period, the Tsushima Warm Current Surface and Bottom (TWCS and TWCB, respectively) and Yellow Sea Cold Bottom Water were influential in spring, while the Changjiang Diluted Water, Coastal Water, TWCS, and TWCB were dominant in autumn. The mean sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface salinity (SSS) in spring and the mean SST in autumn statistically decreased (p < 0.05), while the mean SSS in autumn statistically increased (p < 0.05). The spatial distribution of salp and doliolid species remained consistent in spring and autumn, although the dominant assemblage shifted seasonally. Spring was predominantly characterized by an abundance of salp species, whereas doliolid species were dominant in autumn, with their distribution and abundance influenced by different environmental factors such as temperature and salinity in spring and food availability in autumn. Our results provide valuable data on the factors affecting the presence of salp and doliolid species in the northeastern East China Sea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Population Ecology of Marine Invertebrates)
13 pages, 5480 KiB  
Article
The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Chemosymbiotic Lucinid Bivalve Pillucina pisidium (Dunker, 1860) Occurring in Seagrass Zostera marina Bed in a Lagoon in Jeju Island, Korea
by Jong-Seop Shin, Chi-une Song, Hyeongwoo Choi, Sung Hyun Yang, Kae Kyoung Kwon, Seong-il Eyun and Kwang-Sik Choi
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(5), 847; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12050847 - 20 May 2024
Viewed by 474
Abstract
Commonly found in tropic and subtropic seagrass beds, lucinid clams host sulfur-oxidizing bacteria within their gills. These symbionts are crucial in converting phytotoxic sulfide in the sediment into less harmful sulfate, thus enhancing the environment for seagrasses and associated biota. We recently uncovered [...] Read more.
Commonly found in tropic and subtropic seagrass beds, lucinid clams host sulfur-oxidizing bacteria within their gills. These symbionts are crucial in converting phytotoxic sulfide in the sediment into less harmful sulfate, thus enhancing the environment for seagrasses and associated biota. We recently uncovered small clams within a Zostera marina seagrass bed situated in a lagoon on Jeju Island, off the south coast of Korea. These bivalves, with shell lengths of up to 7 mm, exhibited distinct features, including thick and hypertrophied gills, inflated and ovoid shells with a shell height/shell length ratio of 0.99, and the absence of a sulcus on the external shell surface. These characteristics align closely with those of Pillucina pisidium, a lucinid clam species originally reported in Japan. Analysis of the cytochrome b gene partial sequences of the clams from Jeju Island revealed a 100% match with P. pisidium reported in Japan, confirming their identity. Moreover, we successfully assembled the complete mitochondrial genome of P. pisidium for the first time, revealing a circular genome spanning 21,059 bp. Additionally, we constructed a phylogenetic tree using 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) extracted from the mitochondrial genome of P. pisidium. Notably, P. pisidium formed a distinct clade within the subclass Autobranchia alongside other lucinid clams in the phylogenetic tree. However, within the family Lucinidae, synteny analysis of the 13 PCGs revealed diverse gene arrangement patterns, indicating considerable divergence. This divergence underscores the need for an extensive examination of Lucinidae mitochondrial genomes to elucidate the phylogenetic ties more precisely within the family, highlighting P. pisidium’s distinct evolutionary path within the family Lucinidae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Population Ecology of Marine Invertebrates)
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