Search Results (7)

Invasive non-native marine species have significant and far-reaching impacts on ecosystems, recreation, human health, and various industries worldwide. To mitigate this, it is crucial to be able to predict the likelihood of the establishment of non-native species. To that end, we reviewed twenty-two published lists of non-native species from the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean, plus five from other seas and oceans. From 1991 to 2020, 76% of the newly detected species in the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean, on average per region, became established. Similar rates were found for the Baltic Sea, New Zealand, South Africa, and Brazil, respectively: 77%, 73%, 73%, and 67%. A rate of 100% was reported for the Black Sea, however. While percentages fluctuate across regions, they do not significantly seem to differ over time within regions. Where available, using historical data is therefore recommended, taking into account regional circumstances. As a preliminary indicator, we propose the Seventies Rule for predicting the establishment success of newly detected species in the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean. With only five datasets from other areas in our studies, global applicability remains to be demonstrated. Policymakers, managers, and researchers can use our findings to predict establishment and decide on actions for invasive non-native marine species. Full article

The seasonal dynamics of the NE Black Sea phytoplankton follow the following pattern: small diatoms (spring) → coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi (late spring–early summer) → large diatoms (summer). Our hypothesis states that nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations regulate the seasonal phytoplankton dynamics. A minimum number of parameters is enough to understand the mechanisms of dominant species change. Based on the concept of intracellular regulation, the following parameters were evaluated: the minimum nitrogen and phosphorus quotas; half-saturation constants for nitrogen and phosphorus uptake; the maximum specific growth rate of the dominant phytoplankton species. Computational experiments on the model show the following: (1) in spring, a species with a high maximum specific growth rate becomes dominant; (2) in late spring and early summer, a species with a low minimum nitrogen quota and a low half-saturation constant for nitrogen uptake is observed; (3) in summer, a low minimum phosphorus quota and a low half-saturation constant for phosphorus uptake allow the species to become dominant. Full article

River runoff is an important source of nutrients as well as suspended and dissolved organic matter that in coastal zones and on the shelf are transformed due to local production cycles. River runoff affects the hydrological regime, salinity, temperature, and irradiance in river–seawater mixing zone. Our study focuses on the response of phytoplankton to the impact of small Caucasian rivers in the Northeastern (NE) Black Sea, as one of the most sensitive components of marine ecosystems with respect to the changes in abiotic factors. The leading role of marine species of diatoms, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophores in the structure and functioning when impacted by runoff from small rivers is demonstrated in comparison to the freshwater community. Variability of the taxonomic composition and quantitative and productive characteristics of marine phytoplankton communities impacted by small rivers were comparable to or exceed the seasonal and interannual variability on the NE Black Sea shelf. This indicates the significant role of runoff from small Caucasian rivers in maintaining of a high production level of phytoplankton overall and of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi in particular in the coastal zone. Full article

This paper reports the water temperature structure and associated coastal processes in the NE part of the Black Sea. In situ temperature was measured in the water area of the Utrish Nature Reserve. The thermistor chain was moored in 2020 and included 6–10 temperature sensors with an accuracy of ±0.025 °C and time step of one minute. The seasonal variations in the water temperature, upwelling events, internal waves and diurnal cycle were analyzed. The maximum value of SST (28.6 °C) was registered in the subsurface layer in August 2021; the minimum (7.7 °C) was registered in March 2022. Estimates of the diurnal temperature cycle were obtained according to spectral analysis. Summer months show the diurnal cycle more than 60% of the time, and the cold period shows it less than 10% of the time. Internal waves appeared in thermocline with periods from 5 min to 20 h. The strongest Ekman upwelling was registered in September 2021. The water temperature dropped from 26 °C to 16 °C in 10 h. Additionally, quality assessments of two hydrodynamic models were made. The models showed a good correlation (0.9) with water temperature measurements, but RMSE could reach 1–1.8 °C for subsurface layers. Temperature variability and its characteristics are an important basis for future coastal ecosystem studies in the Utrish. Full article

The Indo-Pacific zooxanthellate scleractinian coral genus Montipora is the host of many coral diseases. Among these are cyanobacterial Black Band Disease (BBD) and Skeletal Growth Anomalies (GAs), but in general data on both diseases are lacking from many regions of the Indo-Pacific, including from Okinawa, southern Japan. In this study, we collected annual prevalence data of Black Band Disease (BBD) and Skeletal Growth Anomalies (GAs) affecting the encrusting form of genus Montipora within the shallow reefs of the subtropical Sesoko Island (off the central west coast of Okinawajima Island) from summer to autumn for four years (2017 to 2020). In 2020 Montipora percent coverage and colony count were also assessed. Generalized Linear Models (GLM) were used to understand the spatial and temporal variation of both BBD and GAs in the nearshore (NE) and reef edge (RE) sites, which revealed higher probability of BBD occurrence in RE sites. BBD prevalence was significantly higher in 2017 in some sites than all other years with site S12 having significant higher probability during all four surveyed years. In terms of GAs, certain sites in 2020 had higher probability of occurrence than during the other years. While the general trend of GAs increased from 2017 to 2020, it was observed to be non-fatal to colonies. In both diseases, the interaction between sites and years was significant. We also observed certain BBD-infected colonies escaping complete mortality. BBD progression rates were monitored in 2020 at site S4, and progression was related to seawater temperatures and was suppressed during periods of heavy rain and large strong typhoons. Our results suggest that higher BBD progression rates are linked with high sea water temperatures (SST > bleaching threshold SST) and higher light levels (>1400 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹), indicating the need for further controlled laboratory experiments. The current research will help form the basis for continued future research into these diseases and their causes in Okinawa and the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Full article

Studies of the annual dynamics of phytoplankton in the NE Black Sea at two stations on the shelf and the continental slope were conducted in 2016, 2017, and 2019. The species composition of phytoplankton has not undergone significant changes compared to previous decades. The coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi, small flagellates, and diatoms determined the abundance of phytoplankton; and diatoms, coccolithophores, and dinoflagellates determined the total biomass. The annual dynamics of the satellite-derived chlorophyll-a showed peaks in spring and autumn, and sometimes in summer. During the stratified water column period, strong winds in most cases led to a detectible increase in chlorophyll-a. The annual dynamics of phytoplankton followed the pattern: small diatoms (spring) → coccolithophores (late spring, early summer) → large diatoms (summer, autumn). Such a pattern was typical for the previous decades. Coccolithophores dominated in weak SE winds, diatoms in NE winds. The combined effect of sustained offshore wind and strong current can cause diatom blooms during stratified water, even if the wind velocity is moderate. Full article

In this work, we integrate five case studies harboring vulnerable deep-sea benthic habitats in different geological settings from mid latitude NE Atlantic Ocean (24–42° N). Data and images of specific deep-sea habitats were acquired with Remoted Operated Vehicle (ROV) sensors (temperature, salinity, potential density, O₂, CO₂, and CH₄). Besides documenting some key vulnerable deep-sea habitats, this study shows that the distribution of some deep-sea coral aggregations (including scleractinians, gorgonians, and antipatharians), deep-sea sponge aggregations and other deep-sea habitats are influenced by water masses’ properties. Our data support that the distribution of scleractinian reefs and aggregations of other deep-sea corals, from subtropical to north Atlantic could be dependent of the latitudinal extents of the Antarctic Intermediate Waters (AAIW) and the Mediterranean Outflow Waters (MOW). Otherwise, the distribution of some vulnerable deep-sea habitats is influenced, at the local scale, by active hydrocarbon seeps (Gulf of Cádiz) and hydrothermal vents (El Hierro, Canary Island). The co-occurrence of deep-sea corals and chemosynthesis-based communities has been identified in methane seeps of the Gulf of Cádiz. Extensive beds of living deep-sea mussels (Bathymodiolus mauritanicus) and other chemosymbiotic bivalves occur closely to deep-sea coral aggregations (e.g., gorgonians, black corals) that colonize methane-derived authigenic carbonates. Full article