Increasing Seawater Temperature Research Articles

Effects of Elevated Seawater Temperatures on Cellular Immune Function in the Top Shell, Turbo sazae

The top shell, Turbo sazae, occurs commonly in the shallow rocky subtidal area of Jeju Island off the south coast of Korea, and it is one of the most valuable gastropod resources supporting the local shellfish industry. T. sazae landings in Jeju have declined dramatically in recent years, although the factors involved in this decline are yet to be identified. Recent studies also have reported that T. sazae is expanding its distribution range to the east coast of Korea, possibly due to the increasing seawater temperature. In this study, we investigated the hemocyte responses of T. sazae to elevated seawater temperatures in order to gain a better understanding of its immunological response to higher water temperatures. In this experiment, we exposed top shells to a gradual increase in seawater temperature, ranging from 22 °C to 30 °C, over a span of 9 days. We employed flow cytometry to assess various cellular immune responses, including hemocyte viability, phagocytosis capacity, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in T. sazae. The results showed that top shells exposed to elevated seawater temperature exhibited a significant decrease in phagocytosis capacity and an increase in ROS production after 3 days of the experiment. These findings indicate that an elevated seawater temperature imposes a stressful condition on T. sazae, characterized by reduced phagocytosis capacity and increased oxidative stress.

Assessing the phenology and reproductive output of loggerhead turtles in relation to climatic variables at Patara Beach, Türkiye

AbstractLoggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), being ectothermic organisms, could be especially susceptible to climate change effects, and may exhibit climate‐related variation in their reproductive behaviours such as phenology, annual nest numbers, clutch size, hatching success, incubation period and sex ratio. This study investigated the reproductive phenology and outputs of loggerhead turtles and their relationships with climatic variables over a 5‐year period (2019–2023) at Patara Beach, Türkiye. We found significant fluctuations in atmospheric temperature, sea surface temperature and relative humidity, and that female turtle emergences on Patara Beach could temporarily adjust their phenology in response to these minor environmental changes. We highlight the importance of understanding the impacts of phenological shifts on the ability to satisfy the conditions over the nesting season that determine reproductive output. Our statistical analyses also showed that increasing sea water temperatures and atmospheric temperatures, as well as decreasing precipitation and relative humidity, had direct and/or indirect effects on the nesting phenology and reproductive output of loggerhead turtles. The findings from this study indicate that atmospheric temperature significantly affected incubation period, hatching success rate, the number of dead embryos and the number of empty eggshells. Additionally, relative humidity had a significant impact on the incubation period and the number of empty eggshells. In this context, rising temperatures led to drier nest conditions, decreased incubation periods and increased nest temperatures, resulting in higher proportions of female offspring. In conclusion, there are still gaps in our understanding of the effects of climate change on the reproductive biology of loggerhead turtles, and more studies are needed at both the Mediterranean and global scales to better understand these effects.

How increasing temperature affects the innate immune system of sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) reared in a RAS system

The purple sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus, is the most exploited and economically important in Southern Europe due to the high value of its gonads. Temperature generally affects several physiological functions of marine invertebrates and the ocean warming has been linked to increasing frequency and severity of disease outbreaks in several echinoderms. Sea urchins have an innate immune system consisting of coelomocytes, the cellular components responsible for the immune response, supported by proteases and lysozymes. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of increasing seawater temperature on the immunological response of P. lividus. In this experiment, the animals were exposed to an increase in temperature up to 24 °C for 36 days, after which cellular and humoral immunity parameters were measured. The number of coelomocytes in the animals increased with the temperature rise, mainly the phagocytes and the colourless granulocytes. In the humoral response of the animals, only the concentration of lysozyme responded to the increase in temperature.

Experimental study of a high-power generation platform for ocean thermal energy conversion

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a form of power generation that utilizes the temperature difference between the upper and lower layers of the ocean. This paper presents the design and construction of a land-based experimental platform for OTEC using R134a as the working fluid. Through experimental research, we investigated the performance of the thermal energy cycle system under varying external environmental conditions, such as temperature and flow rate. The results show that the net output power of the system increases with the temperature and flow rate of the warm seawater. Similarly, an increase in the cold seawater temperature and flow rate leads to an increase in net output, though the increase is less significant at higher power levels when compared to changes in warm seawater conditions. Adjusting the evaporation pressure to increase the turbine inlet and outlet pressure difference initially increases the output power but then remains constant. The highest recorded output power during testing was 48kW, with the turbine achieving an isentropic efficiency of 80%, and the maximum system efficiency reached 2%. This study provides theoretical basis and empirical data for system design, which can promote the application in the field of OTEC and contribute to the development of renewable energy.

Storms on the Western Black Sea shore: an opportunity for long-distance dispersal of coastal dunes psammophytes?

Coastal areas are among the planet's most dynamic yet vulnerable environments, the shape of sand dunes being typically modeled by two sets of forces: the relatively constant action of wind and waves and the disturbances caused by infrequent but powerful storms. These meteorological events affect the plant communities, but can also play an important role in the long-distance dispersal of some psammophytes. Plants can be exposed, uprooted, broke apart and spread by wind and waves. Then, depending on the resilience of the plant to seawater temperature, the duration of immersion, the type of fragment transported and the suitability of the new habitat, new population can be established. This study aimed to assess the resilience to seawater immersion and the ability of long-distance dispersal of three psammophytes: Convolvulus persicus, Alyssum borzaeanum, and Silene thymifolia. The experiments tested the viability of vegetative fragments and the reproductive capacity of seeds under different exposure periods (5, 10, and 15 days) and temperature conditions: 4 °C (average surface seawater temperature during winter and early spring when storms on the Black Sea Coast occur), 13 °C (average surface seawater temperature), and 23 °C (average summer surface seawater temperature). The increase of both seawater temperature and the exposure time had a significant negative influence on the viability of the vegetative fragments and on germination capacity. After exposure to seawater, Convolvulus persicus, and Silene thymifolia are able to establish new populations through vegetative fragments or seeds, whilst in case of Alyssum borzaeanum, no vegetative regeneration was observed.

Copper as a Complex Indicator of the Status of the Marine Environment Concerning Climate Change

Studies covering key elements of the marine ecosystem based on current and long-term data have made it possible to assess both the current situation in terms of copper concentrations in commercially used fish and benthic plants and in surface bottom sediments, as well as enabled the analysis of the temporal variability of copper levels in relation to changes in its inflow to the southern Baltic Sea. By applying the threshold values, determining the boundary between good and not good status of the marine environment, set in this study, it was found that good environmental status has been achieved in the case of Cu in seawater and plants and has not been achieved in the case of sediments and fish for consumption. The study showed that climate change, the main feature of which is an increase in seawater temperature, significantly impacts the distribution and levels of copper in individual elements of the marine environment. It influences the vegetative season length and bioaccumulation efficiency and is of key importance for copper toxicity.

Effect of temperature on the production and degradation of bromoform and other brominated methanes by marine microorganisms

Brominated methanes such as bromoform (CHBr3) are known to be important carriers of bromine from the ocean to the atmosphere. Bromine released from brominated methanes by photolysis has been shown to catalyze ozone depletion. Marine phytoplankton has been reported as a source of CHBr3 and marine bacteria as a sink for CHBr3. The effects of temperature on both CHBr3 production by phytoplankton and CHBr3 degradation by bacteria have yet to be investigated. We investigated the effects of temperature on CHBr3 production and CHBr3 degradation by marine microorganisms. The marine diatom Ditylum brightwellii (CCMP358) was cultured at 15 °C, 20 °C, 24 °C, and 30 °C. The maximum CHBr3 production rate at 24 °C was 1.57–2.39 pmol (μg chlorophyll a)−1 d−1, several times higher than that at 15 °C (0.25–0.41 pmol (μg chlorophyll a)−1 d−1). Higher rates of CHBr3, CHBr2Cl, and CHBrCl2 production were observed in the late exponential phase (and stationary phase) than in the early exponential phase at each temperature. These results suggest that temperature affects the rate of CHBr3 production during plankton growth. We then cultured the marine α-proteobacterium Phaeobacter gallaeciensis (JCM 21319) and the γ-proteobacterium Pseudomonas sp. HKF-4 at 10 °C, 15 °C, 20 °C, and 25 °C for up to 15 days to analyze temperature effects on spiked 13CHBr3 degradation. The degradation rate of 13CHBr3 by P. gallaeciensis increased with increasing temperature from 10 °C to 25 °C. The half-life of 13CHBr3 at 25 °C was about 1.1 d, which is about 6 times shorter than the half-life at 10 °C (about 6.9 d). On the other hand, the change in the half-life of the degradation of 13CHBr3 by HKF-1 was relatively small as the temperature increased from 10 °C (half-life: about 5.5 d) to 25 °C (half-life: about 1.8 d). Considering the rate of CHBr3 production and degradation at each temperature, we estimated how much of the CHBr3 produced by D. brightwellii for 7 days was degraded by the coexisting bacteria and how much remained after 7 days at each temperature. When coexisting with P. gallaeciensis, the residual CHBr3 concentration in the culture was relatively higher at 20–25 °C. Similarly, when coexisting with HKF-4, it was relatively higher at 20–25 °C. To estimate the impact of future warming on CHBr3 concentrations in the oceans, we assume a 5 °C increase in sea surface temperature, with two sea surface temperatures, 15 °C and 20 °C, changing to 20 °C and 25 °C, respectively. Under this assumption, the residual concentration of CHBr3 produced by D. brightwellii in seawater would be “increased” (or, less likely, “no change”) when P. gallaeciensis coexisted in these areas. Similarly, the total amount of CHBr3 residuals produced by D. brightwellii in the seawater areas where HKF-4 coexisted increased as the temperature increased by 5 °C. If, as the present results suggest, there is a temperature effect on microbial CHBr3 production and degradation in the oceans, then future increases in surface seawater temperature could result in an upward trend in CHBr3 concentrations in the open oceans, although such effects would be greatly influenced by both the phytoplankton species and coexisting bacterial species.

Genetics and ontogeny are key factors influencing thermal resilience in a culturally and economically important bivalve

Increasing seawater temperatures coupled with more intense and frequent heatwaves pose an increasing threat to marine species. In this study, the New Zealand green-lipped mussel, Perna canaliculus, was used to investigate the effect of genetics and ontogeny on thermal resilience. The culturally and economically significant mussel P. canaliculus (Gmelin, 1971) has been selectively-bred in New Zealand for two decades, making it a unique biological resource to investigate genetic interactions in a temperate bivalve species. Six selectively-bred full sibling families and four different ages, from early juveniles (6, 8, 10 weeks post-fertilisation) to sub-adults (52 weeks post-fertilisation), were used for experimentation. At each age, each family was exposed to a three-hour heat challenge, followed by recovery, and survival assessments. The shell lengths of live and dead juvenile mussels were also measured. Gill tissue samples from sub-adults were collected after the thermal challenge to quantify the 70 kDa heat shock protein gene (hsp70). Results showed that genetics, ontogeny and size influence thermal resilience in P. canaliculus, with LT50 values ranging between 31.3 and 34.4 °C for all studied families and ages. Juveniles showed greater thermotolerance compared to sub-adults, while the largest individuals within each family/age class tended to be more heat sensitive than their siblings. Sub-adults differentially upregulated hsp70 in a pattern that correlated with net family survival following heat challenge, reinforcing the perceived role of inducible HSP70 protein in molluscs. This study provides insights into the complex interactions of age and genotype in determining heat tolerance of a key mussel species. As marine temperatures increase, equally complex selection pressure responses may therefore occur. Future research should focus on transcriptomic and genomic approaches for key species such as P. canaliculus to further understand and predict the effect of genetic variation and ontogeny on their survival in the context of climate change.

Heat stress mediates toxicity of rutile titanium dioxide nanoparticles on fertilisation capacity in the broadcast spawning mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Titanium dioxide nanoparticle (nTiO2) pollution of marine environments is rapidly increasing with potentially deleterious effects on wildlife. Yet, the impacts of nTiO2 on reproduction remain poorly understood. This is especially the case for broadcast spawners, who are likely to be more severely impacted by environmental disturbances because their gametes are directly exposed to the environment during fertilisation. In addition, it is unclear whether rising water temperatures will further exacerbate the impact of nTiO2 toxicity. Here, in a series of fertilisation trials, we systematically examine the main and interactive effects of nTiO2 exposure and seawater temperature on fertilisation success in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Specifically, our fertilisation trials explored whether nTiO2 exposure influences fertilisation rates when (i) eggs alone are exposed, (ii) both sperm and eggs are exposed simultaneously, and (iii) whether increases in seawater temperature interact with nTiO2 exposure to influence fertilisation rates. We also ask whether changes in nTiO2 concentrations influence key sperm motility traits using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). In fertilisation trials for treatment groups (i) and (ii), we found no main effects of nTiO2 at environmentally relevant concentrations of 5, 10 and 50 μg L−1 on fertilisation capacity relative to the control. Consistent with these findings, we found no effect of nTiO2 exposure on sperm motility. However, in treatment group (iii), when fertilisation trials were conducted at higher temperatures (+6 °C), exposure of gametes from both sexes to 10 μg L−1 nTiO2 led to a reduction in fertilisation rates that was significantly greater than when gametes were exposed to elevated temperature alone. These interacting effects of nTiO2 exposure and seawater temperature demonstrate the toxic potential of nTiO2 for fertilisation processes in a system that is likely to be impacted heavily by predicted future increases in sea surface temperatures.

Coral spawning patterns on the Luhuitou fringing reef in Hainan Island of the northern South China Sea

Observation of coral spawning times is valuable to detect spawning patterns and identify the potential mechanisms behind coral reproduction. Although large amount of data on global coral spawning records have become available over the past decades, information on coral spawning in the northern South China Sea remains scarce. In this study, we investigated the spawning patterns of scleractinian corals in Luhuitou fringing reef, Hainan Island, China, from 2009 to 2021 in relation to lunar cycles (month and day). The spawning times of 22 coral species from five genera (Acropora, Montipora, Platygyra, Dipsastraea, and Galaxea) within three families (Acroporidae, Merulinidae, and Euphylliidae) were recorded, with spawning occurring from lunar February to May 2009–2021. Recorded spawning events started at a period of increasing seawater temperature. Acropora, the most documented genus, spawned between lunar February and April, but primarily in lunar March. Importantly, the spawning time of Acropora was delayed for one lunar month in 2016 most likely due to a rapid decrease in monthly mean seawater temperature in lunar February. Spawning lunar days before, on or after full moon of corals in the Luhuitou Reef, including those of the Acropora species, were highly variable between years even for the same species. No predictable pattern of spawning times can thus be detected. Nonetheless, our results fill up an information gap on coral spawning patterns in the northern South China Sea that may be useful for further understanding of the reproductive biology of scleractinian corals throughout the Indo–West Pacific.

FOOD AVAILABILITY ON INFLUENCE MUSSEL Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819) ON PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL STATUS

Phytoplankton, as the primary food source for suspension-feeding bivalves, can significantly impact the growth and survival of bivalves. To investigate the influence of food availability on the condition index and biochemical composition of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis from the Romanian Black Sea coast, phytoplankton and mussels samples were collected from four sites between November 2017 and November 2018. The phytoplankton quality and quantity varied across locations and seasons. The ports had the highest diversity and abundance of phytoplankton, while the area with low trophic conditions had the lowest. The most dominant phytoplankton groups observed were diatoms and dinoflagellates. The condition index values were higher in sites with greater food availability, reaching the peak in spring. The lipid and carbohydrate content peaked in spring when the food availability was high. The protein content was higher in winter and autumn. Condition index was positively correlated with phytoplankton abundance and biomass (p 0.05). Several significant correlations were found between the biological parameters of mussels, such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, tissue dry weight, moisture, ash free dry weight, and ash. In conclusion, the results indicated that higher food availability and increasing seawater temperatures led to greater condition index and reserve accumulation, primarily in the form of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, providing mussels with enough energy to withstand stressful conditions.

Kelp forest community structure and demography in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard) across 25 years of Arctic warming.

The Arctic archipelago of Svalbard is a hotspot of global warming and many fjords experience a continuous increase in seawater temperature and glacial melt while sea-ice cover declines. In 1996/1998, 2012-2014, and 2021 macroalgal biomass and species diversity were quantified at the study site Hansneset, Kongsfjorden (W-Spitsbergen) in order to identify potential changes over time. In 2021, we repeated the earlier studies by stratified random sampling (1 × 1 m2, n = 3) along a sublittoral depth transect (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 m) and investigated the lower depth limits of dominant brown algae between 3 and 19 m. The maximum fresh weight (FW) of all seaweeds was 11.5 kg m-2 at 2.5 m and to 99.9% constituted of kelp. Although biomass distribution along the depth transect in 2021 was not significantly different compared to 2012/2013, the digitate kelp community (Laminaria digitata/Hedophyllum nigripes) had transformed into an Alaria esculenta-dominated kelp forest. Consequently, a pronounced shift in kelp forest structure occurred over time as we demonstrate that biomass allocation to thallus parts is kelp species-specific. Over the past decade, kelp demography changed and in 2021 a balanced age structure of kelps (juveniles plus many older kelp individuals) was only apparent at 2.5 m. In addition, the abundances and lower depth limits of all dominant brown algae declined noticeably over the last 25 years while the red algal flora abundance remained unchanged at depth. We propose that the major factor driving the observed changes in the macroalgal community are alterations in underwater light climate, as insitu data showed increasing turbidity and decreasing irradiance since 2012 and 2017, respectively. As a consequence, the interplay between kelp forest retreat to lower depth levels caused by coastal darkening and potential macroalgal biomass gain with increasing temperatures will possibly intensify in the future with unforeseen consequences for melting Arctic coasts and fjord ecosystem services.

Effects of eyestalk ablation and seawater temperature on d-glutamate levels in the reproductive tissues of male kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus.

D-Glutamate, a novel d-amino acid found in animal tissues, exclusively exists in the male reproductive tissues of the kuruma prawn, Marsupenaeus japonicus. Herein, changes in the d-glutamate content were determined in the male reproductive tissues of M. japonicus during acclimation to breeding seawater temperatures of 18-22°C and unilateral eyestalk ablation. The d-glutamate content in the testis increased with increasing seawater temperature and with unilateral eyestalk ablation. This suggests that both stimulations induced d-glutamate synthesis in the testis. Although the d-alanine content in the testis increased after unilateral eyestalk ablation, it did not change with elevated seawater temperature. Furthermore, we determined the d-glutamate distribution in the M. japonicus spermatophore. This indicates that d-glutamate is crucial in prawn fertilization.

The investigation on stress mechanisms of Sepia esculenta larvae in the context of global warming and ocean acidification

Sepia esculenta is a tasty and nutritious cephalopod. But the trend toward global warming is accelerating with massive emissions of greenhouse gases. An increase in seawater temperature and a decrease in pH are a great challenge for artificial breeding and culture of S. esculenta. In this study, we investigated the contingency mechanism of S. esculenta larvae under both high temperature and low pH conditions by transcriptome analysis. A total of 1235 DEGs were identified. functional enrichment analysis results suggest that high temperature and low pH conditions led to malignant proliferation in exceptional cells of S. esculenta larvae. A comprehensive analysis of the KEGG signaling pathway and protein-protein interaction network (PPI) identified sixteen key genes under both high temperature and low pH conditions. The three genes with the highest quantities of interactions or involved in more KEGG signaling pathways were identified as hub genes affecting normal physiological processes in S. esculenta. In this study, the effects of global warming and ocean acidification on the metabolism and immunity of S. esculenta larvae were preliminarily investigated to provide necessary help for S. esculenta captive breeding in the face of global climate change.

Distinct responses to warming within picoplankton communities across an environmental gradient.

Picophytoplankton are a ubiquitous component of marine plankton communities and are expected to be favored by global increases in seawater temperature and stratification associated with climate change. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic picophytoplankton have distinct ecology, and global models predict that the two groups will respond differently to future climate scenarios. At a nearshore observatory on the Northeast US Shelf, however, decades of year-round monitoring have shown these two groups to be highly synchronized in their responses to environmental variability. To reconcile the differences between regional and global predictions for picophytoplankton dynamics, we here investigate the picophytoplankton community across the continental shelf gradient from the nearshore observatory to the continental slope. We analyze flow cytometry data from 22 research cruises, comparing the response of picoeukaryote and Synechococcus communities to environmental variability across time and space. We find that the mechanisms controlling picophytoplankton abundance differ across taxa, season, and distance from shore. Like the prokaryote, Synechococcus, picoeukaryote division rates are limited nearshore by low temperatures in winter and spring, and higher temperatures offshore lead to an earlier spring bloom. Unlike Synechococcus, picoeukaryote concentration in summer decreases dramatically in offshore surface waters and exhibits deeper subsurface maxima. The offshore picoeukaryote community appears to be nutrient limited in the summer and subject to much greater loss rates than Synechococcus. This work both produces and demonstrates the necessity of taxon- and site-specific knowledge for accurately predicting the responses of picophytoplankton to ongoing environmental change.

In situ decrease in rhodolith growth associated with Arctic climate change.

Rhodoliths built by crustose coralline algae (CCA) are ecosystem engineers of global importance. In the Arctic photic zone, their three-dimensional growth emulates the habitat complexity of coral reefs but with a far slower growth rate, growing at micrometers per year rather than millimeters. While climate change is known to exert various impacts on the CCA's calcite skeleton, including geochemical and structural alterations, field observations of net growth over decade-long timescales are lacking. Here, we use a temporally explicit model to show that rising ocean temperatures over nearly 100 years were associated with reduced rhodolith growth at different depths in the Arctic. Over the past 90 years, the median growth rate was 85 μm year-1 but each °C increase in summer seawater temperature decreased growth by a mean of 8.9 μm (95% confidence intervals = 1.32-16.60 μm °C-1, p < .05). The decrease was expressed for rhodolith occurrences in 11 and 27 m water depth but not at 46 m, also having the shortest time series (1991-2015). Although increasing temperatures can spur plant growth, we suggest anthropogenic climate change has either exceeded the population thermal optimum for these CCA, or synergistic effects of warming, ocean acidification, and/or increasing turbidity impair rhodolith growth. Rhodoliths built by calcitic CCA are important habitat providers worldwide, so decreased growth would lead to yet another facet of anthropogenic habitat loss.

Transcriptomic WGCNA analyses reveal endoplasmic reticulum response of Patinopecten yessoensis under acute heat stress

Patinopecten yessoensis is one of the most important aquaculture shellfish worldwide. As a cold-water species, the increasing seawater temperatures due to global warming have been a great challenge for P. yessoensis. Understanding the response mechanism of P. yessoensis to high temperatures is essential to the genetic breeding of heat-tolerant varieties. In this study, histological, cytological and transcriptomic analyses were performed on the gill tissues of P. yessoensis under different acute heat stresses (temperature: 22 °C, 25 °C, 28 °C; time: 6 h, 36 h). A total of 10,601 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected, among which, 141 DEGs were shared by all heat-stressed groups. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified three modules (M1, M2 and M3) that were significantly correlated with heat stress. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that heat stress probably caused serious endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in gill cells, with many associated GO terms and KEGG pathways markedly enriched. Notably, the protein processing in ER pathway probably played a key role in the response to heat stress; this pathway was upregulated and was the most enriched in all heat-stressed groups, as well as in the M1 and M2 modules. DEGs from this pathway participated in different processes of the ER stress response, alleviating ER stress by upregulating the protein correct folding, ER-associated degradation (ERAD) and unfolded protein response (UPR) processes. Excessive ER stress induced apoptosis via the UPR, and excessive apoptosis resulted in tissue injury as observed by histological and TUNEL assays. Further, numerous Hsps were upregulated in all heat-stressed groups, and some members were identified as hub genes, including BiP, NEF, Hsp70 and Hsp90. These genes may perform crucial functions during heat stress as molecular chaperones. This study elucidates the key molecular components of the ER stress response to heat stress in scallops. The findings provide new insights into the adaptation mechanisms of molluscs to environmental stress.

Too Hot to Handle: Effects of Water Temperature on the Early Life Stages of Gongolaria barbata (Fucales)

Gongolaria barbata plays a crucial role as a habitat-forming Fucales species in the Mediterranean Sea, thriving in shallow, sheltered coastal regions, where it exhibits optimal growth in a temperature range of 10 to 25 °C. In the northern Adriatic Sea, a semi-enclosed part of the Mediterranean, there has been a remarkable increase in seawater temperatures in recent decades, often exceeding 28 °C in summer. These high temperatures pose a significant threat to the vulnerable early life stages of G. barbata. This study delves into the effects of four temperatures (15, 18, 24, and 28 °C) on the growth of G. barbata over its first 16 days, closely monitoring mortality, deformities, and overall survival. Our experiments reveal that higher temperatures can result in deformities and increased mortality of germlings. Notably, a temperature of 28 °C resulted in the death of all germlings within the first week, whereas those exposed to 24 °C survived until the second week, albeit with significant deformities prior to death. In contrast, germlings cultivated at 15 and 18 °C exhibited normal development with minimal deformities. These results highlight the susceptibility of the early life stages of G. barbata to temperature-induced stress and provide valuable insights into the potential consequences of rising seawater temperatures in the Mediterranean.

The present and future contribution of ships to the underwater soundscape

Since the industrial revolution the ocean has become noisier. The global increase in shipping is one of the main contributors to this. In some regions, shipping contributed to an increase in ambient noise of several decibels, especially at low frequencies (10 to 100 Hz). Such an increase can have a substantial negative impact on fish, invertebrates, marine mammals and birds interfering with key life functions (e.g. foraging, mating, resting, etc.). Consequently, engineers are investigating ways to reduce the noise emitted by vessels when designing new ships. At the same time, since the industrial revolution (starting around 1760) greenhouse gas emissions have increased the atmospheric carbon dioxide fraction x(CO2) by more than 100 μmol mol-1. The ocean uptake of approximately one third of the emitted CO2 decreased the average global surface ocean pH from 8.21 to 8.10. This decrease is modifying sound propagation, especially sound absorption at the frequencies affected by shipping noise lower than 10 kHz, making the future ocean potentially noisier. There are also other climate change effects that may influence sound propagation. Sea surface warming might alter the depth of the deep sound speed channel, ice melting could locally decrease salinity and more frequent storms and higher wind speed alter the depth of the thermocline. In particular, modification of the sound speed profile can lead to the appearance of new ducts making specific depths noisier. In addition, ice melting and the increase in seawater temperature will open new shipping routes at the poles increasing anthropogenic noise in these regions. This review aims to discuss parameters that might change in the coming decades, focusing on the contribution of shipping, climate change and economic and technical developments to the future underwater soundscape in the ocean. Examples are given, contrasting the open ocean and the shallow seas. Apart from the changes in sound propagation, this review will also discuss the effects of water quality on ship-radiated noise with a focus on propeller cavitation noise.

A circle that closes. First report of Echinolittorina punctata (Gmelin, 1791) (Gastropoda; Littorinidae) for the coasts of Sardinia

Echinolittorina punctata (Gmelin, 1791), a thermophilic supralittoral species, was historically distributed along the Atlantic coasts from southern Spain to Senegal, and in the southern and eastern sectors of the Mediterranean. In the latter sea it has spread its range northwards only in recent years, moving up the Tyrrhenian coasts of Italy up to Tuscany, the Adriatic ones up to Croatia, and the southern coasts of Western Europe up to France. Sardinia, in an intermediate position between the Italian Tyrrhenian coasts and the southern Spanish and French ones, both recently colonized by E. punctata, presented itself as a foreseeable new settlement area. The discovery of some populations of this species in north-western Sardinia, along the coasts of the municipality of Porto Torres, represents the first report for Sardinia. It fills the last missing range gap for this species to be defined as widely distributed in the Mediterranean. The expansion of this species further northward in the Mediterranean seems linked to the general increase in sea water temperatures resulting from climate change.