Marine Habitats Research Articles

Entomoneis parikhani sp.nov., Aras Nehri (İran)’nden yeni bir diatom (Entomoneidaceae, Bacillariophyta)

The diatom Entomoneis has a series of unique features such as connecting lines with different shapes, sigmoid raphe on the bilobate keel, different curtains, and multiple girdle bands. Most species belonging to this genus are found in marine and saline habitats. In fact, the genus Entomoneis is an epipelic diatom that is found in streams with high salinity and high electrolyte concentration. To date, no specific type of freshwater has been identified for this species. In this study, a new species of freshwater diatom, Entomoneis parikhani, is described based on detailed morphological observations using a scanning electron microscope. The samples were collected the Aras River near Oltan village of Parsabad city in the northwest Iran. A special feature of Entomoneis parikhani is its triple valve. The genus Entomoneis comprises of diatoms with sigmoidal raphe canals and girdle bands. This taxon is similar to Entomoneis annagodhei and Entomoneis tenera, as shown by LM and SEM observations, and there are sufficient morphological differences to separate Entomoneis parikhani. This new species had very small cells, delicate frustules without valve lines, and wide lanceolate valves. In this study, the wide distribution of this taxon in the Aras River has been evaluated.

Opportunistic predatory feeding behaviour of Munida intermedia A. Milne-Edwards & Bouvier, 1899 targeting juveniles of Lepidopus caudatus (Euphrasen, 1788) in the north-western Mediterranean Sea

The genus Munida, inhabits various marine habitats and exhibits versatile feeding behaviour. This study explored the behavioural patterns of Munida intermedia, shedding light on its opportunistic behaviour and competitive interactions within its ecological niche. In 2018, during an investigation using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), carried out on the Méjean shoal (north-western Mediterranean Sea), at 397 m depth, specimens were observed engaging in opportunistic predatory feeding, targeting juveniles of the bathypelagic silver scabbardfish Lepidopus caudatus. Our findings underscore the dynamic nature of M. intermedia feeding habits and the significant role of competitive interactions within its habitat, highlighting the role of video technology in capturing real-time information.

Annual patterns of body, tissue, and organ mass variation in long-tailed ducks Clangula hyemalis

Temporal variation in resource availability, physiological demands, and other factors are associated with many phenotypic changes in organisms. For example, there are often predictable stages of atrophy and hypertrophy in animals’ organs to accommodate changes in diet. Timing of stages may differ by sex given differences in life histories (e.g., egg-laying versus male–male competition). In this context, we quantified changes over the annual cycle in 153 long-tailed duck ( Clangula hyemalis) carcasses. We also tested whether timing of changes differed by sex. Total body mass was lowest in February and highest in November, whereas livers, spleens, kidneys, and salt glands were lightest in the middle of breeding seasons. Reductions in kidney and salt gland masses coincided with switches to using freshwater from marine habitats. Generally, timing in patterns of body mass change did not differ by sex. This was unexpected, and could arise from the compressed breeding season. We were also interested in evaluating whether changes in masses of tissues or organs were more dramatic for a species that breeds at such high latitudes than for species that breed at lower latitudes, but were unable to glean this information from the literature. We present coefficients of variation to facilitate future comparisons.

Recent Advances in Assessing Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Around the World

Abstract Marine renewable energy (MRE) is increasingly of interest to coastal nations as a source of renewable energy that can support climate change mitigation goals as well as provide secure locally-produced energy for coastal and island communities. MRE extracts power from tidal streams, waves, ocean currents, run of rivers, and gradients in the ocean, with specialized devices developed and tested for each energy resource. Alongside development of MRE technologies and systems, first in Europe and then in North America, Australia, Asia, and other regions, it has been universally recognized that there is also a need to examine potential effects on marine animals, habitats, ecosystem processes, local communities and other sea users, to ensure that the MRE industry can be developed in a responsible and sustainable manner. This paper looks at the status of assessment and monitoring for potential environmental effects associated with MRE projects around the world. Over 80 projects were identified worldwide as having been tested, demonstrated, or commercially deployed with associated environmental monitoring. Five of the projects that represent tidal stream, wave, and run of river projects are examined in more detail to determine the types of data and information collected for those projects, the outputs of the monitoring campaigns, and the actions taken as a result of the data collection and analysis. Recommendations are provided for standardization of the monitoring approaches, instruments, and analysis methods at MRE project sites worldwide.

Appendage pigmentation and temperature acclimation correlate with survival during acute heat stress in the upside-down jellyfish, Cassiopea xamachana

IntroductionUpside-down jellyfish (Cassiopea sp.) are highly tolerant to multiple abiotic stressors, including fluctuating temperatures associated with shallow marine habitats. This resilience may underlie the ability of Cassiopea sp. to inhabit a wide variety of tropical habitats across the globe. Additionally, Cassiopea sp. are marked by a conspicuous array of appendage coloration; individual medusae vary in the hue and number of oral appendages, which are often strikingly blue. The function of this coloration is not understood. We aimed to understand how extrinsic (temperature, location) and intrinsic (host color) factors may shape thermal tolerance.MethodsAdult Cassiopea xamachana were collected from two sites that vary in daily temperature range within the Florida Keys and were subjected to acute lethal heat stress. To quantify a whole-organism response to heat, we measured changes in bell pulsation, which likely plays a role in feeding, oxygen exchange, and symbiont uptake. Finally, color morphs were acclimated at either ambient (26°C) or elevated (33°C) temperatures.ResultsC. xamachana from two locations that vary in thermal range do not exhibit different responses to heat, suggesting that temperature fluctuations do not prime individuals for higher thermal tolerance. Additionally, C. xamachana with blue appendages survived significantly higher temperatures and exhibited less change in bell pulsation rates compared to non-blue individuals. We found that acclimation at 33°C, as well as appendage color in each treatment, led to higher survival under acute heat stress.DiscussionThese findings highlight the importance of temperature and coloration in Cassiopea xamachana resilience during heat stress.

Soundscape analysis can be an effective tool in assessing seagrass restoration early success

Restoration of vulnerable marine habitats is becoming increasingly popular to cope with widespread habitat loss and the resulting decline in biodiversity and ecosystem services. Lately, restoration strategies have been employed to enhance the recovery of degraded meadows of the Mediterranean endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Typically, habitat restoration success is evaluated by the persistence of foundation species after transplantation (e.g., plant survival and growth) on the short and long-term, although successful plant responses do not necessarily reflect the recovery of ecosystem biodiversity and functions. Recently, soundscape (the spatial, temporal and frequency attribute of ambient sound and types of sound sources characterizing it) has been related to different habitat conditions and community structures. Thus, a successful restoration action should lead to acoustic restoration and soundscape ecology could represent an important component of restoration monitoring, leading to assess successful habitat and community restoration. Here, we evaluated acoustic community and metrics in a P. oceanica restored meadow and tested whether the plant transplant effectiveness after one year was accompanied by a restored soundscape. With this goal, acoustic recordings from degraded, transplanted and reference meadows were collected in Sardinia (Italy) using passive acoustic monitoring devices. Soundscape at each meadow type was examined using both spectral analysis and classification of fish calls based on a catalogue of fish sounds from the Mediterranean Sea. Seven different fish sounds were recorded: most of them were present in the reference and transplanted meadows and were associated to Sciaena umbra and Scorpaena spp. Sound Pressure Level (SPL, in dB re: 1 μPa-rms) and Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI) were influenced by the meadow type. Particularly higher values were associated to the transplanted meadow. SPL and ACI calculated in the 200–2000 Hz frequency band were also related to high abundance of fish sounds (chorus). These results showed that meadow restoration may lead to the recovery of soundscape and the associated community, suggesting that short term acoustic monitoring can provide complementary information to evaluate seagrass restoration success.

Coral reef protection is fundamental to human rights.

The intensifying loss of coral reefs from global climate change and local stressors has seen international commitments targeted at conservation and repair, for example the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Fulfilling these targets requires decisions to be made on where, when, and how to act, ultimately dictating where limited resources will be deployed. Every choice on action or inaction toward our ocean has direct and indivisible consequences not only for the health of marine ecosystems but also for the health of humans, particularly those who directly depend on marine habitats, both culturally and economically. The well-being of the environment, humans, and animals is interlinked, co-dependent, and even co-produced, as has already been acknowledged by One Health approaches, which endorse a cross- and trans-disciplinary view to health. Coral reefs epitomie how tightly intertwined ecosystem health and the fate of the human and nonhuman communities that depend on them are. A field that thus far remains poorly considered is a human rights-based approach to coral reef protection. A human rights-based approach implements human rights obligations, including the recently affirmed right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, while embedding principles of accountability, nondiscrimination, participation, and empowerment for local and Indigenous communities that ensure effectiveness and meaningful stakeholder engagement. Tying the protection of coral reef ecosystems to human rights emphasises the importance of healthy ecosystems to human well-being and thus the inevitable connection between nonhuman and human life. The general failure to consider coral reef protection through a human rights-based approach is a missed opportunity to expedite reef protection while simultaneously advancing climate justice for both humans and nonhumans.

From land to deep sea: A continuum of cumulative human impacts on marine habitats in Atlantic Canada

AbstractEffective management and mitigation of multiple human impacts on marine ecosystems require accurate knowledge of the spatial patterns of human activities and their overlap with vulnerable habitats. Cumulative impact (CI) mapping combines spatial information and the intensity of human activities with the spatial extent of habitats and their vulnerabilities to those stressors into an intuitive relative CI score that can inform marine spatial planning processes and ecosystem‐based management. Here, we mapped potential CIs of 45 human activities from five sectors (climate change, land‐based, marine‐based, coastal, commercial fishing) on 21 habitats in Atlantic Canada's Scotian Shelf bioregion. We applied an uncertainty and sensitivity analysis to assess the robustness of results and identify hot and cold spots of CIs. Nearly the entire Scotian Shelf bioregion experiences the CIs of human activities, and high CIs were frequently associated with multiple stressors. CIs varied widely across habitats: CI scores in habitats >30 m deep were dominated by climate change and commercial fishing, while nearshore habitats were influenced by a much wider range of activities across all five sectors. When standardized by area, coastal habitats had among the highest CI scores, highlighting the intensity of multiple stressors in these habitats despite their relatively small spatial extent and emphasizing the importance of a multisector approach when managing coastal ecosystems. Robust hot spots of CIs (i.e., areas with high CI scores that were insensitive to alternative modeling assumptions and simulated data quality issues) occurred mostly in coastal areas where multiple high‐intensity activities overlapped with highly vulnerable biogenic habitats. In contrast, robust cold spots of CI mostly occurred offshore. Overall, our results emphasize the need to consider CIs in management and protection and demonstrates that, in many areas, targeting only one activity will be insufficient to reduce overall human impact. The CI map will be useful to highlight areas in need of protection from multiple human impacts, provide information for ecological indicator development, and establish a baseline of the current state of human use in the bioregion.

Antibiotic properties of seaweed-associated heterotrophic Bacilli against drug-resistant pathogens

The increasing prevalence in antibiotic resistance has driven the search for novel bioactive compounds in previously unexplored marine habitats. Seaweed-associated symbionts have emerged as significant sources of novel antibacterials against nosocomial pathogens. Herein, eighty-one bacterial isolates were obtained through culture-dependent isolation of seaweed symbionts from the southern coast of India. Bacillus velezensis SK54 represented the largest share (54 %), followed by Bacillus siamensis SK53 (33 %), Bacillus subtilis SK20 (8 %), and Bacillus filamentous SK55 (5 %). B. siamensis SK53 and B. velezensis SK54, which were separated from seaweeds Turbinaria conoides and Dictyota cervicornis, respectively, demonstrated clearance zones over 25 mm on spot-over-lawn assay against multiple clinical pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA). Selected isolates were sensitive to commercially available antibiotics, and no pathogenicity was observed. The isolates did not amplify pore-forming non-haemolytic haemolysin BL (hbl) and enterotoxin (nhe) genes, and haemolysis on blood agar confirmed their non-pathogenic nature. The bacterial extracts exhibited significant antibacterial activity against the tested pathogens, including MRSA and VRSA, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range of 6.25–12.5 μg/mL. The 700 bp type-I polyketide synthase (pks) genes (OQ657454, OQ706631, OQ737799, and OQ834957) were amplified from the heterotrophic B. siamensis SK53 and B. velezensis SK54, with a 99 % identity in the BLAST search. The substantial antibacterial potential against drug-resistant bacteria, along with the presence of genes encoding bioactive lead molecules, suggests that these marine symbiotic bacteria, B. siamensis SK53 and B. velezensis SK54, could be effective in combating emerging antibiotic resistance.

Effect of oyster shell filling in artificial reefs on flow field environment and assessing the potential of carbon fixation

Artificial reefs are basic fishery facilities for marine habitat conservation and construction. In order to enhance fishery resources and restore the ecological environment in Laizhou Bay, where is an important fishing ground in China, an assembly-type oyster reef was designed based on the biological community, water depth and sea current in Laizhou Bay. This paper studied the effect of filling oyster shell in the assembly-type oyster reef on the flow field distribution by computational fluid dynamics (CFD), optimized the structure of reef, and presented the construction deployment of reef habitat and assessed potential of carbon fixation of oyster reefs. Indexes of upwelling, slow flow and vortex were chosen to describe the flow field effect of oyster reefs. The distribution characteristics of flow field under three types of filling oyster shell were analyzed: filling no shell (UAR), filling shells with an 83.6 void ratio (OAR), and filling shells with a 0 void ratio (FAR). The results showed that the upwelling, vortex and slow flow efficiency indicators of the OAR had obvious advantages compared with the other two filling methods, and the efficiency indicators of OAR with the spacing between basic elements of 280 m and deployment angle of 0° were higher than the others. Finally, according to the study result of filling method, spacing and deployment of oyster reef, the assessment showed that reefs could fix 2178.9 t carbon by themselves on the basis of national marine ranching demonstration area regulations in China.

Identification and application of quality elements, indicators, and criteria for assessment of impact on habitats in marine Natura 2000 areas

The EU Habitat Directive adopted in 1992, requires member states of the European Union to protect species and habitats considered to be of ‘Community Interest’ and listed in annexes to the directive. The appropriate environmental assessment of “plans and projects” is an important part of the conservation process. Despite several amendments and guidelines supporting the implementation of the Habitat Directive, science based operational procedures, indicators, and impact criteria for assessing potential negative impacts on marine Natura 2000 areas are still lacking. The lack of a generic and operational methodology complicates the management of plans and projects with potential impact on marine Natura 2000 areas. In this study, generic methods for the assessment of marine aquaculture in the inner Danish waters in relation to Natura 2000 areas was developed and applied for assessment of nine existing marine fin fish farms, in accordance with the latest methodological guidance on the provisions of Article 6(3) and (4) of the Habitat Directive. The applied methodology is based on high resolution 3D hydrodynamic- and ecosystem modelling (MIKE by DHI), that describes the dynamical physical, chemical, and biogeochemical processes and changes of marine ecosystems in time and space. To our knowledge, this is the first study that formulates operational biological quality elements, key indicators, concrete and generic impact criteria, and assessment procedures for operational assessment across several distinct marine habitat types. The method represents a generic, operational, transparent, and science-based assessment tool, that simplifies management, and is widely applicable for quantification of environmental impacts from various marine activities and eutrophication related pressures across geographical zones and different marine habitat types in marine Natura 2000 areas.

Genomic sequences and annotations of two Pseudomonas species isolated from marine and terrestrial habitats.

Here, we present the complete genome sequences and annotations of two species of the Pseudomonas genus isolated from marine and terrestrial environments. Both genomes and their annotations are available on BacBrowse (https://BacBrowse.univ-nantes.fr). This study will contribute to a better understanding of the diversity present within the Pseudomonas genus.

Utilizing a Dashboard for Efficient Biodiversity Data Overview and Gap-Filling Effort

Taiwan Biodiversity Information Facility has been leading the effort to integrate and mobilize biodiversity data nationally. We recently accomplished the integration of local databases and successfully developed a data portal that efficiently links to the most comprehensive biodiversity database in Taiwan: the Taiwan Biodiversity Information Alliance Data Portal. However, we identified an emerging challenge following this development. Preliminary analyses have revealed several gaps in the current dataset, impeding robust data use. For instance, land data dominates over sea data, and bird records are more abundant than those of other taxonomic groups. In our endeavour to enhance national biodiversity data coverage, we are actively exploring methodologies to address these existing data gaps. Here, we broadly define data gap as the absence of required data or information for use. Our primary objective is to empower users to identify these gaps, thereby facilitating efficient, informed survey planning and eventually filling these gaps. For this purpose, we are evaluating the effectiveness of a user-friendly dashboard, tailored for biodiversity survey planning in Taiwan. We developed and deployed a R Shiny dashboard*1 that provides users with insightful data visualizations that highlight spatial, temporal, and taxonomical data overviews. It also offers customizable filtering options, such as by major taxon groups and habitat types, for easy viewing. Additionally, the dashboard includes a download function, so users can access spatial and taxon gap information in their survey planning efforts. After deploying the dashboard, we conducted user interviews to collect feedback aimed at refining its usability and effectiveness. In addition to helping survey planning, we anticipate that this tool will also aid data users in promptly assessing data integrity within the national biodiversity data portal, thereby enabling them to identify potential data gaps and biases that may affect subsequent use. Through this presentation, we aim to share our experience in developing an interactive dashboard tailored for public use. Preliminary results had indicated that the dashboard highlighted some visible data gaps and biases, particularly in underrepresented areas such as marine habitats and less-studied taxonomic groups. Additionally, user interviews revealed a demand for a feature that provides single species data overviews, suggesting a potential area for further development to enhance the tool's utility. Some challenges remain, such as the need to enhance data granularity and user interface usability. Future work will focus on incorporating more real-time data integration and expanding the range of customizable filters. We believe these efforts will further empower users in Taiwan to conduct more informed and efficient biodiversity surveys, ultimately supporting research and policy-making to address critical biodiversity data gaps.

Simulating the changes of the habitats suitability of chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) in the high seas of the North Pacific Ocean using ensemble models under medium to long-term future climate scenarios

Understanding and forecasting changes in marine habitats due to global climate warming is crucial for sustainable fisheries. Using future environmental data provided by Global Climate Models (GCMs) and occurrence records of Chub mackerel in the North Pacific Ocean (2014–2023), we built eight individual models and four ensemble models to simulate current habitat distribution and forecast changes under three future climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5) for the 2050s and 2100s. Ensemble models outperformed individual ones, with the weighted average algorithm model achieving the highest accuracy (AUC 0.994, TSS 0.929). Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (Chla) significantly influenced habitat distribution. Predictions indicate current high suitability areas for Chub mackerel are concentrated beyond the 200-nautical-mile baseline. Under future climate scenarios, habitat suitability is expected to decline, with a shift towards higher latitudes and deeper waters. High suitability areas will be significantly reduced.

Unveiling mercury levels: Trophic habits influence on bioaccumulation in two Otariid species

Mercury, a toxic metal released by various human activities, exerts environmental stress through its bioaccumulation and biomagnification, particularly in marine habitats. South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) and sea lions (Otaria flavescens) reproduce on the Atlantic coast of Uruguay. As top predators, they can accumulate toxic levels of mercury and are often used as sentinel species for monitoring ecosystem health. Fur seals prey on pelagic species, such as fish and squid, while sea lions consume coastal-benthic prey. We analyzed the total mercury concentration (THg) in hair and the trophic habits (δ13C and δ15N) of females from both species. The average THg concentration in adult female sea lions (30.5 ± 9.3 μg/g dry weight) was significantly higher than in fur seals (6.3 ± 2.5 μg/g dry weight). Additionally, the mean δ15N and δ13C values were significantly higher in sea lion (δ15N: 19.2 ± 0.6‰, δ13C: −13.8 ± 0.2‰) compared to fur seals (δ15N: 16.5 ± 0.5‰, δ13C: −15.5 ± 0.6‰). Our results suggest that different trophic levels and feedings areas affect the THg concentration in Uruguayan Otariids. Notably, at the intraspecific level, the THg concentration in sea lions increased with δ13C values, suggesting a link to coastal feeding habits. This indicates that coastal feeding behaviors, compared to feeding in pelagic environments, enhance mercury bioaccumulation in Otariids along the Uruguayan coast, with the discharge of freshwater from the Río de la Plata (one of the largest estuaries in South America) basin identified as a potential mercury source. THg concentrations found in female sea lion hair are the highest reported in Otariids globally. Mercury levels exceeded toxic thresholds observed in other mammals and could pose significant health risks. Our findings may explain why sea lions were particularly affected by the avian influenza outbreak in Uruguay compared to fur seals. Monitoring the declining sea lion population is crucial, making our results significant for integrated conservation and management strategies.

Estimates of carbon sequestration potential in an expanding Arctic fjord (Hornsund, Svalbard) affected by dark plumes of glacial meltwater

Abstract. In polar regions, glaciers are retreating onto land, gradually widening ice-free coastal waters, which are known to act as new sinks of atmospheric carbon. However, the increasing delivery of inorganic suspended particulate matter (iSPM) with meltwater might significantly impact their capacity to contribute to carbon sequestration. Here, we present an analysis of satellite, meteorological, and SPM data as well as results of a coupled physical–biogeochemical model (1D GOTM-ECOSMO-E2E-Polar) with a newly implemented iSPM group to show the impact of iSPM on the ecosystem dynamics in a warming polar fjord (Hornsund, European Arctic) with numerous shallow-grounded marine-terminating glaciers. Our results indicate that with a longer melt season (9 d per decade, 1979–2022), the loss of sea ice cover (44 d per decade, 1982–2021) and the formation of new marine habitats after the retreat of marine-terminating glaciers (around 100 km2 in 1976–2022, a 38 % increase in the total area), glacial meltwater has transported increasing loads of iSPM from land (3.7 g m−3 per decade, reconstructed for 1979–2022). The simulated light limitation induced by the iSPM input delayed and decreased the peaks in phytoplankton, zooplankton, and macrobenthos. The newly ice-free areas still markedly contributed to plankton primary and secondary production and carbon burial in sediments (5.1, 2.0, and 0.9 Gg C yr−1, respectively, on average for 2005–2009 in the iSPM scenario). However, these values would have been 5.0, 2.1, and 0.1 Gg C yr−1 higher, respectively, without the iSPM input. Since carbon burial was the least affected by iSPM (a decrease of around 16 %, in comparison to 50 % for plankton primary and secondary production), the impact of marine ice loss and enhanced land–ocean connectivity should be investigated further in the context of carbon fluxes in expanding polar fjords.

An exploration of ecoacoustics and its applications in conservation ecology

Our planet is facing unprecedented adversity due to the global impacts of climate change and an emerging sixth mass extinction. These impacts are exacerbated by population and industrial growth, where increased resource extraction is required to meet our insatiable demands. Yet, the tangible elements of our lone inhabited planet in the solar system are not the only things disappearing or being modified. The sounds of Earth are being altered in ways that may never be recovered. Indeed, we occupy a noisier world in this age of machines that comes at a great expense in the form of sonic extinctions. It is profoundly apparent, yet not widely recognized, that conservation efforts must consider the importance of the sonic environment (i.e., sonosphere). Although sound has been integral to life for millions of years, our understanding of its ecological role has only just begun. Sounds are one of the most important extensions of the organismic inner world, becoming testimonials of environmental complexity, integration, and relationships between apparently separated parts. From a semiotic perspective, sounds are signals utilized by many organisms to save energy in patrolling, defending, exploring, and navigating their surroundings. Sounds are tools that establish dynamic biological and ecological competencies through refined partitioning in the natural selection process of evolution. Ecoacoustics is a recent scientific discipline that aims to investigate the role of sound in ecological processes. Despite its youth, Ecoacoustics has had rapid theoretical and applied growth, consolidating a diverse array of research on the ecology of sounds across many disciplines. Here, we present how Ecoacoustics plays a significant role in conservation ecology by exploring the discipline's theoretical framework, new descriptors of sonic complexity, and innovative methods for supporting conservation efforts from singular species to entire landscapes across local and global scales. The combination of automated recording units and ecoacoustic indices present a very promising approach to the study of remote areas, rare species, and data rich analyses. While Ecoacoustics scientists continue to explore this new scientific horizon, we encourage others to consider Ecoacoustics in their conservation agendas because of its application to the study and management of terrestrial, marine, and freshwater habitats.

Reflections on How to Reach the “30 by 30” Target: Identification of and Suggestions on Global Priority Marine Areas for Protection

The establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) is an important method to ensure marine protection. To protect and conserve global marine biodiversity, with the adoption of the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties of Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in December 2022, the establishment of an effectively managed MPA network by 2030 and the protection of 30% of the world’s oceans will be common goals for all countries party to the CBD over the next decade. Based on the distribution of over 150 types of marine species, habitats, ecosystems, and abiotic elements, ArcGIS10.5 and Zonation are used in this study to calculate the marine protection priority levels of coastal, nearshore, open ocean, and deep ocean trench areas, and a plan to reach the “30 by 30” targets is proposed. The suggestions for scientifically identifying and managing MPAs are as follows: first, improve MPA planning and establish a well-connected MPA network in national jurisdictions, then conduct scientific marine investigations to obtain background data on MPA establishment and delimitation.

Diet variation and trophic impact of weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, within multiple marine habitats of the eastern United States.

Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) is not federally managed but feeds on species of management and ecological interest. We examined the trophic ecology of weakfish in Chesapeake Bay and the coastal and offshore waters of the eastern United States. For these areas, we determined the dominant prey of weakfish; identified how much diet variation was explained by the factors: season, size class, and year; and quantified prey biomass removed by weakfish from 2007 to 2019. In general, diet composition was mostly dominated by Engraulidae, Osteichthyes (bony fishes), and Mysidacea, and significantly varied by season and size class in Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters, although this was less dramatic in Chesapeake Bay. The total amount of variance explained by the three factors was 23.1% (Chesapeake Bay) and 14.7% (coastal waters), with year not being a significant factor in explaining weakfish diet variation for these areas. Weakfish total prey biomass removal occurred primarily in coastal waters in the fall and small size class (annual mean: approximately 41,038 t; maximum: approximately 63,793 t). Highly opportunistic feeders, weakfish cannibalism also played an essential part of their diet. These results have implications for fisheries and ecosystem management of weakfish when considering ecological interactions in regulatory approaches, such as recruitment and cannibalism, competition with federally managed fishes, and the natural mortality of their prey.

Role of marine cadastre in supporting efforts towards achieving sustainable development goal 14 in Indonesia

ABSTRACT Indonesia’s maritime sector plays an important role in its economic growth as one of Southeast Asia’s main powers. The sector that includes fishery, transportation and trade supports over seven million jobs in the region. However, the marine ecosystem of Indonesia is presently facing threats from industrial pollution, harmful fishing methods as well as destruction of marine habitats. Proper marine governance needs to be implemented to ensure that these threats do not hamper Indonesia’s growth. The need for proper management of marine ecosystems is addressed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations’ set 17 interlinked goals that serve as the new framework for the international development agenda; specifically, in SDG 14. Marine cadastre has emerged as one of the instruments in the act of marine governance. This paper offers a look into how marine cadastre, as a system within marine governance, can contribute to the implementation of SDG 14 in Indonesia. Three SDG 14 targets relating to the management of marine areas have been identified as having the potential for marine cadastre implementation. Additionally, an overview of the current state of marine cadastre from the legal, technical and institutional aspects is also presented in this paper.