scholarly journals Catching the big picture of the Mediterranean Sea biodiversity with an end-to-end model of climate and fishing impacts

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabien Moullec ◽  
Laure Velez ◽  
Philippe Verley ◽  
Nicolas Barrier ◽  
Caroline Ulses ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Change ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Integrated Modelling ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Large Spatial Scale ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
End To End ◽  
The Mediterranean

AbstractThe Mediterranean Sea is among the main hotspots of marine biodiversity in the world. Under combined pressures of fishing activities and climate change it has also become a hotspot of global change, with increased concern about the worsening status of marine exploited species. More integrated modelling approaches are needed to anticipate global change impacts in the Mediterranean Sea, in order to help decision makers prioritizing management actions and strategies, mitigating impacts and adapting to changes. Our challenge was to develop a holistic model of the marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea with an explicit representation of the spatial multispecies dynamics of exploited resources under the combined influence of climate variability and fishing pressure. An individual-based ecosystem model OSMOSE (Object-oriented Simulator of Marine ecOSystEms), including 100 marine species (fish, cephalopods and crustaceans) and representing about 95 % of the total declared catches, has been implemented for the first time at a high spatial resolution (400 km2) and at a large spatial scale (whole Mediterranean basin). The coupling of OSMOSE to the NEMOMED 12 physical model, and to the Eco3M-S biogeochemical and low trophic level model has been achieved to build the OSMOSE-MED end-to-end model. We fitted OSMOSE-MED to observed and estimated data of biomass and commercial catches using a likelihood approach and an evolutionary optimization algorithm. The outputs of OSMOSE-MED were then verified against observed biomass and catches, and confronted to independent datasets (MEDITS data, diet compositions and trophic levels). Although some improvements are suggested for future developments, the model results at different hierarchical levels, from individuals up to the ecosystem scale, were consistent with current knowledge and observations on the structure, the functioning and the dynamics of the ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea. All the modelling steps, from the comprehensive representation of key ecological processes and feedbacks, the careful parameterization of the model, the confrontation to observed data, and the positive outcome from the validation process, allowed to strengthen the degree of realism of OSMOSE-MED and its relevance as an impact model to explore the futures of marine biodiversity under scenarios of global change, and as a tool to support the implementation of ecosystem-based fisheries management in the Mediterranean Sea.

scholarly journals Perfuorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), Brominated Dioxins (PBDDs) and Furans (PBDFs) in Wild and Farmed Organisms at Different Trophic Levels in the Mediterranean Sea

Toxics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Fattore ◽  
Renzo Bagnati ◽  
Andrea Colombo ◽  
Roberto Fanelli ◽  
Roberto Miniero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Perfluorooctanoic Acid ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Sea Bream ◽  
Farmed Fish ◽  
European Sea Bass ◽  
Marine Aquaculture ◽  
Fishery Products ◽  
The Mediterranean

The present study shows the results of perfuorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), brominated dioxins (PBDDs) and furans (PBDFs) measured in several marine fish and seafood of commercial interest at different trophic levels of the food chain. The aims were to investigate the level of the contamination in Mediterranean aquatic wildlife, and in farmed fish, to assess human exposure associated to fishery products consumption. Samples of wild fish were collected during three different sampling campaigns in different Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 37 areas of the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, farmed fish (gilthead sea bream and European sea bass) from off-shore cages from different marine aquaculture plants. Results showed contamination values of PFOS and PFOA were lower than those detected in sea basins other than the Mediterranean Sea. Concentration values of PFOS were generally higher than those of PFOA; moreover, levels in farmed fish were lower than in wild samples from the Mediterranean Sea. Intake of PFOS and PFOA through fishery products consumption was estimated to be 2.12 and 0.24 ng/kg·BW·day, respectively, for high consumers (95th percentile). Results of 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners of PBDDs and PBDFs were almost all below the limit of detection (LOD), making it difficult to establish the contribution of these compounds to the total contamination of dioxin-like compounds in fish and fishery products.

scholarly journals New Mediterranean Marine biodiversity records (June 2013)

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 238 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. SIOKOU ◽  
A.S. ATES ◽  
D. AYAS ◽  
J. BEN SOUISSI ◽  
T. CHATTERJEE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Aegean Sea ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Red Data Book ◽  
Gulf Of Tunis ◽  
The North ◽  
Levantine Sea ◽  
Data Book ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Flora Of Cyprus

This paper concerns records of species that have extended their distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. The finding of the rare brackish angiosperm Althenia filiformis in the island of Cyprus is interesting since its insertion in the Red Data Book of the Flora of Cyprus is suggested. The following species enriched the flora or fauna lists of the relevant countries: the red alga Sebdenia dichotoma (Greece), the hydrachnid mite Pontarachna adriatica (Slovenia), and the thalassinid Gebiacantha talismani (Turkey). Several alien species were recorded in new Mediterranean localities. The record of the burrowing goby Trypauchen vagina in the North Levantine Sea (Turkish coast), suggests the start of spreading of this Lessepsian immigrant in the Mediterranean Sea. The findings of the following species indicate the extension of their occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea: the foraminifer Amphistegina lobifera (island of Zakynthos, Greece), the medusa Cassiopea andromeda (Syria), the copepod Centropages furcatus (Aegean Sea), the decapod shrimp Melicertus hathor (island of Kastellorizo, Greece), the crab Menoethius monoceros (Gulf of Tunis), the barnacles Balanus trigonus, Megabalanus tintinnabulum, Megabalanus coccopoma and the bivalves Chama asperella, Cucurbitula cymbium (Saronikos Gulf, Greece).

scholarly journals Integrated modelling of sea-state forecasts for safe navigation and operational management in ports: Application in the Mediterranean Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 89 ◽  
pp. 1206-1234
Author(s):  
Christos Makris ◽  
Yannis Androulidakis ◽  
Theofanis Karambas ◽  
Andreas Papadimitriou ◽  
Anastasios Metallinos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Integrated Modelling ◽  
Sea State ◽  
Safe Navigation ◽  
Operational Management ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals Morphological and molecular characterization of the toxic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata (Dinophyta) from Brazil (South Atlantic Ocean)

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Gómez ◽  
Dajun Qiu ◽  
Rubens M. Lopes ◽  
Senjie Lin
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Lsu Rdna ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Cell Dimensions ◽  
Sw Atlantic ◽  
The Mediterranean

Ostreopsis cf. ovata is a toxic epiphytic dinoflagellate widely distributed in warm waters that often co-occur with species of the genera Coolia, Fukuyoa, Gambierdiscus and Prorocentrum. We investigated a strain isolated from the coast of Ubatuba, Brazil (South-West Atlantic Ocean) by light and epifluorescence microscopies; we also report molecular data based on the LSU rDNA and ITS markers. Cells were 35-65 µm in the dorso-ventral diameter and 20-40 µm wide. We obtained the sequence of a ~1900 base pair region of the rRNA gene cistron. In the LSU rDNA phylogeny, the sequences under the names O. ovata and O. cf. ovata branched into three clades. The ITS marker showed greater resolving power and the sequences of O. ovata/O. cf. ovata split into five clades. Our ITS sequence branched in a clade with sequences of strains from the Mediterranean Sea, European Atlantic coasts, subtropical NE Atlantic, other sequences from Brazil at Rio de Janeiro, and a few sequences from Japan. The cell dimensions and thecal plate arrangement were under the variability range reported in other ocean regions. Our observations confirm O. cf. ovata as the most commonly recorded species of Ostreopsis in the SW Atlantic Ocean. Ostreopsis cf. ovata co-occurred with Coolia malayensis in Brazil and Asia, but it has been commonly reported from the Mediterranean Sea, where C. malayensis has not yet been recorded; while Coolia malayensis has been reported from the Caribbean Sea, but not O. ovata. With the current knowledge, it is difficult to understand the factors that determine the biogeography of the tropical epiphytic dinoflagellates. 

scholarly journals Hydrodynamic controls on connectivity of the high commercial value shrimp Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846) in the Mediterranean Sea

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Quattrocchi ◽  
Matteo Sinerchia ◽  
Francesco Colloca ◽  
Fabio Fiorentino ◽  
Germana Garofalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Stock Assessment ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Nursery Areas ◽  
The North ◽  
North Side ◽  
Parapenaeus Longirostris ◽  
The Mediterranean

AbstractIn the Strait of Sicily (SoS), a wide passage of the Mediterranean Sea, Parapenaeus longirostris, (Lucas, 1846; DPS hereafter) is the main target species of trawl fisheries, with an estimated annual market value of about 80 million euro. The exploitation of this resource is shared between Italian, Tunisian and Maltese bottom trawlers and its management raises social, economic and environmental interests. Recent stock assessment revealed high fishing mortalities and low size at first capture, thus promoting the adoption of a strategic plan for a sustainable management. However, the current knowledge of the geographical boundaries of the stock, supporting  the implementation of such management plan is still poor. In this respect, under different hydrodynamic regimes, particle-tracking modelling was used to explore connectivity between both, known and unexplored, spawning and nursery areas of DPS in the SoS. Ensembles scenarios derived by model outcomes displayed decadal changes in connectivity between spawning and nursery areas in the north side of the SoS, hence confirming the presence of a single stock in this area. Expanding the area of investigation, the model results showed weak connectivity between spawning ground in the north side of SoS and nurseries on the African shelf-break. This method could support the spatial management of the stock, such as the protection of the nursery and spawning areas, by providing estimates of how connectivity is influenced by hydrodynamic regimes at different temporal and spatial scales.

scholarly journals Major contribution of prokaryotes to carbon fluxes in the pelagic microbial food webs of the Mediterranean Sea

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Zoccarato ◽  
Anna Malusà ◽  
Serena Fonda Umani
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Trophic Conditions ◽  
Major Pathway ◽  
Carbon Transfer ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Autotrophic Biomass ◽  
Heterotrophic Prokaryotes ◽  
The Mediterranean

<p>In this study, we carried out dilution experiments at the surface and in the mesopelagic and bathypelagic layers at 15 sites in the Mediterranean Sea that covered a wide range of trophic conditions. The main aim was to test the hypothesis that prokaryotes, and particularly heterotrophic prokaryotes, are pivotal in sustaining both nanoplankton and microzooplankton energy requirements at all of the considered trophic states. These data highlight that bacterivory is the major pathway of organic carbon transfer in the oligotrophic and meso-eutrophic environments. The microzooplankton mostly feed on prokaryotes, directly or indirectly (through nanoplankton exploitation), rather than on microalgae. Under eutrophic conditions, herbivory is the main trophic pathway; however, the heterotrophic prokaryotes always represent an important source of carbon. The lowest food-web efficiency <em>(i.e</em>., ratio between productivity of the highest trophic level and productivity of the lower trophic levels) was determined for the eutrophic status due to possible grazer satiation, which translates into an excess of autotrophic biomass available for export or transfer to higher trophic levels. The food-web efficiency is higher under mesoeutrophic and oligotrophic conditions, where the main pathway is bacterivory. In the mesopelagic and bathypelagic layers, only nanoplankton predation on heterotrophic prokaryotes was investigated. The food-web efficiency in these layers was relatively high and nanoplankton appear to efficiently exploit the available biomass of heterotrophic prokaryotes.</p>

scholarly journals Biomass accumulation across trophic levels: analysis of landings for the Mediterranean Sea

2014 ◽  
Vol 512 ◽  
pp. 201-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Pranovi ◽  
S Libralato ◽  
M Zucchetta ◽  
J Link
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
The Mediterranean
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