scholarly journals The abundance and speciation of mercury in the Adriatic plankton, bivalves and fish – a review

2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Živković ◽  
Mladen Šolić ◽  
Jože Kotnik ◽  
Suzana Žižek ◽  
Milena Horvat
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Mercury Concentration ◽  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Mercury Speciation ◽  
Mercury Contamination ◽  
Contaminated Food ◽  
Mercury Bioaccumulation ◽  
The Mediterranean

This article presents an overview of available research on mercury speciation in the most studied biota of the Adriatic Sea as a specific biogeochemical subunit of the Mediterranean. We present current knowledge about mercury concentration, speciation, spatial distribution and temporal changes in plankton, bivalves and fish from the Adriatic Sea. Results from mercury speciation studies in marine organisms are used to describe the extent of mercury bioaccumulation in the Adriatic Sea. Mercury biogeochemical cycle in the Adriatic is characterised by increased mercury concentrations from the water column, through plankton, bivalves and smaller fish to predator fish species. Although the Adriatic Sea has the highest mercury concentration in the whole Mediterranean Sea, fish species at the higher trophic levels have similar mercury concentrations everywhere in the Mediterranean, indicating incomplete understanding of the transfer mechanisms of mercury from seawater to upper trophic levels. As consumption of (contaminated) food is the main route of human exposure to mercury, it is of great importance to understand the influence of mercury contamination in the Adriatic Sea.

scholarly journals The abundance, distribution and speciation of mercury in waters and sediments of the Adriatic Sea

2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Živković ◽  
Jože Kotnik ◽  
Mladen Šolić ◽  
Milena Horvat
Keyword(s):  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Mercury Speciation ◽  
Mercury Contamination ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mercury Species ◽  
Chemical Transformations ◽  
The North ◽  
Marginal Sea ◽  
The Mediterranean

This review focuses on mercury speciation in the Adriatic Sea, a marginal sea of the Mediterranean, which represents its distinct biogeochemical subunit due to anthropogenic mercury loadings. The current knowledge about mercury cycling in the Adriatic is presented through an overview of the state of the art of research in this area: temporal and spatial distributions and occurrence of mercury species in seawater and sediment, and chemical transformations. We summarised research results of mercury speciation in order to describe its presence and fate in the Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic Sea represents a net source of mercury to the Mediterranean Sea due to the highest total mercury concentrations observed in the North Adriatic Sea and the highest methylmercury concentrations in the South Adriatic Pit. However, the biogeochemical cycle of mercury is not completely known and our understanding of mercury transport between compartments and its (bio)transformations is limited. Future research needs to focus on microbial and chemical processes of mercury transformations to improve our understanding of the impacts of mercury contamination on the environment and human health in the Adriatic Sea.

scholarly journals Marine Nematodes from the Shallow Subtidal Coast of the Adriatic Sea: Species List and Distribution

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Semprucci
Keyword(s):  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
Marine Nematodes ◽  
Marine Nematode ◽  
Species List ◽  
Intertidal Zones ◽  
The North ◽  
Shallow Subtidal ◽  
The Mediterranean

This study is the first attempt aiming to assess the composition and number of free-living marine nematode species on the coasts of the Marches region, Italy. A high number of putative species of nematodes were recognized (84), these belonging to 52 genera in 22 families. Fifty-one taxa have been identified to the species level increasing the number of known nematode species for the Adriatic Sea from 283 to 310 and for the Mediterranean Sea from 700 to 723. The highest diversity and abundance were registered for the nematode families typically of intertidal zones characterized as medium-fine sands. The majority of the species found in the present study are known to occur in the North European coasts or the North Atlantic Sea, the best known regions for nematode distribution. Inferences on the biogeography of marine nematodes are preliminary since most Biodiversity literature concerning the Mediterranean of the basin is very out of date. Considering the great importance of nematodes in the assessment of ecosystem health conditions, an intensification of sampling efforts should be pursued in other regions in order to improve our current knowledge of the distribution pattern of marine nematode species as well as clarify their biogeographical patterns.

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 Checklist of the Adriatic Sea Fishes

Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2589 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
LOVRENC LIPEJ ◽  
JAKOV DULČIĆ
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Marine Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Lessepsian Migration ◽  
A Minor

An updated checklist is presented for the marine fish fauna in the Adriatic Sea. According to historical and recent sources in scientific literature 440 fish species were up to date recorded in the Adriatic Sea. Only a minor number of species are considered to be a consequence of recent processes known to have occurred in the Mediterranean sea, such as Lessepsian migration, Atlantic influx, northward spreading and cases of escape from mariculture.

Mercury concentrations in diverse lean fish species of the western Mediterranean

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan grimalt ◽  
Marco Capodiferro ◽  
Eva Junque ◽  
Esther Marco
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
World Health ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Small Fish ◽  
Atmospheric Fallout ◽  
Lean Fish ◽  
The Mediterranean

<p>The Mediterranean Sea is a water body in which the concentration of mercury is much higher than in the other world seas and oceans. Most inputs of this metal originate from the general atmospheric fallout. However, in this semi-enclosed environment there are specific sources that should be identified to understand the causes of the high toxicity by this metal. A significant proportion of Mediterranean fish devoted to human consumption is above the mercury threshold set by the European Community as suitable for human consumption. The proportion is even much larger if the recommended World Health Organization threshold is considered.</p><p> </p><p>Oily fish is known for containing mercury concentrations above these thresholds. Lean fish has been investigated in much fewer cases. The present study is devoted to this second fish type that constitutes a substantial component of human diet. Thus, the study of mercury and methylmercury in fish from local fishermen marketed in diverse Mediterranean sites has provided information on the exposure of diverse populations to this metal and has afforded a description of the Mediterranean areas that have received highest mercury spills.</p><p>1350 commercial seafood samples from the Western Mediterranean Sea were collected (Feb 2014-July 2019) in several sites such as Mallorca, Menorca, Eivissa, Alacant (Spain), Marseille (France), Genoa, Alguer, Civitavecchia (Italy). Samples from Egypt and the Atlantic Ocean (Senegal, Mauritania coasts) were also taken for comparison. Fish species were selected considering the most consumed by the population.</p><p>Comparison of the mercury concentrations in the specimens of the same fish species collected at different sites revealed where are the hot spots of introduction of the excess of this metal in comparison to the atmospheric fallout and allowed the identification of the source processes.</p><p>The fish species were grouped in three trophic levels, those feeding on plankton (first), on small fish and crustaceans (second) and on fish and cephalopods (third).</p><p>A considerable number of the analyzed fish species exceeded the maximum levels proposed by the European legislation, such as dusky grouper (100% of the examined specimens), common dentex (65%), conger (45%), common sole (38%), hake (26%) and angler (15%), among others. Representation of the Hg concentrations vs. weight of each specimen from the third trophic level showed a significant positive correlation, r = 0.78 (p < 0.01).</p><p>The average THg intake due to fish consumption, 0.61 µg/g ww, involved Hg estimated weekly intakes of 5.7 µg/kg bw for children aged 7-12 years and 4.4 µg/kg bw for adults. These values were higher than the provisional tolerable weekly intakes for total Hg intake recommended by FAO/WHO, 4 µg/kg bw, 140% and 110%, respectively.</p>

scholarly journals Observations on the Feeding of Drymonema dalmatinum in the Gulf of Trieste

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Saul Ciriaco ◽  
Lisa Faresi ◽  
Marco Segarich
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Gulf Of Trieste ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Scyphozoan Jellyfish

The largest scyphozoan jellyfish of the Mediterranean Sea, Drymonema dalmatinum was first described by Haeckel [1] from material collected off the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea [...]

scholarly journals Distribution of mercury species in different tissues and trophic levels of commonly consumed fish species from the south Bay of Biscay (France)

2021 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 112172
Author(s):  
Tiphaine Mille ◽  
Amaëlle Bisch ◽  
Nathalie Caill-Milly ◽  
Pierre Cresson ◽  
Jonathan Deborde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Mercury Species ◽  
Bay Of Biscay ◽  
The South ◽  
Different Tissues

A new look on the morphometric characteristics of Congridae leptocephali from the southern Adriatic Sea

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
M. Mandić ◽  
I. Leonori ◽  
A. De Felice ◽  
S. Gvozdenović ◽  
A. Pešić
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Pelagic Fish ◽  
Morphometric Parameters ◽  
Morphological Features ◽  
Morphometric Characteristics ◽  
Small Pelagic Fish ◽  
Acoustic Surveys ◽  
Western Side ◽  
Conger Conger

Abstract Anguillid leptocephali of three Congridae species (Conger conger, Ariosoma balearicum and Gnathophis mistax) were caught as bycatch of pelagic trawls during acoustic surveys targeting small pelagic fish species in the southern Adriatic Sea, carried out under the framework of the Italian MEDIAS project (western side) and its extension in the ambit of the FAO AdriaMed project (eastern side). Results refer to the findings of Congridae leptocephali during surveys conducted in 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016. A total of 25 specimens were caught and analysed (morphological features and pigmentation patterns). Leptocephali of Conger conger were found in the range of 8.4–13.1 cm total length (TL) (between 50 and 132 m depth), Ariosoma balearicum from 9.7–12.2 cm TL (between 50 and 128 m depth) and for Gnathophis mystax in the range from 6.4–11.7 cm TL (between 40 and 79 m depth). The results indicate that the southern Adriatic Pit could be the spawning area of these species in the Adriatic Sea. Present data represent a contribution to existing knowledge about the ecology of leptocephali from the Congridae family in the southern Adriatic Sea, and also indicate the existence of differences in morphometric parameters between different areas, that is, the possibility of the existence of new geographic lines within the genus Ariosoma in the Adriatic Sea.

Mercury in the Marine Environment: Concentration in Sea Water and in a Pelagic Food Chain

1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Williams ◽  
H. V. Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Bottom Sediment ◽  
Food Chain ◽  
Mercury Concentration ◽  
Vertical Profile ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Mercury Content ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Single Station ◽  
Almost All

Mercury in seawater, in a pelagic food chain, and in bottom sediment was determined at a single station 430 km southeast of San Diego, California. The concentration of mercury in zooplankton slightly increased with depth of collection. The mercury content in almost all of the higher trophic levels of organisms collected at greater depths was indistinguishable from the concentration of mercury in zooplankton at these depths. Mercury concentration in the seawater column was essentially constant below 100 m and significantly higher at the surface. This vertical profile of mercury content is not ascribable to biological activity.

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