scholarly journals The Effect of Depth on the Morphology, Bacterial Clearance, and Respiration of the Mediterranean Sponge Chondrosia reniformis (Nardo, 1847)

Marine Drugs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mert Gökalp ◽  
Tjitske Kooistra ◽  
Miguel Soares Rocha ◽  
Tiago H. Silva ◽  
Ronald Osinga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Morphological Plasticity ◽  
Bacterial Clearance ◽  
Depth Gradient ◽  
Mediterranean Populations ◽  
Collagen Production ◽  
Growth Physiology ◽  
Overall Performance

To support the successful application of sponges for water purification and collagen production, we evaluated the effect of depth on sponge morphology, growth, physiology, and functioning. Specimens of Eastern Mediterranean populations of the sponge Chondrosia reniformis (Nardo, 1847) (Demospongiae, Chondrosiida, Chondrosiidae) were reciprocally transplanted between 5 and 20 m depth within the Kaş-Kekova Marine Reserve Area. Control sponges at 5 m had fewer but larger oscula than their conspecifics at 20 m, and a significant inverse relationship between the osculum density and size was found in C. reniformis specimens growing along a natural depth gradient. Sponges transplanted from 20 to 5 m altered their morphology to match the 5 m control sponges, producing fewer but larger oscula, whereas explants transplanted from 5 to 20 m did not show a reciprocal morphological plasticity. Despite the changes in morphology, the clearance, respiration, and growth rates were comparable among all the experimental groups. This indicates that depth-induced morphological changes do not affect the overall performance of the sponges. Hence, the potential for the growth and bioremediation of C. reniformis in mariculture is not likely to change with varying culture depth. The collagen content, however, was higher in shallow water C. reniformis compared to deeper-growing sponges, which requires further study to optimize collagen production.

scholarly journals Mitogenomics of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) reveals dramatic loss of diversity and supports historical gene-flow between Atlantic and eastern Mediterranean populations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alba Rey-Iglesia ◽  
Philippe Gaubert ◽  
Gonçalo Espregueira Themudo ◽  
Rosa Pires ◽  
Constanza De La Fuente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Gene Flow ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Mediterranean Populations ◽  
Geographic Ranges ◽  
Western Sahara ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus is one of the most threatened marine mammals, with only 600–700 individuals restricted to three populations off the coast of Western Sahara and Madeira (North Atlantic) and between Greece and Turkey (eastern Mediterranean). Its original range was from the Black Sea (eastern Mediterranean) to Gambia (western African coast), but was drastically reduced by commercial hunting and human persecution since the early stages of marine exploitation. We here analyse 42 mitogenomes of Mediterranean monk seals, from across their present and historical geographic ranges to assess the species population dynamics over time. Our data show a decrease in genetic diversity in the last 200 years. Extant individuals presented an almost four-fold reduction in genetic diversity when compared to historical specimens. We also detect, for the first time, a clear segregation between the two North Atlantic populations, Madeira and Cabo Blanco, regardless of their geographical proximity. Moreover, we show the presence of historical gene-flow between the two water basins, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and the presence of at least one extinct maternal lineage in the Mediterranean. Our work demonstrates the advantages of using full mitogenomes in phylogeographic and conservation genomic studies of threatened species.

scholarly journals Comparing demersal megafaunal species diversity along the depth gradient within the South Aegean and Cretan Seas (Eastern Mediterranean)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. e0184241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiota Peristeraki ◽  
George Tserpes ◽  
Nikolaos Lampadariou ◽  
Kostantinos I. Stergiou
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Depth Gradient ◽  
The South

Local adaptation of a Lessepsian invader species to winter conditions in the Mediterranean Sea

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Débora Silva Raposo ◽  
Raphaël Morard ◽  
Christiane Schmidt ◽  
Michal Kucera
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Yield ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Red Sea ◽  
Photosynthetic Activity ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Effective Quantum Yield ◽  
Mediterranean Populations ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
Invasion Front ◽  
The Mediterranean

<p>In recent decades the “Lessepsian” migration caused a rapid change in the marine community composition due to the invasion of alien species from the Red Sea into the Mediterranean Sea. Among these invaders is the large benthic foraminifera <em>Amphistegina lobifera</em>, a diatom-bearing species that recently reached the invasion front in Sicily. There it copes with colder winters and broader temperature than in its original source, the Red Sea. It is not yet known how (or if) the population from the invasion front has developed adaptation to this new thermal regime. Understanding the modern marine invasive patterns is a crucial tool to predict future invasive successes in marine environments. Therefore, in this study we aim to evaluate the physiological responses to cold temperatures of <em>A. lobifera</em> populations at three different invasive stages: source (Red Sea), early invader (Eastern Mediterranean) and invasion front (Sicily). For this, we conducted a culturing experiment in which we monitored the responses of the foraminifera (growth, motility) to temperatures of 10, 13, 16, 19°C + control (25°C) over four weeks. To address what is the role of their endosymbionts in the adaptation process, we also monitored their photosynthetic activity (Pulse Amplitude Modulation - PAM fluorometer) during the experiment. The growth rate of the foraminifera was reduced for all populations below 19°C as well as the motility, reduced until 16°C and dropping to zero below 13°C. The response of the endosymbionts was however different. There was a reduced photosynthetic activity of the Red Sea and Eastern Mediterranean populations at colder temperatures observed by the lower maximum quantum yield (Fv:Fm) and effective quantum yield (Y(II)), when compared to their initial levels and to the other treatments. In the meantime, the endosymbionts of the Sicily population stood out with the highest photosynthetic activity (Fv:Fm and Y(II)) in the treatments bellow 13 °C (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we observed that while the host responses were similar between the three populations, the endosymbionts from the invasion front population shows the best performance at colder temperatures. This suggests that the photo-symbiosis has an important role in adaptation, most likely being a key factor to the success of past and future migrations.</p>

scholarly journals The Interaction between Genetic Polymorphisms in FTO and TCF7L2 Genes and Dietary Intake with Regard to Body Mass and Composition: An Exploratory Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Nasreddine ◽  
Reem Akika ◽  
Aurelie Mailhac ◽  
Hani Tamim ◽  
Nathalie Zgheib
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Risk Allele ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Candidate Snps ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Mediterranean Populations

In contrast to the large number of genetic studies on obesity, there has been significantly less nutrigenetics investigation of the interaction between diet and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in obesity, especially within Eastern Mediterranean populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential interactions between three candidate SNPs, namely, rs1558902 and rs9939609 in the fat mass and obesity (FTO) gene and the rs7903146 variant of the Transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) gene, and macronutrient intake with regard to obesity, body fat, and muscle composition. Three hundred and eight healthy Lebanese adults were included in this study. Data collection included a questionnaire for demographics and lifestyle in addition to a detailed dietary assessment using a culture-specific 80-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. This was coupled with anthropometric measurements and peripheral blood withdrawal for DNA and genotyping using Taqman allele discrimination assays. The two FTO candidate SNPs were not associated with risk of obesity in this population sample, yet there was a trend, though not a significant one, towards lower muscle mass among carriers of the risk allele of either FTO SNPs. To our knowledge, these results have not been previously reported. As for the TCF7L2 rs7903146 variant, results were congruent with the literature, given that individuals who were homozygous for the risk allele had significantly higher body mass index (BMI) and body fat despite lower intakes of saturated fat. Similar interactions, though not significant, were shown with muscle mass, whereby individuals who were homozygous for the risk allele had lower muscle mass with higher intakes of saturated fat, a result that, to our knowledge, has not been previously reported.

Potential cryptic speciation in Mediterranean populations of Ophioderma (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2071 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
SABINE STÖHR ◽  
EMILIE BOISSIN ◽  
ANNE CHENUIL
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Body Colour ◽  
Separate Species ◽  
Mediterranean Populations ◽  
Weak Support ◽  
Brooding Period ◽  
Eastern Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Coi Sequences

Ophioderma longicauda is a large brittlestar species, common in the Mediterranean Sea and spread across the subtropical-tropical eastern Atlantic Ocean. Recently, a morphologically similar brooding form of O. longicauda was discovered in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The brooding period is restricted to late May and early June and the largest females brood over 1,000 juveniles, all of the same ontogenetic stage. Brooders differ from non-brooding O. longicauda in body colour (dominated by green instead of red), gonad colour (in alcohol white instead of oliveto reddish-brown) and size (up to 17 mm disk diameter instead of 30 mm). These characters overlap between both forms though. Molecular data (mt-COI sequences) lend weak support to the existence of two separate species, but suggest that if a split occurred it is recent and both forms interbreed. Alternatively, the eastern Mediterranean populations could represent a poecilogonous subgroup of O. longicauda.

scholarly journals Tritonia nilsodhneri Marcus Ev., 1983 (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Tritoniidae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Furfaro ◽  
Egidio Trainito ◽  
Franco De Lorenzi ◽  
Marco Fantin ◽  
Mauro Doneddu
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
New Host ◽  
Host Preferences ◽  
Mediterranean Populations ◽  
Eastern Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Basin ◽  
The Mediterranean

The nudibranch Tritonia nilsodhneri, usually feeding on a variety of gorgoniacean species, is known from different localities of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Knowledge of the host preferences of the Mediterranean populations is still scarce. Few records of this nudibranch have been reported from the eastern Mediterranean basin. With this report, the occurrence of T. nilsodhneri within the Mediterranean basin is extended to the Adriatic Sea. Furthermore, the list of the host species associated to the Mediterranean populations for feeding habits is increased from two up to five. Mediterranean specimens of T. nilsodhneri were observed for the first time feeding and spawning on Leptogorgia sarmentosa, Eunicella cavolini and E. labiata. Finally, these last two Gorgoniidae species are also reported here as a new host species for T. nilsodhneri.

scholarly journals Potential effects of elevated temperature on seasonal movements in slipper lobsters, Scyllarides latus (Latreille, 1803), in the eastern Mediterranean

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
JASON SETH GOLDSTEIN ◽  
EHUD SPANIER
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Ecology ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Average Distance ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Seasonal Movements ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Thermal Preferences ◽  
Insight Into

Temperature serves a predominant motivator for movement and activity over a wide range of mobile marine ectotherms. Water temperature modulates the movements of many lobster species, which can vary widely over spatial and temporal scales. Providing insight into the thermal preferences (and refuges) that some lobsters seek remains a key tenet to our understanding of the behavioral ecology of these animals. The Mediterranean slipper lobster (Scyllarides latus) shows seasonal movements throughout most of its range and is subject to a changing thermal environment. We examined the seasonal movements of S. latus within a small marine reserve (Rosh Hanikra Marine Reserve, RHR) off the coast of Israel and tested the hypothesis that S. latus engage in increased movements when subjected to temperatures outside their range. We conducted a field survey in the RHR and tagged lobsters (n = 81, carapace length, CLavg= 88.7 ± 4.6) to investigate their activity during their putative summer movement. In the lab, we exposed a separate set of lobsters (n = 10, CLavg= 83.1 ± 6.1) to the same thermal profiles as in the field and assayed their locomotion using activity wheels. Field results revealed that lobsters tagged in shallow waters moved to deeper, cooler waters (~ 30 m) over the course of 2-2.5 months traveling an average distance of 3.4 km (range = 1-5 km). Our lab results showed that S. latus are more active at higher temperatures, but moreover, revealed that warming water temperatures elicited markedly longer movements over a similar timeframe. Combined, these findings suggest that increasing water temperatures in the eastern Mediterranean (Levant) may affect lobster movements and could alter seasonal patterns of distribution as well.

scholarly journals Regional environmental conditions determine tolerance to future warming of a marine macroalgae forests

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Verdura ◽  
Sonia de Caralt ◽  
Jorge Santamaria ◽  
Alba Vergés ◽  
Luisa Mangialajo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Temperature Tolerance ◽  
Marine Macroalgae ◽  
Marine Habitat ◽  
Mediterranean Populations ◽  
Temperature Regimes ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract: In the Mediterranean Sea, many species of Cystoseira, which are important habitat-forming species on shallow rocky bottoms, have gone missing from many coastal areas, impairing essential ecosystem services. Cystoseira crinita forests thrive in very shallow waters from sheltered environments and are currently regressing in several European shores. In the actual scenario of ocean warming it is essential to determine the vulnerability of these populations to thermal stress in order to design future conservation actions. Since the response of this macroalgae to thermal stress may be site-specific, here we compared the thermal tolerance of populations dwelling in the coldest and warmest areas of the Mediterranean Sea. We show that C. crinita populations from warmer areas (Eastern Mediterranean) had a temperature tolerance threshold 2ºC higher than Northwestern Mediterranean populations. There is a strong correlation between the observed differential phenotypic responses and the local temperature regimes experienced by each population. This is the first evidence for the role of thermal history in shaping the thermotolerance responses marine habitat-forming macroalgae under contrasting temperature environments. Financial support from EU2020 (R+I) under grant agreement No 689518 (MERCES) and MINECO (CGL2016-76341-R).

scholarly journals The Impact of an Extreme Storm Event on the Barrier Beach of the Lefkada Lagoon, NE Ionian Sea (Greece)

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 562 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. GHIONIS ◽  
S. E. POULOS ◽  
E. VERYKIOU ◽  
A. KARDITSA ◽  
G. ALEXANDRAKIS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Barometric Pressure ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Storm Event ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Ionian Sea ◽  
Barrier Beach ◽  
The North ◽  
The Impact

The present investigation examines the characteristics of a high energy storm event, that took place on November 9-11, 2007 in the NE Ionian Sea (eastern Mediterranean), and its impact upon the barrier beach that separates the Lefkada lagoon from the open Ionian Sea. The storm event was caused by NW winds with speeds exceeding 20 m/s (40 knots), which have an annual frequency of occurrence less than 0.015%. This high energy event produced waves with >5 m significant offshore height and 9.5 s period; these waves developed on 10th November during the rapid rise of barometric pressure (~1.4 hPa/hr), which followed the barometric pressure drop from 1020.5 hPa at 06:00 (UTC) of 9th November to 1001.7 hPa at 06:00 h (UTC) of 10th November. Secondary breaking at the shoreline produced wave heights >1.5 m, associated with a surge of >0.4 m and a run-up capability of >2.4 m. The waves managed to overtop the barrier beach (elevations ~2.5 m), lowering the seaward side of the barrier beach by 10-30 cm and causing a coastline retreat of 0.9 to 2.2 m; these morphological changes correspond volumetrically to a sediment loss of approximately 8 m3/m of coastline length from the sub-aerial part of the beach. During the last three decades a significant change in the frequency of occurrence and direction (from S-SW-W to N-NW-NE) of severe storms with wind speeds exceeding 40 knots has been recorded, affecting the sediment transport pattern and contributing to the erosion of the north beaches of Lefkada.

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