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Biology
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Marine Wildlife and Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: What's New?
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Marine Wildlife and Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: What's New?

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 8781

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Emilio Sperone

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, Università della Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
Interests: ecology and behaviour of marine megafauna; systematic and zoology of elasmobranchs, fish and marine mammals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Despite representing less than 1% of the surface of our planet covered by marine waters, the Mediterranean sea is home to a rich biodiversity, with over 17,000 species reported. This basin hosts approximately 7.5% of the world's biodiversity and, therefore, the species richness per area is roughly 10 times higher than the world average. This surprising biodiversity is the result of the intertwining of millennia of human and natural events. Excessive and illegal fishing, pollution (plastic and chemical contaminants), the continuous increase in maritime traffic, the invasion of alien species and the acidification of the waters are the main phenomena that affect biodiversity today and the delicate balance on which is the ecosystem of the "Mare Nostrum". The purpose of this Special Issue is two-fold: On the one hand, it aims to collect contributions pertaining to the composition, structure and ecology of the marine wildlife biodiversity of the Mediterranean sea, from the lowest (genetic diversity) to the highest (community) level of biological complexity, without neglecting the phenomena of speciation or past and ongoing biogeographical processes. On the other hand, this Special Issue also aims to collect significant contributions regarding the effects of disturbing or threatening factors affecting the Mediterranean on wildlife biodiversity.

Dr. Emilio Sperone
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodiversity
  • ecology
  • biogeography
  • taxonomy
  • speciation

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2694 KiB  
Article
Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in the Muscle of the Blackmouth Catshark Galeus melastomus from Mediterranean Waters
by Samira Gallo, Gianluca Nania, Valentina Caruso, Giorgia Zicarelli, Francesco Luigi Leonetti, Gianni Giglio, Giorgio Fedele, Chiara Romano, Massimiliano Bottaro, Olga Mangoni, Danilo Scannella, Sergio Vitale, Fabio Falsone, Giacomo Sardo, Michele Luca Geraci, Alessandra Neri, Letizia Marsili, Cecilia Mancusi, Donatella Barca and Emilio Sperone
Biology 2023, 12(7), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12070951 - 03 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1436
Abstract
Environmental pollution, particularly in the marine environment, has become a significant concern due to the increasing presence of pollutants and their adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. This study focuses on the bioaccumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of the [...] Read more.
Environmental pollution, particularly in the marine environment, has become a significant concern due to the increasing presence of pollutants and their adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. This study focuses on the bioaccumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of the blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) from different areas in the Mediterranean Sea. Trace elements are of interest due to their persistence, toxicity, and potential for bioaccumulation. This research aims to assess the distribution and accumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of G. melastomus and investigate their potential impact on the deep-sea environment of the Mediterranean. The focused areas include the Ligurian Sea, the northern and central Tyrrhenian Sea, the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ionian Sea, the Pantelleria Waters, and the Gela Waters. Samples were collected following established protocols, and trace element analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The study provides data on the concentrations of 17 trace elements, namely aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, zinc, selenium, strontium, lead, chromium, iron, barium, bismuth, and uranium. The findings contribute to a better understanding of trace element bioaccumulation patterns in elasmobranch species, specifically G. melastomus, and highlight the potential risks associated with chemical contamination in the Mediterranean Sea. This research emphasizes the importance of studying the impacts of pollutants on marine organisms, particularly those occupying key ecological roles, like sharks, to support effective conservation and management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Wildlife and Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: What's New?)
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22 pages, 5260 KiB  
Article
How Rare Are Argonautoidea Octopuses in the Mediterranean? New Data from Stranding Events, Stomach Contents and Genetics
by Pietro Battaglia, Cristina Pedà, Carmen Rizzo, Maria Giulia Stipa, Erika Arcadi, Francesco Longo, Giovanni Ammendolia, Mauro Cavallaro, Ignazio Rao, Alberto Villari, Rosario Calogero, Pierpaolo Consoli, Mauro Sinopoli, Franco Andaloro and Teresa Romeo
Biology 2023, 12(3), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12030420 - 09 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1829
Abstract
The present paper represents the first all-encompassing study on all Mediterranean holopelagic octopods belonging to Argonautoidea (Argonauta argo, Ocythoe tuberculata, Tremoctopus gracilis, Tremoctopus violaceus). Argonautoidea octopuses were collected by different sampling methods in the Strait of Messina and southern Tyrrhenian Sea. [...] Read more.
The present paper represents the first all-encompassing study on all Mediterranean holopelagic octopods belonging to Argonautoidea (Argonauta argo, Ocythoe tuberculata, Tremoctopus gracilis, Tremoctopus violaceus). Argonautoidea octopuses were collected by different sampling methods in the Strait of Messina and southern Tyrrhenian Sea. The aim of this paper was to improve knowledge, using information from different data sources, such as the study of stranded individuals or accidental caught specimens, as well as the analysis of stomach content of large pelagic fishes. Moreover, we investigated their taxonomic profile through the amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Overall, 47 fresh holopelagic octopods were collected, including valuable records of rare males. Moreover, 330 Argonautoidea octopuses were found in the stomachs of 800 predators. The results provided evidence that these cephalopods are more abundant than thought in the past. The molecular approach supported the ecological results with interesting insights. The similarity-based identifications and tree-based methods indicated that three females could be identified as Tremoctopus violaceus in agreement with their morphological classifications. The sequences obtained from the two T. gracilis individuals were clustered with the sequences of Tremoctopus violaceus from the Gulf of Mexico and were differentiated from the sequences attributed to T. gracilis and T. robsoni. The study represents a valuable contribution to the genetic characterization of Mediterranean individuals of the genera Tremoctopus, Argonauta and Ocythoe. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Wildlife and Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: What's New?)
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17 pages, 7601 KiB  
Article
Two Decades of Coastal Dolphin Population Surveys in Israel, Eastern Mediterranean
by Ori Galili, Oz Goffman, Mia Roditi-Elasar, Yaly Mevorach, Eyal Bigal, Yotam Zuriel, Yaron Haitovich, Nir Hadar, Meytal Markovich, Dror Vardimon, Dana Reininger, Shlomi Marco, Danny Morick, Eliana Ratner, Dan Tchernov and Aviad Scheinin
Biology 2023, 12(2), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020328 - 17 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2144
Abstract
Along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, two near-shore dolphin species are prevalent; Tursiops truncatus (least concern, IUCN) and Delphinus delphis (endangered, IUCN). Ship-board surveys and sporadic sightings over the last two decades have shown that the two differ in distribution—T. truncatus is [...] Read more.
Along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, two near-shore dolphin species are prevalent; Tursiops truncatus (least concern, IUCN) and Delphinus delphis (endangered, IUCN). Ship-board surveys and sporadic sightings over the last two decades have shown that the two differ in distribution—T. truncatus is found along the entire coast and D. delphis only in the south. The environmental and anthropological factors affecting these species’ spatial distribution and determining their habitat preferences in this area are largely unknown. This work is a first attempt at summarizing 20 years of observations and studying habitat preferences for both species, by use of Generalized Additive Models. T. truncatus was found to be present in all areas of the continental shelf where survey effort coverage was sufficient, with a high affinity towards bottom trawlers. Model results showed D. delphis distribution to be associated to (shallow) water depths, though the factors driving their limited latitudinal distribution currently remain unknown. It is evident that T. truncatus and D. delphis are present in segregated areas of the Israeli continental shelf and T. truncatus currently sustains a delicate balance with continuously shifting human activities, while the drivers of D. delphis distribution are more specified, yet still not fully understood. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Wildlife and Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: What's New?)
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Review

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16 pages, 344 KiB  
Review
Exploring the Impact of Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Fish and Invertebrates Physiology in the Mediterranean Sea
by Federica Impellitteri, Cristiana Roberta Multisanti, Polina Rusanova, Giuseppe Piccione, Francesca Falco and Caterina Faggio
Biology 2023, 12(6), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12060767 - 24 May 2023
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 2379
Abstract
In this historical context, the Mediterranean Sea faces an increasing threat from emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, heavy metals, pesticides and microplastics, which pose a serious risk to the environment and human health. In this regard, aquatic invertebrates and fish [...] Read more.
In this historical context, the Mediterranean Sea faces an increasing threat from emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, heavy metals, pesticides and microplastics, which pose a serious risk to the environment and human health. In this regard, aquatic invertebrates and fish are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of these pollutants, and several species have been identified as bio-indicators for their detection. Among these, bivalve molluscs and elasmobranchs are now widely used as bio-indicators to accurately assess the effects of contaminants. The study focuses on the catshark Scyliorhinus canicular and on the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. The first one is a useful indicator of localised contamination levels due to its exposure to pollutants that accumulate on the seabed. Moreover, it has a high trophic position and plays an important role in the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem. The bivalve mollusc Mytilus galloprovincialis, on the other hand, being a filter-feeding organism, can acquire and bioaccumulate foreign particles present in its environment. Additionally, because it is also a species of commercial interest, it has a direct impact on human health. In conclusion, the increasing presence of emerging pollutants in the Mediterranean Sea is a serious issue that requires immediate attention. Bivalve molluscs and elasmobranchs are two examples of bio-indicators that must be used to precisely determine the effects of these pollutants on the marine ecosystem and human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Wildlife and Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: What's New?)
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