Editorial

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Open AccessEditorial

Marine Nearshore Biodiversity: Introduction to the Special Issue

by Thomas J. Trott

Diversity 2023, 15(7), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15070838 - 07 Jul 2023

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Millions are nourished, economies are fueled, and culture is inspired—these are just a few of the extraordinary benefits stemming from the coastal waters adjoining the shorelines of the world [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

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Research

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12 pages, 297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Marine Invertebrate Neoextinctions: An Update and Call for Inventories of Globally Missing Species

by James T. Carlton

Diversity 2023, 15(6), 782; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15060782 - 16 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1165

Abstract

The register of global extinctions of marine invertebrates in historical time is updated. Three gastropod and one insect species are removed from the list of extinct marine species, while two gastropods, one echinoderm, and three parasites (a nematode, an amphipod, and a louse) [...] Read more.

The register of global extinctions of marine invertebrates in historical time is updated. Three gastropod and one insect species are removed from the list of extinct marine species, while two gastropods, one echinoderm, and three parasites (a nematode, an amphipod, and a louse) are added. The nine extinct marine invertebrates now recognized likely represent a minute fraction of the actual number of invertebrates that have gone extinct. Urgently needed for evaluation are inventories of globally missing marine invertebrates across a wide range of phyla. Many such species are likely known to systematists, but are either rarely flagged, or if mentioned, are not presented as potentially extinct taxa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

20 pages, 2685 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Variability in Subarctic Lithothamnion glaciale Rhodolith Bed Structural Complexity and Macrofaunal Diversity

by David Bélanger and Patrick Gagnon

Diversity 2023, 15(6), 774; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15060774 - 14 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 957

Abstract

Rhodoliths are non-geniculate, free-living coralline red algae that can accumulate on the seafloor and form structurally complex benthic habitats supporting diverse communities known as rhodolith beds. We combined in situ rhodolith collections and imagery to quantify variability, over 9 months and at two [...] Read more.

Rhodoliths are non-geniculate, free-living coralline red algae that can accumulate on the seafloor and form structurally complex benthic habitats supporting diverse communities known as rhodolith beds. We combined in situ rhodolith collections and imagery to quantify variability, over 9 months and at two sites, in the structural complexity and biodiversity of a subarctic Lithothamnion glaciale rhodolith bed. We show that the unconsolidated rhodolith framework is spatially heterogeneous, yet provides a temporally stable habitat to an abundant and highly diverse macrofauna encompassing 108 taxa dominated by brittle stars, chitons, bivalves, gastropods, polychaetes, sea urchins, and sea stars. Specific habitat components, including large bivalve shells, affect rhodolith morphology and resident macrofauna, with increasingly large, non-nucleated rhodoliths hosting higher macrofaunal density, biomass, and diversity than increasingly large, shell-nucleated rhodoliths. The present study’s fine taxonomic resolution results strongly support the notion that rhodolith beds are biodiversity hotspots. Their spatial and temporal domains provide clear quantitative evidence that rhodolith beds provide a stable framework under the main influence of biological forcing until sporadic and unusually intense physical forcing reworks it. Our findings suggest that shallow (<20 m depth) rhodolith beds are vulnerable to ongoing and predicted increases in the frequency and severity of wave storms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

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11 pages, 1550 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metabarcoding Extends the Distribution of Porphyra corallicola (Bangiales) into the Arctic While Revealing Novel Species and Patterns for Conchocelis Stages in the Canadian Flora

by Gary W. Saunders and Cody M. Brooks

Diversity 2023, 15(5), 677; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15050677 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1131

Abstract

Porphyra corallicola was described based on a filamentous red alga inadvertently introduced into culture from a crustose coralline alga. This species is known only in its sporophyte (Conchocelis) stage, being possibly asexual and lacking the charismatic and “collectable” gametophyte stage. Consequently, little is [...] Read more.

Porphyra corallicola was described based on a filamentous red alga inadvertently introduced into culture from a crustose coralline alga. This species is known only in its sporophyte (Conchocelis) stage, being possibly asexual and lacking the charismatic and “collectable” gametophyte stage. Consequently, little is known of its range and distribution. Taxon-targeted metabarcoding was explored as a pathway to gain insights into the vertical (intertidal versus subtidal) and biogeographical distribution of this species, as well as to assess host diversity. We also wanted to ascertain if other species occur in only the Conchocelis stage in the Canadian flora. Primers targeting a short (521 bp) region of the plastid rbcL gene in the Bangiales were used to screen DNA from 285 coralline crusts collected throughout Canada and adjacent waters. In addition to confirming the presence of P. corallicola in the Bay of Fundy, this species was recovered from coralline crusts along the coast of Nova Scotia (n = 1) and in the low Arctic (Labrador; n = 2), greatly extending its range and suggesting it is a cold-water taxon. We have confirmed its presence in both the low intertidal and subtidal (to 10 m), and its occurrence in three different coralline species, suggesting that it lacks host specificity. In total, nine genetic groups of Bangiales were uncovered in our survey, six matching entries currently in GenBank and three apparently novel genetic groups—two from the northeast Pacific and one from the low Arctic. Notable host and ecological patterns are discussed. This method, when further developed, will facilitate the study of Conchocelis stages in nature, which will greatly enhance ecological knowledge of bangialean species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

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19 pages, 3077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Artificial Seaweed Substrates Complement ARMS in DNA Metabarcoding-Based Monitoring of Temperate Coastal Macrozoobenthos

by Barbara R. Leite, Sofia Duarte, Jesús S. Troncoso and Filipe O. Costa

Diversity 2023, 15(5), 657; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15050657 - 12 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1414

Abstract

We used DNA metabarcoding to compare macrozoobenthic species colonization between autonomous reef monitoring structures (ARMS) and artificial seaweed monitoring systems (ASMS). We deployed both substrates in two different locations (Ría de Vigo and Ría de Ferrol, NW Iberian coast) and collected them after [...] Read more.

We used DNA metabarcoding to compare macrozoobenthic species colonization between autonomous reef monitoring structures (ARMS) and artificial seaweed monitoring systems (ASMS). We deployed both substrates in two different locations (Ría de Vigo and Ría de Ferrol, NW Iberian coast) and collected them after 6, 9, and 12 months to assess species composition of the colonizing communities through high-throughput sequencing of amplicons within the barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI-5P) and the V4 domain of the 18S rRNA genes. We observed a consistently low similarity in species composition between substrate types, independently of sampling times and sites. A large fraction of exclusive species was recorded for a given substrate (up to 72%), whereas only up to 32% of species were recorded in both substrates. The shape and structural complexity of the substrate strongly affected the colonization preferences, with ASMS detecting more exclusive crustacean and gastropod species and a broader diversity of taxonomic groups (e.g., Entoprocta and Pycnogonida were detected exclusively in ASMS). We demonstrate that despite the customary use of ARMS for macrozoobenthos monitoring, by using ASMS we complemented the recovery of species and enlarged the scope of the taxonomic diversity recorded. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

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19 pages, 4515 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Large-Scale Variation in Diversity of Biomass-Dominating Key Bryozoan Species in the Seas of the Eurasian Sector of the Arctic

by Nina V. Denisenko and Stanislav G. Denisenko

Diversity 2023, 15(5), 604; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15050604 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 947

Abstract

An analysis of archival and literary materials, as well as recently collected data in coastal areas at 14 locations in the Eurasian seas showed that the diversity of biomass-dominating key bryozoan species is low, totaling 26 species, less than 1/15 of the total [...] Read more.

An analysis of archival and literary materials, as well as recently collected data in coastal areas at 14 locations in the Eurasian seas showed that the diversity of biomass-dominating key bryozoan species is low, totaling 26 species, less than 1/15 of the total bryozoan fauna richness. Their number decreases eastward from 17 species with an average total biomass of >16 g/m² in the Barents Sea to three species with an average biomass of about 3 g/m² in the East Siberian Sea. In the Chukchi Sea, their number and average biomass increase to 10 species and ~12 g/m², respectively. Average biomass strongly correlates with the number of species in each sea. Furthermore, variation in biomass is significantly correlated with the composition of bottom sediments and, in some locations, with depth. The marked decrease in the number of key species along the vector from Barents→Kara→Laptev→East Siberian Sea is due to a decline in the number of boreal and boreal–Arctic bryozoans of Atlantic origin. In contrast, the appearance of boreal and boreal–Arctic Pacific species is responsible for the increase in key species in the Chukchi Sea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

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15 pages, 1716 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fantastic Flatworms and Where to Find Them: Insights into Intertidal Polyclad Flatworm Distribution in Southeastern Australian Boulder Beaches

by Louise Tosetto, Justin M. McNab, Pat A. Hutchings, Jorge Rodríguez and Jane E. Williamson

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030393 - 09 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1670

Abstract

There is a rapid and extensive decline of our marine biodiversity due to human impacts. However, our ability to understand the extent of these effects is hindered by our lack of knowledge of the occurrence and ecology of some species groups. One such [...] Read more.

There is a rapid and extensive decline of our marine biodiversity due to human impacts. However, our ability to understand the extent of these effects is hindered by our lack of knowledge of the occurrence and ecology of some species groups. One such group of understudied organisms are marine flatworms of the order Polycladida, a conspicuous component of southeastern Australia’s marine ecosystems that has received little attention over the years. Intertidal boulder beaches support a diverse range of polyclad flatworms in other countries, but the role of these environments in maintaining biodiversity is not well understood. In this study, we identified hotspots of flatworm occurrence by assessing the diversity and overall abundance of flatworms at boulder beaches along the southeast Australian coast. Bottle and Glass, Sydney Harbour, was found to be the most diverse site for flatworms. We also identified a higher occurrence of flatworms under large boulders and less exposed beaches and noted an increased presence of flatworms at higher latitudes. Probable influences on these patterns such as the requirement for shelter and protection are discussed. This study contributes to our knowledge of Australia’s coastal biodiversity and can be used to assist in the management and conservation of our marine environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

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14 pages, 5965 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Trends in Dominican Republic Coral Reef Biodiversity 2015–2022

by Robert S. Steneck and Rubén Torres

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030389 - 08 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2061

Abstract

In 2015, we initiated a country-wide coral reef ecosystem-monitoring program in the Dominican Republic (DR) to establish biodiversity baselines against which trends in the most important components of coral reef ecosystem’s structure and function could be tracked. Replicate transects were set at a [...] Read more.

In 2015, we initiated a country-wide coral reef ecosystem-monitoring program in the Dominican Republic (DR) to establish biodiversity baselines against which trends in the most important components of coral reef ecosystem’s structure and function could be tracked. Replicate transects were set at a 10 m depth at each of the 12 coral reef sites within 6 DR regions in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022. We quantified the species-level abundances of adult and juvenile corals, reef fishes, sea urchins, lionfishes, and algal functional groups. Country-wide, coral cover and reef fishes have declined. The steepest declines occurred for reefs that had been among the best in the Caribbean in 2015. However, by 2022, adult and juvenile coral, parrotfish, and other herbivores had declined, and macroalgae had increased. The declines in north-shore coral abundance corresponded with the observed disturbances from coral bleaching, hurricanes, and disease. The capacity of reefs to recover from such disturbances has been compromised by abundant and increasing macroalgae that have likely contributed to north-shore declines in juvenile corals. Country-wide, the abundance of all reef fish species has declined below those of other regions of the Caribbean. Improved management of fishing pressure on coral reefs would likely yield positive results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

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18 pages, 7284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Roving Diver Survey as a Rapid and Cost-Effective Methodology to Register Species Richness in Sub-Antarctic Kelp Forests

by Gonzalo Bravo, Julieta Kaminsky, María Bagur, Cecilia Paula Alonso, Mariano Rodríguez, Cintia Fraysse, Gustavo Lovrich and Gregorio Bigatti

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 354; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030354 - 01 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2412

Abstract

Underwater sampling needs to strike a balance between time-efficient and standardized data that allow comparison with different areas and times. The roving diver survey involves divers meandering and actively searching for species and has been useful for producing fish species lists but has [...] Read more.

Underwater sampling needs to strike a balance between time-efficient and standardized data that allow comparison with different areas and times. The roving diver survey involves divers meandering and actively searching for species and has been useful for producing fish species lists but has seldom been implemented for benthic taxa. In this study, we used this non-destructive technique to register species associated with kelp forests at the sub-Antarctic Bécasses Island (Beagle Channel, Argentina), detecting numerous species while providing the first multi-taxa inventory for the area, including macroalgae, invertebrates, and fish, with supporting photographs of each observation hosted on the citizen science platform iNaturalist. This research established a timely and cost-effective methodology for surveys with scuba diving in cold waters, promoting the obtention of new records, data sharing, and transparency of the taxonomic curation. Overall, 160 taxa were found, including 41 not reported previously for this area and three records of southernmost distribution. Other studies in nearby areas with extensive sampling efforts arrived at similar richness estimations. Our findings reveal that the roving diver survey using photographs is a good approach for creating inventories of marine species, which will serve for a better understanding of underwater biodiversity and future long-term monitoring to assess the health of kelp environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

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25 pages, 3594 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mesoscale Spatial Patterns of Gulf of Maine Rocky Intertidal Communities

by Thomas J. Trott

Diversity 2022, 14(7), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14070557 - 11 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2584

Abstract

Community similarity among macroinvertebrate species assemblages from 12 exposed rocky headlands surveyed in 2004, 2007, and 2012 was examined to resolve mesoscale patterns along an east–west linear distance of 366 km in the coastal Gulf of Maine. The goals were: (1) detect latitudinal [...] Read more.

Community similarity among macroinvertebrate species assemblages from 12 exposed rocky headlands surveyed in 2004, 2007, and 2012 was examined to resolve mesoscale patterns along an east–west linear distance of 366 km in the coastal Gulf of Maine. The goals were: (1) detect latitudinal patterns of species assemblage similarity and (2) relate species assemblage similarities to environmental factors. Assemblage similarities were correlated with latitude. There was a distinguishable grouping of sampling sites fitting two Gulf regions that separate at mid-coast Maine. This pattern was uniquely intertidal and not shown by subtidal species assemblages. β diversity was high, did not differ between regions, and species turnover accounted for 91% of it. Molluscs and crustaceans, major components of surveyed communities, contributed most of the dissimilarity between regions. Satellite-derived shore and sea surface temperatures explained a significant amount of the variation responsible for producing regional patterns. The regions corresponded with the two principal branches of the Gulf of Maine Coastal Current. These hydrographic features and associated environmental conditions are hypothesized to influence community dynamics and shape the dissimilarity between Gulf regions. The predicted warming of the Gulf of Maine portend change in species turnover from species invasions and range shifts potentially altering rocky intertidal community patterns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

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15 pages, 3242 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gene Transfer Agent g5 Gene Reveals Bipolar and Endemic Distribution of Roseobacter Clade Members in Polar Coastal Seawater

by Yin-Xin Zeng, Hui-Rong Li and Wei Luo

Diversity 2022, 14(5), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14050392 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2159

Abstract

The Roseobacter clade represents one of the most abundant groups of marine bacteria and plays important biogeochemical roles in marine environments. Roseobacter genomes commonly contain a conserved gene transfer agent (GTA) gene cluster. A major capsid protein-encoding GTA (g5) has been [...] Read more.

The Roseobacter clade represents one of the most abundant groups of marine bacteria and plays important biogeochemical roles in marine environments. Roseobacter genomes commonly contain a conserved gene transfer agent (GTA) gene cluster. A major capsid protein-encoding GTA (g5) has been used as a genetic marker to estimate the diversity of marine roseobacters. Here, the diversity of roseobacters in the coastal seawater of Arctic Kongsfjorden and Antarctic Maxwell Bay was investigated based on g5 gene clone library analysis. Four g5 gene clone libraries were constructed from microbial assemblages representing Arctic and Antarctic regions. The genus Phaeobacter was exclusively detected in Arctic seawater, whereas the genera Jannaschia, Litoreibacter and Pacificibacter were only observed in Antarctic seawater. More diverse genera within the Roseobacter clade were observed in Antarctic clones than in Arctic clones. The genera Sulfitobacter, Loktanella and Yoonia were dominant (higher than 10% of total clones) in both Arctic and Antarctic samples, implying their roles in polar marine environments. The results not only indicated a bipolar or even global distribution of roseobacters in marine environments but also showed their endemic distribution either in the Arctic or Antarctic. Endemic phylotypes were more frequently observed in polar regions than cosmopolitan phylotypes. In addition, endemic phylotypes were more abundant in Arctic samples (84.8% of Arctic sequences) than in Antarctic samples (54.3% of Antarctic sequences). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

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13 pages, 1920 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Over, Under, Sideways and Down: Patterns of Marine Species Richness in Nearshore Habitats off Santa Catalina Island, California

by David W. Ginsburg and Andrew H. Huang

Diversity 2022, 14(5), 366; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14050366 - 05 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2525

Abstract

Santa Catalina Island, located off the southern California coast, is home to the Blue Cavern Onshore State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), which is recognized as a marine protected area. Here, we provide an updated species inventory of nearshore macroalgae, seagrasses, bony and cartilaginous [...] Read more.

Santa Catalina Island, located off the southern California coast, is home to the Blue Cavern Onshore State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), which is recognized as a marine protected area. Here, we provide an updated species inventory of nearshore macroalgae, seagrasses, bony and cartilaginous fishes and invertebrates documented inside the Blue Cavern Onshore SMCA. Species richness data were compiled using scuba-based visual surveys conducted in the field, references from the primary and gray literature, museum records, unpublished species lists and online resources. The current checklist consists of 1091 marine species from 18 different taxonomic groups, which represents an ~43% increase in species diversity compared to the value reported previously. These data are indicative of the high biodiversity known from the Southern California Bight (SCB) region. The total number of intertidal and subtidal taxa reported represent approximately 85% and 45% of the documented macroalgae and plants, 41% and 24% invertebrates, and 62% and 20% of fishes from Catalina Island and the SCB, respectively. Among the marine taxa documented, 39 species either have undergone a geographic range shift or were introduced as the result of human activities, while another 4 species are listed as threatened, endangered or critically endangered. Research findings presented here offer an important baseline of species richness in the California Channel Islands and will help improve the efforts by resource managers and policy makers to conserve and manage similar habitats in the coastal waters off southern California. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

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18 pages, 2382 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity of Shallow-Water Species in Prawn Trawling: A Case Study of Malindi–Ungwana Bay, Kenya

by Esther N. Fondo, Johnstone O. Omukoto, Nina Wambiji, Gladys M. Okemwa, Pascal Thoya, George W. Maina and Edward N. Kimani

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030199 - 09 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2662

Abstract

Bottom trawling is a common fishing method that targets bottom-dwelling fisheries resources. It is non-selective and large amounts of by-catch are discarded, raising serious sustainability and ecosystem conservation concerns. In this study, a shallow-water bottom-trawl fishery was evaluated using logbook catch data between [...] Read more.

Bottom trawling is a common fishing method that targets bottom-dwelling fisheries resources. It is non-selective and large amounts of by-catch are discarded, raising serious sustainability and ecosystem conservation concerns. In this study, a shallow-water bottom-trawl fishery was evaluated using logbook catch data between 2011 and 2019 and the species composition data collected by fisheries observers between 2016 and 2019. The logbook data showed a twenty-fold increase in the annual catches with a ten-fold increase in fishing effort and an increase in the proportion of retained catch from 2011 to 2019. The observer data showed that for prawn, the by-catch ratio ranged from 1:3 to 1:9 during the four years. Multivariate analysis revealed significant differences between the compositions of retained and discarded catches mainly attributed to Pellona ditchela, Nematopalaemontenuipes, and Secutor insidiator. There was no significant decline in species diversity and the trophic level of the catches over the 4-year observer period indicating no marked impact of trawling on the stock at the current level of fishing effort. This study provides baseline information on the prawn trawl fishery against which the performance of the management regulations may be evaluated towards the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nearshore Biodiversity)

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