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Long-term phenological shifts in coastal saltmarsh vegetation reveal complex responses to climate change
No full textThe impacts of climate change on vegetation growth are attracting increasing global attention. While phenological changes have been extensively studied in terrestrial ecosystems, long-term temporal research on phenology-climate feedback in coastal saltmarsh ecosystems, particularly both at the community and species levels, remains limited. In this study, the spatial phenology of saltmarsh vegetation was studied in the Dutch Western Scheldt estuary over three decades (1993–2022), based on the Landsat satellite-derived 2-band enhanced vegetation index (EVI2), coupled to existing sequential maps of vegetation communities. Our results show that saltmarsh vegetation in specific zones greens up earlier, reaches peak greenness sooner, and undergoes a significantly extended growing season—patterns are broadly consistent with climate-driven shifts observed in other ecosystems. However, phenological responses varied across the tidal inundation gradient, with higher intertidal communities initiating growth earlier than lower zones, reflecting the added complexity introduced by future sea-level rise and altered hydrological regimes. Correlations with seasonal meteorological variables showed spatially variable effects: warmer springs advanced green-up, drier summers delayed peak growth and senescence, and higher winter precipitation extends the growing season. Moreover, phenological asynchrony among plant species underscores the influence of species-specific traits and adaptive strategies. Saltmarsh vegetation shows both broad phenological responses to changes in meteorological conditions and site-specific patterns influenced by tidal regimes. Species composition and environmental gradients drive these responses, highlighting the need to understand these interactions for targeting vulnerable species, guiding restoration, and maintaining key ecosystem services (such as carbon sequestration, flood risk reduction, and habitat provision) under climate change.</span
Introduced substrates trigger colonization by reef-associated fish in a degraded coastal system
No full textCoastal reefs benefit the survival and growth of mobile organisms by providing shelter and increased food availability. Under increasing pressure from human activities, the coverage of subtidal reefs has decreased along the world’s coasts. This decline is motivating efforts to restore these important habitats by re-introducing hard substrates into the coastal zone. However, many such projects use artificial substrates, such as concrete or metal, that are not naturally occurring in the marine environment. We experimentally introduced hard substrates that were either historically common in a soft sediment-dominated ecosystem, or are mimicking these substrates with biodegradable material, and monitored the substrates for mobile species use (fish and invertebrates). Six substrates were tested: cockle shells, rocks of two sizes (cobbles and pebbles), wood, artificial reefs of calcium carbonate with shell fragments, and biodegradable structures based on potato starch. Within one year, fish and prawns were already attracted to all of the introduced substrates. On average, fish were nearly five times as abundant and prawn abundance increased nearly 30-fold on the artificial reefs, compared to the bare sand bottom control. The community composition on the reefs differed significantly from the sand bottom community, but there were no differences between the types of introduced substrates. Interestingly, the substrates attracted reef-associated fish, but also soft-sediment dependent species, such as different species of flatfish and gobies. Our results show that, even over shorter timespans, introductions of hard substrates provide opportunities to support associated mobile communities in degraded soft-sediment systems.</span
Nutrient‐driven growth and microbiome shifts in the brown alga <i>Sargassum fluitans</i>III
No full textSince 2011, holopelagic Sargassum has been accumulating in a region of the tropical Atlantic now referred to as the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt (GASB). Among the hypothesized contributors to these accumulations are the increased inputs of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Little is known about the effects of N and P additions on Sargassum physiology and its microbiome. We studied the effects of N, P, and NP additions on the growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and microbiome composition of Sargassum fluitans III in a six-day experiment on the Caribbean Island of Curaçao. Sargassum fluitans III took up most nitrate and phosphate within 3 days with respective uptake rates of 0.343 and 0.0399 μmol · g−1 DW · h−1. Fv/Fm decreased in the control after 6 days but remained constant in nutrient treatments. Growth rates did not differ significantly among treatments, but a trend in higher growth rates in the NP treatment was discerned, suggesting a possible NP co-limitation. The relative abundance of epiphytic Cyanobacteria such as Schizothrix and bacteria such as Lentilitoribacter increased under N and P addition, while heterotrophic Rhodobacteraceae decreased in abundance. Microeukaryotic communities responded with varying changes in alpha diversity, possibly steered by increased photosynthesis and growth of S. fluitans III or bacterial interactions. The physiological response to N and P and rapid change of the microbiome demonstrates that the studied S. fluitans III can quickly benefit from increased nutrient concentrations, which might contribute to its growth success in the GASB.</span
Dissolved zinc and cadmium isotope systematics in the Amundsen and Weddell coastal Antarctic marginal seas
No full textCoastal Antarctica is experiencing rapid environmental change with potential effects on regional marine trace element biogeochemistry. Here, we investigate the biogeochemistry of two dissolved bioactive trace elements, zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd), and their isotope ratios (δ66Zn and δ114Cd) in two coastal marginal seas with distinct oceanographic features – the Amundsen Sea with the intrusion of Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) onto the Antarctic continental shelf, and the Weddell Sea where formation of Antarctic Bottom Water occurs. In the Amundsen Sea, our isotope data show CDW predominantly controls δ66Zn and δ114Cd on the continental shelf. This result is consistent with previous concentration-focused studies that suggested only a negligible addition of Zn and Cd from continental sediments and ice shelf meltwater, and other processes (e.g., scavenging) play a limited role in their cycling on the shelf region. In the Weddell Sea, homogeneous δ66Zn and δ114Cd within different water masses across the Antarctic Peninsula shelf, while Zn and Cd concentrations increase via physical mixing with deep water masses, suggest a preformed isotope signature on the continental shelf. In surface waters of both regions, δ114Cd exhibited isotope fractionation linked to biological uptake, with different Rayleigh closed system fractionation factors (α = Rbiomass/Rseawater) for regions dominated by haptophytes (0.99930–0.99960) and diatoms (0.99970–0.99995) and we speculate that such differences may be associated with variability between species. In contrast, estimated fractionation factors for Zn in haptophytes (0.99995) and diatoms (0.99980–0.99995) dominated blooms are similar and comparable to reported values in the Southern Ocean (0.99995 ± 0.00001). At the intermediate depth (250–1500 m) in the Weddell Sea, significantly lower δ114Cd in the inner gyre compared to the outer gyre implies Cd regeneration and reduced ventilation. This pattern was not observed for δ⁶⁶Zn, likely due to its smaller biological fractionation in the surface. These findings confirm the role of CDW as the main source of Zn and Cd to the Amundsen Sea and the importance of physical mixing in setting global dissolved Zn and Cd distributions during the formation of deep waters in the Weddell Sea, providing insights into the impacts of regional coastal systems on the biogeochemistry of Zn and Cd.</span
A geological timescale for bacterial evolution and oxygen adaptation
No full textMicrobial life has dominated Earth’s history but left a sparse fossil record, greatly hindering our understanding of evolution in deep time. However, bacterial metabolism has left signatures in the geochemical record, most conspicuously the Great Oxidation Event (GOE). We combine machine learning and phylogenetic reconciliation to infer ancestral bacterial transitions to aerobic lifestyles, linking them to the GOE to calibrate the bacterial time tree. Extant bacterial phyla trace their diversity to the Archaean and Proterozoic, and bacterial families prior to the Phanerozoic. We infer that most bacterial phyla were ancestrally anaerobic and adopted aerobic lifestyles after the GOE. However, in the cyanobacterial ancestor, aerobic metabolism likely predated the GOE, which may have facilitated the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis
Iron co-limitation of Sargassum fluitans
No full textIn recent years, global distribution of holopelagic Sargassum spp. (sargassum) has extended from the subtropical Sargasso Sea and Gulf of Mexico into the tropical Atlantic. Climate and current patterns drive seasonal and year-to-year fluctuations of biomass in the ocean, but the underlying drivers of sargassum growth are poorly understood. Previous experimental studies showed that nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) can be limiting to sargassum. However, iron (Fe) also limits primary production in large parts of the ocean. We therefore (1) conducted a mesocosm experiment studying the effects of N+P and Fe addition on the growth rate and nutrient content of Sargassum fluitans, and (2) compiled literature on Fe tissue levels in sargassum throughout its distribution area. The Fe levels in collected experimental specimens (Mexican Caribbean) were like those previously reported near coastlines with low terrestrial nutrient runoff, and in the open ocean. The addition of Fe greatly boosted growth, averaging 0.13 doublings day−1, 40 % faster than our controls, and maximum growth rate (doubling biomass in 5�\u27d) was 46 % above previously reported maximal value. While oceanic Fe is relatively abundant in the tropical North Atlantic during rain episodes in the summers due to Saharan dust deposition, its availability is likely more limiting during other parts of the year, particularly in the western Caribbean. However, the true limiting potential of Fe depends on many factors. Our study suggests Fe co-limitation might occur widely and urges to include Fe availability in future sargassum forecasting models.</span
Spatial and temporal variation of Antarctic microbial interactions: a study around the west Antarctic Peninsula
No full textBackgroundThe west Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is a region of rapid environmental changes, with regional differences in climate warming along the north–south axis of the peninsula. Along the WAP, Palmer corresponds to a warmer region with lesser sea ice extent in the north compared to Rothera ~ 400 km to the south. Comprehensive and comparative, year-round assessments of the WAP microbial community dynamics in coastal surface waters at these two locations are imperative to understand the effects of regional climate warming variations on microbial community dynamics, but this is still lacking.ResultsWe report on the seasonal diversity, taxonomic overview, as well as predicted inter-and intra-domain causal effects (interactions) of the bacterial and microbial eukaryotic communities close to the Palmer station and at the Rothera time-series site between July 2013 and April 2014. Our 16S- and 18S-rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data showed that across all seasons, both bacteria and microbial eukaryotic communities were considerably different between the two sites which could be attributed to seawater temperature, and sea ice coverage in combination with sea ice type differences. Overall, in terms of biotic drivers, causal-effect modelling suggests that bacteria were stronger drivers of ecosystem dynamics at Palmer, while microbial eukaryotes played a stronger role at Rothera. The parasitic taxa Syndiniales persevered at both sites across the seasons, with Palmer and Rothera harbouring different key groups. Up to 62.3% of the negative causal effects were driven by Syndiniales at Rothera compared to only 13.5% at Palmer, suggesting that parasitism drives community dynamics at Rothera more strongly than at Palmer. Conversely, SAR11 Clade II, which was less abundant but persistent year-round at both sites, was the dominant driver at Palmer, evidenced by many (28.2% and 37.4% of positive and negative effects respectively) strong causal effects. Article note: Kindly check first page article notes are correct.ConclusionsOur research has shed light on the dynamics of microbial community composition and correlative interactions at two sampling locations that represent different climate regimes along the WAP
Drivers of nickel distribution and seasonality in the Southern Ocean: New perspectives from the GEOTRACES GIpr07 transect
No full textWinter dissolved nickel (dNi) and particulate nickel (pNi) concentrations were measured in the Southern Ocean (GEOTRACES GIpr07 transect) to investigate biogeochemical cycling within the water column and over seasonal timescales. Concentrations of dNi ranged from 1.98 to 8.21 nmol kg−1 with low surface concentrations and maxima in deepest sampled water masses. Combining our winter data with the GEOTRACES Intermediate Data Product (2021) shows insignificant seasonal dNi variation in surface waters north of the Antarctic Polar Front, indicating the dominance of year-round mixing processes. However, lower summer concentrations than winter in the Antarctic Zone (∆0.23 nmol kg−1) suggest a role for biological processes at high latitudes. For pNi, concentrations ranged from 5 to 49 pmol kg−1 with higher values in surface/near-surface water masses. Vertical attenuation factors (b values) for pNi (0.19 ± 0.06) and particulate phosphorus (pP; 0.43 ± 0.10) suggest a greater retention of Ni in particles than P, invoking scavenging processes or refractory Ni phases. Water mass analysis shows that remineralization of pNi contributes a maximum of 6% of the highest measured dNi. Instead, dNi distributions and macronutrient relationships were largely explained by phytoplankton uptake in surface waters, and mixing and advection of Atlantic and Antarctic origin water masses, each with different preformed nutrient compositions. Winter trace metal measurements provide new perspectives regarding the balance between biological and physical drivers in the Southern Ocean. For Ni, the biological component is small with respect to physical mixing processes and over the timescales in which water masses accumulate Ni during their transport.</span
Temperature effects on the impact of two invasive parasitic copepods on the survival, growth, condition, and reproduction of native mussels
No full textAn increase in temperature due to climate change may affect the geographic ranges of invasive parasites and alter their impact on native hosts. Our goal was to determine if the effects of infection by two species of invasive endoparasitic copepods on native blue mussel hosts (Mytilus edulis) change with increasing temperatures. We investigated this with a laboratory experiment using temperatures that represent annual mean and mean summer water temperatures of past observations and future predictions for the study area, the European Wadden Sea (10–26 °C). Over a period of 8–20 weeks, infection with Mytilicola intestinalis lowered mussel condition and infection with Mytilicola orientalis decreased mussel shell growth. High temperatures decreased mussel growth and condition in general, but only at low temperatures (10–14 °C) the parasite-induced loss of condition was evident compared to uninfected mussels. Mussel mortality and reproductive activity were not affected by parasite infection, although both were impacted by temperature: the highest temperature (26 °C) increased mussel mortality, and gamete ripening only occurred at lower temperatures (10–18 °C). Taken together, these results suggest that both infection and high temperatures have independent negative effects. However, an increase in temperature does not worsen the effect of infection on individual mussel hosts, and neither does infection decrease host tolerance for long-term exposure to high temperatures. These findings add to our understanding of the interplay between increasing temperature and the interaction between invasive parasites and native hosts, and help predicting host and parasite dynamics in systems affected by species invasions and climate change.</span
Ten simple rules for good model-sharing practices
No full textUComputational : Pleaseconfimodels rmthatallhe areadi complex nglevelsascientific rerepresconstructs entedcorrectthat ly: have become essential for us to better understand the world. Many models are valuable for peers within and beyond disci?plinary boundaries. However, there are no widely agreed-upon standards for sharing mod?els. This paper suggests 10 simple rules for you to both (i) ensure you share models in a way that is at least “good enough,” and (ii) enable others to lead the change towards better model-sharing practices