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Cohen MCL, Yao Q, de Souza AV, Liu KB, Pessenda LCR. Hurricanes are limiting the mangrove canopy heights in the Gulf of Mexico. Sci Total Environ 2024; 927:172284. [PMID: 38588743 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Mangrove canopy height (MCH) has been described as a leading characteristic of mangrove forests, protecting coastal economic interests from hurricanes. Meanwhile, winter temperature has been considered the main factor controlling the MCH along subtropical coastlines. However, the MCH in Cedar Key, Florida (∼12 m), is significantly higher than in Port Fourchon, Louisiana (∼2.5 m), even though these two subtropical locations have similar winter temperatures. Port Fourchon has been more frequently impacted by hurricanes than Cedar Key, suggesting that hurricanes may have limited the MCH in Port Fourchon rather than simply winter temperatures. This hypothesis was evaluated using novel high-resolution remote sensing techniques that tracked the MCH changes between 2002 and 2023. Results indicate that hurricanes were the limiting factor keeping the mean MCH at Port Fourchon to <1 m (2002-2013), as the absence of hurricane impacts between 2013 and 2018 allowed the mean MCH to increase by 60 cm despite the winter freezes in Jan/2014 and Jan/2018. Hurricanes Zeta (2020) and Ida (2021) caused a decrease in the mean MCH by 20 cm, breaking branches, defoliating the canopy, and toppling trees. The mean MCH (∼1.6 m) attained before Zeta and Ida has not yet been recovered as of August 2023 (∼1.4 m), suggesting a longer-lasting impact (>4 years) of hurricanes on mangroves than winter freezes (<1 year). The high frequency of hurricanes affecting mangroves at Port Fourchon has acted as a periodic "pruning," particularly of the tallest Avicennia trees, inhibiting their natural growth rates even during quiet periods following hurricane events (e.g., 12 cm/yr, 2013-2018). By contrast, the absence of hurricanes in Cedar Key (2000-2020) has allowed the MCH to reach 12 m (44-50 cm/yr), implying that, besides the winter temperature, the frequency and intensity of hurricanes are important factors limiting the MCH on their latitudinal range limits in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo C L Cohen
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA; Laboratory of Coastal Dynamics, Graduate Program of Geology and Geochemistry, Federal University of Pará, Brazil Federal University of Pará. Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01 - Guamá. CEP, 66075-110, Belém, PA, Brazil.
| | - Qiang Yao
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA
| | - Adriana V de Souza
- Laboratory of Coastal Dynamics, Graduate Program of Geology and Geochemistry, Federal University of Pará, Brazil Federal University of Pará. Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01 - Guamá. CEP, 66075-110, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Kam-Biu Liu
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA; Coastal Studies Institute, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA
| | - Luiz C R Pessenda
- University of São Paulo, CENA/(14)C Laboratory, Av. Centenário 303, 13400-000 Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
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Davis SN, Klumker SM, Mitchell AA, Coppage MA, Labonté JM, Quigg A. Life in the PFAS lane: The impact of perfluoroalkyl substances on photosynthesis, cellular exudates, nutrient cycling, and composition of a marine microbial community. Sci Total Environ 2024; 927:171977. [PMID: 38547969 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are of great ecological concern, however, exploration of their impact on bacteria-phytoplankton consortia is limited. This study employed a bioassay approach to investigate the effect of unary exposures of increasing concentrations of PFAS (perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS)) on microbial communities from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Each community was examined for changes in growth and photophysiology, exudate production and shifts in community structure (16S and 18S rRNA genes). 6:2 FTS did not alter the growth or health of phytoplankton communities, as there were no changes relative to the controls (no PFOS added). On the other hand, PFOS elicited significant phototoxicity (p < 0.05), altering PSII antennae size, lowering PSII connectivity, and decreasing photosynthetic efficiency over the incubation (four days). PFOS induced a cellular protective response, indicated by significant increases (p < 0.001) in the release of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) compared to the control. Eukaryotic communities (18S rRNA gene) changed substantially (p < 0.05) and to a greater extent than prokaryotic communities (16S rRNA gene) in PFOS treatments. Community shifts were concentration-dependent for eukaryotes, with the low treatment (5 mg/L PFOS) dominated by Coscinodiscophyceae (40 %), and the high treatment (30 mg/L PFOS) marked by a Trebouxiophyceae (50 %) dominance. Prokaryotic community shifts were not concentration dependent, as both treatment levels became depleted in Cyanobacteriia and were dominated by members of the Bacteroidia, Gammaproteobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria classes. Further, PFOS significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the Shannon diversity and Pielou's evenness across treatments for eukaryotes, and in the low treatment (5 mg/L PFOS) for prokaryotes. These findings show that photophysiology was not impacted by 6:2 FTS but PFOS elicited toxicity that impacted photosynthesis, exudate release, and community composition. This research is crucial in understanding how PFOS impacts microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Davis
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553, USA.
| | - Shaley M Klumker
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Alexis A Mitchell
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Marshall A Coppage
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Jessica M Labonté
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Antonietta Quigg
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553, USA; Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 3146 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, 534 John Kimbrough Boulevard, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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Faksness LG, Altin D, Hansen BH, Nordtug T. Use of TLM derived models to estimate toxicity of weathered MC252 oil based on conventional chemical data and the potential impact of unresolved polar components. Toxicol Mech Methods 2024; 34:596-605. [PMID: 38375806 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2024.2321165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Target lipid model (TLM) and toxic unit (TU) approaches were applied to ecotoxicity and chemistry data from low-energy WAFs (LE-WAFs) of source and weathered crude oils originating from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The weathered oils included artificially weathered oils and naturally weathered samples collected in the Gulf of Mexico after the spill. Oil weathering greatly reduced the concentrations of identified LE-WAF components, however, the mass of uncharacterized polar material (UPC) in the LE-WAFs remained largely unchanged during the weathering process. While the TLM-derived calculations displayed a significant decrease in toxicity (TUs) for the heavily weathered oils, copepod toxicity, expressed as LC10-based TUs, were comparable between LE-WAFs of fresh and weathered oils. The discrepancy between observed and predicted toxicity for the LE-WAFs of artificially weathered oils may be related to limitations by the chemical analyses or increased toxicity due to generation of new unknown compounds during the weathering process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dag Altin
- BioTrix, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Infrastructure Sealab, Norwegian Institute of Natural Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Trond Nordtug
- Climate and Environment, SINTEF Ocean AS, Trondheim, Norway
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Valencia‐Agami SS, Cerqueda‐García D, Gamboa‐Muñoz AM, Aguirre‐Macedo ML, García‐Maldonado JQ. Structure and composition of microbial communities in the water column from Southern Gulf of Mexico and detection of putative hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms. Environ Microbiol Rep 2024; 16:e13264. [PMID: 38692840 PMCID: PMC11062854 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
This study assessed the bacterioplankton community and its relationship with environmental variables, including total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentration, in the Yucatan shelf area of the Southern Gulf of Mexico. Beta diversity analyses based on 16S rRNA sequences indicated variations in the bacterioplankton community structure among sampling sites. PERMANOVA indicated that these variations could be mainly related to changes in depth (5 to 180 m), dissolved oxygen concentration (2.06 to 5.93 mg L-1), and chlorophyll-a concentration (0.184 to 7.65 mg m3). Moreover, SIMPER and one-way ANOVA analyses showed that the shifts in the relative abundances of Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus were related to changes in microbial community composition and chlorophyll-a values. Despite the low TPH content measured in the studied sites (0.01 to 0.86 μL L-1), putative hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria such as Alteromonas, Acinetobacter, Balneola, Erythrobacter, Oleibacter, Roseibacillus, and the MWH-UniP1 aquatic group were detected. The relatively high copy number of the alkB gene detected in the water column by qPCR and the enrichment of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria obtained during lab crude oil tests exhibited the potential of bacterioplankton communities from the Yucatan shelf to respond to potential hydrocarbon impacts in this important area of the Gulf Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia S. Valencia‐Agami
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoMexico CityMexico
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Departamento de Recursos del MarMeridaYucatánMexico
| | - Daniel Cerqueda‐García
- Clúster Científico y Tecnológico BioMimic®, Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y VectoresInstituto de Ecología, AC–INECOLXalapaVeracruzMexico
| | - Abril M. Gamboa‐Muñoz
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Departamento de Recursos del MarMeridaYucatánMexico
| | - M. Leopoldina Aguirre‐Macedo
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Departamento de Recursos del MarMeridaYucatánMexico
| | - José Q. García‐Maldonado
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Departamento de Recursos del MarMeridaYucatánMexico
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Quiroz-Martínez B, Hernández-Alcántara P, Salas de León DA, Solís-Weiss V, Monreal Gómez MA, Álvarez Sánchez LF. Taxonomic distinctness and diversity patterns of a polychaete (Annelida) community on the continental shelf of the Southern Gulf of Mexico. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303250. [PMID: 38718003 PMCID: PMC11078371 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The spatial patterns of taxonomic diversity of annelid polychaete species from the continental shelf in the Southern Gulf of Mexico were examined in this study. We used taxonomic distinctness and its spatial variations to explore the diversity patterns and how they change between Southern Gulf of Mexico regions. In addition, using taxonomic distinctness as a dissimilarity measure and Ward's Clustering, we characterized three distinct faunal assemblages. We also investigated patterns of richness, taxonomic distinctness, and distance decay of similarity between sampling stations as a ß-diversity measure. Finally, we examined the spatial relationships between polychaete assemblages and environmental variables to test the relative importance of spatial and environmental components in annelid polychaete community structure from the Southern Gulf of Mexico. We used a combination of eigenvector-based multivariate analyses (dbMEMs) and distance-based redundancy analysis (dbRDA) to quantify the relative importance of these explanatory variables on the spatial variations of taxonomic distinctness. The significance level of spatial and environmental components to the distribution of polychaete species showed that the combined effect of spatial processes and sediment characteristics explained a higher percentage of the variance than those parameters could alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamín Quiroz-Martínez
- Unidad Académica de Ecología y Biodiversidad Acuática, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Pablo Hernández-Alcántara
- Unidad Académica de Ecología y Biodiversidad Acuática, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - David Alberto Salas de León
- Unidad Académica de Ecología y Biodiversidad Acuática, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Vivianne Solís-Weiss
- Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - María Adela Monreal Gómez
- Unidad Académica de Ecología y Biodiversidad Acuática, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - León Felipe Álvarez Sánchez
- Unidad de Informática Marina, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
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Baguley JG, Rostami MA, Baldrighi E, Bang HW, Dyer LA, Montagna PA. Harpacticoid copepods expand the scope and provide family-level indicators of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill deep-sea impacts. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 202:116343. [PMID: 38626636 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout and oil spill began on April 20, 2010 in the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOM) deep sea (1525 m). Previous studies documented an impacted area of deep-sea floor totaling 321 km2 and were based on taxonomy at the macrofauna family level and the meiofauna major taxonomic level. In the present study, finer taxonomic resolution of the meiofauna community was employed, specifically harpacticoid copepod family biodiversity. Severe or moderate impacts to harpacticoid family biodiversity were observed at 35 of 95 sampling stations, covering an estimated area of 2864 km2, 8.9 times greater impacted area than previously reported. Sensitive and tolerant harpacticoid families were observed in the impact zone. The present study greatly expands the understanding of DWH deep-sea impacts in 2010 and demonstrates that the harpacticoid family-level response is the most sensitive indicator (reported to date) of this oil spill pollution event.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Masoud A Rostami
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, USA; Department of Data Science, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Elisa Baldrighi
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Hyun Woo Bang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mokwon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Lee A Dyer
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Paul A Montagna
- Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United States of America
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Ramírez-Mendoza Z, Sosa-Nishizaki O, Pardo MA, Herzka SZ, Wells RJD, Rooker JR, Falterman BJ, Dreyfus-León MJ. Mesoscale activity drives the habitat suitability of yellowfin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8256. [PMID: 38589552 PMCID: PMC11001853 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58613-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, represents an important component of commercial and recreational fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). We investigated the influence of environmental conditions on the spatiotemporal distribution of yellowfin tuna using fisheries' catch data spanning 2012-2019 within Mexican waters. We implemented hierarchical Bayesian regression models with spatial and temporal random effects and fixed effects of several environmental covariates to predict habitat suitability (HS) for the species. The best model included spatial and interannual anomalies of the absolute dynamic topography of the ocean surface (ADTSA and ADTIA, respectively), bottom depth, and a seasonal cyclical random effect. High catches occurred mainly towards anticyclonic features at bottom depths > 1000 m. The spatial extent of HS was higher in years with positive ADTIA, which implies more anticyclonic activity. The highest values of HS (> 0.7) generally occurred at positive ADTSA in oceanic waters of the central and northern GoM. However, high HS values (> 0.6) were observed in the southern GoM, in waters with cyclonic activity during summer. Our results highlight the importance of mesoscale features for the spatiotemporal distribution of yellowfin tunas and could help to develop dynamic fisheries management strategies in Mexico and the U.S. for this valuable resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zurisaday Ramírez-Mendoza
- Fisheries Ecology Laboratory, Departamento de Oceanografía Biológica. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), 22860, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Oscar Sosa-Nishizaki
- Fisheries Ecology Laboratory, Departamento de Oceanografía Biológica. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), 22860, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Mario A Pardo
- Marine Macroecology Laboratory, Unidad la Paz, CICESE-Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT), 23050, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
| | - Sharon Z Herzka
- Department of Marine Science, Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX, 78373, USA
| | - R J David Wells
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Jay R Rooker
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | | | - Michel J Dreyfus-León
- Programa Nacional de Aprovechamiento del Atún y Protección del Delfín, CICESE, 22860, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
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Ontiveros-Cuadras JF, Ruiz-Fernández AC, Cardoso-Mohedano JG, Pérez-Bernal LH, Santiago-Pérez S, Velázquez-Reyes DA, Cisneros-Ramos ZJ, Crisanto-Ruiz AS, Gómez-Ponce MA, Flores-Trujillo JG, Sanchez-Cabeza JA. Potentially toxic elements fluxes in 210Pb-dated sediment cores from a large coastal lagoon (southern Gulf of Mexico) under environmental stress. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 201:116226. [PMID: 38457877 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Terminos Lagoon (TL), in the southern Gulf of Mexico, has been under intensive anthropogenic pressure (e.g., oil-industry development) since the 1970s. Historical changes in flux ratios of potentially toxic elements (PTEs; As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) were, for the first time, assessed inside TL by using 210Pb-dated sediment cores. Sediments showed minor enrichments for Cd, Ni, Pb, and V. However, according to international benchmarks, the As, Cr, Cu, and Ni concentrations could pose a risk for benthic biota. Sedimentary processes involved in the accumulation of PTEs were identified through a chemometric approach. Increments in PTEs flux ratios concur with the recent (⁓50 years) and extensive land-use changes, particularly the transport and deposit of materials delivered by rivers. These findings are expected to be used in managing this crucial natural resource, the larger Mexican coastal lagoon ecosystem, to mitigate the effects of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Feliciano Ontiveros-Cuadras
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Procesos Oceánicos y Costeros. Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernández
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Calz. Joel Montes Camarena s/n, 82040 Mazatlán, Mexico.
| | - José Gilberto Cardoso-Mohedano
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Estación El Carmen, Carr. Carmen-Puerto Real km. 9.5, 24157 Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico.
| | - Libia Hascibe Pérez-Bernal
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Calz. Joel Montes Camarena s/n, 82040 Mazatlán, Mexico.
| | - Susana Santiago-Pérez
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Procesos Oceánicos y Costeros. Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Dea Argelia Velázquez-Reyes
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Facultad de Química, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | | | - Aarón Samuel Crisanto-Ruiz
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Facultad de Ingeniería, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Mario Alejandro Gómez-Ponce
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Estación El Carmen, Carr. Carmen-Puerto Real km. 9.5, 24157 Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico.
| | | | - Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Calz. Joel Montes Camarena s/n, 82040 Mazatlán, Mexico.
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Barkaszi MJ, Kelly CJ. Analysis of protected species observer data: Strengths, weaknesses, and application in the assessment of marine mammal responses to seismic surveys in the northern Gulf of Mexico 2002-2015. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300658. [PMID: 38512955 PMCID: PMC10956755 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Visual observation data collected by protected species observers (PSOs) is required per regulations stipulated in Notices to Lessees (NTLs) and geophysical survey Permits (Form BOEM-0328) issued to seismic operators in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Here, data collected by certified and trained PSOs during seismic surveys conducted between 2002-2015 were compiled and analyzed to assess utility in assessing marine mammal responses to seismic noise and effectiveness of required mitigation measures. A total of 3,886 agency-required bi-weekly PSO Effort and Sightings reports were analyzed comprising 598,319 hours of PSO visual effort and 15,117 visual sighting records of marine mammals. The observed closest point of approach (CPA) distance was statistically compared across five species groupings for four airgun activity levels (full, minimum source, ramp up, silent). Whale and dolphin detections were significantly farther from airgun array locations during full power operations versus silence, indicating some avoidance response to full-power operations. Dolphin CPA distances were also significantly farther from airguns operating at minimum source than silence. Blackfish were observed significantly farther from the airgun array during ramp up versus both full and minimum source activities. Blackfish were observed significantly closer to the airgun array during silent activities versus at full, minimum source, and ramp up activities. Beaked whales had the largest mean CPA for detection distance compared to all other species groups. Detection distances for beaked whales were not significantly differences between full and silent operations; however, the sample size was very low. Overall results are consistent with other studies indicating that marine mammals may avoid exposure to airgun sounds based on observed distance from the seismic source during specified source activities. There was geographic variability in sighting rates associated with specific areas of interest within the GOM. This study demonstrates that agency required PSO reports provide a robust and useful data set applicable to impact assessments; management, policy and regulatory decision making; and qualitative input for regional scientific, stock assessment and abundance studies. However, several improvements in content and consistency would facilitate finer-scale analysis of some topics (e.g., effort associated with specific activities, observer biases, sound field estimation) and support statistical comparisons that could provide further insight into marine mammal responses and mitigation efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Jo Barkaszi
- CSA Ocean Sciences Inc., Okeechobee, FL, United States of America
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10
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Biener KJ, Gorchov Negron AM, Kort EA, Ayasse AK, Chen Y, MacLean JP, McKeever J. Temporal Variation and Persistence of Methane Emissions from Shallow Water Oil and Gas Production in the Gulf of Mexico. Environ Sci Technol 2024; 58:4948-4956. [PMID: 38445593 PMCID: PMC10956428 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Methane emissions from the oil and gas supply chain can be intermittent, posing challenges for monitoring and mitigation efforts. This study examines shallow water facilities in the US Gulf of Mexico with repeat atmospheric observations to evaluate temporal variation in site-specific methane emissions. We combine new and previous observations to develop a longitudinal study, spanning from days to months to almost five years, evaluating the emissions behavior of sites over time. We also define and determine the chance of subsequent detection (CSD): the likelihood that an emitting site will be observed emitting again. The average emitting central hub in the Gulf has a 74% CSD at any time interval. Eight facilities contribute 50% of total emissions and are over 80% persistent with a 96% CSD above 100 kg/h and 46% persistent with a 42% CSD above 1000 kg/h, indicating that large emissions are persistent at certain sites. Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) footage shows many of these sites exhibiting cold venting. This suggests that for offshore, a low sampling frequency over large spatial coverage can capture typical site emissions behavior and identify targets for mitigation. We further demonstrate the preliminary use of space-based observations to monitor offshore emissions over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira J. Biener
- Climate
and Space Sciences and Engineering, University
of Michigan, 2549 Space Research Building, 2455 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Alan M. Gorchov Negron
- Climate
and Space Sciences and Engineering, University
of Michigan, 2549 Space Research Building, 2455 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Eric A. Kort
- Climate
and Space Sciences and Engineering, University
of Michigan, 2549 Space Research Building, 2455 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Alana K. Ayasse
- Carbon
Mapper Inc., Pasadena, California 91105, United States
| | - Yuanlei Chen
- Energy
Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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11
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Neidig C, Lee M, Patrick G, Schloesser R. Employing an innovative underwater camera to improve electronic monitoring in the commercial Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishery. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298588. [PMID: 38457427 PMCID: PMC10923404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Vessel electronic monitoring (EM) systems used in fisheries around the world apply a variety of cameras to record catch as it is brought on deck and during fish processing activities. In EM work conducted by the Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring at Mote (CFEMM) in the Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish fishery, there was a need to improve upon current technologies to enhance camera views for accurate species identification of large sharks, particularly those that were released while underwater at the vessel side or underneath the hull. This paper describes how this problem was addressed with the development of the first known EM system integrated underwater camera (UCAM) with a specialized vessel-specific deployment device on a bottom longline reef fish vessel. Data are presented based on blind video reviews from CFEMM trained reviewers of the resulting UCAM video footage compared with video from only the overhead EM cameras from 68 gear retrievals collected from eight fishing trips. Results revealed that the UCAM was a successful tool for capturing clear underwater video footage of released large (>2m) sharks to enable reviewers to improve individual species identification, determination, and fate by 34.4%. This was particularly important for obtaining data on incidental catches of large protected shark species. It also provided clear underwater imagery of the presence of potential predators such as marine mammals close to the vessel, more specifically bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) during gear retrieval, which often damaged or removed catch. This information is intended to assist researchers in need of gathering critical data on bycatch in close proximity to a vessel in which conventional overhead EM cameras are limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Neidig
- Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
| | - Max Lee
- Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
| | - Genevieve Patrick
- Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ryan Schloesser
- Fisheries Ecology & Enhancement, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
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12
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Stephens SA, Dance MA, Zapp Sluis M, Kline RJ, Streich MK, Stunz GW, Adams AJ, Wells RJD, Rooker JR. Spatial distribution and movement of Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298394. [PMID: 38451937 PMCID: PMC10919723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) are capable of long-distance migrations (hundreds of kilometers) but also exhibit resident behaviors in estuarine and coastal habitats. The aim of this study was to characterize the spatial distribution of juvenile tarpon and identify migration pathways of adult tarpon in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Spatial distribution of juvenile tarpon was investigated using gillnet data collected by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) over the past four decades. Generalized additive models (GAMs) indicated that salinity and water temperature played a significant role in tarpon presence, with tarpon occurrences peaking in the fall and increasing over the past four decades in this region. Adult tarpon caught off Texas (n = 40) and Louisiana (n = 4) were tagged with acoustic transmitters to characterize spatial and temporal trends in their movements and migrations. Of the 44 acoustic transmitters deployed, 18 of the individuals were detected (n = 16 west of the Mississippi River Delta and n = 2 east of the Mississippi River Delta). Tarpon tagged west of the Mississippi River Delta off Texas migrated south in the fall and winter into areas of south Texas and potentially into Mexico, while individuals tagged east of the delta migrated into Florida during the same time period, suggesting the presence of two unique migratory contingents or subpopulations in this region. An improved understanding of the habitat requirements and migratory patterns of tarpon inhabiting the Gulf of Mexico is critically needed by resource managers to assess the vulnerability of each contingent to fishing pressure, and this information will guide multi-state and multi-national conservation efforts to rebuild and sustain tarpon populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane A. Stephens
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Dance
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Michelle Zapp Sluis
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Richard J. Kline
- School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, United States of America
| | - Matthew K. Streich
- Harte Research Institute of Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, United States of America
| | - Gregory W. Stunz
- Harte Research Institute of Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, United States of America
| | - Aaron J. Adams
- Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Fort Pierce, FL, United States of America
| | - R. J. David Wells
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jay R. Rooker
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A & M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
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13
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Plafcan MM, Schwing PT, Romero IC, Brooks GR, Larson RA, O'Malley BJ, Stallings CD. Benthic foraminifera in Gulf of Mexico show temporal and spatial dynamics of microplastics. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 200:116090. [PMID: 38316101 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics have accumulated in the environment since plastic production began, with present-day observations that range from marine trenches to mountains. However, research on microplastics has only recently begun so it is unclear how they have changed over time in many oceanic regions. Our study addressed this gap by quantifying the temporal and spatial dynamics of microplastics in two deep-water regions of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). We isolated agglutinated foraminifera from sediment cores and assessed microplastics that were incorporated into their tests. Our results indicated that microplastics were incorporated by agglutinated foraminifera after plastic production began. Microplastics were higher at deep-water sites and closer to the Mississippi River. This study confirms the presence of microplastic incorporation into agglutinated foraminifera tests and investigates microplastics in deep-water sediments in the GOM. Additional work is needed to fully identify the distribution of microplastics across the GOM and other oceanic basins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina M Plafcan
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 830 1st St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA.
| | | | - Isabel C Romero
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 830 1st St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA.
| | - Gregg R Brooks
- Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, USA.
| | | | | | - Christopher D Stallings
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 830 1st St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA.
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14
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Osmar Roberto AL, Enrique Á, María Amparo RS, Rolando GF. Salinity and sedimentation rate influences on the community structure of polychaetes associated with two sympatric congeneric oyster species. Mar Environ Res 2024; 195:106372. [PMID: 38286074 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
This study focused on spatial-temporal variations in the composition and structure of polychaete communities associated with two coexisting oyster species in a southern Gulf of Mexico coastal lagoon, showed that Crassostrea rhizophorae hosted 23 polychaete species and C. virginica only four. The observed variability was mainly explained by differences in salinity and sedimentation rate, two factors that also influenced the host species distribution. The highest values of richness and diversity occurred at C. rhizophorae sites during the rainy season, coinciding with increased salinity and a decrease in sedimentation rate. The shell-borer species Nereis garwoodi and Polydora websteri occurred in both oysters, but showing higher frequencies in C. virginica during the Nortes season (i.e., the cold fronts season). Our results underscore the contrasting diversity of associated polychaetes with two coexisting oyster species and emphasize the need for considering additional environmental parameters to allow better understanding of the factors that are driving the structure of these communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Araújo-Leyva Osmar Roberto
- Maestría en Ciencias en Restauración Ecológica, Centro de Investigación de Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico; Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Facultad de Ciencias, Baja California, Mexico, Carretera Transpeninsular 3917, 22860, Ensenada
| | - Ávila Enrique
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Estación El Carmen, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Carretera Carmen-Puerto Real Km 9.5, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, 24157, Mexico.
| | - Rodríguez-Santiago María Amparo
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONHACYT), Mexico; Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma del Carmen (UNACAR), C.56 No. 4 Esq. Avenida Concordia Col. Benito Juarez C.P, 24180, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico; Grupo de Investigación One Health-Una Salud, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Peru; Grupo de Investigación en Sostenibilidad Ambiental (GISA), Escuela Universitaria de Posgrado. Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal, Lima, Peru
| | - Gelabert-Fernández Rolando
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma del Carmen (UNACAR), C.56 No. 4 Esq. Avenida Concordia Col. Benito Juarez C.P, 24180, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico
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15
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Nolen RM, Prouse A, Russell ML, Bloodgood J, Díaz Clark C, Carmichael RH, Petersen LH, Kaiser K, Hala D, Quigg A. Evaluation of fatty acids and carnitine as biomarkers of PFOS exposure in biota (fish and dolphin) from Galveston Bay and the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 276:109817. [PMID: 38101762 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2023.109817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a ubiquitous pollutant that elicits a wide range of toxic effects in exposed biota. Coastal zones in highly urbanized or industrial areas are particularly vulnerable to PFOS pollution. At present, information is lacking on biomarkers to assess PFOS effects on aquatic wildlife. This study investigated the efficacy of l-carnitine (or carnitine) and fatty acids as biomarkers of PFOS exposure in aquatic biota. The levels of PFOS, total and free carnitine, and 24 fatty acids (measured as fatty acid methyl esters or FAMEs) were measured in the liver, and muscle or blubber, of fish and dolphins sampled from Galveston Bay and the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGoM). Overall, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) had the highest hepatic PFOS levels. Galveston Bay fish, gafftopsail catfish (Bagre marinus), red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), and spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), had hepatic PFOS levels ∼8-13× higher than nGoM pelagic fish species, red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). The multivariate analysis of PFOS liver body-burdens and biomarkers found carnitine to be a more modal biomarker of PFOS exposure than FAMEs. Significant positive correlation of hepatic PFOS levels with total carnitine was evident for biota from Galveston Bay (fish only), and a significant correlation between PFOS and total and free carnitine was evident for biota from the nGoM (fish and dolphins). Given the essential role of carnitine in mediating fatty acid β-oxidation, our results suggest carnitine to be a likely candidate biomarker of environmental PFOS exposure and indicative of potential dyslipidemia effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayna M Nolen
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553, USA.
| | - Alexandra Prouse
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Mackenzie L Russell
- University Programs, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA
| | - Jennifer Bloodgood
- University Programs, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA; Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of South Alabama, 307 N University Blvd, Mobile, AL 36688, USA; Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, 240 Farrier Rd, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Cristina Díaz Clark
- University Programs, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA
| | - Ruth H Carmichael
- University Programs, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA; Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of South Alabama, 307 N University Blvd, Mobile, AL 36688, USA
| | - Lene H Petersen
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Karl Kaiser
- Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553, USA; Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 3146 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - David Hala
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Antonietta Quigg
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553, USA; Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 3146 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, 3146 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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16
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Pérez-Ponce de León G, Solórzano-García B, Huston DC, Mendoza-Garfias B, Cabañas-Granillo J, Cutmore SC, Cribb TH. Molecular species delimitation of marine trematodes over wide geographical ranges: Schikhobalotrema spp. (Digenea: Haplosplanchnidae) in needlefishes (Belonidae) from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Parasitology 2024; 151:168-180. [PMID: 38037706 PMCID: PMC10941045 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023001245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Geographical distribution plays a major role in our understanding of marine biodiversity. Some marine fish trematodes have been shown to have highly restricted geographical distributions, while some are known to occur over very wide ranges; however, very few of these wide distributions have been demonstrated genetically. Here, we analyse species of the genus Schikhobalotrema (Haplosplanchnidae) parasitizing beloniforms from the tropical west Pacific, the eastern Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). We test the boundaries of these trematodes by integrating molecular and morphological data, host association, habitat of the hosts and geographical distribution, following a recently proposed and standardized delineation method for the recognition of marine trematode species. Based on the new collections, Schikhobalotrema huffmani is here synonymized with the type-species of the genus, Schikhobalotrema acutum; Sch. acutum is now considered to be widely distributed, from the GoM to the western Pacific. Additionally, we describe a new species, Schikhobalotrema minutum n. sp., from Strongylura notata and Strongylura marina (Belonidae) from La Carbonera coastal lagoon, northern Yucatán, GoM. We briefly discuss the role of host association and historical biogeography of the hosts as drivers of species diversification of Schikhobalotrema infecting beloniforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo Pérez-Ponce de León
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tablaje Catastral No. 6998, Carretera Mérida-Tetiz Km. 4.5, Municipio de Ucú, 97357 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Brenda Solórzano-García
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tablaje Catastral No. 6998, Carretera Mérida-Tetiz Km. 4.5, Municipio de Ucú, 97357 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Daniel C. Huston
- Australian National Insect Collection, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Berenit Mendoza-Garfias
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ap. Postal 70-153. C.P., 045 10 Mexico, DF, Mexico
| | - Jhonatan Cabañas-Granillo
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ap. Postal 70-153. C.P., 045 10 Mexico, DF, Mexico
| | - Scott C. Cutmore
- Queensland Museum, Biodiversity and Geosciences Program, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
| | - Thomas H. Cribb
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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17
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Zhang Y, Hu C, McGillicuddy DJ, Barnes BB, Liu Y, Kourafalou VH, Zhang S, Hernandez FJ. Pelagic Sargassum in the Gulf of Mexico driven by ocean currents and eddies. Harmful Algae 2024; 132:102566. [PMID: 38331538 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2023.102566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Pelagic Sargassum in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) plays an important role in ocean biology and ecology, yet our knowledge of its origins and transport pathways is limited. Here, using satellite observations of Sargassum areal density and ocean surface currents between 2000 and 2023, we show that large amounts of Sargassum in the GoM can either originate from the northwestern GoM or be a result of physical transport from the northwestern Caribbean Sea, both with specific transport pathways. Sargassum of the northwestern GoM can be transported to the eastern GoM by ocean currents and eddies, eventually entering the Sargasso Sea. Sargassum entering the GoM from the northwestern Caribbean Sea can be transported in three different directions, with the northward and eastward transports governed by the Loop Current System (LCS) and westward transport driven by the westward extension of the LCS, the propagation or relaying of ocean eddies, the wind-driven westward currents on the Campeche Bank with or without eddies, and the westward currents with/without currents associated with eddies in the northern/central GoM. Overall, the spatial distribution patterns of pelagic Sargassum in the GoM are strongly influenced by the LCS and relevant eddies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjun Zhang
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
| | - Chuanmin Hu
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, United States.
| | - Dennis J McGillicuddy
- Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, United States
| | - Brian B Barnes
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
| | - Yonggang Liu
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
| | - Vassiliki H Kourafalou
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Shuai Zhang
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
| | - Frank J Hernandez
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Pascagoula, MS, United States
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18
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Deb Adhikary NR, Klerks PL, Chistoserdov AY. Bacterial community composition in the Northern Gulf of Mexico intertidal sediment bioturbated by the ghost shrimp Lepidophthalmus louisianensis. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2024; 117:21. [PMID: 38189875 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-023-01897-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Bioturbation plays an important role in structuring microbial communities in coastal sediments. This study investigates the bacterial community composition in sediment associated with the ghost shrimp Lepidophthalmus louisianensis at two locations in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (Bay St. Louis, MS, and Choctawhatchee Bay, FL). Bacteria were analysed for shrimp burrows and for three different depths of bioturbated intertidal sediment, using second-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Burrow walls held a unique bacterial community, which was significantly different from those in the surrounding sediment communities. Communities in burrow walls and surrounding sediment communities also differed between the two geographic locations. The burrow wall communities from both locations were more similar to each other than to sediment communities from same location. Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria were more abundant in burrows and surface sediment than in the subsurface, whereas Deltaproteobacteria were more abundant in burrows and subsurface sediment, suggesting sediment mixing by the bioturbator. However, abundance of individual ASVs was geographic location-specific for all samples. Therefore, it is suggested that the geographic location plays an important role in regional microbial communities distinctiveness. Bioturbation appears to be an important environmental driver in structuring the community around burrows. Sampling was conducted during times of the year and water salinity, tidal regime and temperature were variable, nevertheless the structure microbial communities appeared to remain realatively stable suggesting that these environmental variable played only a minor role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nihar R Deb Adhikary
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, P.O. Box 43602, Lafayette, LA, 70504-3602, USA
| | - Paul L Klerks
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, P.O. Box 43602, Lafayette, LA, 70504-3602, USA
| | - Andrei Y Chistoserdov
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, P.O. Box 43602, Lafayette, LA, 70504-3602, USA.
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19
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Wigren MA, Johnson TA, Griffitt RJ, Hay AG, Knott JA, Sepúlveda MS. Limited impact of weathered residues from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the gut-microbiome and foraging behavior of sheepshead minnows ( Cyprinodon variegatus). J Toxicol Environ Health A 2024; 87:1-21. [PMID: 37830742 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2023.2265413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The Deepwater Horizon disaster of April 2010 was the largest oil spill in U.S. history and exerted catastrophic effects on several ecologically important fish species in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Within fish, the microbiome plays a key symbiotic role in maintaining host health and aids in acquiring nutrients, supporting immune function, and modulating behavior. The aim of this study was to examine if exposure to weathered oil might produce significant shifts in fish gut-associated microbial communities as determined from taxa and genes known for hydrocarbon degradation, and whether foraging behavior was affected. The gut microbiome (16S rRNA and shotgun metagenomics) of sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) was characterized after fish were exposed to oil in High Energy Water Accommodated Fractions (HEWAF; tPAH = 81.1 ± 12.4 µg/L) for 7 days. A foraging behavioral assay was used to determine feeding efficiency before and after oil exposure. The fish gut microbiome was not significantly altered in alpha or beta diversity. None of the most abundant taxa produced any significant shifts as a result of oil exposure, with only rare taxa showing significant shifts in abundance between treatments. However, several bioindicator taxa known for hydrocarbon degradation were detected in the oil treatment, primarily Sphingomonas and Acinetobacter. Notably, the genus Stenotrophomonas was detected in high abundance in 16S data, which previously was not described as a core member of fish gut microbiomes. Data also demonstrated that behavior was not significantly affected by oil exposure. Potential low bioavailability of the oil may have been a factor in our observation of minor shifts in taxa and no behavioral effects. This study lays a foundation for understanding the microbiome of captive sheepshead minnows and indicates the need for further research to elucidate the responses of the fish gut-microbiome under oil spill conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie A Wigren
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Timothy A Johnson
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Robert J Griffitt
- Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS, USA
| | - Anthony G Hay
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan A Knott
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Maria S Sepúlveda
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
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20
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Díaz-Arce N, Gagnaire PA, Richardson DE, Walter JF, Arnaud-Haond S, Fromentin JM, Brophy D, Lutcavage M, Addis P, Alemany F, Allman R, Deguara S, Fraile I, Goñi N, Hanke AR, Karakulak FS, Pacicco A, Quattro JM, Rooker JR, Arrizabalaga H, Rodríguez-Ezpeleta N. Unidirectional trans-Atlantic gene flow and a mixed spawning area shape the genetic connectivity of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17188. [PMID: 37921120 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
The commercially important Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), a large migratory fish, has experienced notable recovery aided by accurate resource assessment and effective fisheries management efforts. Traditionally, this species has been perceived as consisting of eastern and western populations, spawning respectively in the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, with mixing occurring throughout the Atlantic. However, recent studies have challenged this assumption by revealing weak genetic differentiation and identifying a previously unknown spawning ground in the Slope Sea used by Atlantic bluefin tuna of uncertain origin. To further understand the current and past population structure and connectivity of Atlantic bluefin tuna, we have assembled a unique dataset including thousands of genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 500 larvae, young of the year and spawning adult samples covering the three spawning grounds and including individuals of other Thunnus species. Our analyses support two weakly differentiated but demographically connected ancestral populations that interbreed in the Slope Sea. Moreover, we also identified signatures of introgression from albacore (Thunnus alalunga) into the Atlantic bluefin tuna genome, exhibiting varied frequencies across spawning areas, indicating strong gene flow from the Mediterranean Sea towards the Slope Sea. We hypothesize that the observed genetic differentiation may be attributed to increased gene flow caused by a recent intensification of westward migration by the eastern population, which could have implications for the genetic diversity and conservation of western populations. Future conservation efforts should consider these findings to address potential genetic homogenization in the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Díaz-Arce
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Sukarrieta, Spain
| | | | - David E Richardson
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - John F Walter
- Southeast Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Miami, Florida, USA
| | | | | | - Deirdre Brophy
- Marine and Freshwater Research Center, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Galway City, Ireland
| | - Molly Lutcavage
- Large Pelagics Research Center, School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Piero Addis
- Department of Environmental and Life Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francisco Alemany
- International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, GBYP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Robert Allman
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Panama City Laboratory, Panama City, Florida, USA
| | | | - Igaratza Fraile
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Spain
| | - Nicolas Goñi
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Spain
| | - Alex R Hanke
- St Andrews Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada
| | | | - Ashley Pacicco
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Joseph M Quattro
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Jay R Rooker
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Haritz Arrizabalaga
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Spain
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21
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Yin Z, Zhang X, Wang S, Xu Y. Spatiotemporal variation of dissolved oxygen concentration in the northern Gulf of Mexico during the period of 1992-2017. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 198:115771. [PMID: 37995592 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration is an important index of ocean systems. In this study, spatiotemporal variations in DO were analyzed in the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGM) for the period of 1992-2017. Temporal variation involves annual, monthly, and seasonal variations. The spatial scope ranged from the sea surface to 1000 m depth. The results show that: (1) DO decreased from 1992 to 2017 with a brief increase; (2) clear seasonal variation characteristics of DO were presented, and the seasonal average DO was relatively low in summer; (3) the monthly average trends of sea surface DO in different years were relatively consistent; and (4) with increasing water depth from seawater surface to 1000 m, the average DO of 1992 to 2017 tended to decrease and then increase. The results aim at shedding some light on the assessment of DO change in the NGM over the past quarter century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zegao Yin
- Engineering College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Xuecong Zhang
- Engineering College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Sheng Wang
- Engineering College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Yu Xu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
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22
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Comans CM, Smart SM, Kast ER, Lu Y, Lüdecke T, Leichliter JN, Sigman DM, Ikejiri T, Martínez-García A. Enameloid-bound δ 15 N reveals large trophic separation among Late Cretaceous sharks in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Geobiology 2024; 22:e12585. [PMID: 38385603 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
The nitrogen isotopic composition (15 N/14 N ratio, or δ15 N) of enameloid-bound organic matter (δ15 NEB ) in shark teeth was recently developed to investigate the biogeochemistry and trophic structures (i.e., food webs) of the ancient ocean. Using δ15 NEB , we present the first nitrogen isotopic evidence for trophic differences between shark taxa from a single fossil locality. We analyze the teeth of four taxa (Meristodonoides, Ptychodus, Scapanorhynchus, and Squalicorax) from the Late Cretaceous (83-84 Ma) Trussells Creek site in Alabama, USA, and compare the N isotopic findings with predictions from tooth morphology, the traditional method for inferring shark paleo-diets. Our δ15 NEB data indicate two distinct trophic groups, with averages separated by 6.1 ± 2.1‰. The lower group consists of Meristodonoides and Ptychodus, and the higher group consists of Scapanorhynchus and Squalicorax (i.e., lamniforms). This δ15 NEB difference indicates a 1.5 ± 0.5 trophic-level separation between the two groups, a finding that is in line with paleontological predictions of a higher trophic level for these lamniforms over Meristodonoides and Ptychodus. However, the δ15 NEB of Meristodonoides is lower than suggested by tooth morphology, although consistent with mechanical tests suggesting that higher trophic-level bony fishes were not a major component of their diet. Further, δ15 NEB indicates that the two sampled lamniform taxa fed at similar trophic levels despite their different inferred tooth functions. These two findings suggest that tooth morphology alone may not always be a sufficient indicator of dietary niche. The large trophic separation revealed by the δ15 NEB offset leaves open the possibility that higher trophic-level lamniforms, such as those measured here, preyed upon smaller, lower trophic-level sharks like Meristodonoides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea M Comans
- Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Sandi M Smart
- Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- Max Plank Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
| | - Emma R Kast
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - YueHan Lu
- Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Tina Lüdecke
- Max Plank Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Daniel M Sigman
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Takehito Ikejiri
- Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- Alabama Museum of Natural History, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
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23
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Cañizares-Martínez MA, Quintanilla-Mena MA, Árcega-Cabrera F, Ceja-Moreno V, Del Río-García M, Reyes-Solian SG, Rivas-Reyes I, Rivera-Bustamante RF, Puch-Hau CA. Transcriptional Response of Vitellogenin Gene in Flatfish to Environmental Pollutants from Two Regions of the Gulf of Mexico. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2023; 112:11. [PMID: 38092994 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-023-03825-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The present study evaluates the endocrine effect in flatfish through vitellogenin (vtg) gene expression and its association with pollutants data obtained from fish muscle and sediment from two regions in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM): Perdido Fold Belt (northwestern) and the Yucatan Peninsula (southeast). The results revealed induction of vtg in male flatfish in both geographical regions with different levels and patterns of distribution per oceanographic campaign (OC). In the Perdido Fold Belt, vtg was observed in male fish during four OC (carried out in 2016 and 2017), positively associated with Pb, V, Cd and bile metabolites (hydroxynaphthalene and hydroxyphenanthrene). In the Yucatan Peninsula, the induction of vtg in males was also detected in three OC (carried out in 2016 and 2018) mainly associated with Ni, Pb, Al, Cd, V and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Ultimately, estrogenic alterations could affect reproductive capacity of male flatfish in the GoM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayra A Cañizares-Martínez
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Mercedes A Quintanilla-Mena
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Flor Árcega-Cabrera
- Unidad de Química en Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo S/N, Sisal, Yucatán, 97355, México
| | - Victor Ceja-Moreno
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Marcela Del Río-García
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Sandy G Reyes-Solian
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Isajav Rivas-Reyes
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Rafael F Rivera-Bustamante
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México
| | - Carlos A Puch-Hau
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Unidad Mérida. Km. 6 Antigua Carretera a Progreso, Apdo. Postal 73-Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, México.
- Tecnológico Nacional de México Campus Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Valladolid, carretera Valladolid-Tizimín, Km. 3.5, Valladolid, Yucatán, C.P. 97780, México.
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24
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Elsheref M, Messina L, Tarr MA. Photochemistry of oil in marine systems: developments since the Deepwater Horizon spill. Environ Sci Process Impacts 2023; 25:1878-1908. [PMID: 37881013 DOI: 10.1039/d3em00248a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Oil spills represent a major source of negative environmental impacts in marine systems. Despite many decades of research on oil spill behavior, photochemistry was neglected as a major factor in the fate of oil spilled in marine systems. Subsequent to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, numerous studies using varied approaches have demonstrated the importance of photochemistry, including short-term impacts (hours to days) that were previously unrecognized. These studies have demonstrated the importance of photochemistry in the overall oil transformation after a spill and more specifically the impacts on emulsification, oxygenation, and microbial interactions. In addition to new perspectives, advances in analytical approaches have allowed an improved understanding of oil photochemistry after maritime spill. Although the literature on the Deepwater Horizon spill is extensive, this review focuses only on studies relevant to the advances in oil photochemistry understanding since the Deepwater Horizon spill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Elsheref
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA.
| | - Lena Messina
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA.
| | - Matthew A Tarr
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA.
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25
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Martínez-Aquino A, García-Teh JG, Ceccarelli FS, Aguirre-Macedo ML, Vidal-Martínez VM. Integrative taxonomy of Serrasentis gibsoni n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Isthmosacanthidae) from flatfishes in the Gulf of Mexico. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e96. [PMID: 38073427 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x23000822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The Isthmosacanthidae acanthocephalan species of the genus Serrasentis are parasites of marine teleosts and an elasmobranch. In this study, Serrasentis gibsoni n. sp. is described from the intestines of four flatfish species (Paralichthyidae), namely Ancyclopsetta quadrocellata, Cyclopsetta chittendeni, Syacium gunteri, and S. papillosum from 10 oceanic sites in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Twenty sequences of the 'barcoding' region of cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene were obtained from 20 adults of Serrasentis gibsoni n. sp. Additionally, five sequences of the barcoding region were obtained from five adults of rhadinorhynchid Gorgorhynchus lepidus from C. chittendeni, S. papillosum and one species of Haemulidae, Haemulom aurolineatum, from five oceanic sites from the GoM. Two phylogenetic approaches were followed: Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood. In both phylogenetic reconstructions, the sequences of Serrasentis gibsoni n. sp. were recovered as a monophyletic group within the genus Serrasentis and placed as a sister group to G. lepidus. However, due to the lack of molecular data for species of the Isthmosacanthidae and Rhadinorhynchidea, these phylogenetic inferences must be taken with caution. Serrasentis gibsoni n. sp. is the first species of Serrasentis described from Paralichthyidae flatfish species from marine waters of the Americas and from the GoM. Based on the barcoding data set analyzed, Serrasentis gibsoni n. sp. appears to have high intraspecific genetic variation; thus, it is necessary to continue exploring the genetic diversity of this species to infer its intraspecific evolutionary patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Martínez-Aquino
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Carretera Transpeninsular 3917, Fraccionamiento Playitas, Ensenada, Baja California, 22860, Mexico
| | - J G García-Teh
- Laboratorio de Patología Acuática, Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Cordemex, Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km. 6, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, Mexico
| | - F S Ceccarelli
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana, Ensenada, Baja California, 22860, Mexico
| | - M L Aguirre-Macedo
- Laboratorio de Patología Acuática, Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Cordemex, Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km. 6, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, Mexico
| | - V M Vidal-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Patología Acuática, Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Cordemex, Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km. 6, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, Mexico
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26
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Carter JE, Sporre MA, Eytan RI. Phylogenetic review of the comb-tooth blenny genus Hypleurochilus in the northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 189:107933. [PMID: 37769827 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
As some of the smallest vertebrates, yet largest producers of consumed reef biomass, cryptobenthic reef fishes serve a disproportionate role in reef ecosystems and are one of the most poorly understood groups of fish. The blenny genera Hypleurochilus and Parablennius are currently considered paraphyletic and the interrelationships of Parablennius have been the focus of recent phylogenetic studies. However, the interrelationships of Hypleurochilus remain understudied. This genus is transatlantically distributed and comprises 11 species with a convoluted taxonomic history. In this study, relationships for ten Hypleurochilus species are resolved using multi-locus nuclear and mtDNA sequence data, morphological data, and mined COI barcode data. Mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data from 61 individuals collected from the western Atlantic and northern Gulf of Mexico (N. GoM) delimit seven species into a temperate clade, a tropical clade, and a third distinct lineage. This lineage, herein referred to as H. cf. aequipinnis, may represent a species of Hypleurochilus whose range has expanded into the N. GoM. Inclusion of publicly available COI sequence for an additional three species provides further phylogenetic resolution. H. bananensis forms a new eastern Atlantic clade with H. cf. aequipinnis, providing further evidence for a western Atlantic range expansion. Single marker COI delimitation was unable to elucidate the relationships between H. springeri/H. pseudoaequipinnis and between H. multifilis/H. caudovittatus due to incomplete lineage sorting. Mitochondrial data are also unable to accurately resolve the placement of H. bermudensis. However, a comprehensive approach using multi-locus phylogenetic and species delimitation methods was able to resolve these relationships. While mining publicly available sequence data allowed for the inclusion of an increased number of species in the analysis and a more comprehensive phylogeny, it was not without drawbacks, as a handful of sequences are potentially mis-identified. Overall, we find that the recent divergence of some species within this genus and potential introgression events confound the results of single locus delimitation methods, yet a combination of single and multi-locus analyses has allowed for insights into the biogeography of this genus and uncovered a potential transatlantic range expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua E Carter
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 1001 Texas Clipper Road, Galveston, TX 77554, United States.
| | - Megan A Sporre
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 1001 Texas Clipper Road, Galveston, TX 77554, United States
| | - Ron I Eytan
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 1001 Texas Clipper Road, Galveston, TX 77554, United States
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27
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Arrington EC, Tarn J, Kittner HE, Kivenson V, Liu RM, Valentine DL. Methylated cycloalkanes fuel a novel genus in the Porticoccaceae family (Ca. Reddybacter gen. nov). Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2958-2971. [PMID: 37599091 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Cycloalkanes are abundant and toxic compounds in subsurface petroleum reservoirs and their fate is important to ecosystems impacted by natural oil seeps and spills. This study focuses on the microbial metabolism of methylcyclohexane (MCH) and methylcyclopentane (MCP) in the deep Gulf of Mexico. MCH and MCP are often abundant cycloalkanes observed in petroleum and will dissolve into the water column when introduced at the seafloor via a spill or natural seep. We conducted incubations with deep Gulf of Mexico (GOM) seawater amended with MCH and MCP at four stations. Within incubations with active respiration of MCH and MCP, we found that a novel genus of bacteria belonging to the Porticoccaceae family (Candidatus Reddybacter) dominated the microbial community. Using metagenome-assembled genomes, we reconstructed the central metabolism of Candidatus Reddybacter, identifying a novel clade of the particulate hydrocarbon monooxygenase (pmo) that may play a central role in MCH and MCP metabolism. Through comparative analysis of 174 genomes, we parsed the taxonomy of the Porticoccaceae family and found evidence suggesting the acquisition of pmo and other genes related to the degradation of cyclic and branched hydrophobic compounds were likely key events in the ecology and evolution of this group of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor C Arrington
- Marine Science Institute, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Jonathan Tarn
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Hailie E Kittner
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Veronika Kivenson
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Rachel M Liu
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - David L Valentine
- Marine Science Institute, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Department of Earth Science, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
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28
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Oribe-Pérez I, Velázquez-Abunader I, Monroy-García C. Factors affecting the relative abundance in an overfished stock: red grouper ( Epinephelus morio) in the Southeastern Gulf of Mexico. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16490. [PMID: 38025673 PMCID: PMC10666610 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The most important fisheries are recording catches below their historical averages despite increased effort. This level of overfishing is worrying and requires the establishment of feasible and precise measures to prevent a continuing decrease in biomass. Determining the factors that lead to changes in the abundance and distribution of overfished resources would allow us to identify the strengths and weaknesses of management schemes; this approach would also make it possible to estimate more accurate parameters for their evaluation. We hypothesize that environmental, temporal, spatial, and operational components contribute to the variation in the relative abundance. Thus, we analyzed the red grouper fishery, the most important demersal fishery in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico (SGM); it is locally known as escama. We employed the catch per unit effort (CPUE) as an index of relative abundance recorded by the semi-industrial fleet (kilogram per effective fishing day) and the small-scale fleet (kilogram per effective fishing hour) during the overexploitation phase (from 1996 to 2019). We fitted several variables of the components using generalized additive models (GAM) and used multi-model inference to determine the best GAM for each fleet. For both fleets, the operational and temporal components (fishing gear and year) have had a greater impact on the distribution and abundance of red grouper in the SGM than the spatial and environmental components (the place of origin and sea surface temperature). These findings encourage the exploration of métier schemes for more efficient fishery management. In addition, we have identified several strategies that would support the recovery of the resource, such as restricting fishing in the quadrants located to the northeast or regulating scuba diving. We recommend that in the future, researchers use the indices we have generated in the present study to evaluate the red grouper fishery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Oribe-Pérez
- Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Iván Velázquez-Abunader
- Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Carmen Monroy-García
- Centro Regional de Investigación Acuícola y Pesquera de Yucalpetén, Instituto Nacional de Pesca, Yucalpetén, Yucatán, Mexico
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Sánchez-Pelcastre DW, Tortolero-Langarica JJA, Alvarez-Filip L, Cruz-Ortega I, Carricart-Ganivet JP. Sclerochronological characteristics of Orbicella faveolata in Cayo Arenas, a remote coral reef from the Gulf of Mexico. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293802. [PMID: 37963126 PMCID: PMC10645327 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
During coral calcification in massive scleractinian corals, a double annual banding of different densities (high- and low-density) is formed in their skeletons, which can provide a retrospective record of growth and the influence of environmental conditions on the coral's lifespan. Evidence indicates that during the last decades, the reduction in coral calcification rate is attributed to the combination of global stress factors such as Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and local anthropic stressors. Yet, coral growth trajectories can vary between regions and coral species, where remote locations of coral reefs can act as natural laboratories, as they are far from the harmful effects of direct anthropogenic stressors. The present study reports historical chronology over a 24-year period (1992-2016) of coral extension rate (cm yr-1), skeletal density (g cm-3), and calcification rate (g cm-2 yr-1) of the reef-building coral Orbicella faveolata at the remote reef Cayo Arenas, Campeche Bank, in the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico. The relationships between the three sclerochronological features show that O. faveolata uses its calcification resources to build denser skeletons. Chronological trends indicate that coral extension increased, skeletal density and calcification rate decreased (33% calcification rate) over time. The results reveal that despite the remoteness of the locality the maximum SST has been increased, and the coral calcification rate decreased over time. If the temperature continues to rise, there is a conceivable risk of experiencing a decline in reef-building coral species. This scenario, in turn, could pose a significant threat, endangering not only the framework of coral reefs but also their ecological functionality, even within remote Atlantic reef ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Wendoline Sánchez-Pelcastre
- Laboratorio de Esclerocronología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - J. J. Adolfo Tortolero-Langarica
- Laboratorio de Esclerocronología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
- Tecnológico Nacional de México/ IT Bahía de Banderas, Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, México
| | - Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip
- Biodiversity and Reef Conservation (BARCO) Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Israel Cruz-Ortega
- Laboratorio de Esclerocronología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Juan P. Carricart-Ganivet
- Laboratorio de Esclerocronología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
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Li D, Zhang Z. MetaQA: Enhancing human-centered data search using Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) language model and artificial intelligence. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293034. [PMID: 37956160 PMCID: PMC10642800 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Accessing and utilizing geospatial data from various sources is essential for developing scientific research to address complex scientific and societal challenges that require interdisciplinary knowledge. The traditional keyword-based geosearch approach is insufficient due to the uncertainty inherent within spatial information and how it is presented in the data-sharing platform. For instance, the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) data search platform stores geoinformation and metadata in a complex tabular. Users can search for data by entering keywords or selecting data from a drop-down manual from the user interface. However, the search results provide limited information about the data product, where detailed descriptions, potential use, and relationship with other data products are still missing. Language models (LMs) have demonstrated great potential in tasks like question answering, sentiment analysis, text classification, and machine translation. However, they struggle when dealing with metadata represented in tabular format. To overcome these challenges, we developed Meta Question Answering System (MetaQA), a novel spatial data search model. MetaQA integrates end-to-end AI models with a generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) to enhance geosearch services. Using GCOOS metadata as a case study, we tested the effectiveness of MetaQA. The results revealed that MetaQA outperforms state-of-the-art question-answering models in handling tabular metadata, underlining its potential for user-inspired geosearch services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diya Li
- Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
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Schaeffer BA, Whitman P, Vandermeulen R, Hu C, Mannino A, Salisbury J, Efremova B, Conmy R, Coffer M, Salls W, Ferriby H, Reynolds N. Assessing potential of the Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) for water quality monitoring across the coastal United States. Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 196:115558. [PMID: 37757532 PMCID: PMC10845072 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) will provide unique high temporal frequency observations of the United States coastal waters to quantify processes that vary on short temporal and spatial scales. The frequency and coverage of observations from geostationary orbit will improve quantification and reduce uncertainty in tracking water quality events such as harmful algal blooms and oil spills. This study looks at the potential for GLIMR to complement existing satellite platforms from its unique geostationary viewpoint for water quality and oil spill monitoring with a focus on temporal and spatial resolution aspects. Water quality measures derived from satellite imagery, such as harmful algal blooms, thick oil, and oil emulsions are observable with glint <0.005 sr-1, while oil films require glint >10-5 sr-1. Daily imaging hours range from 6 to 12 h for water quality measures, and 0 to 6 h for oil film applications throughout the year as defined by sun glint strength. Spatial pixel resolution is 300 m at nadir and median pixel resolution was 391 m across the entire field of regard, with higher spatial resolution across all spectral bands in the Gulf of Mexico than existing satellites, such as MODIS and VIIRS, used for oil spill surveillance reports. The potential for beneficial glint use in oil film detection and quality flagging for other water quality parameters was greatest at lower latitudes and changed location throughout the day from the West and East Coasts of the United States. GLIMR scan times can change from the planned ocean color default of 0.763 s depending on the signal-to-noise ratio application requirement and can match existing and future satellite mission regions of interest to leverage multi-mission observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake A Schaeffer
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, NC 27709, United States of America.
| | - Peter Whitman
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, US EPA, Durham, NC 27709, United States of America
| | - Ryan Vandermeulen
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America; Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, MD, United States of America
| | - Chuanmin Hu
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, United States of America
| | - Antonio Mannino
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, United States of America
| | - Joseph Salisbury
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, United States of America
| | | | - Robyn Conmy
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States of America
| | - Megan Coffer
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research, Greenbelt, MD, United States of America; Global Science and Technology Inc., Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Wilson Salls
- US EPA, Office of Research and Development, Durham, NC 27709, United States of America
| | - Hannah Ferriby
- Tetra Tech, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States of America
| | - Natalie Reynolds
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States of America
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Cruz-Castán R, Saber S, Meiners-Mandujano C, Gómez Vives MJ, Curiel-Ramirez S, Galindo-Cortes G, Macías D. Oocyte dynamics for Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the southern Gulf of Mexico: A comparative assessment of Mediterranean spawners using two stereological methods. J Fish Biol 2023; 103:1054-1072. [PMID: 37466346 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Although most research focused on the northern Gulf of Mexico for western Atlantic bluefin tuna, the histological records of reproductive activity of this species in the southern Gulf of Mexico (Mexican waters) have been presented for the first time. This work is the first to study oocyte dynamics in Atlantic bluefin tuna caught in the southern Gulf of Mexico by assessing and comparing them with Mediterranean stock (BFT-E) through stereology using two different methods. Regardless of Atlantic bluefin tuna females returning to their respective spawning grounds at different months in the southern Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean, both stocks arrived reproductively inactive and remained in these zones during periods of similar length; they were reproductively active until March for the southern Gulf of Mexico and May for the Mediterranean females. The comparison of the size structure between the two stocks examined using kernel density estimators demonstrated a quite remarkable difference in mean fork lengths between stocks. The ovarian oocyte density, that is, the number of oocytes per gram of ovary, for each gonad stage predicted using the Weibel and Gomez and oocyte packing density (OPD) methods did not significantly differ between stocks and showed that advanced vitellogenic oocytes from spawning-capable females are an appropriate indicator to estimate potential fecundity, presenting values of c. 1273 and ~1355 eggs per gram for the southern Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean females, respectively. Females caught in Mexican waters (southern Gulf of Mexico) were larger than those caught in the Mediterranean; however, it was demonstrated that the length and weight of females did not affect ovarian oocyte density production. In addition, densities estimated for each gonad stage using W&G and OPD methods did not differ between stocks and presented equal patterns in their oocyte dynamics. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the reproductive biology of Atlantic bluefin tuna, especially in the southern Gulf of Mexico, due to the lack of information regarding this zone, and may allow to support strategies for proper assessment, management, and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Cruz-Castán
- Posgrado en Ecología y Pesquerías, Universidad Veracruzana, Boca del Rio, Mexico
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Sámar Saber
- Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia, Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructure for the Bluefin Tuna Aquaculture (ICTS-ICAR), Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | | | - María José Gómez Vives
- Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Fuengirola, Spain
| | - Sergio Curiel-Ramirez
- Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, Mexico
| | | | - David Macías
- Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Fuengirola, Spain
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Lasala JA, Macksey MC, Mazzarella KT, Main KL, Foote JJ, Tucker AD. Forty years of monitoring increasing sea turtle relative abundance in the Gulf of Mexico. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17213. [PMID: 37821522 PMCID: PMC10567714 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43651-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Longitudinal data sets for population abundance are essential for studies of imperiled organisms with long life spans or migratory movements, such as marine turtles. Population status trends are crucial for conservation managers to assess recovery effectiveness. A direct assessment of population growth is the enumeration of nesting numbers and quantifying nesting attempts (successful nests/unsuccessful attempts) and emergence success (number of hatchlings leaving the nest) because of the substantial annual variations due to nest placement, predation, and storm activity. We documented over 133,000 sea turtle crawls for 50.9 km of Florida Gulf of Mexico coastline from 1982 to 2021 for a large loggerhead turtle nesting aggregation and a recovering remnant population of green sea turtles. Over time both species have emerged to nest significantly earlier in the year and green sea turtle nesting seasons have extended. Nest counts and hatchling production for both species have significantly increased, but the rate of emergence success of hatchlings leaving nests has not changed for loggerheads and has declined for green sea turtles. Sea level rise and coastal developments undoubtedly influence coastal habitats in the long-term, impacting nest site selection and potential recruitment from the loss of emerged hatchlings. However, the present indications for steady Gulf of Mexico recovery of loggerhead and green sea turtles counter findings of the Florida Atlantic coasts. This study indicates that effective conservation practices can be detected within time scales of 1-2 turtle generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Andrew Lasala
- Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL, 34236, USA.
| | - Melissa C Macksey
- Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL, 34236, USA
| | - Kristen T Mazzarella
- Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL, 34236, USA
| | - Kevan L Main
- Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL, 34236, USA
| | - Jerris J Foote
- Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL, 34236, USA
- Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, Sarasota County, 1660 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota, FL, 34236, USA
| | - Anton D Tucker
- Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL, 34236, USA
- Marine Science Program, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA, Australia
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Delgado A, Larson P, Sheridan N, Daly M. Bellactis lux n. sp. (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria: Aiptasiidae), a new sea anemone from the Gulf of Mexico. Zootaxa 2023; 5353:379-392. [PMID: 38220677 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5353.4.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Here we describe a new species of sea anemone from the family Aiptasiidae based on specimens collected from the Gulf of Mexico (USA: Florida & Alabama). Accounts of this species have been known since the early 1990s, primarily from an underwater field guide and hobbyist aquarium literature under the name Lightbulb Anemone. We describe it as a new species from the genus Bellactis based on anatomy, histology, and cnidom. Members of this species are small in size, with a smooth, typically contracted column divided into regions based on color and bearing rows of two or three elevated cinclides in the mid column. Their tentacles are distinctive, translucent, distally inflated and can be bulbous in shape, with sub annular rings. This description synthesizes information about Bellactis and contextualizes what is known about its diversity in light of other members of the Aiptasiidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alonso Delgado
- Department of Evolution; Ecology & Organismal Biology; The Ohio State University; Columbus Ohio USA 43210.
| | - Paul Larson
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 100 8 Avenue SE; St. Petersburg; FL 33701; USA.
| | - Nancy Sheridan
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 100 8 Avenue SE; St. Petersburg; FL 33701; USA.
| | - Marymegan Daly
- Department of Evolution; Ecology & Organismal Biology; The Ohio State University; Columbus Ohio USA 43210.
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Levin JL, Wickman A, Nguyen A, Ho T, Ball C, Ndetan H, Carruth A. Improving Crew Overboard Recovery for Commercial Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. J Agromedicine 2023; 28:852-866. [PMID: 37326321 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2023.2226135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Occupational fatality rates in the commercial fishing industry in the United States remain more than 20 times higher than the national average. The burden of commercial fishing fatalities due to unintentional falls overboard is highest in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) shrimp fishery. The objective of this quasi-experimental, pre-/post-test project design was disseminating recovery slings to GOM captains/deckhands, training in their use, and assessing the attitudes, beliefs, and intentions of fishermen in their adoption. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a land-based simulation was used to train commercial fishermen at three port locations in use of crew overboard (COB) recovery slings. A survey was developed to assess the attitudes, beliefs, and intentions of commercial fishermen in COB recovery. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit 30-50 fishermen at each location. Following pre-/post-training surveys, fishermen received one recovery sling per vessel along with a task list of instructions for use of the sling. A third survey and task list questions were performed at 12-18 months. There were 119 recovery slings and training in their use provided to 123 commercial shrimp fishing vessel owners/captains and deckhands along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. Repeated measures analysis of variance of the three surveys showed that positive change in normative beliefs was significant for the importance of quickly and safely maneuvering the vessel to the crew member. This change was most significant over the period from the initial training and receipt of the recovery sling by the vessel captain/deckhand, to the time of follow-up 12-18 months later (p = .03). Regarding control beliefs, training was associated with immediate statistically significant improved confidence that, with assistance, the fisherman would be able to use the sling and other equipment to hoist the COB (p = .02). However, this confidence waned significantly over time (p = .03). Attitudes and beliefs of commercial fishermen in the GOM can be favorably influenced toward a COB recovery device, as well as their confidence, and intention to use such devices. However, results show that attitudes and beliefs may wane over time, emphasizing the importance of repeated training and survival drills in this industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey L Levin
- School of Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Amanda Wickman
- School of Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Alex Nguyen
- School of Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Tung Ho
- School of Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Cynthia Ball
- School of Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Harrison Ndetan
- School of Medicine, The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Ann Carruth
- College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA, USA
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Briones-Venegas A, Ponce-Vélez G, Elías-García VG, Botello AV. Organochlorine contaminants in sediments and factors influencing their distribution in the natural marine protected area in the gulf of Mexico. Chemosphere 2023; 339:139781. [PMID: 37567268 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in marine sediments of a natural marine protected area (NMPA), Veracruz Reef System (VRS), in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). This NMPA represents one of the first coastal sites with port activity in Mexico, which causes a range of human activities that require adequate planning so as not to impact and destroy this marine protected area; In this sense, this work represents the first effort aimed at diagnosing the presence of organochlorine contaminants in reef sediments from the mainland, both from the adjacent port area and from more distant regions with dominant agricultural activities that ultimately affect this NMPA. Content of organic matter (OM), carbonates and grain-size composition were determined to investigate their influence on compounds distribution in the sediment through multivariate analysis. The potential risk represented by organochlorines concentrations was evaluated taking as reference Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs). Levels of ∑PCBs, ∑DDTs, ∑HCHs and ∑Cyclodienes ranged from 11.59 to 29.79, < 0.01 to 34.11, 22.10 to 102.80, and 17.21-104.45 ng g-1 dry weight (DW), respectively. The statistical analysis revealed that the content of mud and organic matter were the parameters that might influence PCBs distribution in the sediment while OCPs could be influenced by sand and carbonate. The theoretical risk assessment estimated with the results obtained showed that concentrations of lindane, endrin, dieldrin and p,p'-DDT could have an adverse effect on the reef benthic community and continued monitoring is required. The data obtained on the organochlorine contaminants (OCs) considered in this work will contribute to support the strategies proposed by the Mexican federal government entity to continue with the conservation and surveillance of this NMPA and thereby guarantee the least impact derived mainly from port and related agricultural activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aura Briones-Venegas
- Laboratorio de Contaminación Marina, Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Circuito Exterior S/n, Cd. Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico.
| | - Guadalupe Ponce-Vélez
- Laboratorio de Contaminación Marina, Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Circuito Exterior S/n, Cd. Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico.
| | - Víctor Gabriel Elías-García
- Laboratorio de Contaminación Marina, Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Circuito Exterior S/n, Cd. Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico.
| | - Alfonso V Botello
- Laboratorio de Contaminación Marina, Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Circuito Exterior S/n, Cd. Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico.
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Rooker JR, Sluis MZ, Kitchens LL, Dance MA, Falterman B, Lee JM, Liu H, Miller N, Murua H, Rooker AM, Saillant E, Walter J, David Wells RJ. Nursery origin of yellowfin tuna in the western Atlantic Ocean: significance of Caribbean Sea and trans-Atlantic migrants. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16277. [PMID: 37770551 PMCID: PMC10539535 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43163-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural geochemical markers in the otolith of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) were used to establish nursery-specific signatures for investigating the origin of fish captured in the western Atlantic Ocean (WAO). Two classes of chemical markers (trace elements, stable isotopes) were used to first establish nursery-specific signatures of age-0 yellowfin tuna from four primary production zones in the Atlantic Ocean: Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Cape Verde, and Gulf of Guinea. Next, mixture and individual assignment methods were applied to predict the origin of sub-adult and adult yellowfin tuna from two regions in the WAO (Gulf of Mexico, Mid Atlantic Bight) by relating otolith core signatures (corresponding to age-0 period) to baseline signatures of age-0 fish from each nursery. Significant numbers of migrants from Caribbean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean (EAO) production zones (Gulf of Guinea, Cape Verde) were detected in the WAO, suggesting that fisheries in this region were subsidized by outside spawning/nursery areas. Contributions from local production (Gulf of Mexico) were also evident in samples from both WAO fisheries, but highly variable from year to year. High levels of mixing by yellowfin tuna from the different production zones and pronounced interannual trends in nursery-specific contribution rates in the WAO emphasize the complex and dynamic nature of this species' stock structure and population connectivity. Given that geographic shifts in distribution across national or political boundaries leads to governance and management challenges, this study highlights the need for temporally resolved estimates of nursery origin to refine assessment models and promote the sustainable harvest of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay R Rooker
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA.
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Michelle Zapp Sluis
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Larissa L Kitchens
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Michael A Dance
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | | | - Jessica M Lee
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Nathaniel Miller
- Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Hilario Murua
- International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201-1820, USA
- AZTI Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Spain
| | - Alexandra M Rooker
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Eric Saillant
- School of Ocean Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS, 39564, USA
| | - John Walter
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
| | - R J David Wells
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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Lettrich MD, Asaro MJ, Borggaard DL, Dick DM, Griffis RB, Litz JA, Orphanides CD, Palka DL, Soldevilla MS, Balmer B, Chavez S, Cholewiak D, Claridge D, Ewing RY, Fazioli KL, Fertl D, Fougeres EM, Gannon D, Garrison L, Gilbert J, Gorgone A, Hohn A, Horstman S, Josephson B, Kenney RD, Kiszka JJ, Maze-Foley K, McFee W, Mullin KD, Murray K, Pendleton DE, Robbins J, Roberts JJ, Rodriguez- Ferrer G, Ronje EI, Rosel PE, Speakman T, Stanistreet JE, Stevens T, Stolen M, Moore RT, Vollmer NL, Wells R, Whitehead HR, Whitt A. Vulnerability to climate change of United States marine mammal stocks in the western North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290643. [PMID: 37729181 PMCID: PMC10511136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change and climate variability are affecting marine mammal species and these impacts are projected to continue in the coming decades. Vulnerability assessments provide a framework for evaluating climate impacts over a broad range of species using currently available information. We conducted a trait-based climate vulnerability assessment using expert elicitation for 108 marine mammal stocks and stock groups in the western North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Our approach combined the exposure (projected change in environmental conditions) and sensitivity (ability to tolerate and adapt to changing conditions) of marine mammal stocks to estimate vulnerability to climate change, and categorize stocks with a vulnerability index. The climate vulnerability score was very high for 44% (n = 47) of these stocks, high for 29% (n = 31), moderate for 20% (n = 22), and low for 7% (n = 8). The majority of stocks (n = 78; 72%) scored very high exposure, whereas 24% (n = 26) scored high, and 4% (n = 4) scored moderate. The sensitivity score was very high for 33% (n = 36) of these stocks, high for 18% (n = 19), moderate for 34% (n = 37), and low for 15% (n = 16). Vulnerability results were summarized for stocks in five taxonomic groups: pinnipeds (n = 4; 25% high, 75% moderate), mysticetes (n = 7; 29% very high, 57% high, 14% moderate), ziphiids (n = 8; 13% very high, 50% high, 38% moderate), delphinids (n = 84; 52% very high, 23% high, 15% moderate, 10% low), and other odontocetes (n = 5; 60% high, 40% moderate). Factors including temperature, ocean pH, and dissolved oxygen were the primary drivers of high climate exposure, with effects mediated through prey and habitat parameters. We quantified sources of uncertainty by bootstrapping vulnerability scores, conducting leave-one-out analyses of individual attributes and individual scorers, and through scoring data quality for each attribute. These results provide information for researchers, managers, and the public on marine mammal responses to climate change to enhance the development of more effective marine mammal management, restoration, and conservation activities that address current and future environmental variation and biological responses due to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Lettrich
- ECS Under Contract for Office of Science and Technology, NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Asaro
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Diane L. Borggaard
- Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, NOAA Fisheries, Gloucester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Dorothy M. Dick
- Office of Protected Resources, NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Roger B. Griffis
- Office of Science and Technology, NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jenny A. Litz
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Christopher D. Orphanides
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Debra L. Palka
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Melissa S. Soldevilla
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Brian Balmer
- Dolphin Relief and Research, Clancy, Montana, United States of America
| | - Samuel Chavez
- Integrated Statistics, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Danielle Cholewiak
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Diane Claridge
- Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas
| | - Ruth Y. Ewing
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Kristi L. Fazioli
- Environmental Institute of Houston, University of Houston ‐ Clear Lake, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Dagmar Fertl
- Ziphius EcoServices, Magnolia, Texas, United States of America
| | - Erin M. Fougeres
- Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries, Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
| | - Damon Gannon
- University of Georgia Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Lance Garrison
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - James Gilbert
- University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States of America
| | - Annie Gorgone
- CIMAS, University of Miami, Under Contract for NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Aleta Hohn
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Stacey Horstman
- Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries, Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
| | - Beth Josephson
- Integrated Statistics, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Robert D. Kenney
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Jeremy J. Kiszka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Katherine Maze-Foley
- CIMAS, University of Miami, Under Contract for Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Wayne McFee
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Keith D. Mullin
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Kimberly Murray
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Daniel E. Pendleton
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jooke Robbins
- Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jason J. Roberts
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | | | - Errol I. Ronje
- National Centers for Environmental Information, NOAA, Stennis Space Center, Hancock County, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Patricia E. Rosel
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Lafayette, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Todd Speakman
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America
| | | | - Tara Stevens
- CSA Ocean Sciences, East Greenwich, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Megan Stolen
- Blue World Research Institute, Merritt Island, Florida, United States of America
| | - Reny Tyson Moore
- Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Chicago Zoological Society, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
| | - Nicole L. Vollmer
- CIMAS, University of Miami, Under Contract for Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Lafayette, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Randall Wells
- Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Chicago Zoological Society, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
| | - Heidi R. Whitehead
- Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Amy Whitt
- Azura Consulting, Garland, Texas, United States of America
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Morales-Nez AG, Ramos-Tafur GE. Nototanoides oliveri, a new sponge-dwelling nototanaid tanaidacean (Crustacea, Tanaidomorpha, Tanaidacea) from eastern Gulf of Mexico, with an illustrated taxonomic key, and the first record of harpacticoid copepods within the marsupium of ovigerous female tanaids. Zootaxa 2023; 5346:242-270. [PMID: 38221340 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5346.3.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
A new species of tanaidacean, Nototanoides oliveri sp. nov. from the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico is described and illustrated. The new species appears to be most closely related to the recently described western Atlantic species, N. polytrichus. It can be easily distinguished from that species, as well as the other members of the genus, N. trifurcatus and N. ohtsukai, by a combination of characters, including: (1) female antennular article-3 with up to 11 aesthetascs (2) female maxilliped palp article-2 with multifurcate spiniform seta and (3) male cheliped basis having mid-ventral margin swollen, forming a rounded apophysis/protuberance. In addition, an unknown living harpacticoid copepod is reported for the first time within the marsupium of ovigerous females of Tanaidacea. An illustrated key to the four species comprising the genus Nototanoides is presented.
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Quintanilla JM, Malca E, Lamkin J, García A, Laiz-Carrión R. Evidence of isotopic maternal transmission influence on bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) larval growth. Mar Environ Res 2023; 190:106112. [PMID: 37523845 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Pre-flexion stages of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) larvae were collected in 2014 during the peak of spawning in the two main spawning areas: Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and Mediterranean Sea (MED). We examined daily growth, otolith biometry, and stable isotopes and found that the GOM grew at a faster rate, had larger otoliths, wider daily increments, and significantly lower values of δ15N when compared to the MED. In addition, an intra-population comparative analysis between slow- and fast-growing individuals (deficient vs. optimal growth groups, respectively) showed that optimal growth groups had significantly lower δ15N within each spawning area, implying a direct relationship between growth potential, development, and maternal transmission of isotopic signatures. A third pre-flexion larval group that was aquaculture-reared also exhibited the same pattern to the wild larval groups. In addition, for the first time, we estimated the maternal trophic niches using models developed with field-captured pre-flexion larvae. The estimated maternal trophic niches for the GOM were narrower than the MED, implying differences in the maternal trophodynamics from each nursery area. Overall, the inter-population (GOM vs. MED) and intra-population growth groups (deficient vs. optimal) grew faster and had narrower maternal niches. This study shows the advantages that larval SIA research can aid in the understanding of the trophodynamics of their breeders by examining the trophic relationship of a spawning stock jointly with the development of growth potential in offspring within the same breeding season.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Quintanilla
- Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Fuengirola, Málaga, Spain.
| | - Estrella Malca
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA; Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Miami, FL, USA
| | - John Lamkin
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Alberto García
- Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Fuengirola, Málaga, Spain
| | - Raúl Laiz-Carrión
- Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Fuengirola, Málaga, Spain
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Spezakis Z, Xydis G. Transporting offshore wind power in the Western Gulf of Mexico: retrofitting existing assets for power transmission via green hydrogen-a review. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:99088-99099. [PMID: 36171321 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23292-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The USA recently announced it is planning on deploying 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 (national goal for offshore wind). Part of this development will be in the Gulf of Mexico, which has both wind potential and pre-existing oil and gas pipelines, only a portion of which is currently being used. Examining whether these assets can be used to economically transport power back from future Gulf wind farms should be a first step for developers. The question of whether laying new high-voltage direct current submarine cable versus repurposing pipeline to transport wind power will be examined. This paper looks at the hydrogen market and its use to transport wind power, what it would take to retrofit pipeline to carry hydrogen, a cost analysis given available data, and a look at potential policy support. There is a need to assess pipelines individually; however, retrofitting existing infrastructure should be considered an alternative to laying new submarine transmission cables. Additionally, alleviating the issue of oil and gas stranded assets through pipeline reuse may provide political support in hastening the energy transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zinovia Spezakis
- Energy Policy and Climate Program, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Ecolectro, Inc., Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - George Xydis
- Energy Policy and Climate Program, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Business Development and Technology, Aarhus University, Birk Centerpark 15, 7400, Herning, Denmark.
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Lund J, Wheeler E, Peredy T. Clam calamity: five concurrent cases of neurotoxic shellfish poisoning with varying presentations following ingestion of clams from Gulf of Mexico water contaminated with Karenia brevis confirmed by serum brevetoxin assays. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2023; 61:702-704. [PMID: 37831009 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2023.2260558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Karinia brevis, a marine dinoflagellate, is the causative organism for "red-tide" on the east coast of Florida.This microbe produces brevetoxins, which bioaccumulate in filter feeding bivalve shellfish. In humans, inhalational exposure is common, while ingestion of contaminated shellfish is more rare. Ingested brevetoxin causes gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms collectively known as neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. CASE CLUSTER A group of tourists collected clams from a beach during a red tide event. The clams were soaked in brine, microwaved, and consumed for lunch. The index patient experienced seizure-like activity postprandially prompting the cohort to present for medical attention. Five people presented to the emergency department with neurotoxic shellfish poisoning-related symptoms. All patients received supportive care only. Symptoms resolved within 24 hours. Serum brevetoxin concentrations were reported for four patients. DISCUSSION Ingestion of brevetoxin is rare but may become more common as the frequency and severity of "red-tide" events increase. In our cluster, each person consumed a different number of clams and presented with classic and some "non-classic" symptoms. A trend toward more severe symptoms with a larger number of clams ingested was observed. CONCLUSIONS This case cluster describes the clinical course of individuals after consumption of brevetoxin contaminated shellfish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Lund
- Pharmaceutical Care Services, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, Sarasota, FL, USA
- Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Emily Wheeler
- Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA
- Emergency Medicine, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, Sarasota, FL, USA
| | - Tamas Peredy
- Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA
- Emergency Medicine, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, Sarasota, FL, USA
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Frith A, Hayes-Mims M, Carmichael R, Björnsdóttir-Butler K. Effects of Environmental and Water Quality Variables on Histamine-Producing Bacteria Concentration and Species in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0472022. [PMID: 37310253 PMCID: PMC10434188 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04720-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Scombrotoxin (histamine) fish poisoning is a common seafood-borne illness attributed to toxin production by histamine-producing bacteria (HPB) in fish tissues during decomposition. In laboratory studies, growth of HPB and other bacterial species is affected by physical and chemical attributes, but natural communities of HPB are not well understood. To determine how in situ environmental and water quality variables may affect density of HPB in the natural aquatic environment, we compared presence and abundance of HPB to ambient temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, fecal coliforms, male-specific coliphage, nutrient concentrations, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios, and C:N in water samples collected from July 2017 to February 2018 along a natural salinity gradient in a tidal river on the coast of northern Gulf of Mexico. HPB in water samples were quantified using a real-time PCR, most probable number method. HPB species were identified via 16S rRNA gene sequences. Temperature and salinity were determined to be the main factors driving HPB presence and concentration. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that different HPB were associated with different environmental conditions. Photobacterium damselae was found under warmer, higher-salinity conditions; Raoultella planticola was found at colder, lower-salinity conditions; Enterobacter aerogenes was found at warmer, lower-salinity conditions; and Morganella morganii was found at most sites, independent of environmental conditions. These results showed that naturally occurring HPB abundance and species composition can be affected by environmental conditions, which could manifest in various potentials for histamine formation and scombrotoxin fish poisoning risk based on environmental factors. IMPORTANCE This study determined the effects of environmental conditions on presence and abundance of naturally occurring histamine-producing bacteria in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Here, we show that HPB abundance and species composition are related to in situ ambient temperature and salinity, with the magnitude of this effect dependent on the particular HPB species. This finding suggests that environmental conditions at fishing sites could affect the risk of human illness from scombrotoxin (histamine) fish poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Frith
- University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, USA
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory, Dauphin Island, Alabama, USA
| | - Marlee Hayes-Mims
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory, Dauphin Island, Alabama, USA
| | - Ruth Carmichael
- University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, USA
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Juárez K, Reza L, Bretón-Deval L, Morales-Guzmán D, Trejo-Hernández MR, García-Guevara F, Lara P. Microaerobic degradation of crude oil and long chain alkanes by a new Rhodococcus strain from Gulf of Mexico. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 39:264. [PMID: 37515608 PMCID: PMC10386958 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03703-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial degradation of crude oil is a promising strategy for reducing the concentration of hydrocarbons in contaminated environments. In the first part of this study, we report the enrichment of two bacterial consortia from deep sediments of the Gulf of Mexico with crude oil as the sole carbon and energy source. We conducted a comparative analysis of the bacterial community in the original sediment, assessing its diversity, and compared it to the enrichment observed after exposure to crude oil in defined cultures. The consortium exhibiting the highest hydrocarbon degradation was predominantly enriched with Rhodococcus (75%). Bacterial community analysis revealed the presence of other hydrocarbonoclastic members in both consortia. In the second part, we report the isolation of the strain Rhodococcus sp. GOMB7 with crude oil as a unique carbon source under microaerobic conditions and its characterization. This strain demonstrated the ability to degrade long-chain alkanes, including eicosane, tetracosane, and octacosane. We named this new strain Rhodococcus qingshengii GOMB7. Genome analysis revealed the presence of several genes related to aromatic compound degradation, such as benA, benB, benC, catA, catB, and catC; and five alkB genes related to alkane degradation. Although members of the genus Rhodococcus are well known for their great metabolic versatility, including the aerobic degradation of recalcitrant organic compounds such as petroleum hydrocarbons, this is the first report of a novel strain of Rhodococcus capable of degrading long-chain alkanes under microaerobic conditions. The potential of R. qingshengii GOMB7 for applications in bioreactors or controlled systems with low oxygen levels offers an energy-efficient approach for treating crude oil-contaminated water and sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy Juárez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Celular y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001. Col. Chamilpa., Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, México.
| | - Lizeth Reza
- Departamento de Ingeniería Celular y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001. Col. Chamilpa., Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, México
| | - Luz Bretón-Deval
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001. Col. Chamilpa., Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, México
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Avenida Insurgentes Sur 1582, Crédito Constructor, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Daniel Morales-Guzmán
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001. Col. Chamilpa., Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62209, México
| | - María R Trejo-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001. Col. Chamilpa., Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62209, México
| | - Fernando García-Guevara
- Departamento de Ingeniería Celular y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001. Col. Chamilpa., Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, México
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-171 21, Sweden
| | - Paloma Lara
- Departamento de Ingeniería Celular y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001. Col. Chamilpa., Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, México.
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad s/n, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, México.
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Michael PE, Hixson KM, Gleason JS, Haney JC, Satgé YG, Jodice PGR. Migration, breeding location, and seascape shape seabird assemblages in the northern Gulf of Mexico. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287316. [PMID: 37352140 PMCID: PMC10289433 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The Gulf of Mexico supports many seabird species, yet data gaps describing species composition and habitat use are prevalent. We used vessel-based observations from the Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species to identify and characterize distinct seabird assemblages in the northern Gulf of Mexico (within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone; nGoM). Using cluster analysis of 17 seabird species, we identified assemblages based on seabird relative density. Vessel-based surveys documented the location, species, and number of seabirds across the nGoM between 2017-2019. For each assemblage, we identified the (co-)dominant species, spatial distribution, and areas of greater relative density. We also assessed the relationship of the total relative density within each assemblage with environmental, spatial, and temporal covariates. Of the species assessed, 76% (n = 13) breed predominantly outside the nGoM basin. We identified four seabird assemblages. Two assemblages, one dominated by black tern and the other co-dominated by northern gannet/laughing gull, occurred on the continental shelf. An assemblage dominated by sooty tern occurred along the continental slope into pelagic waters. The fourth assemblage had no dominant species, was broadly distributed, and was composed of observations with low relative density ('singles' assemblage). Differentiation of assemblages was linked to migratory patterns, residency, and breeding location. The spatial distributions and relationships of the black tern and northern gannet/laughing gull assemblages with environmental covariates indicate associations with river outflows and ports. The sooty tern assemblage overlapped an area prone to mesoscale feature formation. The singles assemblage may reflect commuting and dispersive behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of seasonal migrations and dynamic features across the seascape, shaping seabird assemblages. Considering the potential far-ranging effects of interactions with seabirds in the nGoM, awareness of these unique patterns and potential links with other fauna could inform future monitoring, research, restoration, offshore energy, and aquaculture development in this highly industrialized sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela E. Michael
- South Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Kathy M. Hixson
- South Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jeffery S. Gleason
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Program/Science Applications, Chiefland, Florida, United States of America
| | - J. Christopher Haney
- Terra Mar Applied Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
| | - Yvan G. Satgé
- South Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Patrick G. R. Jodice
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
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Snyder SM, Fogelson SB, Pulster EL, Murawski SA. Spatiotemporal patterns in the prevalence of microscopic hepatic changes in Gulf of Mexico Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) and associations with hepatic PAHs. Aquat Toxicol 2023; 258:106512. [PMID: 37001200 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon blowout, demersal longline surveys were conducted across the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) continental shelf to evaluate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure, tissue accumulation, and health indices in demersal fishes. Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps), a target species due to Gulf-wide distribution with documented high exposure to PAHs, were collected in the north central GoM at repeat stations 2012 to 2015, and from the northwest GoM, Bay of Campeche, and Yucatán Shelf in 2015 and 2016. Liver samples (n = 239) were analyzed for microscopic hepatic changes (MHCs) by a board-certified veterinary pathologist. Histological analyzes identified 14 MHCs. Prevalence of MHCs was generally uniform throughout the GoM, except for low prevalence on the Yucatán Shelf. Inflammatory and vacuolar changes were most prevalent, while pre-neoplasia and neoplasia were rare. Tilefish sampled annually in the north central GoM showed increases in inflammatory MHCs and glycogen-type vacuolar change over time, while lipid-type vacuolar change decreased over time. Short-term exposure to PAHs was assessed by measuring PAH metabolites in bile (n = 100) using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Longer-term accumulation of PAHs in tissue was assessed by analyzing liver (n = 111) for PAHs and alkylated homologs using QuEChERS extractions and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Six MHCs including glycogen-type vacuolar change, biliary fibrosis, foci of cellular alteration, parasites, hepatocellular atrophy, and necrosis were significantly associated with hepatic PAH accumulation in Tilefish from the northern central GoM; however, no MHCs were associated with biliary PAH metabolites. Combined with previous studies of PAH exposure and health indices in north central GoM Tilefish post-Deepwater Horizon, which also identified decreases in hepatic lipid storage and Fulton's condition factor that were correlated to increasing PAH exposure, these data indicate concerning temporal trends and changes in hepatic energy storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M Snyder
- University of South Florida, 140 7th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
| | | | - Erin L Pulster
- University of South Florida, 140 7th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Steven A Murawski
- University of South Florida, 140 7th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL, USA
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Zhou S, Guo F, Chao CY, Yoon S, Alvarez SL, Shrestha S, Flynn JH, Usenko S, Sheesley RJ, Griffin RJ. Marine Submicron Aerosols from the Gulf of Mexico: Polluted and Acidic with Rapid Production of Sulfate and Organosulfates. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:5149-5159. [PMID: 36939598 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We measured submicron aerosols (PM1) at a beachfront site in Texas in Spring 2021 to characterize the "background" aerosol chemical composition advecting into Texas and the factors controlling this composition. Observations show that marine "background" aerosols from the Gulf of Mexico were highly processed and acidic; sulfate was the most abundant component (on average 57% of total PM1 mass), followed by organic material (26%). These chemical characteristics are similar to those observed at other marine locations globally. However, Gulf "background" aerosols were much more polluted; the average non-refractory (NR-) PM1 mass concentration was 3-70 times higher than that observed in other clean marine atmospheres. Anthropogenic shipping emissions over the Gulf of Mexico explain 78.3% of the total measured "background" sulfate in the Gulf air. We frequently observed haze pollution in the air mass from the Gulf, with significantly elevated concentrations of sulfate, organosulfates, and secondary organic aerosol associated with sulfuric acid. Analysis suggests that aqueous oxidation of shipping emissions over the Gulf of Mexico by peroxides in the particles might potentially be an important pathway for the rapid production of acidic sulfate and organosulfates during the haze episodes under acidic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Zhou
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Fangzhou Guo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Chun-Ying Chao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Subin Yoon
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Sergio L Alvarez
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Sujan Shrestha
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798, United States
| | - James H Flynn
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Sascha Usenko
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798, United States
| | - Rebecca J Sheesley
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798, United States
| | - Robert J Griffin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island 02809, United States
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Cherryhomes E, Guillot-Wright S. Dissemination and Implementation of a Text Messaging Campaign to Improve Health Disparities among Im/Migrant Workers. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:5311. [PMID: 37047927 PMCID: PMC10094327 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The use of short message service (SMS) text messaging technology has grown in popularity over the last twenty years, but there is limited data on the design and feasibility of campaigns to reduce work-related injury, particularly among rural workers, non-native English speakers, and illiterate or low-literacy populations. Although there is a critical need for tech equity or 'TechQuity' interventions that reduce injury and enhance the wellbeing of under-reached communities, the barriers and benefits to implementation must be empirically and systematically examined. Thus, our team used D&I science to design and implement an 18-week texting campaign for under-reached workers with a higher-than-average risk of fatal and non-fatal injury. The experimental project was conducted with English-, Spanish-, and Vietnamese-speaking commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico to test the design and feasibility, and messaging focused on preventing injury from slips, trips, and falls, as well as hurricane preparedness. The ubiquity of mobile devices and the previous success of texting campaigns made this a promising approach for enhancing health and preventing injury among an under-reached population. However, the perceived benefits were not without their barriers. The lessons learned included the difficulty of navigating federal regulations regarding limits for special characters, enrolling migratory participants, and navigating areas with limited cellular service or populations with limited accessibility to technology. We conclude with short- and long-term suggestions for future technology interventions for under-reached worker populations, including ethical and policy regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellie Cherryhomes
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550, USA
| | - Shannon Guillot-Wright
- Center for Violence Prevention, Department of Family Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550, USA
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Cody TT, Kiryu Y, Bakenhaster MD, Subramaniam K, Tabuchi M, Ahasan MS, Harris HE, Landsberg JH, Waltzek TB, Fogg AQ, Shea C, Pouder DB, Patterson WF, Emory ME, Yanong RP. Cutaneous ulcerative lesions of unknown etiology affecting lionfish Pterois spp. in the Gulf of Mexico. J Aquat Anim Health 2023; 35:20-33. [PMID: 36708074 DOI: 10.1002/aah.10174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cutaneous ulcerative skin lesions in a complex of invasive Gulf of Mexico lionfish (Red Lionfish Pterois volitans, Devil Firefish P. miles, and the hybrid Red Lionfish × Devil Firefish) became epizootic beginning in mid-August 2017. Herein, we provide the first pathological descriptions of these lesions and summarize our analyses to elucidate the etiology of the disease. METHODS We examined ulcerated and normal fish through gross pathology and histopathology, bacterial sampling, and unbiased metagenomic next-generation sequencing. We tracked prevalence of the disease, and we used biological health indicators (condition factor, splenosomatic and hepatosomatic index) to evaluate impacts to health, while considering sex and age as potential risk factors. RESULT Typical ulcerative lesions were deep, exposing skeletal muscle, and were bordered by pale or reddened areas often with some degree of scale loss. Only incidental parasites were found in our examinations. Most fish (86%; n = 50) exhibited wound healing grossly and histologically, confirmed by the presence of granulation tissues. A primary bacterial pathogen was not evident through bacterial culture or histopathology. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing did not reveal a viral pathogen (DNA or RNA) but did provide information about the microbiome of some ulcerated specimens. Compared with clinically healthy fish, ulcerated fish had a significantly lower condition factor and a higher splenosomatic index. Disease prevalence at monitored sites through July 2021 indicated that ulcerated fish were still present but at substantially lower prevalence than observed in 2017. CONCLUSION Although some common findings in a number of specimens suggest a potential role for opportunistic bacteria, collectively our suite of diagnostics and analyses did not reveal an intralesional infectious agent, and we must consider the possibility that there was no communicable pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa T Cody
- Fish and Wildlife Health, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - Yasunari Kiryu
- Fish and Wildlife Health, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - Micah D Bakenhaster
- Fish and Wildlife Health, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - Kuttichantran Subramaniam
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Maki Tabuchi
- Fish and Wildlife Health, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | | | - Holden E Harris
- Nature Coast Biological Station, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Cedar Key, Florida, 32625, USA
| | - Jan H Landsberg
- Fish and Wildlife Health, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - Thomas B Waltzek
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Alexander Q Fogg
- Board of County Commissioners, Okaloosa County, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, 32548, USA
| | - Colin Shea
- Center for Biostatistics and Modeling, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - Deborah B Pouder
- Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Ruskin, Florida, 33570, USA
| | - William F Patterson
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32653, USA
| | - Meaghan E Emory
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA
| | - Roy P Yanong
- Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Ruskin, Florida, 33570, USA
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50
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Podlejski W, Berline L, Nerini D, Doglioli A, Lett C. A new Sargassum drift model derived from features tracking in MODIS images. Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 188:114629. [PMID: 36860021 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Massive Sargassum stranding events affect erratically numerous countries from the Gulf of Guinea to the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasting transport and stranding of Sargassum aggregates require progress in detection and drift modelling. Here we evaluate the role of currents and wind, i.e. windage, on Sargassum drift. Sargassum drift is computed from automatic tracking using MODIS 1 km Sargassum detection dataset, and compared to reference surface current and wind estimates from collocated drifters and altimetric products. First, we confirm the strong total wind effect of ≈3 % (≈2 % of pure windage), but also show the existence of a deflection angle of ≈10° between Sargassum drift and wind directions. Second, our results suggest reducing the role of currents on drift to 80 % of its velocity, likely because of Sargassum resistance to flow. These results should significantly improve our understanding of the drivers of Sargassum dynamics and the forecast of stranding events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Witold Podlejski
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France; Marbec, Université de Monpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Sète, France.
| | - Léo Berline
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France
| | - David Nerini
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France
| | - Andrea Doglioli
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France
| | - Christophe Lett
- Marbec, Université de Monpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Sète, France
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