Marine Biology and Ecology Research

Forecasting bryozoan assemblage dynamics under simulated climate change

This study uses a simulation model to examine how climate change affects bryozoan assemblage dynamics by altering disturbance regimes and biotic interactions.

Importance of functional diversity in benthic remineralization: a new perspective through the lens of Nares Strait, a key Arctic gateway

The paper investigates benthic remineralization rates in Nares Strait, finding that functional diversity better predicts fluxes than taxonomic diversity, and highlights the impact of sea ice and deposit feeders on carbon cycling.

Automated and quantitative characterization of multi-scale benthic habitat and associated biological communities of an unknown southeast Pacific seamount

This study quantitatively maps a previously undocumented seamount's habitat and associated benthic communities, revealing how environmental heterogeneity structures megafaunal assemblages.

Changes in species composition of sessile communities on subtidal rock walls in the southern Gulf of Maine during four decades of warming

The paper examines changes in sessile marine species composition on subtidal rock walls in the southern Gulf of Maine over 42 years of warming, finding a shift toward thermally-tolerant, non-native species.

Evolutionary convergence and trophic diversity in hot vent and cold seep shrimps showcase a continuum of symbiosis

This study examines the evolutionary emergence of chemosymbiosis in deep-sea shrimps, finding convergent origins and a gradient of bacterial colonization across species.

Multiple-omics analyses of the Alviniconcha holobiont reveal multi-faceted adaptations to deep-sea hydrothermal vents

This study uses multiple-omics analyses to uncover molecular and physiological adaptations of Alviniconcha snails to deep-sea hydrothermal vents, focusing on host-symbiont interactions and metabolic complementarity.

Quantitative assessment of sea slugs (Heterobranchia) assemblages along the western coast of Kyushu, Japan: a baseline for long-term biodiversity monitoring

The paper quantifies seasonal changes in sea slug assemblages along Kyushu's coast, showing temperature-driven shifts in species richness and abundance.

Direct observation of feeding behavior in the kleptoplastic sea slug Plakobranchus ocellatus type black (Gastropoda, Sacoglossa)

This study directly observes the feeding behavior of Plakobranchus ocellatus type black, revealing its diet, feeding posture, and ecological niche.

Rapoport s rule in the marine realm: wrong axis, right pattern

The paper tests Rapoport's rule in marine species, finding strong support for depth-based patterns and weak support for latitudinal patterns in three-dimensional range data.

Systematic revision of the speciose sea slug genus Doto (Heterobranchia: Nudibranchia) - from the Mediterranean to South America

This paper revises the taxonomy of the sea slug genus Doto using molecular and morphological data, identifying new species and synonymies across multiple regions.

Organosulfur cycling in the multi-partner symbiosis between lucinid bivalves, sulphur-oxidizing symbionts, and Endozoicomonas

This study investigates organosulfur cycling in lucinid bivalve symbioses, revealing host and microbial roles in DMSP synthesis and degradation.

Tropicalisation of rocky shore gastropod communities along the Baja California Peninsula

The paper documents tropicalisation of rocky shore gastropod communities along the Baja California Peninsula, showing range expansions of tropical species and retractions of temperate species, with historical parallels to past climate warming.

Intertidal Gastropods (Gastropoda: Mollusca): Insights on diversity and distribution in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, India

This study documents gastropod diversity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region using citizen science, identifying new species and rediscoveries while highlighting the effectiveness of low-cost methods for data collection in understudied areas.

A cold-water coral garden with co-occurring Antipathella subpinnata and Dendrophyllia cornigera in the mesophotic zone of the northern Bay of Biscay

The paper describes a large aggregation of co-occurring cold-water coral species in the mesophotic zone of the northern Bay of Biscay, highlighting their distribution and ecological significance.

Convergent evolution of sensory palps in Scalibregmatidae (Annelida)

This study investigates the neural innervation of palp-like structures in Scalibregmatidae, finding they evolved convergently and differ from homologous structures in other annelids.

Species boundaries, host associations, and possible host shifts in the turtle barnacle genus Platylepas

This study reassesses species boundaries and host associations in the barnacle genus Platylepas using morphology and genetic data, finding P. ophiophila is a valid species and reports its first occurrence on a sirenian host.

Image-based ecological assessment of deep-sea sponge, coral and other cnidarian assemblages through a morpho-functional approach

The paper develops a morpho-functional classification framework to assess deep-sea sponge and cnidarian assemblages using image-based traits, revealing greater spatial variability and environmental associations than traditional taxonomy.

A different world: temporal changes in nudibranch community structure over a half-century

This study examines changes in nudibranch communities over 60 years, finding increased tropical species and decreased subarctic species, suggesting climate-driven community reorganization.

First Confirmed Record of the Ranellid Gastropod *Turritriton labiosus* (Wood, 1828) (Gastropoda: Cymatiidae) from Tenerife, Canary Islands (NE Atlantic)

The paper reports the first confirmed record of Turritriton labiosus from Tenerife, suggesting potential long-distance larval dispersal or an Atlantic population.

DISTRIBUTION OF LIVING (ROSE BENGAL STAINED) BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA IN COPANO, ARANSAS, AND REDFISH BAYS, CENTRAL TEXAS COAST

The paper reports population studies of living benthic foraminifera in three Texas bays, finding a shift in dominance from previous records and a relationship between sediment grain size and species distribution.

Intraspecific differences in habitat depth in a deep-sea isopod, Bathynomus doederleini (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cirolanidae), off the west coast of Kyushu, Japan

This study examines depth-related habitat use and body size variation in Bathynomus doederleini, finding depth-dependent size distribution and ecological adaptations to thermal conditions.

Key roles of microbial sulfur and ammonium oxidizers for the coastal seafloor ecological state

The paper examines the relationship between microbial sulfur and ammonium oxidizers and macrofaunal state in coastal seafloor samples, finding distinct microbial networks linked to macrofauna loss or preservation.

Metacommunity theory and metabarcoding reveal the environmental, spatial, and biotic drivers of meiofaunal communities in sandy beaches

The paper uses metacommunity theory and metabarcoding to analyze meiofaunal communities in sandy beaches, finding environmental and spatial factors drive community assembly.

Why didnt the nudibranch cross the ocean? Understanding biogeographic and evolutionary relationships of Hermissenda (Nudibranchia: Myrrhinidae) Bergh, 1878

The paper investigates the biogeographic distribution of Hermissenda nudibranch species using DNA sequencing and citizen science data, finding H. crassicornis and H. opalescens on tsunami debris in Oregon.

Analyzing Biodiversity in Protected vs. Unprotected Tide Pools

This study compares biodiversity in protected and unprotected tide pools using Simpson's Diversity Index and finds mixed results with no definitive conclusion on MPA effectiveness.

Impactful feeding ecology of a predatory guild of oceanic jellies

The paper documents prey ingestion rates of four oceanic ctenophore species, finding they consume large numbers of prey and may be the most impactful planktonic predators in open oceans.

Species delimitation of eight ascidian (Tunicata) species from the North Eastern Mediterranean

The paper uses mitochondrial barcoding to assess species boundaries among eight ascidian species from the North Eastern Mediterranean.

Phenotypic Plasticity of Symbiotic Organ Highlight Deep-sea Mussel as Model Species in Monitoring Exploitation of Deep-sea Methane Hydrate

This study investigates the phenotypic plasticity of deep-sea mussels under methane deprivation, revealing their adaptive responses and resilience to methane hydrate exploitation.

Mass mortality of foundation species on rocky shores: another reason why monitoring programs are relevant

The paper demonstrates that the MBON P2P sampling protocol can detect rapid declines in mussel bed cover on Patagonian rocky shores within a year.