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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · 18h

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Recruitment of the 2011 yr-class of Mesocentrotus nudus after the Tohoku Tsunami was high at max. tsunami height (northern Miyagi). Relative abundance was high due to the tsunami eliminating pre-2011 yr-classes. Highest growth rate was up to 1 yr old.
bit.ly/meps_770_99

High population density of the 2011 yr-class sea urchin at Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · 1d

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Predators shape ecosystems. In Sydney reefs, large male Eastern Blue Groper dominated Centrostephanus rodgersii predation across all urchin sizes. Restoring predator size and diversity may be key to managing urchin overgrazing.
bit.ly/meps_770_83

Our experimental setup showing a tethered urchin test left behind after predation, with a GoPro positioned in front to capture the event.

Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · 2d

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We examined kelp cover & urchin densities in relation to turf proliferation (Tasmanian temperate reefs). When kelps are lost, competitive release allows turfs to establish. However, turf persistence appears dependent on elevated urchin herbivory.
bit.ly/meps_770_15

The initial deployment of the experimental tiles in an urchin barren patch at Fortescue Bay, Tasmania in 2022. Five chained-together bisque tiles lay across a pile of bare rocks with surrounding algae.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · 8d

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Threats to seabirds span across international borders, and risk assessments must operate at the same scale. We use citizen science data from Canada and the US to assess risks from ship activity faced by coastal waterbirds in the Salish Sea.
bit.ly/meps_769_197
birdscanada.bsky.social

A flock of Surf Scoters forage along a rocky shore, with a large vessel passing by in the background.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · 9d

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How is partial migration maintained in Japanese seabass? Individual dietary specialization in river migrants may increase resource availability within contingents, supporting persistence in potential resource-limited river habitats.
bit.ly/meps_769_169

Illustration of Japanese seabass showing individual dietary specialization in river migrants and diet generalist in marine residents.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · 12d

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Climate change is shifting U.S. fisheries. Rising ocean temperatures are driving more warm-water species in catches, especially in the Northeast. Regional differences highlight the need for adaptive, place-based management.
bit.ly/meps_769_125

Artistic rendition by Luisa Rivera of the sun top left warming the ocean surface waters left driving a school of fish to cooler waters right.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · 13d

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Results from the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study show a striking 27-year increase in deep-sea fish larvae in the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean, likely due to food web changes, and seasonal and developmental changes in fish assemblage composition.
bit.ly/meps_769_107

Image of a transforming-stage deep-sea fish, Cyclothone, on a black background.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · 14d

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Model analyses and observations suggest marine predator distributions in the Salish Sea are influenced by tidal dynamics and ocean conditions.
bit.ly/meps_769_23

Marine bird and mammal observers on survey transect.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · 16d

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🦑 Illex argentinus, a key species in global squid fisheries, has distinct spawning groups revealed through statolith chemistry. Our research shows the need for international cooperation to manage this highly migratory species. #SquidScience #Fisheries
bit.ly/meps_769_073

Line drawing of statolith of Illex argentinus in place of the continent of South America, the Falkland Islands in black, and a drawing of Illex argentinus along with arrows indicating its migration to Falkland Island waters.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · 28d

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New study quantifies how body size and condition affect fasting endurance in right whales. Southern right whales can fast ~17 months, but a severely entangled North Atlantic right whale may only survive ~50 days. #RightWhales #MarineScience
bit.ly/meps_768_99

Two aerial photographs side by side. Left: a southern right whale in clear blue water, wide and rounded with smooth curves, showing healthy condition. Right: a thin North Atlantic right whale in darker water, spine visible, entangled in fishing rope that cuts into its body.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · 28d

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We assessed ecoacoustic indices (ACI & snap rate) across depths, sites & seasons in coral reefs around Okinawa Island 🐠🔊. Despite clear spatiotemporal patterns, links to fish & benthic functional groups were weak, limiting their use as ecosystem proxies.
bit.ly/meps_768_1

An underwater acoustic recorder deployed on a reef slope.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Sep 8

🧪 We assessed ecoacoustic indices (ACI & snap rate) across depths, sites and seasons in coral reefs around Okinawa Island, Japan 🐠🔊. Despite clear spatiotemporal patterns, links to fish and benthic functional groups were weak, limiting their use as ecosystem proxies.
bit.ly/meps_768_1

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Sep 8

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We assessed ecoacoustic indices (ACI & snap rate) across depths, sites & seasons in coral reefs around Okinawa Island, Japan 🐠🔊. Despite clear spatiotemporal patterns, links to fish & benthic functional groups were weak, limiting their use as ecosystem proxies.
bit.ly/meps_768_1

Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Sep 5

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We observed unique rockfish mating behaviors, including urinations and vocalizations. Moreover, dominant males have large urine bladder to store urine. These findings offer new insights into rockfish reproduction, and are valuable for future studies.
bit.ly/meps_767_121

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Sep 4

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Loss of large females has unexpectedly serious effects on reproduction by altering female reproductive traits. Preservation of female reproductive traits while maintaining the population size structure should be an important goal for the sustainable resource management.
doi.org/10.3354/meps...

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Sep 3

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Sponges are highly efficient bacterivores, but do not filter all bacteria equally. Our new paper reveals that certain bacterial phylotypes evade capture, a process that reduces microbial diversity on the reef. #sponges #microbiology
bit.ly/meps_767_13

Schematic of in situ sponge inhalant and exhalant water sampling via flow cytometry and 16S rRNA sequencing, showing differential evasion from sponge filtration among bacterial groups and higher microbial diversity in inhalant than exhalant water.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Aug 15

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Essential habitats in the middle of the ocean! Nursery areas of threatened tope and smooth hammerhead sharks in the mid-Atlantic Azores archipelago.
bit.ly/meps_766_73

Two screen captures from video footage, on the left a smooth hammerhead and on the right a tope shark swimming over sandy substrate. Both sharks are small in size, with cylindrical bait boxes of diameter of 10 and 11 cm, respectively, in the foreground of each image for comparison.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Aug 13

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How much do #greenturtles influence #seagrass ecosystems? A field exclosure experiment combined with a global meta-analysis revealed that grazing effects are context-dependent—varying across seagrass parameters & seagrass type.
bit.ly/meps_766_57
@jslefche.bsky.social
@alexaputillo.bsky.social

Green sea turtle feeding on seagrass in a shallow seagrass bed with sandy patches.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Aug 12

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Restoring Ecklonia radiata kelp forests in New Zealand with Green Gravel. Site selection and attachment techniques prove key to improving restoration outcomes.
bit.ly/meps_766_43

Transplanted Ecklonia radiata growing alongside a mature kelp canopy at the restoration site.

Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Jul 28

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Depth & upwelling reshape annelid communities: SACW pulses spark trait overdispersion on Brazil’s inner shelf, while deep, coarse sediments keep it offshore. Timing upwelling is key for monitoring & conservation. #MEPS #Upwelling
bit.ly/meps_765_53

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Jul 25

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Mangrove expansion onto intertidal oyster reefs was found to be associated with reef acidification and loss of oyster shell mass. These findings indicate mangroves can negatively impact oysters, potentially degrading reef habitats over time.
bit.ly/meps_765_17

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Jul 21

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Pacific oysters thrive with the right phytoplankton. Our 10-year study shows that non-harmful diatoms, such as Skeletonema, Asterionellopsis glacialis, and Thalassiosiraceae, promote growth, unlike other diatoms or dinoflagellates.
bit.ly/meps_764_53

A bay of the French Atlantic coast with wild oysters in the foreground of the image and bags of farmed oysters in the background.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Jul 17

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Our Bayesian #IntegratedPopulationModel revealed key insights into Baltic #RingedSeal population dynamics, responses to sea ice loss, and interactions with human activities, offering essential guidance for monitoring and management efforts. bit.ly/meps_764_213
@rececochange.bsky.social

A Baltic ringed seal resting on sea ice in the Bothnian Bay.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Jul 11

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Drones, photogrammetric measurement techniques, photo-identification, and an individual-based multivariate model were used in this study to estimate growth dynamics of bottlenose dolphins living in the fiords of southwestern Aotearoa/New Zealand.
bit.ly/meps_763_197
@leahmcrowe.bsky.social

Overhead view of bottlenose dolphins swimming underwater.

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Marine Ecology Progress Series @meps-ir.bsky.social · Jul 10

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Identifying trophic units of the Fuegian sprat (Sprattus fuegensis), a key forage species in the SW South Atlantic, is crucial to understand its ecological role, improve management strategies, and support conservation efforts.
bit.ly/meps_763_97

Satellite image showing the geographic distribution of different trophic units of Sprattus fuegensis in the southern Southwest Atlantic. Colored ellipses represent sampling areas (Beagle Channel, Atlantic coast of Tierra del Fuego, Malvinas Islands, and Burdwood Bank) and different years (2018 and 2019), with arrows pointing to key ecological and biological variables such as temperature, salinity, depth, total length, weight, maturity, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and trophic position. A schematic sprat illustration and a location inset map are also included.

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