Marine Conservation Institute

Due to their importance in global ocean ecology and biogeochemistry, much is known about the abundance and diversity of marine microbes and this data informs our studies of microbial genetic variability and niche partitioning. However, much less is known about marine microbes’ vital rates, including phylogenetically-resolved intrinsic growth and mortality. Here, we use cyanobacteria to validate a recently-developed, sequence-based modification of the Landry-Hassett Dilution (LHD) technique, which simultaneously assesses the growth and grazer-induced mortality of microbial subpopulations. Using laboratory cultures, we show that most approaches for quantifying cyanobacterial intrinsic growth yield similar results, providing a foundation for methods comparisons in complex communities. We then leverage these findings to validate the modified LHD approach by sampling from a highly-dynamic, coastal marine ecosystem. We find that the LHD 16S rRNA gene-based method returns the same intrinsic growth as other biomass estimates. Further, field sampling yields distinct intrinsic growth among closely-related lineages of both cyano- and heterotrophic bacteria. While grazer-mediated mortality was less variable, we did observe distinct mortality rates within the broader microbiome, supporting the importance of examining vital rates in subpopulations. This validated methodology (and initial field findings) opens the door to answer fundamental ecological and biogeochemical questions about the microbial oceanography of spatially and temporally-variable coastal and open ocean ecosystems.

Desiccation cracking and salt accumulation are major deterioration mechanisms in earthen sites within site museums, primarily caused by coupled moisture and salt migration under controlled environmental conditions. However, limited research on soil moisture–salt interactions has hindered the development of effective environmental control strategies. This study develops a moisture–salt migration model for the partition walls of Pit 1 at the Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum Site Museum, using the Richards equation and Fick’s law. The model was validated through soil column evaporation experiments and numerical simulations. Simulations over a six-year period under natural ventilation revealed that this condition was ineffective in preventing moisture loss and salt accumulation. While unsaturated humidity control provided short-term delay in deterioration, only saturated humidity (100% RH) effectively prevented long-term moisture loss and salt crystallization. These findings indicate that sustaining a saturated humidity environment is an effective strategy for the long-term preventive conservation of earthen sites.

In this presentation we focus on key aspects that have affected wetland fish species in the past and affect them presently, as well as new challenges they are likely to face in the future. Numerous factors have influenced the fish fauna of the Carpathian Basin over the centuries. The first major changes were caused by river regulation, which began in the early 18th century. This was followed by the introduction of non-native species through both illegal and legal stocking and their natural spread. Finally, increasingly rapid climate change has begun to cause ever greater problems. Due to the combined effects of these three processes, muddy water fish populations are now on the edge of extinction. Here, we demonstrate how current maintenance practices are destroying the remaining populations of weatherfish ( Misgurnus fossilis ) in the lowland stream and channel network systems. Additionally, the co-occurrence of invasive marbled crayfish ( Procambarus virginalis ) and several invasive fish species (e.g. Chinese sleeper Perccottus glenii , Jaguar guapote Parachromis managuensis , Eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki ) has affected the population of the European mudminnow ( Umbra krameri ) in the western drainage region of Lake Balaton. We emphasise the challenge posed by non-native species, which will require sustained management in the future, as well as changes in water management practices and angling stocking programs. Education programmes targeting all age groups, from children to adults, are also required. All of these measures are urgently needed to ensure the preservation of muddy-water fish species in Hungarian waters.

Este artículo examina la integración de los sistemas de conocimiento ecológico indígenas y criollos con la ciencia occidental, a través del enfoque de la Hipótesis de Hibridación de los Sistemas de Conocimiento Ecológico. Dicha hipótesis plantea que la suma de sistemas diversos de conocimiento ecológico crea un marco más holístico para la gestión ambiental. Un concepto central en esta integración es el de constantes bioculturales, es decir, características compartidas de los sistemas biológicos y culturales que se mantienen constantes a lo largo del tiempo y el espacio dentro del rango de una especie o una ecorregión. A través del estudio de caso de un currículo bilingüe sobre manglares, esta investigación demuestra que comunidades de distintos grupos lingüísticos reconocen de manera independiente conocimientos ecológicos comunes, lo que respalda la existencia de constantes bioculturales. Los hallazgos destacan que el conocimiento ecológico hibridado, transmitido en la lengua materna, fortalece el compromiso ambiental, promueve la colaboración intercultural y mejora la resiliencia comunitaria. Reconocer e integrar perspectivas ecológicas diversas mediante la hibridación ofrece un camino hacia estrategias ambientales más inclusivas, adaptativas y sostenibles.

ABSTRACT Large, severe wildfires are a major threat to biodiversity. Land managers often use prescribed fire to mitigate wildfire risks; however the impact of this strategy on many species remains poorly understood. We used a control‐impact study to quantify the population response of the long‐nosed potoroo ( Potorous tridactylus ) to prescribed fire. Live trapping was conducted at one unburnt control site and two burnt sites 12‐ and 24‐months after small, patchy winter prescribed fires in a heathy woodland ecosystem, in south‐eastern Australia. We estimated population density using spatially explicit capture‐recapture analysis, and derived a relative abundance index which we compared to density using linear regression. At 12‐months post‐fire, estimated mean potoroo densities were 107 individuals per km 2 at the control site, 49 at Burn 1 and 119 at Burn 2. Compared to the control, densities were 54% lower at Burn 1 and 11% higher at Burn 2. At 24‐months post‐fire, densities were 176 potoroos per km 2 at the control, 76 at Burn 1 (57% lower than the control) and 137 at Burn 2 (22% lower than the control). There was no evidence that increases in density over time differed among sites. Despite substantial spatial and temporal variation in density, potoroos appeared resilient to patchy winter burns at these sites 2 years post‐fire, although a fire‐driven decline could not be ruled out due to the absence of pre‐fire data. Density and relative abundance were positively correlated ( R 2 = 0.90), and the relationship remained strong under a reduced sampling effort of at least four trap nights. These findings suggest that relative abundance may serve as a reliable proxy for potoroo density under certain conditions. This study improves our understanding of how a vulnerable Australian mammal responds to patchy winter burns, and shows that biodiversity conservation and fuel reduction may be compatible goals in some landscapes.

Summarising CBD target 3 to “30 × 30” emphasizes area coverage, but conservation success depends on MPA quality. Many existing MPAs are under-protected, and rapidly designating new areas risks creating ‘paper parks’ without ecological or social benefits. Prioritizing strictly or fully managed MPAs, supported by a clear and shared definition, is essential to achieve meaningful biodiversity outcomes. Quality-focused strategies ensure that global targets benefit both nature and people, rather than merely meeting numerical goals.

Energy expenditure strongly influences an animal’s foraging decisions and activity budgets. Diving animals especially need to be energetically efficient because they exercise while oxygen is limited. By estimating the energetics of behavior, we can better understand the cascading effects of individual responses to disturbance and environmental change. Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) gray whales use a variety of foraging tactics in shallow habitats (<20 m), which present challenges associated with maneuverability and buoyancy. We use a seven-year dataset of concurrent individual behavior, morphology, and breath-by-breath respiration data collected via drone paired with two years of tri-axial accelerometry tag data to study patterns and correlates of respiration. We assess how several respiration metrics (acting as proxies for oxygen consumption) are associated with individual length, body condition and behavior (forage and travel), and test whether respiration reflects recovery from, or anticipation of, a foraging dive using Bayesian linear mixed effects models. Given model results, we simulated daily field metabolic rate (FMR) to explore how diving costs may affect energetics at a daily scale. We find that respiration reflects recovery from the preceding dive and that dives are more energetically expensive for longer, more buoyant whales. Longer dives and the most common foraging tactics also incur higher energetic costs. FMR simulations show that individual size and dive duration have the largest effects on energy expenditure. Thus, PCFG gray whale foraging success may be limited by the energetic costs associated with size and buoyancy, highlighting the costs of a shallow habitat foraging niche.

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, 1813 is a species of seagrass endemic to the Mediterranean. In the past half century, mapping and monitoring of P. oceanica meadows has become fundamental due to anthropogenic pressures and climate change causing their degradation. Several methods are used to study P. oceanica from direct data collection, such as quadrants surveying techniques, to indirect satellite imagery and modelling. Here, a case study is presented using a cost-effective underwater photogrammetry methodology for mapping shallow-water seagrass meadows (0 to 10 meters depth) in the eastern Aegean Sea. This approach enables the generation of precise three-dimensional models and point clouds, allowing the digital representation of seagrass meadow structure and density.