The Mediterranean Sea is both a global biodiversity hotspot and the world’s most heavily invaded marine region, where non-indigenous species arrivals are accelerating under intensifying shipping, Suez Canal traffic, aquaculture, and climate warming. Yet, despite rapidly growing research activity, a comprehensive synthesis of the scientific literature on Mediterranean marine invasions has been lacking. This study provides the first Mediterranean-wide combined bibliometric and topic-modeling analysis of invasive marine species research, using 3521 unique documents retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science. We quantify temporal growth in publications and citations, map the conceptual structure of the field through co-citation, co-word, and topic modeling, and reveal pronounced regional and thematic biases. Latent Dirichlet Allocation resolves 13 coherent topics, dominated by first records of non-native species, invasive macroalgae, alien species diversity, and ecological impacts, with strong signals for Lessepsian migration and climate-driven range shifts, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean. Spatial and thematic analyses reveal pronounced regional biases, with invasion hotspots in the Aegean and Levantine seas contrasted by comparatively sparse coverage of western and central sub-basins, and notable gaps in predictive modeling and socioeconomic assessments. The results underscore the need to rebalance effort toward under-studied regions and themes, while leveraging existing collaboration networks and methodological advances to support MSFD (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) implementation, International Maritime Organization (IMO) instruments, and broader ecosystem-based management. The reproducible framework presented here offers a baseline for periodically tracking research evolution and guiding adaptive, transboundary governance of Mediterranean marine bio-invasions.

This study uses satellite altimeter data from the new AVISO dataset to investigate the coupling between sea level variability in the Sicily Channel and the Ionian Sea. The dataset spans the last three decades (1993–2024) and provides high spatial resolution coverage of the Mediterranean Sea (1/16°, or approximately 7 km). We analyze the variability of the sea surface height through Empirical Orthogonal Function and Singular Value Decomposition techniques applied to the Absolute Dynamic Topography. While the dominant modes of long-term variability reflect the known dynamics of the North Ionian Gyre, the singular value analysis allows us to identify a coherent spatial structure extending from the Sicily Channel to the Northern Ionian Sea. This provides the first observation-based, robust evidence of a dynamical coupling between the two basins, indicating that in the last thirty years the Northern Ionian Gyre is part of a broader, dynamically connected regional system integrating flows from the Sicily Channel. These findings are consistent with previous work, based on a hindcast simulation covering 1980–2010, in which we highlighted the key role of the Atlantic Ionian Stream in shaping interannual to decadal variability in the Northern Ionian Sea. Here, we extend the analysis to the present day, providing the most up-to-date, observation-based assessment of the regional dynamics.

Knowledge of deep-sea amphipods remains much more limited compared to that of shallow-water or more accessible marine habitats, although there has been an increasing scientific interest in recent decades. Deep-sea amphipods are mainly scavengers and detritivores, playing a role in organic matter recycling; however, their species richness may be underestimated, especially in understudied realms like the deep Mediterranean Sea. Long-term monitoring data are limited, hindering understanding of trends or human impacts. The present work aims to address this gap. In a previous study (1993–1996), twenty-two species of amphipods were identified from samples collected at depths between 734 and 1558 m along the Israeli coast. After twenty years, 16 sites were sampled in 2013 at depths ranging from 198 to 1812 m. Amphipod assemblage and its bathymetric distribution were analyzed to enhance knowledge of the taxon’s occurrence.

Although previous studies composited response of sea surface temperature (SST) to typhoon sea surface wind (SSW) forcing around typhoon center, how SST responded spatiotemporally along the typhoon track over the ocean remains unclear. Through Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis, several isolated typhoons in the Western North Pacific (WNP) from 2021 to 2024 were investigated. Two SSW forcing modes and two SST response modes were identified. The first SSW mode spatially reflects the overall distribution of SSW along the track, centering at its maturation position. And the first SST mode exhibits a high spatial correlation (|R|>0.85) with this SSW mode. The second SSW mode displays a distinct track-long scale dipole pattern along the path of the typhoon, representing its intensity variation during the “development–maturation–decay” lifecycle. Similarly, the second SST response mode shows a significant but lower correlation with this second SSW mode. Both corresponding SST response modes typically lag behind their respective wind-forcing by approximately 2 to 4 days, indicating that these SST response modes are direct reactions to SSW forcing. These cases implies that two track-long scale SSW modes are generally present during the lifecycle of typhoons and that their corresponding SST responses are dominated accordingly.

In early 2025, the Jason-3 satellite’s orbit shifted from an “interleaved” to a tandem configuration with Sentinel-6A, and its Geophysical Data Records (GDR) were upgraded from Version F to G. This study evaluated GDR-G via eight processing approaches, using Jason-3’s last six GDR-F cycles (#394–#399) and first six GDR-G cycles (#501–#506), integrating histogram/geographical distribution analyses of Sea Surface Height Anomaly (SSHA), Significant Wave Height (SWH), Wind Speed (WS), and multi-method validation (e.g., self-cross-calibration). Key findings include the following: GDR-G had significantly lower SSHA noise than GDR-F, with up to ~4 cm SSHA bias from different retrackers/corrections; Adaptive retracker + 3D Sea State Bias (SSB) correction achieved optimal accuracy. Adaptive retracker’s SWH/WS anomalies linked to invalid MLE4 results and non-Brownian waveforms (coastal/sea ice). A detrending method was proposed, and the 41-point Lanczos window was optimal for smoothing. The results from the “detrending method” were consistent with the results based on the SSHA spectrum and classic self-cross-calibration methods. A ~5 mm drop was observed in Jason-3 GDR-G MLE4 baseline SSHA, probably caused by GDR upgrade or geographic sampling mismatch, while Sentinel-6A’s GDR-G upgrade might induce ~1 cm jump. The jumps along with GDR version upgrade highlighted the value of timely in situ absolute calibration.

Coral reefs, with their high biodiversity and ecological service functions, face significant threats due to climate change, overfishing, and pollution. The South China Sea (SCS) hosts rich coral biodiversity, particularly Acropora hyacinthus, a critical species for reef restoration. However, the region’s coral reefs are increasingly degraded, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts. In the present study, the genetic diversity and population structure of A. hyacinthus were examined based on two types of data: double-digest restriction-site-associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing data and mitochondrial putative control region DNA (mtCR) sequences. Coral tissue samples were collected from 74 colonies inhabiting two inshore reefs (Sanya) and three offshore reefs (Xisha islands), and 748 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 74 mtCR sequences were obtained and utilized for downstream analysis. The results were consistent in analyses and did not cluster into two geographical groups for the inshore and offshore sites. Phylogenetic analysis showed that individuals of A. hyacinthus inhabiting the five detected sites were likely cryptic species HyaD. Furthermore, AMOVA and pairwise FST estimations based on both data types revealed no differentiation among five populations and between inshore and offshore reefs, which could be due to the reproductive mode of broadcast spawning for this species. However, a prevalent low level of genetic diversity was observed when compared with nearby Taiwan regions and Japan, and the geographic history results showed that the effective population size (Ne) had been decreasing for the past 300 years. Thus, we speculated that the populations of A. hyacinthus inhabiting the SCS lack the potential to cope with future climate change adequately, and multiple conservation measures should be implemented based on considering genetic diversity.

The increased presence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) is a concern for many aquatic environments, especially with the increasing effects of climate change. Members of the dinoflagellate genus Dinophysis have been shown to produce toxins that can cause Diarrheic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) in humans who consume infected shellfish. The advancing oyster aquaculture industry in Delaware will require the development of management practices and monitoring HAB species to protect environmental and human health. Temperature, nutrients, and prey abundance can be drivers of Dinophysis blooms. D. acuminata has been historically identified at high concentrations (>200,000 cells L−1) in water samples from Rehoboth Bay, DE, USA. However, the reach of spring blooms and how far they extend to aquaculture sites have not been determined. This study monitored an emergent HABs threat of a toxin-producing dinoflagellate, Dinophysis acuminata, by assessing a transect during the first recorded winter bloom in Torquay Canal and analyzing concentrations of chemical nutrients of combined nitrate and nitrite, and orthophosphate. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis between cell density (cells L−1) and environmental variables across all sites was conducted to determine significant relationships between water temperature, Chl-a concentration, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), combined nitrate and nitrite concentrations (NOx), and orthophosphate concentrations (PO43−). Genetic techniques and PCR were utilized to determine the presence of Dinophysis using genus-specific primers to monitor cell density or abundance within the sediments during winter months. There were no significant correlations between environmental variables, and nutrient concentrations did not exceed EPA regulations. Molecular analyses of benthic sediments detected Dinophysis spp., offering insight into potential bloom origins. Overall, there is limited ecological data on Dinophysis acuminata in Rehoboth Bay, DE, USA. The results of this study will help strengthen resources for monitoring HAB species and understanding potential risks to oyster aquaculture in Delaware.

Hydrothermal vents, widely occurring along middle-ocean ridges and volcanic arcs, have been well-studied in vent-associated microbiology, mineralogy, and geochemistry. However, there are rarely investigations regarding the detailed microbial community in the hydrothermal vent-influenced sediment. To explore hydrothermal activities on microbial diversity at the Carlsberg Ridge in the northwestern Indian Ocean, four sediment cores were sampled from the near-vent fields to distant vent sedimentary fields in the Tianxiu hydrothermal field, and the microbial community compositions were analyzed. The sediment microorganisms closest to the hydrothermal vent were primarily composed of Acidimicrobiia, Gammaproteobacteria, Anaerolineae, and Planctomycetes. The microbial communities at the depth containing extensive signals of hydrothermal activity consisted mainly of Dehalococcoidia, Aerophoria, Anaerolineae, and Gammaproteobacteria. No significant differences in microbial composition were observed between the two weak hydrothermal sediment cores, primarily composed of Nitrososphaeria, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Acidimicrobiia. Moreover, heterogeneous selection substantially impacted the bacterial community assembly in near-vent sediments other than stochasticity. Multivariate statistical analysis identified that environmental fluctuations accounted for 55.59% of the community variation, with hydrothermal inputs (such as Fe, Pb, Cu, and Zn) being the primary factors shaping the construction of hydrothermal sediment microbial communities. These results enhance understanding of the response of deep-sea sediments to hydrothermal activity.

The population dynamics and exploitation ratios of the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson, Lacépède, 1800) were investigated from August 2020 to February 2023, with data collected from three landing sites (Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, and Chabahar) of Iran waters. During the study period, only length was measured for 6504 specimens and both the length and weight were measured for 504 specimens. The mean fork length of the samples was 86 ± 20 cm, and the mean weight was 6230 ± 3742 g. The relationship between length and weight for the total samples was described by the equation W = 0.022 × CL2.76 (n = 504, R2 = 0.90, 95% C.I. for b = 2.52–2.91). The population dynamics indices for S. commerson were as follows: infinite length (Linf) = 173 cm, natural mortality (M) = 0.47 per year, growth coefficient (K) = 0.52 per year, total mortality (Z) = 1.42 ± 0.06 (95% C.I. = 1.36–1.48), fishing mortality (F) = 0.95 per year, and exploitation coefficient (E) = 0.67. The exploitation rate (U) and total stock at the beginning of the year (B0) were 0.6 and 48,333 tons, respectively. The annual average standing stock (Bt) was estimated at 30,526 tons. The exploitation ratio for maximum sustainable yield (EMSY) was 0.50, and fishing mortality at maximum sustainable yield (FMSY) was 1.5. The estimated range for maximum sustainable yield (MSY, in 1000 tons), the B/BMSY ratio, F/FMSY ratio, and saturation (S) ratio of S. commerson in the Iranian part of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman was 20 (17–25), 1.55 (1.25–1.73), 0.90 (0.8–1.12), and 0.45, respectively. The stock of S. commerson is approaching overfishing in Iran waters, imposing immediate management actions to reduce catch and fishing effort.

The global shipping industry is evolving towards deep integration of digital transformation, intelligent upgrading, and green development. Meanwhile, recent geopolitical shifts have introduced heightened uncertainties into international shipping, compounding the challenges and escalating the demands for weather routing services for ocean-going ships. This paper provides a systematic review and expert perspective on China’s current status and key challenges in ocean-going weather routing services. Based on operational insights from China’s national meteorological service synthesized with a review of current trends and the literature, it further explores the future development of China’s ocean-going weather routing services and technologies from multiple dimensions: enhancing maritime weather observation capabilities, developing advanced weather routing service models, upgrading autonomous and controllable global satellite communication systems, promoting intelligent navigation technologies to facilitate shipping’s low-carbon transition, and expanding meteorological support capabilities for Arctic shipping routes. The analysis identifies critical gaps and proposes strategic directions, offering a unique contribution to understanding the trajectory of weather routing services within China’s specific national context from the perspective of its primary national service provider.